The Nutcracker’s scientific name, Nucifraga, comes from Latin nux (nut) and frangere ( to break). This bird is able to store thousands of seeds in thousands of locations, and find them again even months later. There is also a unique pouch under its tongue that can hold from 50 to 150 seeds at once. There’s a theory that the Nutcracker tests seeds by a technique called ‘bill clicking’, in which it rapidly opens and closes its bill in order to determine the type of seed. It can also possibly discern seeds by their color. Clark’s Nutcrackers aren’t intimidated by bigger birds either and have been observed mobbing raptors, including Red-tailed Hawks and Golden Eagles. (To see how I drew this bird see Clark’s Nutcracker)