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Photo by Lynn Chamberlain
Photo Copyright Lynn Chamberlain
Clark's Nutcracker
Nucifraga columbiana
NatureServe conservation status
Global (G-rank): G5
State (S-rank): S4
External links
General information
Clark's nutcracker, Nucifraga columbiana, occurs in western North America (southwestern Canada and the western United States) and is nonmigratory. This large jay is found in mountainous areas throughout Utah, descending to lower elevations in winter. Its breeding habitat is montane coniferous forests, but in winter it may utilize pinyon-juniper woodlands. The main food of this species is conifer seeds, especially pine nuts, but it also consumes arthropods, small vertebrates, bird eggs, and carrion.
The nest is constructed in a conifer, six to eighty feet above the ground. Usually two or three eggs (rarely as many as six) are incubated by both parents for sixteen to eighteen days. The nestlings are tended by both parents and leave the nest about twenty to twenty-two days after hatching.
This species was first collected by the Lewis and Clark expedition, and its common name honors Captain William Clark.
Species range
RESIDENT: central British Columbia, southwestern Alberta, western and central Montana, western and southeastern Wyoming south through mountains of central Washington, eastern Oregon, central and eastern California and Nevada to northern Baja California; in Rockies to east-central Arizona and southern New Mexico. WANDERS: irregularly beyond normal range.
Migration
Wanders irregularly beyond normal range in winter. Also wanders irregularly to low country during winter.
Habitat
Open coniferous forest, forest edge and clearings, primarily in mountains, but wandering into various habitats; in winter also in lowlands (AOU 1983). Usually nests at elevations between 1800 and 2500 m. Nests on outer end of branch of a conifer, 2-45 m above ground.
Food habits
Pine seeds are primary food for both adults and nestlings. Also eats insects, acorns, berries, snails, carrion; sometimes eats eggs and young of small birds. Nearly all winter food and much of breeding season food derived from pine seeds collected and stored in fall (Vander Wall 1988).
Ecology
May travel in large flocks (25-100 birds) (Terres 1980). Dixon (1934) reported foraging 0.8 to 2.4 km from nest, and Tomback (1998) reported a summer home range of 1500 hectares (roughly 4.4. kilometers in diameter). Year-round home ranges are much larger: 15,000 hectares in areas of good food (Tomback 1998).
Reproductive characteristics
Clutch size is 2-6 (usually 2-3). Incubation, by both sexes, lasts 17-18 days. Young leave nest 24-28 days after hatching.
References
- Tomback, D. F. 1998. Clark’s nutcracker. Birds of North America 331: 1–23.
- Baicich, P. J., and C. J. O. Harrison. 1997. A guide to the nests, eggs, and nestlings of North American birds. 2nd ed. Academic, San Diego. 347 pp.
- Ehrlich, P. R., D. S. Dobkin, and D. Wheye. 1988. The birder’s handbook[:] a field guide to the natural history of North American birds. Simon & Schuster, New York. xxx + 785 pp.
