BIRDS OF THE ST. CROIX RIVER VALLEY 



113 



Red-breasted Nuthatch (Sitta canadensis) 



Status: Regular migrant, nesting species, and winter resident. 



Migration: An irruptive species, usually an uncommon migrant throughout 

 the Valley. During years of peak migration, red-breasted nuthatches are 

 common to locally abundant, primarily in the Northern Highland and Cen- 

 tral Plain. In years when this species stages a major population influx, the 

 first migrants may arrive by 15 July and build gradually to a 20 September 

 to 15 October peak. Fall migrants arrive in the Central Plain and Western 

 Upland during late August (earliest— 19 August 1970, Washington County). 

 Peak fall abundance occurs 1 October to 15 November. Peak spring migra- 

 tion occurs 15 March to 15 April and most have departed nonbreeding areas 

 by 15 May. 



Nesting Season Distribution: Green and Janssen (1975) reported that nests 

 or family groups were observed in Washington County. These authors 

 showed that the breeding range of the red-breasted nuthatch included all 

 three Minnesota counties. There are no known breeding records for the Wis- 

 consin counties. Nesting season adults are rare in the Central Plain and un- 

 common in the Northern Highland. Breeding Bird Survey data (Table 5) 

 suggest that this nuthatch is uncommon in southern Douglas County and 

 throughout Pine County. 



Winter: Uncommon to rare and irregular winter resident in the Western 

 Upland, uncommon in the Central Plain, and fairly common in the Northern 

 Highland (Table 4). The occasional winter irruptions are considered to be re- 

 lated to the failure of the pinecone crop in northern nesting regions. Young's 

 (1965) analysis of winter red-breasted nuthatch distribution in Wisconsin 

 suggests that largest densities occur north of the Tension Zone. 



Habitat: During the nesting season, the red-breasted nuthatch is character- 

 istic of Lowland Coniferous Forest that supports black spruce, tamarack, 

 and yellow birch in the overstory. Occasional breeding pairs are also re- 

 corded in Black Spruce-Tamarack Bogs, and in Northern Hardwood Forest 

 that exhibits a mixture of coniferous and deciduous tree species. Winter 

 habitat use is similar to that of the nesting season in the Northern Highland 

 and Central Plain. Wintering red-breasted nuthatches in the Western 

 Upland make extensive use of Pine Plantations. Ornamental conifers asso- 

 ciated with feeding stations in residential areas also receive use during the 

 winter. 



FAMILY CERTHIIDAE: Creepers 

 Brown Creeper {Certhia familiaris) 



Status: Regular migrant, winter resident, and probable nesting species. 



Migration: Fairly common migrant throughout the Valley. Spring migrants 

 arrive in the Western Upland 10-20 March, reaching the Northern Highland 

 about 25 March. Peak spring abundance occurs 10-20 April and departure 



