Northern Nutcracker

How to recognise it

• Chocolate-brown plumage with many white spots, brownish-black wings and tail
• Long, straight, pointed bill and a fairly short tail with a white tip
• Large white patch in front of the eye, white eye-ring, blackish-brown crown onto the nape
• About the size of a Jackdaw, and male and female look alike

Call and song

The call is a powerful kräähh, kräähh, kräähh given from a treetop. It is loud and harsh, like the Eurasian Jay's but a little lower and more on a single note. The song is a quiet chatter of creaking, rasping sounds that recall the Magpie's. In summer it can make a kind of snoring sound with its throat.

Where and when

It is resident and now breeds in almost all of Sweden below the mountains. The thick-billed form occurs in southern and central Sweden north to Uppland and Värmland and is classed as near threatened, while the slender-billed form occurs from Norrbotten southwards. It is reported most in August and September and rarely in April. Its share of all bird reports is highest in Norrbotten, Västerbotten and Västernorrland.

Food and behaviour

The thick-billed form specialises in hazelnuts, while the slender-billed form mainly eats Swiss pine seeds. Surplus seeds are always stored for later use. It is seen most often when gathering food in early autumn, but is otherwise rather shy. The flight is rather floppy and resembles the Black Woodpecker's.