There are 25 species of birds in this family. They are found in North America, Europe, and Asia.

They are small, stocky birds between 3.5 and 7.5 inches in length. They have long pointed wings, short square tails, and straight, thin, pointed bills. Most species are gray or bluish-gray on their upper sides and white or brown on their undersides. Males and females look alike.

They are found in forests where they climb up and down on tree trunks, probing for insects in the bark. They can even climb down trees headfirst.

They get the name nuthatch from the way they sometimes stick a seed in a crevice in tree bark and open it with their bills.

They may also eat nuts, small fruits, and berries.