NUTHATCH

A plump short-tailed bird with blue-grey upper plumage, buff underparts and reddish flanks. It has a strong, pointed bill, ideal for hacking open nuts to find the kernel. Nuthatches are omnivorous, eating mostly insects, nuts and seeds. They forage for insects hidden in or under bark by climbing along tree trunks and branches, sometimes upside-down. They are the only bird that can hop down tree trunks as easily as it hops up. They are a rare vagrant to Arran.

3.5cm x 9cm