Clark's Nutcracker
Embark on your own voyage of discovery as you paint this bird.
The Clark's nutcracker (Nucifraga columbiana) is a stocky, grayish-brown songbird that measures between 10 1/2 to 14 inches in length, with long wings and a short tail. It got its name from Capt. William Clark of the Lewis and Clark expedition, who identified it during the Voyage of Discovery across North America. It is usually found in the Western portion of the continent and as far south as northern Baja, California during the winter months. The Clark's nutcracker extracts pine seeds from cones with its bill and carries them in a pouch under the tongue so it can bury them in the ground for the winter months.
The reference for the measured drawing and painting notes is from study skins provided by Eastern Washington University in Cheney, Washington.
The Clark's nutcracker will be the Best in the Northwest species at the 2018 Columbia Flyway Wildlife Show in Vancouver, Washington, in September.