nuthatch

noun

nut·​hatch ˈnət-ˌhach 

: any of various small tree-climbing chiefly insectivorous birds (family Sittidae and especially genus Sitta) that have a compact body, a narrow bill, a short tail, and sometimes a black cap

Illustration of nuthatch

Examples of nuthatch in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

Chickadees, nuthatches, and other songbirds love Virginia creeper berries, and these vines are also host plants for several types of sphinx moths. —Lauren Landers, Better Homes & Gardens, 23 Oct. 2024

This call is also understood by nuthatches, which will join in to mob and harass the predator, forming a kind of defensive alliance. —Rivka Galchen, The New Yorker, 14 Oct. 2024

Based in Spain, Blanco also won gold in the contest’s 12 to 14 years category for the same image, a wide-angle view of a Eurasian nuthatch (Sitta europaea) perched on a tree in southern Spain. —Sarah Kuta, Smithsonian Magazine, 23 Sep. 2024

In Britain, their unusually early breeding season gives them an advantage over native species, such as nuthatches and woodpeckers, in the competition for nesting or roosting cavities. —The Week Uk, theweek, 11 Aug. 2024

Word History

Etymology

Middle English notehache, from note nut + -hache; akin to Old English tohaccian to hack — more at hack

First Known Use

14th century, in the meaning defined above

Kids Definition

nuthatch

noun

nut·​hatch ˈnət-ˌhach 

: any of various small birds that climb trees and eat insects and are noted for their habit of going down tree trunks headfirst