Clark's Nutcracker
Image: <a href="//commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/User:Wingchi" title="User:Wingchi">Wing-Chi Poon</a> (CC BY-SA 2.5)
NameClark's Nutcracker
Common NameClark's Nutcracker
Scientific NameNucifraga columbiana
FamilyCorvidae
Wingspan (cm)48
Length (cm)28.5
Weight (g)130
Plumage DetailsThe body is predominantly pale gray, with a lighter, almost white head. The wings are black, featuring prominent white tertials and a white patch on the trailing edge of the secondaries. The tail is black with white outer tail feathers. The bill, legs, and feet are black.
Vocalization / CallKnown for its harsh, grating 'kraaa' or 'karr-rack' calls, often repeated. It also produces softer chattering and squealing sounds.
Primary Dietgranivore
Primary Habitatsconiferous forest, subalpine forest, montane forest
Conservation Statusleast-concern
Geographic RangeFound in western North America, from British Columbia and Alberta south through the Rocky Mountains to northern Arizona and New Mexico, and west to the Sierra Nevada and other mountain ranges in California and Nevada.
Identifying Featurespale gray body, black wings with white tertials, white outer tail feathers, long, pointed black bill, social and often noisy
Description
The Clark's Nutcracker is a large, pale gray bird with striking black and white wings. It is renowned for its exceptional memory and ability to cache thousands of pine seeds, which it relies on for survival during winter.
