I always freeze with them, just in case.

Seriously, when I see them like that, I don't move near the window for fear
of startling them into doing something foolish.

On the other hand, I have seen them (not RBNH in particular, but most of the
feeding flock behave similarly in this respect) seem to be just "relaxing"
or "zoning out." It's always seemed strange to me to see a Chickadee,
Nuthatch, or Titmouse sitting still for long (several minutes) periods of
time. At first I thought they were ill, but after a time they would resume
normal activities. They didn't appear to be in defensive, frozen mode, since
others were active around them and they would move a bit themselves. When
frozen, the only movement I'm used to seeing is eye-blinks.

Staying put in an awkard postion though, I'd assume to be "frozen" rather
than relaxing. But I'm not a Nuthatch, though some might debate that.

fdp

--------------------------------------------------------------------
Fred Pierce (DNRC)- avialantic.com
---------------------------------------------------------------------

> -----Original Message-----
> From: Maryland Birds & Birding [mailto:[log in to unmask]]On
> Behalf Of Janet Millenson
> Sent: Sunday, January 27, 2008 5:17 PM
> To: 
> Subject: Re: [MDOSPREY] Fwd: Is this normal behavior for red-breasted
> nuthatch?
>
>
> There probably was an accipiter nearby. I've seen birds freeze in
> place for
> a very long time until the hawk flies away, because any movement would
> attract the predator's attention. In fact, if you notice an oddly
> motionless
> bird at your feeder, that's a good clue to scan the vicinity for
> a sharpie
> or Cooper's.
>
> Janet Millenson
> Potomac, MD (Montgomery County)
> 
> ----------------------------------------------------------------
> "Look at the birds!" -- Pascal the parrot
> ----- Original Message -----
> From: "June Tveekrem" <>
> To: <>
> Sent: Sunday, January 27, 2008 3:48 PM
> Subject: [MDOSPREY] Fwd: Is this normal behavior for red-breasted
> nuthatch?
>
>
> | Have any of you ever seen a Red-breasted Nuthatch just hang upside down
> | on a feeder perch and not want to move? I haven't. See the message below
> | for details and this link for a photo:
> | http://www.pbase.com/spatterson/image/92033445
> |
> | --
> | June Tveekrem
> | Columbia, Maryland
> | tweekiebird|AT|southernspreadwing.com
> |
> |
> | -------- Original Message --------
> | Subject: [mou] Is this normal behavior for redbreasted nuthatch?
> | Date: Sun, 27 Jan 2008 10:46
> | From: Steve Patterson <>
> | To: <>
> |
> |
> |
> | I know these birds feed upside down on trees, but have never seen this
> | behavior on my feeders before. The bird hung upside down on the feeder,
> | doing nothing. When I approached (I thought it might be hurt) it
> | reluctantly flew to a nearby tree. Warming in the sun, maybe?
> Curious what
> | people think. Photo here:
> | http://www.pbase.com/spatterson/image/92033445
> |
> |
> | ---This listserv is sponsored by the Minnesota Ornithologists' Union.
> |
>