Eurasian Nuthatch vs Velvet-fronted Nuthatch

Eurasian Nuthatch

Sitta europaea

Small20 gForest

The adult male of the nominate subspecies, S. e. europaea is 14 cm (5.5 in) long with a 22.5–27 cm (8.9–10.6 in) wingspan. It weighs 17–28 g (0.6–1 oz). It has blue-grey upperparts, a black eye-stripe and whitish throat and underparts. The flanks and lower belly are orange-red, mottled with white on the undertail. The stout bill is dark grey with a paler area on the base of the lower mandible, the iris is dark brown and the legs and feet are pale brown or greyish. Most other members of the S. e. Voice: The Eurasian nuthatch calls frequently, usually with a loud, sharp dwip normally repeated twice, sometimes more often if excited. It has a shrill sirrrr or tsi-si-si alarm call, and a thin tsit pre-flight call. The song is a slow whistled pee-pee-pee with many variants, including a faster version, and may be intermingled with the call. The song of the distinctive S. e.

ID text from Wikipedia, CC BY-SA 4.0

Recorded by Sonothèque ADVL · Song · Vallée du Lude (Carolles), Manche, Normandie, France · CC0

Photo: (c) Frank Vassen, some rights reserved (CC BY) · cc-by

Velvet-fronted Nuthatch

Sitta frontalis

Small17 gForest

The velvet-fronted nuthatch has the typical nuthatch shape, short tail and powerful bill and feet. It is a small nuthatch, 12–13.5 cm long. It is violet-blue above, with lavender cheeks, buffy grey underparts, yellow eyes, and a whitish throat. The iris is distinctly pale and yellow. The bill is orange-red to bright red, and there is a black patch on the forehead and lores which is well developed in adults and less so in younger birds. The legs vary in colour between different subspecies (see #Subspecies, below). Young birds have a dark beak and dark tips to the undertail coverts.

ID text from Wikipedia, CC BY-SA 4.0

Photo: Ben Costamagna · CC BY 4.0

Photos and recordings are credited to their authors under the licence shown. Full profiles: Eurasian Nuthatch and Velvet-fronted Nuthatch.