Eurasian Nuthatch

Physical characteristics: A compact bird with blue-grey upperparts, warm buff to pale orange underparts and a distinctive black stripe running from the bill through the eye toward the back of the head. It is about 14 centimetres long and has a straight, pointed bill used to extract insects from bark and crack nuts.

Behaviour: The Eurasian Nuthatch is distinctive for moving head-first down tree trunks, a behaviour most local birds cannot perform. Strong legs and claws allow it to descend easily while searching for prey. It also stores nuts and seeds by wedging them into bark crevices and hammering them open with its bill.

Habitat and distribution: It favours woodland with old, creviced trees and established orchards. It is a permanent resident of Kurdistan’s mountainous forests and woodland habitats.