| Indian nuthatch | |
|---|---|
| |
| Conservation status | |
 Least Concern (IUCN 3.1) | |
Scientific classification 
| |
| Domain: | Eukaryota |
| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Chordata |
| Class: | Aves |
| Order: | Passeriformes |
| Family: | Sittidae |
| Genus: | Sitta |
| Species: | S. castanea |
| Binomial name | |
| Sitta castanea Lesson, 1830 | |
The Indian nuthatch (Sitta castanea) is a species of bird in the family Sittidae. It is found in Bangladesh, India and Nepal.
Its natural habitats are subtropical or tropical dry forests, subtropical or tropical moist lowland forests, and subtropical or tropical moist montane forests.
This species has been split by Rasmussen and Anderton (2005) from the chestnut-bellied nuthatch. The Indian nuthatch (including the older prateri of the Eastern Ghats) is found south of the Ganges river. It is the only grey-backed, rufous-bellied nuthatch in the peninsula. Similar to the chestnut-bellied nuthatch but has a smaller bill and a frosty crown that is paler than the mantle. The wing and tail patterns lack contrast and has grey centres to the chestnut undertail coverts. Resident in the Terai and Gangetic plain extending into central India, the Eastern Ghats, Sunderbans and a disjunct population in the Western Ghats. Breeds from February to July. Different in vocalization from the chestnut-bellied nuthatch.
Gallery
-
In Dandeli, Karnataka, India
-
Female from Satpura Tiger Reserve, Madhya Pradesh, India
References
- ^ BirdLife International (2018). "Sitta castanea". IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. 2018: e.T103880076A132199752. doi:10.2305/IUCN.UK.2018-2.RLTS.T103880076A132199752.en. Retrieved 16 November 2021.
- J, Praveen (17 November 2015). "A checklist of birds of Kerala, India". Journal of Threatened Taxa. 7 (13): 7983–8009. doi:10.11609/JoTT.2001.7.13.7983-8009.
- "eBird India- Kerala". eBird.org. Cornell Lab of Ornithology. Retrieved 1 October 2017.
- K. K., Neelakantan (2017). Keralathile Pakshikal (Birds of Kerala) (5 ed.). Kerala Sahitya Akademi. p. 511. ISBN 978-81-7690-251-9.
- Grimmett, Richard; Inskipp, Tim; P.O., Nameer (2007). Birds of Southern India . Mumbai: BNHS.
- Rasmussen, P. C. & J. Anderton (2005) The Birds of South Asia:The Ripley Guide. Smithsonian Institution and Lynx Edicions.