Red-breasted Nuthatch Population Analysis
Red-breasted Nuthatch has surged: up 676% on the route-weighted index since 1968.
About the Red-breasted Nuthatch
The Red-breasted Nuthatch (Sitta canadensis) is a North American member of the Nuthatches (Sittidae). In this analysis it is grouped with the forest birds.
- Size
- 4–7 in long (10–18 cm) — a small tree-climbing songbird (typical for the family)
- Habitat
- Woodlands and forest edges, including wooded suburbs and parks.
- Diet
- Insects and spiders gleaned from foliage and bark, with seeds and berries in season.
- Range
- Recorded on 1,308 Breeding Bird Survey routes across 38 states, most concentrated in the Atlantic Northern Forest.
- Family
- Sittidae · Forest birds
Notable Red-breasted Nuthatch TrendsNotable signalsLong-arc shifts the engine flags automatically — sustained declines or increases large enough to stand out from year-to-year noise.Full methodology →
Red-breasted Nuthatch has surged in surveyed states: up 676% on the route-weighted index since 1968.
Red-breasted Nuthatch Population Forecast
If the recent trend holds, Red-breasted Nuthatch is projected to rise about 24% by 2030 — from 1.3 in 2025 to a central estimate of 1.6 (95% range 1.2–2.0). A 5-year backtest shows a typical error of ±34.6%, with 60% of held-out values landing inside the 95% band.
Where the Red-breasted Nuthatch Is Detected
BBS routes recording Red-breasted Nuthatch, sized by most recent count.
Red-breasted Nuthatch Population Trend by State
Red-breasted Nuthatch Population Trend by Region
Bird Conservation Regions are the ecological unit for trends.
Red-breasted Nuthatch Conservation Status
Our route-weighted index shows it up about 676% since 1968.
Source: USGS North American Breeding Bird Survey, retrieved 2026-08-14. Trend is a route-weighted relative-abundance index, not an absolute population.