Spotted
The Northern Nutcracker, Nucifraga caryocatactes, was previously known as the Spotted Nutcracker. It’s easy to see why.

It flies past us through the pines with the lights of the ski-centre behind. What a stunning bird.
More Northern Nutcrackers
Tails high Can you stand yet another cracking Northern Nutcracker photograph from me? Yes, I think you can. When indulging in ritualised… read more
The forest-spreaders In Britain it's Jays which are often credited with spreading the oak forests which thrived before humans cut them down.… read more
Quarrelsome If I only had one word to describe Northern Nutcrackers it would be quarrelsome. Their ritualised battles are entertaining. They… read more
Crampons and Nutcrackers The backlit wings of Northern Nutcrackers and the glorious rim-light they display are a delight. The powdery snow is so… read more
Broad wings, short tail, forked tongue The wings of the Northern Nutcracker are broad, very much like a Jay. Their tails are short and their beaks… read more
Nutcracker nutcracker You can probably tell how much I've been enjoying seeing these Northern Nutcrackers. Aren't they lovely? The scientific name for… read more
Let battle commence The Northern Nutcrackers on this Bulgarian ski slope are an absolute dream for me. I could never have imagined that… read more
Northern Nutcrackers We're on a Bulgarian ski-slope armed with peanuts. We're on the trail of the Northern Nutcracker, with the aim of… read more