Blue Tit and Nuthatch Behaviour

[gentlefern]

Hi everyone,

I observed Blue-tits attacking Nuthatches on numerous occasions today. I've never seen this behaviour before (but I am a beginner) and was wondering what it was all about. I visit this wood regularly and often see both species in abundance, but they usually seem to ignore each-other. My friend also said she was seeing the same in her garden and she's never observed it before either.

I'm assuming it's competition over food or territory, but would love to have an expert give me an explanation.

Hope one of you experts can help.

[King Edward]

I haven't seen this before. I wouldn't have thought it would be competition for food, since as far as I know their diets don't overlap much. Blue Tits are feeding mainly in the smaller branches/twigs, where bigger birds can't go so easily, while Nuthatches poke around crevices etc. It might be different on garden bird feeders, but in a wood I'd have thought they'd just ignore one another.

[RKB]

Depends what you mean by "attacking", and maybe it;s not what you think?

Nuthatches are very dominant over Blue Tits, through sheer size alone, although you might get posturing at feeders if a Blue Tit doesn't want to move. Tits usually part like the Red Sea when a Nuthatch lands though!

You do get a thing called kleptoparasitism, which is when one species steals from another. Nuthatches cache excess food, and Blue Tits can watch them, nip in immediately afterwards, and steal the seed they've just hidden.

[gentlefern]

Many thanks for both your replies. I think the kleptoparasitism suggestion is a likely explanation as to what was occuring. The Blue tits were definitely flying at the Nuthatches up in the higher branches. I'm hopefully going out on the reserve tomorrow and will have a closer look to see if they are trying to steal the nuts as opposed to attacking the Nuthatches.

Fascinating stuff though. Going to Google Kleptoparasitism and learn a bit more about it.

cheers
Karen