Scientific name:
Nucifraga caryocatactis

Natural spread:
Europe, Asia

the 32 cm long fir-jays or "nutcrackers" is typical raven-birds from the needle and Mischwäldern of the mountain-regions of Europe and Asia. However, they prefer, as far as existing, conifer-continuances. Particularly the wing-nuts from the taps of the Arven or Zirbelkiefern (Pinus cembra) form its main-food there; in pure foliage-continuances, the nutcrackers harvest also real nuts and position storerooms. Often doesn't find again fir-jay the hoarded fruits like they completely with them close to relatives jays and contributes to the spread of the relevant plant-types so.

Shape In its whole Habitus, the fir-jay is quite similar for the jay; also, its flight and the diverse reputations remind of that. The dark brown plumage of the fir-jays carries conspicuous white speckles why these birds in the vernacular are called (the plumage of the native stars is scored points strikingly white in the brood-dress) also "Starenkrähen." With the fly, the white sub-tail-blankets and the white tail-end of the fir-jays only severely from-shutting otherwise in the branch-work clearly light up and offer a good recognition-characteristic. The straight, long and powerful beak also is typical for the nutcrackers. The eastern populations differ in its slimmer, thinner beak from European fir-jays.

Brood Fir-jays begin with the brood-business in March (south) until May; they pull up only 1 yearly-broods. its from branches, moss, lichens and earth of existing nests put it well guarded highly in conifers at. Only the female erbrütet for 17-19 days this usually 3-4 shining ones, greenish and dun colored eggs (3,4 x 2,4 cm). At the Jungenaufzucht however, it lasts 3-4 weeks up to the flying out the nestlings, both alto-birds participate. The offspring stays together after it with the parents in the family-association even further 2-3 month.