Photo: Jyrki Salmi from Finland / CC BY-SA 2.0 (Wikimedia Commons)
Northern Nutcracker
Nucifraga caryocatactes
Northern Nutcracker (Nucifraga caryocatactes) — Crows, Jays & Magpies of Europe & Northern Asia.
Found across 17 guides in our atlas — open any for the full checklist, photos and what's around right now.
The Northern Nutcracker (Nucifraga caryocatactes) is a member of the Corvidae family found in Europe & Northern Asia. Adults weigh 183 g. The IUCN Red List lists it as Least Concern.
Conservation status
IUCN Red List (opens in a new tab)Widespread and abundant — not currently at risk.
Where it fits
- Class Aves
- Order Passeriformes
- Family Corvidae Crows, Jays
- Genus Nucifraga
- Species caryocatactes
Quick facts
- Weight
- 183 g
- Diet
- Seed-eaters
- Family
- Corvidae
- Order
- Passeriformes
- Habitat
- Woodland
How to identify
Similar birds
Least Concern
Least Concern
Least Concern
Critically Endangered
Biology & behaviour
Diet
The Northern Nutcracker is a granivore — it feeds mainly on seeds and grain.
Behaviour
A bird of dense forest, it spends much of its time perched in trees and shrubs.
Migration
The Northern Nutcracker is partially migratory: some populations move with the seasons while others stay resident year-round.
The Northern Nutcracker (Nucifraga caryocatactes) belongs to the Corvidae family of the order Passeriformes. Its range spans Europe & Northern Asia. Its distribution covers PAL Europe to ne Japan.
It is a large bird. Adults weighs around 183 g, with a wing length of about 18.4 cm and a tail of around 11.6 cm.
The IUCN Red List currently assesses it as Least Concern. That category covers species that remain widespread and reasonably abundant in the wild.
Its mapped global range covers an estimated 15.5 million km² — a very large global range.
Songs & calls
Frequently asked questions
How big is the Northern Nutcracker?
The Northern Nutcracker is a large bird that weighs around 183 g.
Where does the Northern Nutcracker live?
The Northern Nutcracker is found across Europe & Northern Asia with a range covering PAL Europe to ne Japan, where it is typically found in wooded and forested habitats.
What family does the Northern Nutcracker belong to?
The Northern Nutcracker (Nucifraga caryocatactes) belongs to the Corvidae family, in the order Passeriformes.
What does the Northern Nutcracker eat?
The Northern Nutcracker is a granivore — it feeds mainly on seeds and grain.
Does the Northern Nutcracker migrate?
The Northern Nutcracker is partially migratory: some populations move with the seasons while others stay resident year-round.
Is the Northern Nutcracker endangered?
The IUCN Red List currently assesses it as Least Concern That category covers species that remain widespread and reasonably abundant in the wild.
What sound does the Northern Nutcracker make?
1 real field recording of the Northern Nutcracker — including its alarm call — can be played in the Songs & calls section on this page, credited to the recordist who captured it.
How large is the Northern Nutcracker's range?
The Northern Nutcracker has a mapped global range of about 15.5 million km².
Conservation
Every bird benefits from bird-safe windows, native plants, and keeping cats indoors. Small changes at home add up to real protection.
Explore more birds
More in Corvidae
Least Concern
Least Concern
Not Evaluated
Least Concern
Least Concern
More in Corvids
Least Concern
Least Concern
Least Concern
Least Concern
Least Concern
Near Threatened
Guides for this bird
Best Feeders for Jays & Larger Garden Birds
How to choose a feeder for jays and other big, bold garden birds — the styles that suit peanuts and larger food, and how to keep them from crowding your small-bird feeders. A decision framework with the species in the Birbs encyclopedia.