Northern Nutcracker
Nucifraga caryocatactes
The Northern Nutcracker (Nucifraga caryocatactes) is a common crows, jays, and magpi found in 46 countries, weighing about 183 g. The northern nutcracker, previously known as the spotted nutcracker and Eurasian nutcracker, is a passerine bird in the crow family Corvidae.
About the Northern Nutcracker
The northern nutcracker, previously known as the spotted nutcracker and Eurasian nutcracker, is a passerine bird in the crow family Corvidae. It is slightly smaller than the Eurasian jay but has a much larger bill and a slimmer looking head without any crest. The feathering over its body is predominantly chocolate brown with distinct white spots and patches. The wings and upper tail are black with a greenish-blue gloss.
Text adapted from Wikipedia, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0.
How to identify it
Northern nutcracker ranges from 32–38 cm in length (from tip of beak to tip of tail) and has a wingspan ranging from 49–53 cm. It is a dark brown, broad-winged, short-tailed corvid. Body plumage is mid-to-dark chocolate brown, heavily spotted with white on face, neck, mantle and underparts. It has a large white loral spot, a white eye-ring, blackish-brown cap extending onto the nape, dark blackish wings with a greenish-blue gloss, all white vent, and dark tail with white corners above and a white terminal band on the undertail.
What the Northern Nutcracker sounds like
Where it lives
Recorded as a rare visitor in Netherlands, India, Luxembourg.
When to see it
Best months: January, February, March, June, July, August, September, October, November, December, with peak activity in September. It is a variable species across most of its range.
Easily confused with
Quick questions
- How do you identify a Northern Nutcracker?
- Northern nutcracker ranges from 32–38 cm in length (from tip of beak to tip of tail) and has a wingspan ranging from 49–53 cm. Full identification notes are on this page.
- How big is a Northern Nutcracker?
- The Northern Nutcracker is a medium sized bird weighing about 183 g.
- Where can you see a Northern Nutcracker?
- The Northern Nutcracker occurs in 46 countries, including Sweden, Norway, Finland, France and Switzerland.
- What does a Northern Nutcracker sound like?
- You can listen to 3 field recordings of the Northern Nutcracker on this page, contributed to xeno-canto under open licences.
- What birds look similar to a Northern Nutcracker?
- The Northern Nutcracker is most easily confused with the Clark's Nutcracker, the Southern Nutcracker and the Kashmir Nutcracker.
- Is the Northern Nutcracker endangered?
- The Northern Nutcracker is listed as Least Concern on the IUCN Red List.
Learn the Northern 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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