- Sitta leucopsis
Identification
- Black crown and nape
- Isolated eye on a completely white face
- Long bill
- Whitish underparts
- Chestnut rear flanks and undertail-coverts
- Dark blue-grey upperparts
Sexes similar but male has a glossier and larger black cap.
Distribution
Found in the Himalayas from northeast Afghanistan to Pakistan, northern India and central Nepal.
Taxonomy
This is a monotypic species.
It was formerly considered conspecific with Przevalski's Nuthatch and forms a superspecies with it.
Habitat
Boreal and temperate forests.
Occurs from 2100 to 3000m, locally higher.
Behaviour
Few information about diet. Known to take insects and conifer seeds.
Forages in upper canopy. In pairs in spring and summer, joins sometimes mixed-species flocks in other seasons.
Breeding season from late April to mid-June. Territorial. The nest is placed in a hole or crevice in a conifer or sometimes in an old woodpecker excavation. Does not use mud or resin to reduce size of entrance hole. Lays 4-8 eggs.
A resident species, some altitudinal movements possible.
References
- Clements, JF. 2011. The Clements Checklist of Birds of the World. 6th ed., with updates to August 2011. Ithaca: Cornell Univ. Press. ISBN 978-0801445019. Spreadsheet available at http://www.birds.cornell.edu/clementschecklist/downloadable-clements-checklist
- Rasmussen, PC and JC Anderton. 2005. Birds of South Asia: The Ripley Guide. Barcelona: Lynx Edicions. ISBN 978-8487334672
- Del Hoyo, J, A Elliott, and D Christie, eds. 2008. Handbook of the Birds of the World. Volume 13: Penduline-tits to Shrikes. Barcelona: Lynx Edicions. ISBN 978-8496553453
Recommended Citation
- BirdForum Opus contributors. (2025) White-cheeked Nuthatch. In: BirdForum, the forum for wild birds and birding. Retrieved 3 May 2025 from https://www.birdforum.net/opus/White-cheeked_Nuthatch
