Anatolian Siskin (Sitta krueperi)

Anatolian Nuthatch (Sitta krueperi), is an endemic songbird species found only in Anatolia, southern Caucasus, southwestern Russia, and the Greek island of Lesvos. It is recognized by its medium size, short bill, and strong climbing ability.

Its distribution is largely restricted to pine and other coniferous forests. Its diet consists of insects, spiders, and conifer seeds depending on the season; it is a resident species but exhibits seasonal elevational movements. The International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) classifies it as “Least Concern”.

Anatolian Nuthatch (pixabay)

Morphological Characteristics

The Anatolian Nuthatch is a medium-sized nuthatch measuring approximately 12–13 cm in length and weighing 10–14 g. In males, the forehead is bright black with a blue sheen; a white supercilium extends from here toward the nape. A distinct black line runs through the eye. The back, wing coverts, and tail feathers are blue-gray; the flight feathers are darker, bordered by pale blue-gray edges.

The lateral tail feathers show bluish-gray and white tips. The cheeks, throat, and sides of the neck are white. A distinctive reddish-brown patch marks the center of the breast; the flanks and belly transition to gray, while the lower belly and undertail coverts are dirty white to brownish. The undertail coverts are chestnut with whitish tips. The bill is dark horn-colored with a gray-blue base; the eyes are dark chestnut or brown, surrounded by a thin white ring. The legs are dark gray or brownish.

Females resemble males but the black on the forehead is duller and less defined posteriorly; the breast patch is paler, more orange-red. Juveniles lack the black forehead; upperparts are dull, the breast patch is pale and indistinct. The bill is dark horn-colored, the lower mandible base is pinkish, and the gape is yellow.

Distribution and Habitat

The Anatolian Nuthatch is a regional endemic with a restricted geographic range. It occurs throughout much of Turkey, especially in the western, southern, and northern Anatolian mountain ranges; only on the Greek island of Lesvos; and in southwestern Russia (Krasnodar region and northwest Caucasus) and northern Georgia.

Its habitat is primarily confined to coniferous forests. In Turkey, it inhabits Turkish pine (Pinus brutia) forests at low elevations; at higher altitudes, it occurs in fir (Abies), spruce (Picea), black pine (Pinus nigra), cedar (Cedrus libani), and locally juniper (Juniperus) stands. On Lesvos, although dependent on Turkish pine, it may also nest in broadleaf trees if they are nearby. In the Caucasus, it extensively uses fir and spruce forests, mixed beech-fir (Fagus–Abies) communities, and occasionally maple (Acer) groves.

Altitudinal distribution varies by region. In Turkey, it is mostly found between 500–1000 m, occasionally near sea level and up to 1700 m in Uludağ and 2500 m in the Taurus Mountains. On Lesvos, it ranges from 200–700 m, descending to sea level in winter. In the Caucasus, it occurs between 1000–2000 m, though it has been recorded as low as 150 m along the Black Sea coast.

Distribution Map (IUCN Red List)

Diet

The diet of the Anatolian Nuthatch varies seasonally. During the breeding season, its primary food consists of insects, larvae, and spiders; nestlings are fed exclusively animal matter. In autumn and winter, seeds of coniferous trees, especially Turkish pine (Pinus brutia) and other pine, fir, and spruce species, become the main food source.

Anatolian Nuthatch (pixabay)

While foraging, it is typically active on fine branches, cones, and trunks of trees. It uses the tip of its bill to extract seeds from between cone scales, then wedges them into crevices in bark or hidden cracks for storage. These food caches serve as an important food source during rainy and cold periods when cones are closed. Occasionally, it forages on the ground and rarely catches insects in flight. Outside the breeding season, it feeds alone or in small groups and may join mixed-species flocks in winter.

Anatolian Nuthatch (pixabay)

Breeding

The breeding season of the Anatolian Nuthatch begins between mid-April and mid-May, depending on region and elevation. The species is monogamous, and pairs exhibit strong territorial behavior around the nest site. Nests are typically located in cavities in the trunks or thick branches of coniferous trees; occasionally, the female cleans or enlarges an existing cavity, and rarely excavates a new one. The nest is lined with coarse bark fragments, cone scales, and decayed wood, and the interior is padded with moss, fibers, feathers, and hairs.

The female lays 5–7 eggs, which have a dirty white background marked with reddish or purplish spots. Incubation is performed solely by the female and lasts approximately 14–17 days. During this period, the male occasionally feeds the female. Nestlings are fed by the female using her bill until they fledge, after which they continue to be fed insects and spiders brought by both parents. The fledging period ranges from 16 to 22 days.

The species’ nest site selection is largely restricted to old coniferous trees; therefore, the felling of dead trees or destruction of cavity-bearing trees directly impacts breeding success.

Vocalizations and Song

The Anatolian Nuthatch is a highly vocal species. In alarm or agitation, it emits sharp, hissing-like short calls such as “cha” or “sharr”; these calls accelerate in succession as excitement increases, forming a raspy, staccato series. During flight, a nasal, short “cek” call is common. Softer contact calls include “pwit” and sparrow-like “dui” or “doid” sounds.

Its song is audible year-round but is most intense in spring. The typical song is a sharp, undulating trill lasting 4–8 seconds, delivered at a rate of about eight notes per second, perceived as “pip-pip-pip…” or “vit-vit-vit…”. In more complex forms, it exhibits a high-pitched, echoing double-syllable pattern such as “yu-di, yu-di…” or “vika-vika…”. Songs are primarily used during territorial defense or mate attraction.

^{Anatolian Nuthatch Song (}xeno-cento⁾

Conservation Status

The Anatolian Nuthatch (Sitta krueperi) is globally assessed by the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) as “Least Concern”. The total population is estimated at 120,000–450,000 pairs, the majority of which reside in Türkiye. A small but stable population exists on the Greek island of Lesvos, while populations in the Caucasus and Russia are smaller and more irregular.

Between 1990 and 2000, the largest populations in Türkiye and Russia declined by more than 20%, and this decline continued in Türkiye from 2000 to 2012. The population on Lesvos, however, remained relatively stable. Major threats include increasing tourism and summer development along coastal areas, degradation of old coniferous forests, felling of large trees for resin production, and forest fires. In the Caucasus, the cutting of old fir and spruce forests directly affects breeding habitats.

The species is listed on Appendix I of the European Union Birds Directive and Appendix II of the Bern Convention. In Türkiye and Greece, it is included in their Red Data Books as a threatened species. Conservation measures should prioritize maintaining the continuity of old coniferous forests, preserving dead trees in forest management, and limiting habitat loss caused by tourism.