THE CLARK NUTCU ACKtK. 



No. 5. 



CLARK'S NUTCRACKER. 



.\. O. U. \o. 491. NucifraKa columbiana (\\'il>. ). 



Synonyms. — C'i.akks Cwiw. I'i.nk Ckow. (ir.w Ck(j\v. 'CxMr RomtKR. ' 

 (Thru confusion witli llie Gray Jay, Pcrisorcus sp.). 



Description. — Adults: (k'ncral ])liiniage smoky gray, lightening on Ijcatl, 

 hccomin),' sordid wliite on forehead, lores, eyelids, malar region and chin: wings 

 glossy black, the secondaries broadly tipi)e<l with white: under tail-coverts and 

 four <putermo>t i)airs of rectrices while, the lifth jiair with outer web cinetly 

 white anil the inner web chiefly black, the remaining (central) pair nf rectrices 

 and the upper tail-coverts black: bill and feet black: iris brown. Shade of gray 

 in plumage of adults variable — bluish ash in freshly moulted specimens, darker 

 an(l browner, or irregularly whitening in worn |>lumage. Youuy like adults, but 

 browner. Length ii.txvi^.oo: wing 7.00-8.00 (IO-): tail 4.50 (I15); bill 1.60 

 (40.7) ; tardus 1.45 (36.8). Kemale smaller than male. 



Recognition Marks. — Kingfisher size: gray plumage with abrui>tly con- 

 trasting black-and-white of wings and tail; harsh "cliar-r" note. 



Nesting;. — Xcst: basally a |)latform of twigs on which 's massed fine strips 

 of bark with a lining nf bark and grasses. ])laced well out on horizontal limb of 

 evergreen tree, 10-50 feet up. I'.(jffs: 2-5. usually 3. jiale green sparingly flecked 

 and si)otted with lavender and brown chiefly about larger end. .\v. size. L.^ox 

 .91 (_^_^x_\v'- Season: March jo-.\pril 10: one brood. 



General Range. — Western North .\nierica in coniferous tiiuber. fmm 

 Arizona and New Mexico to Alaska; casual east of the Rockies. 



Range in Washington. — Of regular occurrence in the mountains thruout 

 the State. Resident in the main but visits the foothills and lower pine-cla<l levels 

 of eastern Washington at the close of the nesting season. 



Authorities. — Conns coliiinhioniis, Wilson, .\m. C)rn. iii. 181 1. 2<^ T. 



c&s. D'. n--. J. K. 



Specimens. — i l'. of W). I'rov. !•*. C 



\( ) liird-lover can forget his first cncomiter with this singular <)!d-Bird- 

 nf-the-Mountains. Ten to one tlic bird brought the man up standing by a 

 stentorian cluv'r'r. chur'r'y. clhir'r'r. wliicli lerl him to search wildly in his 

 memorv whether Rocs are credited with voices. If the bird was particularly 

 concerned at the man's intrusion, he presently revealed him.self sitting rather 

 stolidlv on a high pine branch, repeating tliat harsh and deafening cry. The 

 grating voice is decidedly imi)leasant at close (|uartcrs. and it is quite out <if 

 keei)in.g with the unquestioned sobriety of its grizzled owner. .\ company 

 of Xiilcrackcrs in the distance finds frequent occa.sion for outcry, and the 

 din is onlv liearable as it is softened and nuKlifieil by the re-echoing walls 

 of some pine-cl.ul gulch, or else dissipated by the winds which sweep over 

 the listening glaciers. 



