They sleep in piles! On cold nights, up to 100 Pygmy Nuthatches will squeeze into a single cavity for warmth - talk about cozy!
Upside-down pros. Like other nuthatches, they can climb both up and down tree trunks - one of the few bird species that can do so with ease.
A feathered community. Some family groups have been observed with as many as 10 helpers pitching in to raise chicks!
Miniature architects. They don’t excavate their own nests but will happily remodel old woodpecker holes, even using pine resin to line the entrance. Pine resin is sticky, strong-smelling, and difficult for many potential nest raiders to deal with. The sticky barrier can discourage these intruders from entering the nest cavity. Think of it as nature’s version of a home security system!
Voice with variety. Though best known for their squeaky “pit-pit-pit,” they use over a dozen different calls to communicate within their social groups.
