Wildlifeof Bhutan
Northern Nutcracker
Crows, Drongos, Orioles & Shrikes
Photo: no rights reserved · CC0
Nucifraga caryocatactes
Basic stats
Diet
Pine seeds mainly; also insects, grubs of bees and wasps, small birds, eggs, nestlings, small rodents and carrion
Habitat
Nests high in a conifer, usually on the sunny side
Clutch size
Normally 2–4 eggs
Incubation period
18 days
Size
32–38cm
Wingspan
49–53cm
The northern nutcracker is a dark brown, broad-winged, short-tailed crow-family bird, 32 to 38cm long with a wingspan of 49 to 53cm. It is slightly smaller than the Eurasian jay but with a much larger bill and a slimmer, crestless head. The plumage is mid-to-dark chocolate brown, heavily spotted with white on the face, neck, mantle and underparts, and the wings and tail are black with a greenish-blue gloss (Wikipedia, general species account).
Where pines are absent, the seeds of spruce and hazel nuts are an important part of the diet, and it avidly digs out bumble bee and wasp nests for the grubs. Nesting is always early, to make the best use of pine nuts stored the previous autumn, usually high in a conifer, with two to four eggs incubated for 18 days. The account opened does not name Bhutan.
Quick answers
- What does the Northern Nutcracker eat?
- Pine seeds mainly; also insects, grubs of bees and wasps, small birds, eggs, nestlings, small rodents and carrion
- What habitat does the Northern Nutcracker live in?
- Nests high in a conifer, usually on the sunny side
- How many eggs does the Northern Nutcracker lay?
- Normally 2–4 eggs
- How long are the eggs of the Northern Nutcracker incubated?
- 18 days
- How big is the Northern Nutcracker?
- 32–38cm
- What is the wingspan of the Northern Nutcracker?
- 49–53cm