Nucifraga columbiana
The Clark's Nutcracker, a strikingly intelligent corvid, is a medium-sized bird, measuring approximately 27-30 cm (10.5-12 in) in length with a wingspan of 50-60 cm (20-24 in) and weighing 100-170 grams (3.5-6 oz). Its plumage is predominantly pale ash-gray, contrasting sharply with its glossy black wings, which feature prominent white secondaries visible in flight, and a black tail with distinct white outer rectrices. A long, sharp, conical black bill is a key adaptation for its specialized ...
Primarily inhabits high-elevation coniferous forests, preferring open stands of pines (especially Whitebark, Limber, and Pinyon pines), spruce, and fir, typically found between 1,000 and 4,000 meters (3,300-13,000 feet) elevation.
Feeds predominantly on conifer seeds, especially those of Whitebark, Limber, and Pinyon pines, supplemented with insects, small fruits, and carrion, primarily acquired by prying seeds from cones or excavating caches.
Clark's Nutcrackers are highly diurnal, spending their days actively foraging and caching, often roosting communally in conifer trees at night. Their foraging strategy is dominated by an unparalleled seed-caching behavior; they harvest vast quantities of pine seeds, storing them in thousands of s...
The Clark's Nutcracker is a widespread resident across the mountains of western North America. Its primary breeding range extends from central British Columbia and western Alberta south through the Rocky Mountains, Sierra Nevada, and Cascade Range, reaching northern Baja California. Eastward, its...
Least Concern
- Named after William Clark of the famous Lewis and Clark Expedition, who first described the species in 1805. - Possesses one of the most remarkable spatial memories in the animal kingdom, capable of recalling the locations of thousands of seed caches for many months. - A single nutcracker can c...