Northern Nutcracker
NameNorthern Nutcracker
Common NameNorthern Nutcracker
Scientific NameNucifraga caryocatactes
FamilyCorvidae
Wingspan (cm)50
Length (cm)35
Weight (g)155
Plumage DetailsThe body plumage is dark brown heavily streaked and spotted with white, giving a mottled appearance. It has a dark brown cap, dark wings with a white trailing edge, and white undertail coverts. The bill is stout and dark.
Vocalization / CallIts vocalizations are typically harsh, rattling, and crow-like, often described as a loud 'kraa-kraa' or 'karr-karr', sometimes with a more drawn-out 'kree-ah'.
Primary Dietgranivore
Primary Habitatsforest, mountain
Conservation Statusleast-concern
Geographic RangeWidespread across the Palearctic, from Scandinavia and Eastern Europe through Siberia to East Asia (Japan, Korea, China), and also found in mountainous regions of Central Asia and the Himalayas.
Identifying Featuresspeckled brown and white body plumage, dark brown cap, stout, pointed dark bill, white undertail coverts, harsh, rattling calls
Description
The Northern Nutcracker is a medium-sized corvid characterized by its distinctive speckled brown and white plumage. It is highly adapted to coniferous forests, where it uses its specialized bill to extract and cache conifer seeds for winter sustenance.
