Quite common but sometimes elusive in mixed forest. Regular at feeders. Often in mixed flocks with chickadees, warblers, and RBNU. Noisy with distinctive ‘mee-mee-mee’ call. Walks up and down tree-trunks, often stopping to put head up to check what’s going on. ID: A large nuthatch, sturdily built. ♂ has black cap, ♀ much browner. Several races exist and there is variation in appearance. Underparts variably orange, back blue-gray. Ad ♂: black head, dark orange/cinnamon underparts. Ad ♀: duller version of ♂ with gray crown (darker in W). Imm: variable amounts of brown in upperparts.