Brown-headed Nuthatch
Sitta pusilla
- KingdomAnimalia (Animals)
- PhylumChordata (Cordats)
- ClassAves (Aus)
- OrderPasseriformes
- FamilySittidae (Nuthatches)
- GenusSitta (Nuthatches)
- SpeciesSitta pusilla (Brown-headed Nuthatch)
The brown-headed nuthatch (Sitta pusilla) is a small songbird endemic to pine forests throughout the Southeastern United States. Genetic analyses indicated low differentiation between northern and southern populations in Florida, but the study also found lower genetic diversity among south Florida populations that may be a result of the increased habitat fragmentation that was documented. The Bahama nuthatch was formerly considered a subspecies (S. p. insularis), but has since been reclassified as its own separate species. Two recent studies assessing vocalizations in Bahama and continental nuthatch populations found important differences. One of the studies also demonstrated that continental and Bahama populations did not respond aggressively to calls of the other population. Wikipedia →
<5% of wildlife watchers report a Brown-headed Nuthatch sighting in Great Smoky Mountains National Park, based on 60 days of visitor records from GBIF citizen-science data.
Closest Relatives at Great Smoky Mountains National Park
White-breasted Nuthatch
Sitta carolinensis
Red-breasted Nuthatch
Sitta canadensis
American Crow
Corvus brachyrhynchos
Northern Cardinal
Cardinalis cardinalis
Carolina Wren
Thryothorus ludovicianus
Carolina Chickadee
Poecile carolinensis
American Robin
Turdus migratorius
Tufted Titmouse
Baeolophus bicolor
Blue Jay
Cyanocitta cristata
Song Sparrow
Melospiza melodia
American Goldfinch
Spinus tristis
Eastern Phoebe
Sayornis phoebe
📅 Monthly Probability
☀️ When They're Spotted
Most active during daytime hours (6am–6pm) · across all parks (global)
Global Distribution
Where this species is recorded worldwide. Restricted to human observations from 2019 onwards — the same kind of record and the same period the probabilities on this page are built from, so collar-tracking studies, camera-trap arrays and museum specimens are excluded. Around Santa Rosa that removes 5,924 GPS fixes from a handful of tagged jaguars.
where this species is recorded (GBIF density — it tracks where observers go, not how likely a sighting is) · parks where it occurs — tap a pin for the sighting probability there
Parks Where Found
| # | Park | Country | Probability |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Congaree National Park | 🇺🇸 United States | |
| 2 | Big Cypress National Preserve | 🇺🇸 United States | |
| 3 | Everglades National Park | 🇺🇸 United States | |
| 4 | Great Smoky Mountains National Park | 🇺🇸 United States | |
| 5 | Shenandoah National Park | 🇺🇸 United States |
Quick answers
What are the chances of seeing a Brown-headed Nuthatch in Great Smoky Mountains National Park?
About 1% of wildlife watchers report a Brown-headed Nuthatch sighting in Great Smoky Mountains National Park, based on 60 days of visitor records from GBIF citizen-science data.
When is the best time to see Brown-headed Nuthatch in Great Smoky Mountains National Park?
January has the highest sighting rate for Brown-headed Nuthatch in Great Smoky Mountains National Park in our monthly data.