White-breasted Nuthatch
White-breasted NuthatchWhite-breasted NuthatchWhite-breasted NuthatchWhite-breasted Nuthatch

White-breasted Nuthatch

Sitta carolinensis

Least ConcernNear ThreatenedVulnerableEndangeredCritically Endangered Endemic
30–40% · Possible
overall probability at Great Smoky Mountains National Park
2,665 Verified records at Great Smoky Mountains National Park
November Best month highest sighting rate
☀️ Diurnal When it's active during daytime hours (6am–6pm)

The white-breasted nuthatch (Sitta carolinensis) is a species of bird in the nuthatch family Sittidae. It is a medium-sized nuthatch, measuring approximately 15.5 cm (6.1 in) in length. Coloration varies somewhat along the species' range, but the upperparts are light blue-gray, with a black crown and nape in males, while females have a dark gray crown. The underparts are whitish, with a reddish tinge on the lower abdomen. Despite not being closely related, the white-breasted nuthatch and the white wagtail are very similar in plumage. The white-breasted nuthatch is a chatty bird. Wikipedia →

30–40% of wildlife watchers report a White-breasted Nuthatch sighting in Great Smoky Mountains National Park, based on 2,665 days of visitor records from GBIF citizen-science data.

Closest Relatives at Great Smoky Mountains National Park

Red-breasted Nuthatch
LC

Red-breasted Nuthatch

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Sitta canadensis

5–10% · With luck
Brown-headed Nuthatch
LC Endemic

Brown-headed Nuthatch

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Sitta pusilla

<5% · Rare
American Crow
LC

American Crow

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Corvus brachyrhynchos

70–80% · Very likely
Northern Cardinal
LC Endemic

Northern Cardinal

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Cardinalis cardinalis

70–80% · Very likely
Carolina Wren
LC

Carolina Wren

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Thryothorus ludovicianus

70–80% · Very likely
Carolina Chickadee
LC Endemic

Carolina Chickadee

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Poecile carolinensis

70–80% · Very likely
American Robin
LC Endemic

American Robin

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Turdus migratorius

60–70% · Likely
Tufted Titmouse
LC

Tufted Titmouse

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Baeolophus bicolor

60–70% · Likely
Blue Jay
LC

Blue Jay

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Cyanocitta cristata

50–60% · Likely
Song Sparrow
LC Endemic

Song Sparrow

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Melospiza melodia

50–60% · Likely
American Goldfinch
LC

American Goldfinch

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Spinus tristis

40–50% · Likely
Eastern Phoebe
LC

Eastern Phoebe

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Sayornis phoebe

40–50% · Likely

📅 Monthly Probability

40–50
Jan
40–50
Feb
30–40
Mar
30–40
Apr
20–30
May
30–40
Jun
20–30
Jul
40–50
Aug
40–50
Sep
40–50
Oct
50–60
Nov
40–50
Dec

☀️ When They're Spotted

Most active during daytime hours (6am–6pm) · across all parks (global)

☀️Diurnal
☀️🌙🌙12am6am12pm6pm12am

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 Shenandoah National Park 🇺🇸 United States
60–70%
2 Grand Canyon National Park 🇺🇸 United States
40–50%
3 Congaree National Park 🇺🇸 United States
40–50%
4 Rocky Mountain National Park 🇺🇸 United States
30–40%
5 Great Smoky Mountains National Park 🇺🇸 United States
30–40%
6 Sequoia and Kings Canyon National Parks 🇺🇸 United States
30–40%
7 Guadalupe Mountains National Park 🇺🇸 United States
20–30%
8 Zion National Park 🇺🇸 United States
20–30%
9 Point Pelee National Park 🇨🇦 Canada
20–30%
10 Acadia National Park 🇺🇸 United States
20–30%
11 Elk Island National Park 🇨🇦 Canada
20–30%
12 Riding Mountain National Park 🇨🇦 Canada
10–20%
13 Yosemite National Park 🇺🇸 United States
10–20%
14 Voyageurs National Park 🇺🇸 United States
5–10%
15 Cumbres de Monterrey National Park 🇲🇽 Mexico
5–10%
16 Glacier National Park 🇺🇸 United States
5–10%
17 Big Bend National Park 🇺🇸 United States
5–10%
18 Reserva de la Biosfera Mariposa Monarca 🇲🇽 Mexico
5–10%
19 Grand Teton National Park 🇺🇸 United States
<5%
20 Jasper National Park 🇨🇦 Canada
<5%
21 Isle Royale National Park 🇺🇸 United States
<5%
22 Redwood National Park 🇺🇸 United States
<5%
23 Banff National Park 🇨🇦 Canada
<5%
24 Yellowstone National Park 🇺🇸 United States
<5%
25 Channel Islands National Park 🇺🇸 United States
<5%
26 Badlands National Park 🇺🇸 United States
<5%
27 Death Valley National Park 🇺🇸 United States
<5%
28 Olympic National Park 🇺🇸 United States
<5%
29 Cape Breton Highlands National Park 🇨🇦 Canada
Insufficient data
30 Joshua Tree National Park 🇺🇸 United States
Insufficient data
31 Great Bear Rainforest 🇨🇦 Canada
Insufficient data

Quick answers

What are the chances of seeing a White-breasted Nuthatch in Great Smoky Mountains National Park?

About 36% of wildlife watchers report a White-breasted Nuthatch sighting in Great Smoky Mountains National Park, based on 2,665 days of visitor records from GBIF citizen-science data.

When is the best time to see White-breasted Nuthatch in Great Smoky Mountains National Park?

November has the highest sighting rate for White-breasted Nuthatch in Great Smoky Mountains National Park in our monthly data.

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