White-breasted Nuthatch

WHITE-BREASTED NUTHATCH (SITTA CAROLIENSIS), EVANSTON, ILLINOIS, OCTOBER 31, 2010

Pentax K20D
SMC Pentax-F* 300mm f4.5 ED (IF)
1/500 sec. f9.5
ISO 1600

Most of the birds that visit my backyard bird squirrel feeder are ordinary sparrows, but once in a while a nuthatch hangs out with them, figuring their presence will help protect it from predators. Nuthatches are active, agile and noisy birds, and typically perch heads down, their long, long claws gripping for dear life.