Bahama Nuthatch

Sitta insularis

Endemic to Grand Bahama Island, where it is the only nuthatch, though now extremely rare and possibly extinct. Active in crowns of pines and hard to see clearly. Small with a long, pointed bill. Also look for brown cap, gray upperparts, and creamy-whitish underparts. Listen for short sputtering trills and high-pitched squeaks.

Identification

It has some notable differences from its closest relative, the brown-headed nuthatch (S. pusilla), including a darker brown facial stripe, a longer bill, shorter wings, and a unique warbling call.

Taxonomy

It was previously considered a subspecies of the brown-headed nuthatch by most taxonomic authorities. A 2020 study found further evidence for it being a distinct species, finding significant vocal differences based on voice recordings and a notable genetic difference from the brown-headed nuthatch that was even larger than that of some birds unanimously considered distinct species from their mainland relatives, such as the Bahama warbler (Setophaga flavescens) compared the yellow-throated warbler (S. dominica). The International Ornithological Congress has since reclassified it as a distinct species.<p>Some previous studies considered it a subspecies of S. pusilla based on the fact that the species was only ever historically known from Grand Bahama, which only separated from the Abacos about 2,500 years ago, which would indicate they only ever colonized Grand Bahama and was too recent for total speciation to occur. However, later research using genetic markers indicates that both species likely diverged around 685,000 years ago and late Pleistocene fossil remains of S. insularis from Abaco and Long Island have since been described, indicating that it likely had a much wider distribution across the Bahamas until for unknown reasons, it was restricted to Grand Bahama by the Holocene.

Scientific name
Sitta insularis
Authority
Bond, J, 1931
Order
Passeriformes
Family
Sittidae
Genus
Sitta

Range and habitat

Migration
Resident species

Conservation

Population trend
declining

Photos

Distribution

Bird Calls

Other Birds

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Greater White-fronted Goose

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