Skip to main content

Donate

Birds
Live Cams
Courses
Merlin Bird ID

Donate

Brown-headed Nuthatch Sounds

Overview
ID info
Life History
Maps
Sounds

Calls
Media Player Error
Update your browser or Flash plugin
Maryland, May 04, 1988Recorded by Gregory Budney / Macaulay Library
Calls
Media Player Error
Update your browser or Flash plugin
Florida, May 20, 2012Recorded by Andrew Spencer
Calls
Media Player Error
Update your browser or Flash plugin
Florida, March 20, 2011Recorded by Bob McGuire / Macaulay Library
Calls
Media Player Error
Update your browser or Flash plugin
Georgia, October 03, 2019Recorded by Milton Hobbs / Macaulay Library
Calls
Media Player Error
Update your browser or Flash plugin
Florida, December 03, 2009Recorded by Bob McGuire / Macaulay Library
Calls
Media Player Error
Update your browser or Flash plugin
Florida, December 03, 2009Recorded by Bob McGuire / Macaulay Library

Sounds provided by Macaulay Library.
Listen to more sounds of this species from the ML archive.

Songs

Brown-headed Nuthatches don't sing complicated songs, but they are plenty vocal. They make tiny squeaks that sound like a toy rubber ducky being squeezed. These wheezy 2-syllable notes emanate from the treetops year-round. They repeat each squeak 1–12 times. Although not loud by themselves, other members of the group usually join in to amplify the sound.

Calls

In addition to the commonly heard rubber-ducky vocalization, Brown-headed Nuthatches also make a rapid series of high-pitched, jumbled notes, sometimes combined with the rubber-ducky vocalization. During foraging bouts, individuals also make soft single-noted calls—useful for finding groups of nuthatches.

Compare with Similar Species

Click on an image to compare

Red-breasted Nuthatch

White-breasted Nuthatch

Looking for ID Help?

Our free app offers quick ID help with global coverage.

Try Merlin Bird ID

Species in This Family

Nuthatches(Order: Passeriformes, Family: Sittidae)

White-breasted Nuthatch

Brown-headed Nuthatch

Red-breasted Nuthatch

Browse Species in This Family

More to Read

The Cornell Lab Review: Affordable Full-Size 8x42 Binoculars
It sounds like there are birds stuck in my chimney. What should I do?
Binoculars and Beyond: Nine Tips for Beginning Birdwatchers
Living Bird MagazineBirdwatching Tips: It's Summer... Where Did the Birds Go?
How long do birds incubate their eggs and how long do chicks stay in the nest?
Bird AcademyBird Song Hero

About Us

Contact Us

Follow us

© 2025 Cornell University

Search for species name or keywords

Or Browse Bird Guide by Family or Shape

Need Bird ID Help? Try Merlin

Don't miss a thing! Join our email list

The Cornell Lab will send you updates about birds,
birding, and opportunities to help bird conservation.