Krüper's Nuthatch

The Krüper's nuthatch is a small to medium-sized bird, with a length of about 12.5 centimeters. It exhibits a blue-gray upper body, while the adult's crown is black at the front, a feature present in both sexes but more pronounced in males. The bird's eyestripe is black or gray, and it sports a striking white supercilium. Males have blue-gray underparts, whereas females display a buff-gray coloration, both adorned with a distinctive rufous pectoral patch.

Identification Tips

To identify the Krüper's nuthatch, look for its blue-gray upperparts and the black front half of the crown in adults. The white supercilium and rufous crescent on the chest are key features. Males and females can be distinguished by the intensity of the black on the crown and the shade of the underparts, with males being more vividly colored.

Habitat

This species thrives in pine and other coniferous forests, showing a particular affinity for Turkish pine. It can be found from sea level to elevations of 2,500 meters, adapting to various forested environments.

Distribution

The Krüper's nuthatch is predominantly found in Turkey, extending to Lesvos and the Caucasus. Its distribution closely follows that of the Turkish pine, suggesting a specialized habitat preference.

Behaviour

Krüper's nuthatches are solitary or form pairs during breeding season, and may join small groups or mixed-species flocks in autumn. They are territorial, which may be linked to their habit of caching food.

Song & Calls

The species is vocally expressive, with a contact call resembling a 'dvui' and an agitated call similar to a rough 'èèhch'. Its song consists of a nasal "tuituituituitui", alternating in pitch and rhythm.

Breeding

Breeding occurs from March to May, with nests typically placed in tree holes. Clutches consist of five to seven eggs, incubated by the female and fed by the male. Both parents feed the fledglings, which leave the nest after 15 to 19 days.

Similar Species

The Algerian nuthatch is the closest relative, sharing the black half-crown but differing in underpart coloration and lacking the rufous pectoral patch characteristic of the Krüper's nuthatch.

Diet and Feeding

Krüper's nuthatches feed on insects during summer and switch to seeds, particularly pine, in fall and winter. They forage in various levels of the forest and are known to cache food.

Conservation status

Despite a decline in numbers due to habitat loss from forestry and tourism development, the Krüper's nuthatch is currently classified as "Least Concern" by the IUCN. However, ongoing threats necessitate monitoring and conservation efforts.