Bird
White-breasted Nuthatch
Sitta carolinensis
Lives in Louisiana all year and nests here. Found in 38 of 64 parishes, across 6 habitats.
- Here
- All year
- Nesting
- Nests here
- Range
- 38 of 64 parishes
- Habitats
- 6

At a glance
- Group
- Birds
- Here
- All year
- Nesting
- Nests here
- Range
- 38 of 64 parishes
- Habitats
- 6
- Habitat models
- Year-round
Where it lives
The places its habitat model includes. It is not found everywhere a habitat occurs.
Habitats in Louisiana 6
Each habitat page lists the plants and wildlife also found there.

Floodplain and bottomland forests
Forests on low ground beside rivers and streams that flood from time to time.
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.
Flat, sandy Coastal Plain pine woodlands, wetter than sandhills and denser than savannas.
Other habitats in its models (98)
Land cover, or classes with no habitat page in Louisiana. Those recorded in Louisiana first, the rest by region.
In Louisiana 3
- West Gulf Coastal Plain Chenier and Upper Texas Coastal Fringe Forest and Woodland Year-round.
- West Gulf Coastal Plain Pine-Hardwood Forest Year-round.
- West Gulf Coastal Plain Sandhill Oak and Shortleaf Pine Forest and Woodland Year-round.
Elsewhere in the South (50)
- 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.
- Central Interior Highlands Calcareous Glade and Barrens Year-round.
- Central Interior Highlands Dry Acidic Glade and Barrens Year-round.
- Crosstimbers Oak Forest and Woodland 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-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.
- Lower Mississippi River Dune Woodland and Forest Year-round.
- Nashville Basin Limestone Glade Year-round.
- Northern Crowley's Ridge Sand Forest Year-round.
- Ouachita Montane Oak Forest Year-round.
- Ozark-Ouachita Dry Oak Woodland Year-round.
- Ozark-Ouachita Dry-Mesic Oak Forest Year-round.
- Ozark-Ouachita Mesic Hardwood Forest Year-round.
- Ozark-Ouachita Riparian Year-round.
- Ozark-Ouachita Shortleaf Pine-Oak Forest and Woodland 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 Large Floodplain Year-round.
- South-Central Interior Mesophytic Forest Year-round.
- South-Central Interior Small Stream and Riparian 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 Oak Dome and Hammock Year-round.
- Southern Crowley's Ridge Mesic Loess Slope Forest 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.
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 (33)
- 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.
- Central Interior and Appalachian Floodplain Systems Year-round.
- Central Interior and Appalachian Riparian Systems Year-round.
- Central Interior and Appalachian Swamp Systems 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 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.
- South-Central Interior Large Floodplain - Forest 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 Louisiana
- Year-round: nests here, in 38 of 64 parishes.
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 40
- Cockspur HawthornCrataegus crus-galli
- Barberry HawthornCrataegus berberifolia
- Frosted HawthornCrataegus pruinosa
- Green HawthornCrataegus viridis
- Hill HawthornCrataegus collina
- Littlehip HawthornCrataegus spathulata
- May HawthornCrataegus aestivalis
- One-flowered HawthornCrataegus uniflora
- Parsley HawthornCrataegus marshallii
- Red HawthornCrataegus iracunda
- Rough HawthornCrataegus senta
- Ashe's HawthornCrataegus ashei
- Beautiful Hawthorn; Beautiful Haw ThornCrataegus pulcherrima
- Crataegus brachyacanthaCrataegus brachyacantha
- Crataegus mendosaCrataegus mendosa
- Crataegus trifloraCrataegus triflora
- Mississippi HawthornCrataegus florens
- Helianthus radulaHelianthus radula
- Rosinweed SunflowerHelianthus silphioides
- Woodland SunflowerHelianthus divaricatus
- Paleleaf SunflowerHelianthus strumosus
- Ashy SunflowerHelianthus mollis
- Beach SunflowerHelianthus debilis
- Hairy SunflowerHelianthus hirsutus
Plant genera in its diet records (5)
- Crataegus 1 diet record. 17 native plants in Louisiana
- Helianthus 1 diet record. 16 native plants in Louisiana
- Triticum 1 diet record. 0 native plants in Louisiana
- Vitis 1 diet record. 7 native plants in Louisiana
- Zea 1 diet record. 0 native plants in Louisiana
Also found in its main habitats
Its main habitats in Louisiana, 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.
