Nutcracker (Nucifraga caryocatactes)
A Siberian starling, but very much of the crow family, comes dressed in the finest dark hues of an autumn/winter range and dazzling snowflake parka jacket. An infrequent winter visitor from northern Europe, the Nutcracker gets his name from his love of . . . can you guess? Yes, cracking nuts! Using his long beak to chisel out pine seeds all winter long, a cracker – like the Jay – systematically buries and stores their chow to keep for refreshments at less plentiful times; they have been known to store up to 30,000 seeds in one season. That’s a lotta nuts cracked!
Matt has a selection of wares available in the Caught by the River shop including this ace ‘Trees’ print