Bird
White-breasted Nuthatch
Sitta carolinensis
Lives in Arkansas all year and nests here. Found in all 75 counties, across 10 habitats.
- Here
- All year
- Nesting
- Nests here
- Range
- All 75 counties
- Habitats
- 10

At a glance
- Group
- Birds
- Here
- All year
- Nesting
- Nests here
- Range
- All 75 counties
- Habitats
- 10
- Habitat models
- Year-round
Where it lives
The places its habitat model includes. It is not found everywhere a habitat occurs.
Habitats in Arkansas 10
Each habitat page lists the plants and wildlife also found there.

Forests and open woodlands on dry ridges and slopes, often oak or pine.
Floodplain and bottomland forests
Forests on low ground beside rivers and streams that flood from time to time.
Forest or woodland where the source does not say how moist or dry.
Glades, barrens and outcrops on limestone
Open, thin-soil openings and rock on limestone, dolomite or other lime-rich rock, including cedar glades.
Granite and other acidic rock outcrops
Bare or thin-soil rock on granite, gneiss, sandstone, quartzite and similar acidic rock, including granite flatrocks and domes.
Flat, poorly drained uplands and terraces with oaks, sweetgum and sometimes loblolly pine, wet in winter and dry in summer, but neither a floodplain nor a swamp.
Forests between dry and moist, often oak-hickory on slopes.
Forests on moist but not wet ground, such as rich slopes and ravines.
Streams, rivers and their banks
Flowing water and its banks, bars and rocky shoals.
Other habitats in its models (89)
Land cover, or classes with no habitat page in Arkansas. Those recorded in Arkansas first, the rest by region.
In Arkansas 5
- Crosstimbers Oak Forest and Woodland Year-round.
- Lower Mississippi River Dune Woodland and Forest Year-round.
- Northern Crowley's Ridge Sand Forest Year-round.
- Ouachita Montane Oak Forest Year-round.
- West Gulf Coastal Plain Sandhill Oak and Shortleaf Pine Forest and Woodland Year-round.
Elsewhere in the South (42)
- Appalachian Shale Barrens Year-round.
- Atlantic Coastal Plain Brownwater Stream Floodplain Forest Year-round.
- Atlantic Coastal Plain Dry and Dry-Mesic Oak Forest Year-round.
- Atlantic Coastal Plain Mesic Hardwood and Mixed Forest Year-round.
- Atlantic Coastal Plain Small Blackwater River Floodplain Forest Year-round.
- Atlantic Coastal Plain Small Brownwater River Floodplain Forest Year-round.
- Atlantic Coastal Plain Xeric River Dune Year-round.
- Central and South Texas Coastal Fringe Forest and Woodland Year-round.
- Central and Southern Appalachian Montane Oak Forest Year-round.
- Central and Southern Appalachian Northern Hardwood Forest Year-round.
- Cumberland Riverscour Year-round.
- Cumberland Sandstone Glade and Barrens Year-round.
- East Gulf Coastal Plain Limestone Forest Year-round.
- East Gulf Coastal Plain Northern Dry Upland Hardwood Forest Year-round.
- East Gulf Coastal Plain Northern Loess Bluff Forest Year-round.
- East Gulf Coastal Plain Northern Mesic Hardwood Forest Year-round.
- East Gulf Coastal Plain Small Stream and River Floodplain Forest Year-round.
- East Gulf Coastal Plain Southern Loblolly-Hardwood Flatwoods Year-round.
- East Gulf Coastal Plain Southern Loess Bluff Forest Year-round.
- East Gulf Coastal Plain Southern Mesic Slope Forest Year-round.
- East-Central Texas Plains Post Oak Savanna and Woodland Year-round.
- East-Central Texas Plains Riparian Forest Year-round.
- Edwards Plateau Limestone Savanna and Woodland Year-round.
- Nashville Basin Limestone Glade Year-round.
- Ridge and Valley Calcareous Valley Bottom Glade and Woodland Year-round.
- South-Central Interior / Upper Coastal Plain Flatwoods Year-round.
- South-Central Interior Mesophytic Forest Year-round.
- Southern and Central Appalachian Cove Forest Year-round.
- Southern and Central Appalachian Oak Forest Year-round.
- Southern Coastal Plain Blackwater River Floodplain Forest Year-round.
- Southern Coastal Plain Dry Upland Hardwood Forest Year-round.
- Southern Coastal Plain Hydric Hammock Year-round.
- Southern Coastal Plain Nonriverine Cypress Dome Year-round.
- Southern Coastal Plain Oak Dome and Hammock Year-round.
- Southern Interior Low Plateau Dry-Mesic Oak Forest Year-round.
- Southern Piedmont Dry Oak-(Pine) Forest Year-round.
- Southern Piedmont Glade and Barrens Year-round.
- Southern Piedmont Mesic Forest Year-round.
- Southern Piedmont Small Floodplain and Riparian Forest Year-round.
- Southern Ridge and Valley Dry Calcareous Forest Year-round.
- West Gulf Coastal Plain Chenier and Upper Texas Coastal Fringe Forest and Woodland Year-round.
