Unlike many other small songbirds in the Great Lakes Region, the White-breasted Nuthatch is non-migratory, maintaining year-round breeding territories. Its preferred habitats include mature deciduous forests, particularly those dominated by oak (Quercus sp.), maple (Acer sp.), beech (Fagus grandifolia), ash (Fraxinus sp.), basswood (Tilia americana) and hickory (Carya sp.). It is also found in swamps dominated by Silver Maple (Acer saccharinum), oak woodland-savannas, and urban parks with large, widely spaced trees. White-breasted Nuthatches are most easily recognized by their bold black crown, white face and underparts, and habit of moving head-first down tree trunks while foraging. Their call is distinctive—a nasal, honking “yank-yank” heard throughout the year, especially during the late winter and early spring breeding period. Compared to the Red-breasted Nuthatch, it is much lower in pitch.

White-breasted Nuthatches form sexually monogamous pairs, which persist between breeding seasons, and defend permanent territories. They typically raise one brood per year, nesting in natural tree cavities, old woodpecker holes, or nest boxes. Female White-breasted Nuthatches construct the nest using bark strips, grasses, and hair, and lines it with soft plant material. Around 7 eggs are laid per clutch, each white with reddish-brown speckling. Incubation, achieved by the female, lasts approximately 12 days. As typical for songbirds, both parents feed the chicks until they fledge, for about 17 days after hatching for this species.

As typical for many songbirds, White-breasted Nuthatches are omnivorous, with a diet that shifts seasonally. Insects make up the majority of their diet in the summer breeding season. This includes beetles (Coleoptera), caterpillars and moths (Lepidoptera), bugs (Hemiptera), ants and wasps (Hymenoptera), flies (Diptera), and spiders (Araneae). During fall and winter, the diet of Nuthatches shift to include many types of seeds, especially acorns, beechnuts, hickory nuts, hazelnuts (Corylus sp.) and sunflower seeds (Helianthus sp.), many of which are wedged into bark crevices or cached for later consumption. Nuthatches often visit bird feeders, especially in the winter, where they typically quickly grab a single seed and fly off to eat or store it elsewhere.

The White-breasted Nuthatch population is considered stable and widespread, being a common permanent resident in mature woodlands across the Great Lakes region, eastern United States, Atlantic Canada, and parts of the interior West.  The North American breeding population is estimated at 10 million. One of the most commonly observed woodland birds, and a frequent companion to Black-capped Chickadees (Poecile atricapillus) and Tufted Titmice (Baeolophus bicolor) in winter foraging flocks.