Wildlifeof China
Eurasian Nuthatch
Tits, Nuthatches & Treecreepers
Photo: (c) Вячеслав Юсупов, some rights reserved (CC BY) · CC BY 4.0
Sitta europaea
Basic stats
Habitat
Nests in tree holes, narrowing the entrance with mud if too large
Range
Throughout the Palearctic and Eurasia
Clutch size
6–9 red-speckled white eggs on a base of wood chips
Size
Adult male of the nominate subspecies 14cm
Wingspan
22.5–27cm
The Eurasian nuthatch, or wood nuthatch, is a small passerine found throughout the Palearctic. Like other nuthatches it is a short-tailed bird with a long bill, blue-grey upperparts and a black eye-stripe. The adult male of the nominate subspecies is 14cm long with a 22.5–27cm wingspan. There are more than 20 subspecies in three main groups: western birds have orange-buff underparts and a white throat, and those in Russia have whitish underparts (Wikipedia, general species account).
It is a vocal bird with a repeated loud 'dwip' call. Six to nine red-speckled white eggs are laid on a deep base of pine or other wood chips, and if the entrance to the nest hole is too large the female plasters it with mud to reduce its size. The source does not describe its status in China (Wikipedia, general species account).
Quick answers
- What habitat does the Eurasian Nuthatch live in?
- Nests in tree holes, narrowing the entrance with mud if too large
- Where is the Eurasian Nuthatch found?
- Throughout the Palearctic and Eurasia
- How many eggs does the Eurasian Nuthatch lay?
- 6–9 red-speckled white eggs on a base of wood chips
- How big is the Eurasian Nuthatch?
- Adult male of the nominate subspecies 14cm
- What is the wingspan of the Eurasian Nuthatch?
- 22.5–27cm