Beautiful Nuthatch
Encyclopedia
The Beautiful Nuthatch (Sitta formosa) is one of the rarest nuthatch
es on Earth. It occurs in north east India
and neighbouring regions, with odd records across to Thailand
, where it may be a winter visitor or resident.
This is a large nuthatch, black-backed with white streaking. The upper back, rump and shoulders are bright blue. The underparts are dull orange, although the face is somewhat paler. In flight, a white patch contrasts with the otherwise dark underwing. Sexes are similar, as are young birds.
It forages for insect
s in high trees in dense forest, and this always rare species has been adversely affected by woodland clearance. Its rarity, retiring habits, and the political and geographical inaccessibility of its range mean that this species is little known.
Nuthatch
The nuthatches are a genus, Sitta, of small passerine birds belonging to the family Sittidae. Characterised by large heads, short tails, and powerful bills and feet, nuthatches advertise their territory using loud, simple songs...
es on Earth. It occurs in north east India
India
India , officially the Republic of India , is a country in South Asia. It is the seventh-largest country by geographical area, the second-most populous country with over 1.2 billion people, and the most populous democracy in the world...
and neighbouring regions, with odd records across to Thailand
Thailand
Thailand , officially the Kingdom of Thailand , formerly known as Siam , is a country located at the centre of the Indochina peninsula and Southeast Asia. It is bordered to the north by Burma and Laos, to the east by Laos and Cambodia, to the south by the Gulf of Thailand and Malaysia, and to the...
, where it may be a winter visitor or resident.
This is a large nuthatch, black-backed with white streaking. The upper back, rump and shoulders are bright blue. The underparts are dull orange, although the face is somewhat paler. In flight, a white patch contrasts with the otherwise dark underwing. Sexes are similar, as are young birds.
It forages for insect
Insect
Insects are a class of living creatures within the arthropods that have a chitinous exoskeleton, a three-part body , three pairs of jointed legs, compound eyes, and two antennae...
s in high trees in dense forest, and this always rare species has been adversely affected by woodland clearance. Its rarity, retiring habits, and the political and geographical inaccessibility of its range mean that this species is little known.