Clark’s nutcracker, Nugifraga columbiana. Inhabits the mountains of western North America foraging and storing pine seeds. Around here, they specialize in high-elevation whitebark pine habitat, although they also feed on lower elevation ponderosa pine. Nutcrackers belong to the corvid family, which includes ravens, crows, and jays. There is no mistaking their sharp gray, black, and white plumage, distinctive swooping flight, and gregarious noise. It is unknown what the effects of global climate change will be on plants and animals that live at high elevations.

This study skin was collected and prepared in 1956, and is in perfect condition…a pleasure to study and draw.