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'''Alternative name: Spotted Nutcracker''' | '''Alternative name: Spotted Nutcracker''' | ||
;[[:Category:Nucifraga|Nucifraga]] caryocatactes | ;[[:Category:Nucifraga|Nucifraga]] caryocatactes | ||
| − | |||
==Identification== | ==Identification== | ||
32 - 34cm. A distinctive, medium-sized corvid: | 32 - 34cm. A distinctive, medium-sized corvid: | ||
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Locally common. | Locally common. | ||
==Taxonomy== | ==Taxonomy== | ||
| − | + | Eight subspecies accepted, more have been proposed: | |
* ''N. c. caryocatactes'' in [[Europe]] | * ''N. c. caryocatactes'' in [[Europe]] | ||
* ''N. c. macrorhynchos'' in [[Siberia]], [[Mongolia]], [[Korea]] and northern [[China]] | * ''N. c. macrorhynchos'' in [[Siberia]], [[Mongolia]], [[Korea]] and northern [[China]] | ||
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* ''N. c. rothschildi'' from [[Kazakhstan]] to [[Kyrgyzstan]] and northwest [[China]] | * ''N. c. rothschildi'' from [[Kazakhstan]] to [[Kyrgyzstan]] and northwest [[China]] | ||
* ''N. c. hemispila'' in the [[Himalayas]] from northeast [[Pakistan]] to [[India]] and [[Nepal]] | * ''N. c. hemispila'' in the [[Himalayas]] from northeast [[Pakistan]] to [[India]] and [[Nepal]] | ||
| − | |||
* ''N. c. macella'' in the eastern [[Himalayas]] from [[Nepal]] to [[Bhutan]], northeast [[India]] and to south and central [[China]] | * ''N. c. macella'' in the eastern [[Himalayas]] from [[Nepal]] to [[Bhutan]], northeast [[India]] and to south and central [[China]] | ||
* ''N. c. interdicta'' in east [[China]] | * ''N. c. interdicta'' in east [[China]] | ||
* ''N. c. owstoni'' on [[Taiwan]] | * ''N. c. owstoni'' on [[Taiwan]] | ||
| − | '' | + | [[Large-spotted Nutcracker]] was formerly inclued in this species. The subspecies ''hemispila'' is sometimes considered to belong to Large-spotted Nutcracker too. |
==Habitat== | ==Habitat== | ||
Taiga conifer forests and mixed conifer and birch forest. Occurs from lowlands up to 4000m in [[Nepal]]. | Taiga conifer forests and mixed conifer and birch forest. Occurs from lowlands up to 4000m in [[Nepal]]. | ||
Revision as of 17:19, 16 September 2011
Alternative name: Spotted Nutcracker
- Nucifraga caryocatactes
Identification
32 - 34cm. A distinctive, medium-sized corvid:
- Dark brown plumage with white spots and streaks, most densely on side of head
- Plain dark brown rump and uppertail-coverts
- White undertail-coverts and lower belly
- Glossy black upperwing
- Glossy black tail with white feather tips
- Dark brown eye
- Black bill and legs
The subspecies differ in density and size of white spots and size of the bill.
Sexes similar, jufeniles have dull brown wings and a broad white tip on the median coverts.
Distribution
Scandinavia right across northern Europe, mountains of central Europe, Siberia and to eastern Asia, including Japan and the Himalayas.
Locally common.
Taxonomy
Eight subspecies accepted, more have been proposed:
- N. c. caryocatactes in Europe
- N. c. macrorhynchos in Siberia, Mongolia, Korea and northern China
- N. c. japonica in northern Japan
- N. c. rothschildi from Kazakhstan to Kyrgyzstan and northwest China
- N. c. hemispila in the Himalayas from northeast Pakistan to India and Nepal
- N. c. macella in the eastern Himalayas from Nepal to Bhutan, northeast India and to south and central China
- N. c. interdicta in east China
- N. c. owstoni on Taiwan
Large-spotted Nutcracker was formerly inclued in this species. The subspecies hemispila is sometimes considered to belong to Large-spotted Nutcracker too.
Habitat
Taiga conifer forests and mixed conifer and birch forest. Occurs from lowlands up to 4000m in Nepal.
Behaviour
The diet includes the nuts and seeds from pine trees, spruce and hazel trees. It also takes insects, birds' eggs and nestlings, digging out bumble bee and wasp nests to take the grubs.
Stores large quantities of nuts in his winter territory. Caches them often at the base of a tree, behind moss on rocks, crevices in a tree bark or simply on the ground near a rock or a small sapling. As it forgets some of it this bird plays an important role in the dispersal of several tree species.
Usually seen in pairs or family parties and has little fear of humans.
The nest is usually built high in a conifer. 2-4 eggs are laid and incubated for 18 days. Both sexes feed the young which are usually fledged by about 23 days.
Most populations are resident but in some years big movements have been recorded and birds from Siberia (macrorhynchos) are known to reach Europe in certain winters.
Vocalisation
<flashmp3>Nucifraga caryocatactes (song).mp3</flashmp3>
Listen in an external program
References
- Clements, JF. 2008. The Clements Checklist of Birds of the World. 6th ed., with updates to December 2008. Ithaca: Cornell Univ. Press. ISBN 978-0801445019.
- Del Hoyo, J, A Elliott, and D Christie, eds. 2009. Handbook of the Birds of the World. Volume 14: Bush-shrikes to Old World Sparrows. Barcelona: Lynx Edicions. ISBN 978-8496553507
Recommended Citation
- BirdForum Opus contributors. (2024) Eurasian Nutcracker. In: BirdForum, the forum for wild birds and birding. Retrieved 20 May 2024 from https://www.birdforum.net/opus/Eurasian_Nutcracker
