The colorful little red-breasted nuthatch brightens mature open conifer forests all year long on the eastern slopes of the Cascade Mountains and foothills. The birds are easily identified by their small size, and their rusty red undersides, blue-gray back, wings and tail and black and white striped head. They can be seen climbing trees head down hanging on with their long claws while eating insects from crevices in the bark.

Red-breasted nuthatches nest in cavities which they build in trees. They hatch one brood of five to nine chicks each year. In winter nuthatches roost in groups for warmth. They are generally not migratory but will fly south if their food supply is poor. Besides insects, nuthatches also eat seeds and nuts which they cache in fall and winter for later eating. These birds may visit feeders where favorite foods are sunflower seeds, peanuts and suet. You are likely to see red-breasted nuthatches if you look at tree trunks as you walk through the forests around Leavenworth. They are sometimes found feeding with chickadees, creepers and kinglets.