The Bird Collection

White-brested Nuthatch, Tylee Marsh

White-Breasted Nuthatch — Winter’s Grip

Nuthatches are year-round residents in our neighbourhood, flitting through the trees with their curious, head-first perspective. I find particular joy in photographing them during the winter months — not for the numbing chill in my fingers or the frustration of losing gear to deep, powdery snow, but for the clarity that winter offers the eye.

There’s a saying among artists: “Painters add, photographers subtract.” In this season, snow softens the world and removes the clutter, revealing a cleaner, more focused composition. The bark, richly textured and painterly, becomes a natural canvas, while the bird’s pose — typically upside down — adds a whimsical touch to an otherwise still and silent scene.

This nuthatch clings with effortless grace, defying gravity and expectations, offering a small moment of delight in a world hushed by snow.