Larimer County, Rocky Mountain National Park, Colorado, US - May 29, 2009
Credit: Eelke de Blouw

North American field guide

Clark's Nutcracker

Nucifraga columbiana

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Identification

Field notes

31 cm (12") Common but local. Western North America. High mountain coniferous forest near treeline. Tame birds scavenge at camp grounds, resorts and farms and may be fed by hand.

Light gray body. Large white patches on black wings and tail are seen best in flight. Long sharp bill. Shaped like a small crow.

Song: grating "kr-a-a-a-a".

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Videos

2 videos

Where it lives

Distribution maps

Source legend · original intervals

Loading the rebuilt map…

Unshaded in source · does not imply absence

Generic and winter maps may use different intervals.

Approximate reconstruction of a historical map. Source date unknown.

Geography: Natural Earth
Bird Advisor Identification rules 1 variant 1 rule

These are the observation paths the Bird Advisor can use to identify this species. Each rule is an alternative match.

Clark's Nutcracker

1 rule
Rule 1 15 criteria confidence 4
Did the WINGS have STRIPES or PATCHES ?
Yes · Unknown
What colour were the WINGS ?
Black, purple, or dark · Unknown
What colour was the BACK ?
White, or pale (grayish-white) · Gray, or blue-gray · Unknown
What colour was the BELLY ?
White, or pale (grayish-white) · Gray, or blue-gray · Unknown
What colour was the BREAST ?
White, or pale (grayish-white) · Gray, or blue-gray · Unknown
What colour was the THROAT ?
White, or pale (grayish-white) · Gray, or blue-gray · Unknown
What colour was the BILL ?
Gray, or blue-gray · Black, purple, or dark · Unknown
What SHAPE was the BILL ?
Straight and thick · Conical and slender · Conical and thick · Unknown
What LENGTH was the BILL ?
Short · Medium · Long · Unknown
What FACIAL or HEAD features were noted if any ?
NONE of the above or a PLAIN unmarked FACE · Unknown
What colour was the TOP of HEAD ?
White, or pale (grayish-white) · Gray, or blue-gray · Unknown
What was the predominant colour of the HEAD ?
White, or pale (grayish-white) · Gray, or blue-gray · Unknown
How BIG was the bird ?
Robin-sized · Pigeon-sized
What TYPE of bird was seen ?
Songbird (ground or perching bird)
WHERE was the bird seen ?
Southwestern United States · Northwestern Canada or United States