Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
Piñon Jay
NUTHATCHES
Seen year-round throughout both Bryce Canyon and Zion, especially
at higher elevations, Nuthatches are known for their ability to walk down tree
trunks with their heads aimed straight down. The
white-breastedNuthatch
is the
species most commonly spotted at Zion, sometimes along the upper sections of
the West Rim Trail or in the Kolob Canyon area; it's also seen in various locations
throughout Bryce Canyon. A white-breasted Nuthatch is about 6 inches long, with
a blue back; a white face, chest, and belly; and a black cap on its head. The
pygmy
Nuthatch
is commonly seen in the ponderosa pine forests in Bryce and occasion-
ally observed in Zion. This tiny bird, rarely more than 4 1/2 inches from the tip
of its beak to the tip of its tail, is bluish-gray on its back and sides, white or light
gray underneath, and has a dark cap on its head. Also frequently seen at Bryce
Canyon—generally in the forests above 8,500 feet—but only occasionally at Zion,
are
red-breastedNuthatches,
which, not surprisingly, are recognized by their red
or rust-colored chests. They have blue-gray backs and dark crowns, plus white eye-
brows and a dark line behind each eye.
