One of the most common winter birds you’ll find at feeders in southeast Michigan in the winter is the White-breasted Nuthatch, an acrobatic bird that defies gravity as it walks head down, spiralling a tree trunk.

Or it perches perilously from a feeder as this White-breasted Nuthatch was doing at my feeder this weekend.

It joins the Red-breasted Nuthatch, American Goldfinch, Downy Woodpecker, Red-bellied Woodpecker, Dark-eyed Junco, House Finch, and Black-capped Chickadee as the most common birds I see in winter.

How can they defy gravity while most birds perch upright?

From what I’ve read, the power comes from the White-Breasted Nuthatches feet and a strong hind toe. As well as a short tail which doesn’t get in the way.