Bird field guide · Crows, Jays, and Magpies

Photographing the Clark's Nutcracker

How to photograph the Clark's Nutcracker (Nucifraga columbiana): the right lens for its size, shutter speeds for perched and moving animals, and when it's most often seen (July and August).

25–65 cm1/2500–1/3200 s
Clark's Nutcracker (Nucifraga columbiana)
Photo: © Sally, some rights reserved (CC BY) via iNaturalist
25–65 cm
Typical length (family range)
1/800 s
Shutter: perched / still
1/2500–1/3200 s
Shutter: action / flight
f/5.6–f/7.1
Aperture
11,609
Research-grade sightings in N. America
ModeManual + Auto ISOLock shutter & aperture, let ISO float
Shutter (still)1/800 s
Shutter (action)1/2500–1/3200 s
Aperturef/5.6–f/7.1
FocusAF-C + subject/eye detectionBird-eye AF with continuous focus (AF-C/AI Servo); fill at least a third of the frame.
DriveHigh-speed burst
Lens300–500 mmFull-frame equivalent

Focal length needed to frame it#

For a subject about 45 cm long filling a third or half of the frame width horizontally.

Distance⅓ of frame (FF)½ of frame (FF)⅓ of frame (APS-C)⅓ of frame (MFT)
5 m (16 ft)129 mm192 mm86 mm64 mm
10 m (33 ft)257 mm385 mm171 mm129 mm
15 m (49 ft)386 mm577 mm257 mm193 mm
20 m (66 ft)514 mm769 mm343 mm257 mm
30 m (98 ft)772 mm1,154 mm514 mm386 mm
50 m (164 ft)1,286 mm1,923 mm857 mm643 mm

When to find it#

Jan: 2% Jan Feb: 2% Feb Mar: 2% Mar Apr: 3% Apr May: 8% May Jun: 13% Jun Jul: 21% Jul Aug: 22% Aug Sep: 15% Sep Oct: 8% Oct Nov: 2% Nov Dec: 2% Dec
Share of iNaturalist observations by month across North America. Peak months: July and August.

About the Clark's Nutcracker#

Clark's nutcracker (Nucifraga columbiana), sometimes referred to as Clark's crow or woodpecker crow, is a passerine bird in the family Corvidae. It is slightly smaller than its Eurasian relative the spotted nutcracker (N. caryocatactes). It is ashy-grey all over except for the black-and-white wings and central tail feathers (the outer ones are white).

Summary adapted from Wikipedia via iNaturalist (CC BY-SA 4.0).

Field-craft tips#

  • Very intelligent and wary — use a vehicle as a hide.
  • Black plumage needs +0.3 to +0.7 EV to show feather detail.
  • Bird-eye AF with continuous focus (AF-C/AI Servo); fill at least a third of the frame.
  • Sightings peak in July and August, which is when you'll have the most chances.

Ethics#

  • The welfare of the animal comes first: if it changes its behaviour because of you, you are too close.
  • Stay on trails, respect closures around nests, leks, dens and haul-outs.
  • Avoid playback and baiting in sensitive seasons; never bait predators.
  • Don't share precise locations of rare, nesting or roosting animals publicly.

More Crows, Jays, and Magpies#

Blue Jay Blue JayCyanocitta cristata American Crow American CrowCorvus brachyrhynchos Common Raven Common RavenCorvus corax California Scrub-Jay California Scrub-JayAphelocoma californica Steller's Jay Steller's JayCyanocitta stelleri Black-billed Magpie Black-billed MagpiePica hudsonia Canada Jay Canada JayPerisoreus canadensis Woodhouse's Scrub-Jay Woodhouse's Scrub-JayAphelocoma woodhouseii

Frequently asked questions#

What lens do I need to photograph a Clark's Nutcracker?

At about 45 cm long, a clark's nutcracker fills a third of a full-frame image at 10 m with roughly 257 mm, or at 20 m with 514 mm.

What shutter speed should I use for a Clark's Nutcracker?

1/800 s when it's still; 1/2500–1/3200 s for action.

When is the best time to photograph a Clark's Nutcracker?

Observations in North America peak in July and August. Early morning and late afternoon give the best light and activity.

Sources & licences#

Last updated October 03, 2026 · How we calculate · Sources