Digital Imaging and Photography → [ID?] Oregon Backyard Bird

Hubby and I aren't avid birdwatchers but we did put up a feeding station in front of our porch (to entertain our indoor cats) and have been enjoying it ourselves as well

This little guy, though, caught my attention and after searching through my Audubon iPad app and few failed web searches, we still can't figure out what this guy is.

He likes to feed either from the ground (more often) or from a perch (much less often), snatch a tidbit, and then fly off with it. He's just slightly larger than the very common sparrows we have feeding here.

I'm guessing someone here can tell me what he is!

Consulting Peterson's Western Bird field guide, I'd say you have a red-breasted nuthatch.

Excellent! That's him! Thanks!!

You're quite welcome.

Nuthatches are fun to watch. They love to climb on the side of trees, often upside-down. Very rare in my neck of the woods.

In summer I get both species in my backyard, the white and red breasted. So hard to photograph as they are constantly moving. But a lot of fun to watch, especially when they walk upside-down the sides of trees.

I haven't seen them doing the walking upside on tree-sides yet but these little guys do like to dine and dash

If you've never seen them do the upside down tree walk then I have a shot to share. This one is a white breasted nuthatch. I've had both visit my backyard and they're full of antics.

I see them year round here in Northern Illinois. They really are mostly upside down on the trees like rcroning's photo shows.