Meet the red-breasted nuthatch

The red-breasted nuthatch is one of our smaller songbirds at 4-1/4 inches, with a stubby tail and a slightly upturned beak. It's blue-grey above and features a black cap with a white line and a rusty chest.

It's the only bird in this area that can climb down a tree headfirst, checking out the tree bark for insects. The nuthatch will also come to bird feeders to feed on sunflower seeds and suet.

During springtime, it typically excavates a nest cavity in rotten wood, but will also use nesting boxes.

As per the "Birds of Puget Sound Guide," nuthatches smear conifer sap around their nest holes in...