Scientific name: Nucifraga caryocatactes (Linnaeus, 1758)
Bird group: Nutcrackers
Field characters. 30 cm. Head, upperparts and underparts chocolate brown with white specks (except on crown), wings and tail blackish, with white terminal tail bar; undertail and vent white; long and heavy black bill. Juveniles are similar but slightly lighter and less mottled. Flight is slow and heavy.
Voice. High-pitched, rasping "tcherr" and a Jay-like "skraaawk"; during breeding season also a variety of liquid babbling and clicking sounds.
Distribution. Where present a common resident; in some winters invades western parts of Europe.
Habitat. Mainly coniferous mountain regions, but locally also deciduous woods and lowlands.
Food. Mainly pine seeds and hazelnuts, but also some insects. Stores food for the winter.