July 2009 BirdNote Episodes:

Clever Nuthatches

Of the four nuthatch species living in the United States, the most common are the Red-breasted Nuthatch, seen left here, and the White-breasted Nuthatch, on the right. The nuthatch’s insistent call matches its aggressiveness. As it works its way down a tree trunk, the nuthatch can spot—and eat—all the tasty morsels missed by the rest of the birds working their way up the tree.
Catch a video of typical nuthatch behavior.

Sitting in the Catbird Seat

Longtime baseball announcer Red Barber often described a player in a winning situation as “sitting in the catbird seat.” So what is “sitting in the catbird seat”? And what is a catbird? The Gray Catbird is a cousin of the mockingbird, and it does sound a little like a cat. During breeding season, when it’s protecting its territory, the catbird competes with others of its species. The two combatants sing their way to higher and higher perches. The one who finally takes the highest perch is … well … sitting in the catbird seat!

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