science education resource

Clark's Nutcracker

To view these resources with no ads, please Login or Subscribe to help support our content development.

School subscriptions can access more than 175 downloadable unit bundles in our store for free (a value of $1,500).

District subscriptions provide huge group discounts for their schools. Email for a quote: sheri@exploringnature.org.

Nucifraga columbiana
Clark's Nutcracker

Range

They are found west of the Rocky Mountains from Southern Canada south to New Mexico.

Habitat

They live in high mountainous areas often in conifer forests at timberline (where trees give way to rocky summits).

Body Traits

They are gray with black wings and tail. They have white patched on the wings and white outer feathers on the tail. They have a big, pointed beak. They have dark eyes and legs. Their gray color is lighter around the face. They have a special pouch under their tongue where they can collect seeds to carry them away to the stash.

Habits

They crack open pinecones and remove the seeds. They hide many, many seeds and can find them later to eat. A large stash of seeds is kept to feed young. They have a loud crow-like call.

Diet

They eat pine seeds, insects and even dead animals (carrion).

To view these resources with no ads, please Login or Subscribe to help support our content development.

School subscriptions can access more than 175 downloadable unit bundles in our store for free (a value of $1,500).

District subscriptions provide huge group discounts for their schools. Email for a quote: sheri@exploringnature.org.

Reproduction

Females lay about 3 eggs in a nest of twigs and bark. Both male and female take turns keeping the eggs warm (incubating). They often raise young very early in the season because they can feed them on their stored collection of pin seeds.

Clark's Nutcracker

Classification

Domain:    Eukarya
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Subphylum: Vetebrata
Class: Aves
Order: Passeriformes
Family: Corvidae
Genus: Nucifraga
Species: N. columbiana

Citing Research References

When you research information you must cite the reference. Citing for websites is different from citing from books, magazines and periodicals. The style of citing shown here is from the MLA Style Citations (Modern Language Association).

When citing a WEBSITE the general format is as follows.
Author Last Name, First Name(s). "Title: Subtitle of Part of Web Page, if appropriate." Title: Subtitle: Section of Page if appropriate. Sponsoring/Publishing Agency, If Given. Additional significant descriptive information. Date of Electronic Publication or other Date, such as Last Updated. Day Month Year of access < URL >.

Here is an example of citing this page:

Amsel, Sheri. "Clark's Nutcracker" Exploring Nature Educational Resource ©2005-2024. March 25, 2024
< http://www.exploringnature.org/db/view/221 >

Exploringnature.org has more than 2,000 illustrated animals. Read about them, color them, label them, learn to draw them.