When the cold sets in and food becomes scarce, nuthatches prove themselves to be some of the bird world's smartest survivalists. While most backyard birds rely on feeders or stored fat, nuthatches have mastered the art of caching, or storing food for later. However, their caching behaviour is not random. These tiny planners make surprisingly strategic decisions about where, when and how often to hide their food.
In this blog, we'll examine how nuthatches select their cache spots, how their storage habits differ between day and night, and the implications for backyard birders seeking to support them through harsh winters.
1. Why Nuthatches Cache: The Science Behind the Strategy
Caching is one of the nuthatch's key survival tactics. Instead of relying on one food source, they scatter-hoard — meaning they hide dozens or even hundreds of seeds, nuts, or insects across many locations.
According to research from the Cornell Lab of Ornithology, this behavior allows nuthatches to spread risk. If one hiding spot is discovered or covered by snow, there are plenty more to fall back on. Scientists have observed that White-breasted Nuthatches can remember their cache locations for weeks, showing a remarkable spatial memory — a critical skill when every calorie counts in subzero weather.
Caching also helps reduce competition. Unlike chickadees or jays that may cache in more visible places, nuthatches often hide their food in deep bark crevices, under loose bark, or in cracks of wooden fences — discreet, hard-to-find, and easily defended.
2. Picking the Perfect Spot: How Nuthatches Choose Cache Locations
If you've ever watched a nuthatch zigzag down a tree trunk, it's not just a quirky move — it's part of its caching strategy. These birds prefer rough-barked trees like oaks, pines, and hickories because the grooves and crevices provide natural hiding spots.
Here's what field studies have found:
Preference for natural cover: Nuthatches tend to cache on the leeward (downwind) side of trees — spots that are less exposed to cold air and moisture, helping food stay dry and fresh.
Avoiding competitors: They often cache high above the ground, out of reach of rodents or squirrels.
Microclimate awareness: In severe cold, they choose sunnier tree faces to prevent seeds from freezing too solid to retrieve.
If you want to help, add natural caching-friendly features to your yard: rough-bark trees, deadwood logs, and even a section of untreated wood fencing can serve as ideal storage zones.
3. Timing Is Everything: Daily and Seasonal Cache Patterns
Caching isn't a one-time event — it's a daily rhythm that shifts with weather and daylight.
During early fall, nuthatches cache more actively, sometimes making hundreds of trips per day. This is when insect populations drop and seeds become their primary energy source.
During winter, caching slows, but retrieval increases. They often revisit stored seeds during mid-morning and late afternoon — prime feeding times when body temperature recovery is needed most.
Nighttime strategy: While mostly diurnal, studies from the University of California, Davis show that some nuthatches may perform quick pre-roost caching if conditions are mild, essentially "stashing snacks" before roosting in tree cavities overnight.
Backyard birders might notice that nuthatches seem "hyperactive" around feeders in autumn — this isn't greed; it's preparation. If you spot them flying off with single seeds, they're caching for later!
4. How You Can Support Their Smart Behavior
You can make caching easier (and safer) for your nuthatches:
Offer foods they love to store. Black oil sunflower seeds, peanuts, and suet bits are ideal. Avoid salted or flavored varieties.
Keep feeders stable and accessible. A sturdy, platform-style feeder lets them grab and go without stress.
Leave natural cover intact. Fallen logs, tree bark, and shrubs are their preferred storage zones. Avoid "overcleaning" your yard in fall.
Skip chemical treatments. Insecticides and surface sprays can contaminate cached food or drive away insects that nuthatches depend on.
By supporting their caching habits, you're helping nuthatches create their own food network — a sustainable, instinct-driven system that keeps them alive long after your feeders run empty.
Final Thoughts
Nuthatches are not just energetic winter visitors; they are also miniature planners with incredible foresight. Their caching behaviour demonstrates the adaptability and intelligence of small birds in surviving freezing winters.
The next time you see a nuthatch dart away from your bird feeder with a seed in its beak, remember that it's not just looking for food; it's planning ahead. By making your garden a safe, natural caching space, you can become part of that remarkable survival story.