About Nucifraga hemispila Vigors, 1831
This species, commonly called the southern nutcracker, is similar in size to the northern nutcracker, reaching approximately 33 centimeters in total length. Its plumage is mostly brown, with only small, limited white spots on the face and upper breast. The lower breast and back are plain solid brown, the wings are solid unmarked black, and the lower belly and under-tail coverts are white. In comparison, both the northern nutcracker and the Kashmir nutcracker have extensive, larger white spots covering their entire breast and back. The southern nutcracker's tail is black with white outer corners. Its bill is thick and black, and its legs are also black. In terms of ecology and behaviour, the southern nutcracker lives primarily in pine forests. It shows a particular preference for forests containing Chinese white pine (Pinus armandii), blue pine (Pinus wallichiana), and other related white pines belonging to Pinus subgenus Strobus. Like other nutcrackers, it caches and disperses the seeds of these pines. When cone crops fail for its preferred pine species, it will also use other conifers such as spruce.
