Clark's Nutcracker Similar Species Comparison
Main SpeciesClark's Nutcracker
Jay-sized bird with a long daggerlike bill and a short tail. Dark gray overall with black wings and white undertail coverts.
© David Hollie / Macaulay LibraryColorado, June 05, 2010In flight its white outer tail feathers are noticeable and distinctive. Also note white trailing edge on the secondaries.
© Chris Butler / Macaulay LibraryColorado, May 30, 2012Uses its long, sharp bill to dig into pine cones and extract the seeds. Buries large numbers of seeds to use as winter food.
© Larry Arbanas / Macaulay LibraryCalifornia, January 01, 2005Not all videos have sound
Hefty bird of evergreen forests with a long, slightly curved, sharply pointed bill. Gray overall with black wings.
© Eric Gustafson / Macaulay LibraryAlberta, June 21, 2017Uses its sharp bill to extract seeds from pine cones.
© Ian Routley / Macaulay LibraryBritish Columbia, August 26, 2016Gray overall, sometimes with a paler face, and black wings. Note the daggerlike bill.
© Tammy McQuade / Macaulay LibraryColorado, July 02, 2017Found in higher elevation evergreen forests in western North America, especially those with whitebark and limber pine.
© Dave Slager / Macaulay LibraryAlberta, July 06, 2017Similar SpeciesCanada Jay
Adult (Northern)
Canada Jays have shorter bills, longer tails, and larger heads than Clark’s Nutcrackers, and they don’t have the Clark’s Nutcracker’s distinctive black-and-white patterning in the wings and tail.
© Vitalii Khustochka / Macaulay LibraryManitoba, October 29, 2016Rotate Your Device to Better Compare
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