La Conner Weekly News - Your independent hometown award-winning newspaper

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 order to deter predators. The Audubon Society Field Guide mentions that these birds hoard excess food in different trees.

They are fun to watch, and once you've heard their unusual "yank, yank" chirp, you'll always remember.