- West Gulf Coastal Plain Near-Coast Large River Swamp Year-round.
Northeast (7)
- Appalachian Hemlock-Hardwood Forest Year-round.
- Central Appalachian Alkaline Glade and Woodland Year-round.
- Central Appalachian Oak and Pine Forest Year-round.
- Central Appalachian Pine-Oak Rocky Woodland Year-round.
- North-Central Interior Wet Flatwoods Year-round.
- Northeastern Interior Dry-Mesic Oak Forest Year-round.
- Northern Atlantic Coastal Plain Dry Hardwood Forest Year-round.
Midwest (5)
- North-Central Interior Beech-Maple Forest Year-round.
- North-Central Interior Dry Oak Forest and Woodland Year-round.
- North-Central Interior Dry-Mesic Oak Forest and Woodland Year-round.
- North-Central Interior Maple-Basswood Forest Year-round.
- Western Great Plains Wooded Draw and Ravine Year-round.
Land cover and other classes (30)
- Allegheny-Cumberland Dry Oak Forest and Woodland - Hardwood Year-round.
- Allegheny-Cumberland Dry Oak Forest and Woodland - Pine Modifier Year-round.
- Atlantic Coastal Plain Blackwater Stream Floodplain Forest - Forest Modifier Year-round.
- Atlantic Coastal Plain Fall-line Sandhills Longleaf Pine Woodland - Offsite Hardwood Modifier Year-round.
- Atlantic Coastal Plain Nonriverine Swamp and Wet Hardwood Forest - Oak Dominated Modifier Year-round.
- Atlantic Coastal Plain Nonriverine Swamp and Wet Hardwood Forest - Taxodium/Nyssa Modifier Year-round.
- Central Appalachian Riparian - Forest Modifier Year-round.
- East Gulf Coastal Plain Interior Shortleaf Pine-Oak Forest - Hardwood Modifier Year-round.
- East Gulf Coastal Plain Interior Shortleaf Pine-Oak Forest - Mixed Modifier Year-round.
- East Gulf Coastal Plain Interior Upland Longleaf Pine Woodland - Offsite Hardwood Modifier Year-round.
- East Gulf Coastal Plain Large River Floodplain Forest - Forest Modifier Year-round.
- East Gulf Coastal Plain Near-Coast Pine Flatwoods - Offsite Hardwood Modifier Year-round.
- East Gulf Coastal Plain Near-Coast Pine Flatwoods - Open Understory Modifier Year-round.
- East Gulf Coastal Plain Northern Loess Plain Oak-Hickory Upland - Hardwood Modifier Year-round.
- East Gulf Coastal Plain Northern Loess Plain Oak-Hickory Upland - Juniper Modifier Year-round.
- Eastern Great Plains Floodplain Systems Year-round.
- Northeastern Interior Dry Oak Forest - Mixed Modifier Year-round.
- Northeastern Interior Dry Oak Forest-Hardwood Modifier Year-round.
- Southern and Central Appalachian Oak Forest - Xeric Year-round.
- Southern Coastal Plain Nonriverine Basin Swamp - Okefenokee Bay/Gum Modifier Year-round.
- Southern Coastal Plain Nonriverine Basin Swamp - Okefenokee Nupea Modifier Year-round.
- Southern Coastal Plain Nonriverine Basin Swamp - Okefenokee Taxodium Modifier Year-round.
- Southern Piedmont Dry Oak-(Pine) Forest - Hardwood Modifier Year-round.
- Southern Piedmont Dry Oak-(Pine) Forest - Mixed Modifier Year-round.
- Southern Piedmont Dry Oak-Heath Forest - Mixed Modifier Year-round.
- Southern Piedmont Large Floodplain Forest - Forest Modifier Year-round.
- Southern Piedmont/Ridge and Valley Upland Depression Swamp Year-round.
- Southern Ridge and Valley Dry Calcareous Forest - Pine modifier Year-round.
- Tamaulipan Riparian Systems Year-round.
- Western Great Plains Floodplain Systems Year-round.
- The GAP model includes dense pine only near its primary habitat.
Seasons in Arkansas
- Year-round: nests here, in all 75 counties.
Food plants
Diet records by plant genus, from studies across North America. Not a record from this state. Plants matched by genus.
Native plants in these genera 49
- Cockspur HawthornCrataegus crus-galli
- Barberry HawthornCrataegus berberifolia
- Eastern HawthornCrataegus macrosperma
- Entangled HawthornCrataegus intricata
- Frosted HawthornCrataegus pruinosa
- Green HawthornCrataegus viridis
- Hill HawthornCrataegus collina
- Littlehip HawthornCrataegus spathulata
- One-flowered HawthornCrataegus uniflora
- Parsley HawthornCrataegus marshallii
- Pear HawthornCrataegus calpodendron
- Schuette's HawthornCrataegus schuettei
- Washington HawthornCrataegus phaenopyrum
- Crataegus brachyacanthaCrataegus brachyacantha
- Crataegus trifloraCrataegus triflora
- Downy HawthornCrataegus mollis
- Gattingers HawthornCrataegus gattingeri
- Harvey's HawthornCrataegus harveyana
- Kansas HawthornCrataegus coccinioides
- Ouachita HawthornCrataegus ouachitensis
- Reverchons HawthornCrataegus reverchonii
- Riverflat HawthornCrataegus opaca
- Woodland SunflowerHelianthus divaricatus
- Helianthus occidentalis subsp. occidentalisHelianthus occidentalis subsp. occidentalis
Plant genera in its diet records (5)
- Crataegus 1 diet record. 22 native plants in Arkansas
- Helianthus 1 diet record. 15 native plants in Arkansas
- Triticum 1 diet record. 0 native plants in Arkansas
- Vitis 1 diet record. 12 native plants in Arkansas
- Zea 1 diet record. 0 native plants in Arkansas
Also found in its main habitats
Its main habitats in Arkansas, by how much of its habitat model each one is, with the birds most characteristic of each and the plants that grow wild there. Shared habitat, not food.
