White-breasted Nuthatch - Sitta carolinensis

White-breasted Nuthatch has a partial preformative molt, but no prealternate molts. Plumage differences by age are subtle, and by spring the extent of wear on both first cycle and older birds can be similar enough that only a minority of individuals can be reliably aged and others should be considered M-FCF (AHY). However, sex can be readily distinguished by plumage throughout the year.

Note that there is variability in plumage among subspecies of White-breasted Nuthatches. The ageing and sexing guidelines provided are largely based on S.c. carolinensis, but are expected to largely apply to others as well.

Quick tips

• Examine the crown and nape - it is uniformly black on males, but on females the dark gray crown contrasts with the blackish nape.
• Check the edging of feathers on the wing - on DCB (AHY/ASY) birds most feathers have distinct blue-gray edging, matching the colour of the back, but note that FCF (HY/SY) males can also have some narrow blue-gray edging; FCF (HY/SY) females can be more readily distinguished by narrow brownish edging, contrasting with the back.
• Consider the shape of the primary coverts - they are relatively broad and rounded with distinct gray edging on DCB (AHY/ASY) individuals, but more narrow and pointed with little if any gray edging on FCF (HY/SY) individuals.

Species account prepared by McGill Bird Observatory (2018). Last updated by Marcel Gahbauer (Mar 2022)