Floodplain and bottomland forests
Birds 124
- Black-chinned HummingbirdArchilochus alexandri
- VeeryCatharus fuscescens
- Red-breasted NuthatchSitta canadensis
- Willow FlycatcherEmpidonax traillii
- Worm-eating WarblerHelmitheros vermivorum
- Bell's VireoVireo bellii
- Louisiana WaterthrushSeiurus motacilla
- Northern ParulaParula americana
- Prothonotary WarblerProtonotaria citrea
- Acadian FlycatcherEmpidonax virescens
- AnhingaAnhinga anhinga
- Broad-winged HawkButeo platypterus
Plants 267
- Elliott's BlueberryVaccinium elliottii
- Possumhaw HollyIlex decidua
- Cherrybark OakQuercus pagoda
- Shagbark HickoryCarya ovata
- PondberryLindera melissifolia
- Blunt Broom SedgeCarex tribuloides
- Louisiana SedgeCarex louisianica
- Smooth Hedge-nettleStachys tenuifolia
- Common Cup-plantSilphium perfoliatum
- Heartleaf NettleUrtica chamaedryoides
- Clustered FescueFestuca paradoxa
- American BladdernutStaphylea trifolia
Swamps
Birds 135
- Seaside SparrowAmmodramus maritimus
- Wilson's PloverCharadrius wilsonia
- Eurasian WigeonAnas penelope
- Louisiana WaterthrushSeiurus motacilla
- Northern ParulaParula americana
- Prothonotary WarblerProtonotaria citrea
- Rose-breasted GrosbeakPheucticus ludovicianus
- Ruddy TurnstoneArenaria interpres
- Acadian FlycatcherEmpidonax virescens
- AnhingaAnhinga anhinga
- DunlinCalidris alpina
- Glossy IbisPlegadis falcinellus
Plants 237
- Black Highbush BlueberryVaccinium fuscatum
- Dahoon HollyIlex cassine
- May HawthornCrataegus aestivalis
- Dense-flower SmartweedPersicaria densiflora
- Carolina AshFraxinus caroliniana
- Water HickoryCarya aquatica
- Swamp TupeloNyssa biflora
- Bent SedgeCarex styloflexa
- Cypress-swamp SedgeCarex joorii
- Dark-green SedgeCarex venusta
- Fringed SedgeCarex crinita
- Ravenfoot SedgeCarex crus-corvi
Hardwood and oak flatwoods
Birds 108
- Red-cockaded WoodpeckerPicoides borealis
- Brown-headed NuthatchSitta pusilla
- Bachman's SparrowAimophila aestivalis
- Lark SparrowChondestes grammacus
- Louisiana WaterthrushSeiurus motacilla
- Prothonotary WarblerProtonotaria citrea
- Scarlet TanagerPiranga olivacea
- Broad-winged HawkButeo platypterus
- Hooded WarblerWilsonia citrina
- Kentucky WarblerOporornis formosus
- Northern Saw-whet OwlAegolius acadicus
- Pine WarblerDendroica pinus
Plants 11
- Barrens MilkweedAsclepias hirtella
- Barbed Rattlesnake RootPrenanthes barbata
- Rafinesque's SeedboxLudwigia hirtella
- Longs SedgeCarex longii
- Bushs MuhlyMuhlenbergia bushii
- Nutmeg HickoryCarya myristiciformis
- Wolf's SpikerushEleocharis wolfii
- Dwarf PalmettoSabal minor
- PecanCarya illinoinensis
- Lanceleaf GreenbrierSmilax smallii
- Cat GreenbrierSmilax glauca
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





































































