White-breasted Nuthatch Sitta carolinensis
Flight call description Uncommonly gives a low, slightly downward-arched, variably husky, "aaah" (or a more descending "aaar"), often given in series. Also given in short flights is a terse, slightly descending "ip", usually repeated in a series with variable cadence.
Fig.1. New Jersey November 29, 1999 (MO).
"Aaah" call from perched bird.
Fig.2. New York February 26, 1989 (WRE).
"Ip" note from perched bird.
Similar species See Red-breasted Nuthatch.
Behavior Irruptive migrant. Primarily a nocturnal migrant but
carries out resumed migration in morning flight. "Aaah" flight call given during
resumed migration and by nocturnal migrants. "Ip" given in diurnal flight when
multiple birds are flying together in close proximity.
Notes In the fall 2020
irruption, the Cayuga South
morning flight count in central New York State tallied 22 White-breasted
Nuthatches, all in southbound flight. Individuals were seen taking off for
southbound flight, so we classify this behavior as "resumed" migration, not
"onward" or "redetermined" migration (see
Glossary). For
comparision, 27 Red-breasted Nuthatches were documented, about half of which
were in southbound flight (resumed migration) and half in northwest-bound flight
(redetermined migration). We are not aware of any evidence that White-breasted
carries out redetermined migration. While northbound White-breasteds are seen at
New Jersey Audubon's Higbee Beach morning flight count in fall, these birds may
be birds in resumed migration whose southbound intention has been overriden by
reluctance to cross a large water body during the day, and they follow the
shoreline northward presumably to find a way around the water.