Pygmy Nuthatch
Sitta pygmaea
All of these photos are of Pygmy Nuthatches taken in the Vollmer Peak area of Tilden Regional Park, CA. The species generally stays together in groups of 6-10 and favors pine trees. It's top-half is bluish-gray, and the shading may depend on the time of year observed. The top left photo was taken on August 22, 2014, when the bird's feathers are nearly refreshed for the breeding season. The top right photo was taken in the same general area but on June 23, 2015 when it is "worn" after the breeding season. The bottom two photos were taken on the same June day, with the left one illustrating its pale whitish-gray underside, and the right one illustrating clearly worn feathering that exposes the whitish spot on its hindneck (often concealed in fresher plumage). (Click on images to see enlarged versions.)