Clark's Nutcracker
Nucifraga columbiana
The Clark's Nutcracker (Nucifraga columbiana) is a common crows, jays, and magpi found in 3 countries, weighing about 130 g. Clark's nutcracker, also known as Clark's crow, is a passerine bird in the family Corvidae, native to the mountains of western North America.
About the Clark's Nutcracker
Clark's nutcracker, also known as Clark's crow, is a passerine bird in the family Corvidae, native to the mountains of western North America. The nutcracker is an omnivore, but subsists mainly on pine nuts, burying seeds in the ground in the summer and then retrieving them in the winter by memory. The bird was described by the Lewis and Clark Expedition, with William Clark first observing it in 1805 along the banks of the Salmon River, a tributary of the Columbia River.
Text adapted from Wikipedia, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0.
How to identify it
Nucifraga columbiana is roughly the size of a jay, and slightly smaller than its Eurasian congenerics (northern, southern, and Kashmir nutcrackers). Its head, back, belly, and ventrum are covered in gray feathers, and it sports black wings with white tips on secondary feathers. Its tail feathers are easily distinguishable in flight, with central black feathers bordered by white feathers on either side. It has a long, black, pointed bill whose shape is specialized for removing the scales of pinecones. Voice: Corvids, of which Clark's nutcracker is a member, do not typically have songs. However, they produce between eight and thirteen variable calls, generally phonetically described as "kraak" or "kraa". Additional clicking or crackling calls are made, likely used for pair bonding.
What the Clark's Nutcracker sounds like
Where it lives
When to see it
Best months: January, March, April, May, June, July, August, September, October, November, with peak activity in August. It is a variable species across most of its range.
Easily confused with
Quick questions
- How do you identify a Clark's Nutcracker?
- Nucifraga columbiana is roughly the size of a jay, and slightly smaller than its Eurasian congenerics (northern, southern, and Kashmir nutcrackers). Full identification notes are on this page.
- How big is a Clark's Nutcracker?
- The Clark's Nutcracker is a medium sized bird weighing about 130 g.
- Where can you see a Clark's Nutcracker?
- The Clark's Nutcracker occurs in 3 countries, including the United States, Canada and Mexico.
- What does a Clark's Nutcracker sound like?
- You can listen to a field recording of the Clark's Nutcracker on this page, contributed to xeno-canto under open licences.
- What birds look similar to a Clark's Nutcracker?
- The Clark's Nutcracker is most easily confused with the Northern Nutcracker, the Southern Nutcracker and the Kashmir Nutcracker.
- Is the Clark's Nutcracker endangered?
- The Clark's Nutcracker is listed as Least Concern on the IUCN Red List.
Learn the Clark's Nutcracker for real
BeakBrain drills you on photos and calls until you can greet this bird by name in the field. Free to play, on any device.
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