The Nuthatch
Price range: $49.99 through $64.99
A nuthatch stake measuring 12.5 inches long by 8.6 inches high overall, including its 2-inch spike, laser cut from 1/8-inch steel, that taps into a tree trunk, wooden fence or post with a few hammer strikes. Choose Raw Steel, which arrives bare and rusts naturally outdoors to a warm brown patina with no paint or upkeep, or Black Powder Coat, the same piece finished in black. Cut to order in our shop in Texas and shipped free anywhere in the US.
- 30-day returns
- Damaged or wrong item replaced or refunded
Gallery photographs show bare or weathered raw steel. A black-finish photograph is not supplied.
Read the full story ↓The only bird in the yard that comes down the tree face-first.
You notice it before you know what you are looking at. Everything else on a tree trunk works upward — the woodpeckers, the creepers, all of them. Then a small gray bird comes down the trunk head-first in short jerky drops, stopping to look sideways at the bark, and carries on down.
There is a practical reason for it. Coming down the tree, a nuthatch sees the underside of every ridge and flake, which is exactly where an upward-climbing bird never looks. It finds what the others walk past.
We had this one cut in the ordinary upright pose. Children generally want it hung the other way up, and we would not argue.
The name is older than it looks. A nuthatch will wedge a seed or an acorn into a crack in the bark and then hammer it open with its bill — a nut hack, which is where the word comes from. Through the fall it hides food this way all over its territory, tucked under bark and lichen, and comes back for it in winter.
They keep the same patch and the same mate the year round, and in cold months they travel with the chickadees.
Also Perfect For
- Birthday gifts for a bird watcher or gardener
- Housewarming and new-home gifts
- Retirement gifts for someone with more time for the yard
- Winter gardens and Christmas gifts for the person who feeds the birds
Where It Looks Best
Set it on a trunk or a post at eye level, where the head-down business will read.
Details
- Design: The nuthatch, cut in its upright pose
- Size: 12.5" long x 8.6" high, including the 2-inch spike; approx. 12oz
- Material: 1/8-inch steel
- Finish: Choose Raw Steel (arrives bare, rusts naturally outdoors) or Black Powder Coat
- Mounting: Built-in hammer-in spike for trees, fences and wooden posts
- Packaging: Ships flat in a 17" x 14" mailer
- Made in Texas: Laser cut from American steel in our family-owned shop
How to Set It
1. Pick a spot on a tree trunk, wooden fence or post — eye level from a window is best.
2. Hold the spike at a slight downward angle against the wood.
3. Tap the thick end of the spike with a hammer or mallet until it is firm.
No drilling, no screws, no other tools.
The Finish
Pick your finish from the Finish menu on this listing.
Raw Steel (Rusts Naturally): Your bird arrives as bare, raw steel — a clean steel gray. Outdoors, rain and dew turn it a warm rust brown, usually over the first few weeks, and the color keeps deepening with the weather. There is no paint or coating, so there is nothing to peel, fade or touch up. While the rust is forming, rust-colored runoff can mark pale stone, concrete or siding directly below it, so set it over wood, soil or mulch. Prefer the bare steel look? Keep it indoors or out of the rain.
Black Powder Coat: the same steel piece, powder coated in black. It arrives black rather than bare, does not develop the rust patina, and leaves no rust runoff, so it can go over pale stone, concrete or siding. Wipe it clean with a damp cloth. If it ever gets chipped, a dab of black exterior metal paint touches it up.
Processing & Shipping
Cut to order in our shop in Texas. Please allow 2–4 business days before your order ships. Orders of $99.99 or more ship free within the United States; under that, shipping is a flat $14.92. We ship within the United States only.
Returns
100% satisfaction guaranteed. If you are not happy with your bird for any reason, message us within 30 days of delivery and we will make it right with a replacement or a full refund.
About Our Photos
Some listing images are created or edited with AI-assisted tools to show the piece in an outdoor setting. The design and size you receive match this listing.
About Shadow Birds
Every Shadow Birds piece is cut from solid American steel and made in Texas. Browse the shop for more birds, Garden Folk, Seasonal & Holiday designs and Critters.
Questions? We're Glad to Help.
Send us a message anytime. Ordering several for a family, a memorial service, a garden club or a store? Just ask — we are happy to set up larger orders.