Red-Breasted Nuthatch

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This is the smaller of the two nuthatches which are common in New England. Notice the extended toes and long sharp claws; the nuthatches walk up and down trees and branches, both above and below, looking for insects, and their feet are adapted to give them a sure grip even on smooth branches.

This one has just extracted a sunflower seed from my father's feeder in northern New York. Note how beaten up the wooden edge is from years of chickadees pecking away there to open sunflower seeds.