Genus: [i]Sitta[/i]; Family: Sittidae
Japanese: ゴジュウカラ科

A genus of bird which forages insects, seeds and nuts by climbing on tree trunks, even upside-down. Nuthatches featured in Japanese art are likely to be the Eurasian nuthatch ([i]Sitta europaea[/i], ゴジュウカラ), but there are about 15 species in Asia alone. They have stubby tails and pointed bills; most species feature a strong black eye stripe and blue-grey backs. 
nuthatch