Sitta formosa
Silhouette: Alan and Elaine Wilson (Modified) · PhyloPic
In 3 days <5% in a week ~10%
The beautiful nuthatch (Sitta formosa) is a bird species in the family Sittidae, collectively known as nuthatches. It is a large nuthatch, measuring 16.5 cm (6.5 in) in length, that is not sexually dimorphic. Its colour and markings are dramatic, the upper parts being black and azure, streaked with white and pale blue on the head and lined with the same colours on the wing feathers. The underparts are orange, and the eyebrow and throat are ochre. An irregular, dark eyestripe highlights its eye. Its ecology is not fully described, but it is known to feed on small insects and larvae found on the trunks and epiphyte-covered branches of trees in its range. Reproduction takes place from April to May; the nest is placed in the hole of an oak, rhododendron, or other large tree. The nest is made of plant material and fur in which the bird typically lays four to six eggs.
Although the species is found in most of the countries making up the mainland of Southeast Asia, it appears to be rare throughout its range, its population being highly local where it is found. The bird nests predominantly in montane forest at an altitudinal range from 950 m (3,120 ft) up to nearly 2,300 m (7,500 ft), with some seasonal height adjustment, down to around 300 m (980 ft) in winter. Its localised occurrence within its range makes rigorous estimates of its population difficult, but its habitat is threatened by deforestation and the species appears to be in decline. It has been classified as vulnerable by the International Union for Conservation of Nature. Wikipedia →
| # | Park | Country | Daily sighting probability |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Namdapha National Park | 🇮🇳 India | |
| 2 | Royal Manas National Park | 🇧🇹 Bhutan |
Rare
Under 5% of wildlife watchers report a Beautiful Nuthatch sighting in Royal Manas National Park on a given day, based on 29 verified sightings from GBIF citizen-science data from 2019 to 2026. It is the 298th most-seen of the 388 birds we can rate there. Over three days the chance rises to under 5%, and over a week to about 10%, if each day is a fresh chance.
March
In that month about 10% of wildlife watchers report a Beautiful Nuthatch in Royal Manas National Park on a given day, against under 5% in April–July and October–February, the lowest months. That is one of Royal Manas National Park's driest months, with about 120 mm of rain against 930 mm in July. August and September have too few records to rate.
Between 7 and 10 am
Across all the parks we cover, that three-hour window holds the most Beautiful Nuthatch sightings with a recorded time, and about 8 in 10 of them come between 6 am and 6 pm: it is a daytime animal.
Among the best
Of the 2 parks where we can rate Beautiful Nuthatch sightings, Royal Manas National Park ranks 2nd at under 5%, level with the leaders once rounded. The best odds are in Namdapha National Park (India, under 5%).
Same genus: Sitta
The closest relatives of the Beautiful Nuthatch that you can see in Royal Manas National Park (genus Sitta, Nuthatches) are Chestnut-bellied Nuthatch (about 50%) and White-tailed Nuthatch (about 10%), with each one's daily chance of a sighting.
GBIF citizen-science records
It is estimated from how often the Beautiful Nuthatch is recorded against all the birds logged in Royal Manas National Park (29 verified sightings from 2019 to 2026), calibrated against known sighting rates. Figures are rounded to the nearest 10% because citizen-science data supports honest approximations, not decimals, and months with records from fewer than five people show "—". How it works.
