Algerian Nuthatch Sitta ledanti Scientific name definitions

13·5 cm; 16·6–18 g. A medium-sized nuthatch prominent white supercilium and short, slender and sharply pointed bill; bill often appears uptilted owing to rather straight culmen and distinct angle at gonys. Male in fresh plumage (autumn) has forecrown black, odd feathers faintly tipped grey, broad white or creamy supercilium from nostril to nape, gradually merging at rear with blue-grey of upperparts , some grey flecking in front of eye, dull black eyestripe from bill to rear ear-coverts (ill defined behind eye); hindcrown and upperparts, including side of neck, tertials and upperwing-coverts, blue-grey, wing-coverts diffusely tipped paler; flight-feathers sooty black, secondaries fringed blue-grey, outer primaries finely fringed pale grey at base, inner primaries and secondaries tipped white; central tail feathers blue-grey, other rectrices blackish with narrow blue-grey tips, subterminal white bar from outer web of T3 to T6, broadest on T6; cheek and ear-coverts white, washed buff and variably mottled blackish or dark grey, especially at rear; throat and underparts creamy pink or washed pinkish-buff, some grey feather centres showing on undertail-coverts; in worn plumage, cap pure black, supercilium purer white, eyestripe darker, also broader at rear, encompassing lower ear-coverts (where mottled off-white), upperparts duller and less blue, tail and flight-feathers bleached slightly paler, pale tips of wing-coverts and flight-feathers abraded, underparts orange-buff to creamy, washed pinkish-buff; iris blackish-brown, narrow whitish eyering; bill slaty black, base of cutting edge of upper mandible and basal half of lower mandible blue-grey; legs grey or dark grey. Female as male, but in fresh plumage most of crown and eyestripe concolorous with upperparts, blackish confined to diffuse spot on forehead; when worn, has variable black cap, although generally paler, rather less extensive and less well defined than male’s. Juvenile has cap and eyestripe concolorous with upperparts, supercilium very poorly marked, upperparts paler and less blue than adult and underparts also paler; variation with sex and age not fully understood, black-capped juveniles once described but existence of this plumage strongly contested by subsequent observers; nevertheless, juveniles from a single nest can vary in head pattern (of a brood of three, one had black forecrown and resembled adult male, one resembled adult female, and third had crown grey and concolorous with mantle), and juveniles presumably sexually dimorphic.

Taza National Park, Mt Babor, Tamentout and Djimla in Petite Kabylie mountain region, NE Algeria.

On Djebel Babor (climate cool and humid, annual precipitation 2000–2500 mm, falling mostly in winter; up to 4 m of snow Nov–Apr/May), found in relict stand of montane forest with many epiphytic mosses and lichens; at 1200–1650 m forest dominated by deciduous Atlas oak (Quercus tlemcenensis), with significant proportion of Atlas cedar (Cedrus atlantica), from 1650m to 1800 m percentage of cedar and Algerian fir (Abies numidica) increasing, and summit area at 1800–2004 m dominated by cedars, with small proportion of oak and fir; nuthatches occur above 1450 m, with highest densities above 1900 m, and much lower densities in pure stands of oak or cedar. A good mixture of tree species (thus a reliable supply of seeds) may be important for winter survival, while size and age of trees and hence amount of dead wood and epiphytes also important. Found from 350 m to summit (at 1121 m) in Guerrouch forest (in Taza National Park), which has rather warmer and drier climate (rarely experiencing frosts, annual rainfall 1000–1400 mm); at lower altitudes forest dominated by cork oak (Quercus suber) and at higher altitudes by Algerian chestnut-leaved oak (Quercus castaneifolia), with Algerian oak (Quercus canariensis) also prominent; good understorey of alder (Alnus), cherry (Prunus), willow (Salix), ash (Fraxinus) and maple (Acer). Apparently found at 900–1400 m in Tamentout forest (lying along a ridge which culminates in peak of Tamesguida, 1626 m) and nearby Djimla forest (rises to 1532 m), mostly in Algerian oak and Algerian chestnut-leaved oak above 1000 m, rarely (and only in Tamentout) in cork oaks at lower altitudes. Range of habitats utilized, and clear preference for foraging in oaks, suggest that this species’ distribution is determined by availability of forest, rather than by a very specific ecological niche, and that it is is not dependent on Algerian fir or Atlas cedar as suggested following its initial discovery, at Djebel Babor (perhaps the least typical site).

Resident. On Djebel Babor may undertake some altitudinal movement and limited post-juvenile dispersal, but downslope movement inhibited by treeless zone below breeding area; presumed to spend winter months on Babor, despite deep snow (seen in breeding area in mid-Apr, with snow still 2–3 m deep), perhaps aided by cached food supplies. No information on possible movements by populations elsewhere in range (Guerrouch, Tamentout and Djimla).

