Red-breasted Nuthatches are charming, small birds commonly found in coniferous and mixed forests throughout Oregon. They are well-known for their nasal "yank-yank" call and their unique ability to creep both up and down tree trunks and branches, often headfirst.

Male Red-breasted Nuthatch: The male has a bold, broad black eye-line (a stripe running through the eye) and a darker, slate-gray cap (crown). The rusty or rufous coloration on their underparts (breast, belly, and flanks) tends to be richer and brighter than that of the female.

Female Red-breasted Nuthatch: The female also has an eye-line and a cap, but her eye-line is duller, often more grayish-black or brownish-black, and her cap is paler, more bluish-gray, sometimes blending more into the back color. The rusty wash on her underparts is typically paler and duller than the male's, sometimes appearing more washed out.

Both sexes share these common features:
Upperparts: Both have blue-gray upperparts.
White Supercilium: They both have a distinctive white stripe above the eye (supercilium).
Bill: They possess a thin, pointed, and slightly upturned bill.
Tail: Their tail is short.
Behavior: They are highly active, probing bark crevices for insects and seeds. They are also known to cache food and are frequent visitors to bird feeders, especially for sunflower seeds and suet.