Red-breasted nuthatch.



 Looking out from a snag in the yard to see if the coast is clear.

We had a Cooper's hawk in a tree and the red-breasted wasn't going out until it was sure it was clear.

The hawk left without breakfast.

Rondeau Provincial Park, Ontario , Canada., August 27, 2025.

Sitta canadensis

The Red-breasted Nuthatch collects resin globules from coniferous trees and plasters them around the entrance of its nest hole. It may carry the resin in its bill or on pieces of bark that it uses as an applicator. The male puts the resin primarily around the outside of the hole while the female puts it around the inside. The resin may help to keep out predators or competitors. The nuthatch avoids the resin by diving directly through the hole.

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