White-breasted Nuthatch uses many habitats in Arkansas; these are its 3 most characteristic.
Floodplain and bottomland forests
Birds 77
- Bonaparte's GullChroicocephalus philadelphia
- Evening GrosbeakCoccothraustes vespertinus
- Lesser YellowlegsTringa flavipes
- Ruddy DuckOxyura jamaicensis
- Lesser ScaupAythya affinis
- Marsh WrenCistothorus palustris
- Northern ParulaParula americana
- Purple GallinulePorphyrio martinica
- Snowy OwlBubo scandiacus
- White IbisEudocimus albus
- Worm-eating WarblerHelmitheros vermivorum
- American PipitAnthus rubescens
Plants 313
- Elliott's BlueberryVaccinium elliottii
- Possumhaw HollyIlex decidua
- Cherrybark OakQuercus pagoda
- Swamp Chestnut OakQuercus michauxii
- Canada VioletViola canadensis
- Appalachian Orange ConeflowerRudbeckia fulgida var. umbrosa
- Shagbark HickoryCarya ovata
- Camphor PlucheaPluchea camphorata
- PondberryLindera melissifolia
- Smooth Hedge-nettleStachys tenuifolia
- Wolf's BluegrassPoa wolfii
- Spreading SedgeCarex laxiculmis
Moist forests
Birds 17
- Black-throated Green WarblerDendroica virens
- Worm-eating WarblerHelmitheros vermivorum
- Chuck-will's-widowCaprimulgus carolinensis
- Blue-headed VireoVireo solitarius
- Cerulean WarblerDendroica cerulea
- Kentucky WarblerOporornis formosus
- Louisiana WaterthrushSeiurus motacilla
- OvenbirdSeiurus aurocapilla
- American WoodcockScolopax minor
- Acadian FlycatcherEmpidonax virescens
- Barred OwlStrix varia
- Broad-winged HawkButeo platypterus
Plants 227
- Smooth Blue AsterSymphyotrichum laeve
- White AshFraxinus americana
- Fewflower Tick-trefoilDesmodium pauciflorum
- Vitis cinereaVitis cinerea
- Bigleaf MagnoliaMagnolia macrophylla
- Pointedleaf Tick-trefoilDesmodium glutinosum
- Smooth Carrion-flowerSmilax herbacea
- Umbrella MagnoliaMagnolia tripetala
- Narrowleaf RampsAllium tricoccum var. burdickii
- Rich-woods SedgeCarex oligocarpa
- Carey's SedgeCarex careyana
- Krals SedgeCarex kraliana
Swamps
Birds 63
- Blue-winged TealAnas discors
- DunlinCalidris alpina
- Little Blue HeronEgretta caerulea
- RedheadAythya americana
- King RailRallus elegans
- Lapland LongspurCalcarius lapponicus
- Lesser ScaupAythya affinis
- Marsh WrenCistothorus palustris
- Northern ParulaParula americana
- Purple GallinulePorphyrio martinica
- White IbisEudocimus albus
- American PipitAnthus rubescens
Plants 223
- Black Highbush BlueberryVaccinium fuscatum
- Smallflower BlueberryVaccinium virgatum
- InkberryIlex glabra
- Hoary AzaleaRhododendron canescens
- Small-flower ThoroughwortEupatorium semiserratum
- Carolina AshFraxinus caroliniana
- Dense-flower SmartweedPersicaria densiflora
- Swamp TupeloNyssa biflora
- Water HickoryCarya aquatica
- Bent SedgeCarex styloflexa
- Cypress-swamp SedgeCarex joorii
- Fringed SedgeCarex crinita
Sources
- USGS Gap Analysis Project habitat models (2001)
- USGS GAP year-round habitat model for White-breasted Nuthatch Elevation sea level to 1,524 m
- USGS Gap Analysis Project range maps (2001), modeled by watershed; migratory gives no dates
- NatureServe Explorer (CC BY 4.0), habitat names
- US Census TIGER/Line counties
- Names follow the USGS Gap Analysis Project (2001)
- Avian Diet Database (Hurlbert Lab) (CC0 1.0), diet records by plant genus






































































