Nucifraga
| Nutcrackers | |
|---|---|
 |
|
| Nucifraga columbiana | |
| Scientific classification | |
| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Chordata |
| Class: | Aves |
| Order: | Passeriformes |
| Family: | Corvidae |
| Genus: |
Nucifraga Brisson, 1760 |
| Species | |
|
Nucifraga caryocatactes |
|
Nucifraga caryocatactes
Nucifraga columbiana
Nucifraga multipunctata
The nutcrackers (Nucifraga) are a genus of three species of passerine bird, in the family Corvidae, related to the jays and crows. The genus name is a New Latin translation of German Nussbrecher, "nut-breaker".
The spotted nutcracker (Nucifraga caryocatactes), occurs in Europe and Asia, and the large-spotted nutcracker (N. multipunctata), which occurs in the Himalayas, and is sometimes considered a subspecies of the spotted. The Clark's nutcracker (N. columbiana), occurs in western North America.
The most important food resources for both these species are the seeds (pine nuts) of various pines (Pinus sp.), principally the cold-climate (far northern or high altitude) species of white pine (Pinus subgenus Strobus) with large seeds: P. albicaulis, P. armandii, P. cembra, P. flexilis, P. koraiensis, P. parviflora, P. peuce, P. pumila, P. sibirica and P. wallichiana, and also the pinyon and lacebark pines in subgenus Ducampopinus. In some regions, where none of these pines occur, the seeds of spruce (Picea sp.) and hazelnuts (Corylus sp.) form an important part of the diet too. The bills of these birds are specialized tools for extracting seeds from pine cones.
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Wikipedia