The Corsican Nuthatch, as do all nuthatches, has the unique ability to climb down a tree trunk or limbs. All other birds can only climb upwards. While the Corsican Nuthatch somewhat resembles the North American White-breasted Nuthatch, that's where the similarities end. As the name suggests, it is endemic to the island of Corsica. It has a limited and fragmented breeding range which follows the distribution of Corsican pine (Pinus nigra laricio,) occurring on inland mountain ridges from Tartagine south to Ospedale and Mt Cagna, with main concentrations around the mountains of Cinto, Rotondo, Renoso and Incudine. It lives on insects and seeds, especially those of the Corsican Pine, which are stored in food caches. As with all of my recent image posts, the Corsican Nutnatch is a species that is in trouble. Currently, there are only 3,100 - 4,400 Mature individuals and that number is decreasing. Forest fires and logging of mature Corsican pine stands appear to be the primary threats to this species. Large trees suitable for the species are also favored by the logging industry and since the 1970s local foresters have attempted to rejuvenate the pine forest by shortening the logging rotation, reducing the size of trees available for the species. It has been estimated that 78-122 territories have been destroyed by logging since 1998, and that a further 50-63 territories were lost during the large forest fires of 2000 and 2003, which severely affected another 47-80 territories. Recovery of this habitat will be hampered by the slow growth rate of the Corsican pine. This species is potentially susceptible to climate change through sea-level rise and shifts in suitable climatic conditions. Climate change may also cause an increase in fire frequency. No conservation action is known, though its national status of “Threatened” in France may afford some protection. Almost the entire global population occurs within the Natural Regional Park of Corse. Rendered in Poser 7 Pro without Postwork. The tree is from Xfrog's Mediterranean DVD and of course, the nuthatch is from my "Threatened, Endangered Extinct3" Songbird ReMix set.