The Chinese nuthatch or snowy-browed nuthatch is a species of bird in the family Sittidae. It is a small nuthatch, measuring 11.5 cm (4.5 in) in length. The upperparts are blue-grey and the underparts from a dull buff-greyish to a cinnamon-orange; the cheeks are white. There is a marked sexual dimorphism: the adult male is distinguished by its very black crown, while that of the female is the same blue-grey as the back, or at most dark grey when the plumage is worn. In both sexes, a dark grey eyestripe extends in front of and behind the eye, topped by a clear white supercilium separating it from the crown. The song is variable, and composed of repetitions of small invariant whistles. The species feeds mainly on insects in summer and completes its diet with seeds and fruits. The nest is generally placed in the hole of a conifer. The pairs raises one brood per year, with five or six chicks.
Region
Northeast Asia
Typical Environment
Inhabits mature coniferous and mixed conifer–broadleaf forests, especially pine, spruce, larch, and fir. Prefers older stands with natural cavities and flaky bark for foraging. Also uses forest edges, shelterbelts, and occasionally parks or plantations in winter. Forages mostly on trunks and larger branches, moving up, down, and upside‑down in typical nuthatch fashion.
Altitude Range
300–2600 m
Climate Zone
Continental
Ease of Keeping
Beginner friendly: 1/5
A tiny nuthatch of northeastern China’s conifer and mixed forests, noted for its crisp white eyebrow. Males show a striking black crown, while females have a blue‑grey to dark grey crown. It forages acrobatically on trunks and branches and often caches seeds in bark crevices for winter. Generally resident, it may join mixed-species flocks outside the breeding season.
Illustration of 1865 of a Chinese nuthatch by Josephe Huët, accompanying the original description of the species by Jules Verreaux.
A Chinese nuthatch descending a tree trunk head first in China
A Chinese nuthatch capturing an insect with its beak.
Temperament
alert, active, territorial in breeding season
Flight Pattern
short rapid wingbeats
Social Behavior
Monogamous pairs defend small territories during breeding, nesting in natural cavities or old woodpecker holes, often in conifers. The nest cup is lined with bark fibers, plant down, and feathers. Clutches usually contain 5–6 eggs, with one brood raised per year. Outside the breeding season, individuals may move in small groups and join mixed-species flocks.
Migratory Pattern
Resident
Song Description
Song consists of simple series of clear, thin whistles repeated in short, even phrases. Calls include sharp tsit/tchek notes and soft, nasal see-see sounds.
