Giant nuthatch

The giant nuthatch, the largest bird in the Sittidae family, measures approximately 19.5 centimeters in length. Primarily grey, females display a subtle reddish tint on their underparts and have a more robust bill compared to other nuthatches. The giant nuthatch inhabits the mountainous regions of southwestern China and northern Thailand, and it is possibly extinct in Myanmar. These birds thrive in subtropical or tropical mountain pine forests, particularly those with Pinus kesiya trees, where they forage and nest. Both parents participate in raising their offspring, who leave the nest after about 20-23 days.

Regrettably, the giant nuthatch faces severe threats due to deforestation in its mountainous habitats in southwestern China. These birds are especially vulnerable because they require large, hollow trees for nesting. The rapid disappearance of these trees has led BirdLife International to classify the giant nuthatch as Endangered in 2013. The population, once estimated at around 10,000, has dwindled to as low as 2,500 and continues to decline.