Review
"This is a fine book, as we expect Poyser's books to be, having detailed descriptions of the ecology and behaviour of our own nuthatches and what is known of other species. David Quinn's excellent drawings complement and complete this fascinating volume...Great little bird, great book-a most enjoyable read."
-Trevor Beer in WESTERN MORNING NEWS (November 2000)
"It is well-written, full of interesting insights, thorough without being heavy, and concise without being dull. This monograph proves a thorough and lucid account of nuthatch natural history."
--Clive E. Goodwin in THE CANADIAN FIELD-NATURALIST (September 1999)
"A highly instructive book for scientist and birdwatcher alike."
--BIRDWATCHER'S YEARBOOK (1999)
"...it contains a wealth of easily accessible information, is attractive and produced to the high standards one has grown to expect from this publisher."
--Jeremy K. Blakey in IBIS (1999)
"Poyser monographs on single species or small groups of species have a justifiably fine reputation, which this addition to the series will only serve to enhance. [The] studies make this book relevant not only to ornithologists but also to ecologists and conservation biologists more generally. It can be recommended to them all."
--Jeremy J.D. Greenwood in HABITAT (1999)
"I found the book extremely well-written and informative. If you cannot find a piece of information about a nuthatch species in this book, the chances are that the information simply is not available."
--THE AUK (1999)
"A beautiful book on these characterful birds. "
--BTO NEWS (December 1998)
"...for anyone wishing to know more about the lifestyles of this character-packed family of birds, it is the best book available. Few, if any, birders will fail to find something interesting in this fascinating account of an intriguing bird family."
--Stephen Moss in BIRDWATCH
"I recommend this book to everyone interested in woodland birds, there is much to be learned within its pages."
--SCOTTISH BIRDS REVIEWS
From the Back Cover
The nuthatches are common and widespread birds throughout the Northern Hemisphere, but only poorly studied until quite recently. Erik Matthysen's extensive studies, started in 1982, have done much to illuminate the ecology of the Eurasian species, and to create a rich picture both of this bird and its 23 fellows around the world.
The nuthatches are familiar for their peculiar, head-down, foraging style on the trunks of mature woodland trees. They are also noteworthy for their generally elaborate nest building behaviour - ten of the nuthatch species use mud to reduce the nest cavity entrance (a behaviour otherwise shown only by hornbills) while others make elaborate constructs entirely of mud, or use resin to repel nest predators.
They also exhibit a complex territorial system and associated behavioural repertoire, occupying a territory as a pair, year round, perhaps as an adaptation to their reliance on stored food during the winter months. The intricate dynamics of pair-bond stability, territory size and the various strategies of floating, non-territory holders is the subject of an entire and fascinating chapter. The habitat fragmentation that has accompanied widespread disruption of woodland habitats everywhere has had a profound effect on territorial and social behaviour and this too is dealt with at length.
Following a detailed description of the ecology and behaviour of the Eurasian Nuthatch, Erik Matthysen goes on to consider what is known of the other species, and to compare and contrast their biology. Although many are poorly known, this part of the book enables many fascinating insights and sets the scene for further work which may explain the links between the ecology, behaviour, habitat and evolutionary relationships of the various species.
