Identification of Pygmy Nuthatch and Brown-headed Nuthatch

In the western pine forests, pygmy nuthatches are among the smallest songbirds and are often the most conspicuous. Active, acrobatic, highly social, these nuthatches climb, descend and around tree trunks and branches, hop along branches or swing upside down from twigs. Usually in groups of three to 10 individuals, they maintain an almost constant high-pitched whistle. Often they are at the center of mixed flocks, with chickadees and others joining the roving gangs of nuthatches.

Any discussion of the Pygmy Nuthatch leads to mention of its close relative, the Brown-headed Nuthatch. The two are so similar that in the past they were sometimes treated as one species. While the range of the pygmy nuthatch extends north into western Canada and south into the mountains of Mexico, the brownhead is essentially restricted to the southeastern United States.

Both nuthatches are strong habitat specialists, rarely seen far from pine forests. The range of the pygmy nuthatch is virtually defined by ponderosa pine and similar long-needled species. In the southeastern states, the brownhead has a choice of pine species, but is most common in old-growth pine forests with a relatively open understory. Both species require dead trees or branches for their nesting sites, so they do not do well in young pine plantations.

Although both species are non-migratory, they have been known to stray from their normal range. Pygmy Nuthatches occasionally roam the Great Plains and have been recorded as far east as Minnesota and Iowa. Brown-headed nuthatches sometimes stray far north from their typical southern haunts and have reached northern Ohio and Illinois. Both were recorded in eastern Kansas and Nebraska, both were found at the exact same site – Holmes Lake – near Lincoln. Thus, it is not always possible to identify species solely by their range.

Visually, the two are quite similar. The brown head has a distinctly browner crown, contrasting strongly with the gray of the back. The Pygmy Nuthatch has grayer crown, showing only slight contrast with back colour. Throughout most of its range, the pygmy nuthatch has a much stronger blackish mask or eye line, distinctly set off by the greyish crown. This mark is less distinct in populations along the central and southern coast of California, but they are extremely unlikely to appear anywhere the brown-headed nuthatch could occur.

The species also have different wing structures and patterns, as described in the photo captions. But callnotes are also useful, and both species are very vocal. Both make a wide variety of chirping and chattering sounds, but Pygmy Nuthatch’s are cleaner and feature single note series: peep peep Or pip pip pip. Brown-headed nuthatches frequently utter a squeaky double note: to fish! A solitary bird out of range is likely to respond to a recording of its own species, helping to clinch identification.

Brown-headed nuthatch, adult. February in Montgomery County, Texas. Photo by Brian E. Small

True to its name, the Brown-headed Nuthatch has a rich, warm brown crown, contrasting with the blue-grey of its back. The separation between the brown crown and the white cheeks and throat may be emphasized by a darker line, but this is usually not obvious. In this brown-headed February, the wings already look a bit worn, but even fresh would not show the narrow but distinct white edges of the primaries that are typical of the Pygmy Nuthatch. The brown-headed nuthatch also has a longer wing tip, or primary extension, than the pygmy nuthatch – the distance the primaries extend past the tips of the tertials. It’s a subtle difference but visible in good photos like these.

Pygmy nuthatch, adult. March in Inyo County, California. Photo by Brian E. Small

With good eyesight, the crown of the pygmy nuthatch is clearly more gray than brown, but this can be difficult to see on birds overhead in tall conifers. More obvious from a distance is the mottled blackish line across the eye. On this bird, note the narrow white borders on some primaries, especially at the base, and the white of the outer tail feathers. Pygmy Nuthatch has more white in tail than Brown-headed Nuthatch, and it can sometimes be seen in flight. A field mark that is usually prominent in field guide illustrations of brown-headed and pygmy nuthatches is a white patch on the nape, but most of the time it is not obvious in the field.

Pygmy nuthatch, adult. January in Los Alamos County, New Mexico. Photo by Brian E. Small

While individuals straying out of reach can cause excitement (and identification challenges), the best places to see pygmy nuthatches are forests within their normal range, where we can just enjoy the acrobatics of their brave and noisy little herds. They spend much of their time in treetops, but their almost constant chatter draws attention to their presence. In winter, they are almost always seen in groups and their resting is a group behavior. Pairs, family groups or herds crowd into tree cavities for warmth at night. Several flocks, feeding separately during the day, may congregate in the evening. On a few occasions, more than 100 pygmy nuthatches have been found perched in holes in a single tree.

Brown-headed nuthatch, adult. April in Montgomery County, Texas. Photo by Brian E. Small

While individuals straying out of reach can cause excitement (and identification challenges), the best places to see pygmy nuthatches are forests within their normal range, where we can just enjoy the acrobatics of their brave and noisy little herds. They spend much of their time in treetops, but their almost constant chatter draws attention to their presence. In winter, they are almost always seen in groups and their resting is a group behavior. Pairs, family groups or herds crowd into tree cavities for warmth at night. Several flocks, feeding separately during the day, may congregate in the evening. On a few occasions, more than 100 pygmy nuthatches have been found perched in holes in a single tree.