Food probably mainly insects and spiders (Araneae) in summer; diet in winter largely seeds and nuts (four seed-producing tree species on Djebel Babor appear to ensure relatively constant supply); nestlings fed with insects, spiders and conifer seeds. In summer forages in twigs and outer branches of oaks (90% of observations in Jun), also in firs and cedars; searches underside of branches and flowers in manner of a tit (Paridae), but seldom comes to ground, and not known to flycatch; a pair with territory in stand of cedars flew long distances to forage in oaks for brood-feeding. In winter forages on trunks, branches and twigs of moss-laden or lichen-covered oaks (45% of observations in Mar), cedars (32%) and firs (22%), often knocking off chips of bark to reveal food items. Also stores seeds in lichen-covered branches and thick cushions of epiphytic mosses for later retrieval (even as late as breeding season). Defends winter territory, and may join mixed-species foraging flocks.

During foraging and in flight a quiet, soft, nasal “kna” (reminiscent of S. canadensis call), which can become inquisitive, nasal “quuwee”; in excitement or territorial defence a harsh , rasping, “vschrr vschrr” or “schrr, schrr-schrr” and sometimes, when more agitated, a louder, even cawing “chwa-chwa-chwa”. Other calls include nasal, inquisitive “du-wa, du-wa” or “qu-wa-di-wa”. Song a stereotyped repetition of 7–12 similar notes, sometimes nasal, sometimes fluty, at 3–4 couplets per second, “quair-di, quair-di, quair-di…” or “verdi-verdi-verdi…”, which can be slightly rising in pitch; sometimes somewhat faster, “du-wid-du-wid-du-wid…”, or even more accelerated, each note almost monosyllabic and slightly higher-pitched, “vid-vid-vid…”.

Season May; probably single-brooded. Strongly territorial in breeding season, both sexes defending territory boundaries. Nest constructed from wood chips, leaves, feathers and hog bristles, placed in hole in dead or dying tree, usually in dead branch 3–15 m above ground, on Djebel Babor usually in fir, sometimes in oak or cedar, and often uses cavity produced by snow damage to lower crown of tree; may excavate own hole or take over abandoned hole of woodpeckers (Picidae), entrance often relatively large; of nine nests located in 1978, one abandoned nest-site had entrance extensively “plastered” with clay and rotten wood (confirmation that species does, at least occasionally, plaster up nest hole is required). No information on clutch size, but broods of 2–4 young recorded; incubation probably by female alone, no information on duration; young fed by both parents, probably leave nest after 22–25 days; juveniles continue to be fed for 1–2 days after fledging, but become fully independent relatively quickly, wandering into adjacent territories after just 7 days.

ENDANGERED. Restricted range species: present in North Algerian Mountains Secondary Area. Discovered as recently as 1975, on Djebel Babor. Has small population, estimated at 250–999 individuals, within very small global range of 240 km². Known from four localities, habitat at one of which severely threatened and declining in quality. Forest on Djebel Babor covers c. 1300 ha, but optimum habitat extends for less than 250 ha in summit area, and population estimated at c. 80 pairs in 1982; highest densities, of 3–4 pairs/10 ha, in summit forest above 1900 m, but much lower in pure stands of oak or cedar (c. 0·5 pairs/10 ha). Forested massif of Guerrouch protected by Taza National Park (total area 3807 ha); surveys in Taza in summer 1989 (when species first located there) revealed 91 individuals in 800 ha, extrapolation from which gives figure of 364 individuals in the 3197 ha of forest within park (total forest cover on Guerrouch estimated at 8577 ha in 1955, and this species found also to SW of park boundary); densities at Guerrouch exceed 3 pairs/10 ha. Tamentout forest covers area of c. 9500 ha and Djimla forest c. 1000 ha; no information on these two populations (both discovered in 1990), but, with combined total area of 10,500 ha, they may hold a summer population of c. 1200 individuals if density is similar to that at Guerrouch. Searches elsewhere in region have failed to find any more populations of this nuthatch. Although the area has national park status, summit forests of Djebel Babor are threatened, but their conservation has received some attention since discovery of the species. Nevertheless, grazing hinders regeneration, wood-cutting removes potential nest-sites, and fires result in replacement of rich mixed forest by poorer cedar-dominated succession. All three factors reduce quality of habitat for this species, as well as reducing total forest area; further, construction of a motorable track in 1970s has led to erosion, increased risk of fire, and fears of disturbance by tourists. Guerrouch population not considered at risk, as national park is fully protected. At Tamentout and Djimla, overgrazing has led to impoverished understorey and poor regeneration, and deforestation throughout region is rife.