Kashmir Nutcracker Nucifraga multipunctata Scientific name definitions

"The nutcrackers can scarcely be numbered among the common birds, but are sometimes seen in our hill stations, and, such is the "cussedness" of birds that if I omit to notice the nutcrackers several are certain to show themselves to many of those who read these lines. A chocolate-brown bird, bigger than a crow, and spotted and barred with white all over, can be nothing other than one of the Himalayan nutcrackers. It may be the Himalayan species (Nucifraga hemispila), or the larger spotted nutcracker (N. multipunctata)" — Douglas Dewar, 1915 (1 Dewar, D. (1915). Birds of the Indian hills. John Lane, London, UK. Close : pp 38–39).

The Kashmir Nutcracker (Nucifraga multipunctata) is a corvid species with a limited range, being primarily found in the northwestern Himalayas (Kashmir Valley, Gilgit Baltistan and some parts of Himachal Pradesh) with records from adjoining mountainous areas in Pakistan and Afghanistan. Despite its distinctiveness, this species has received limited scientific attention and only a few opportunistic observations have been published. With the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020, there was a surge of interest in birding, leading to a significant increase in birding activities in the Kashmir Valley and a notable rise in sightings of the Kashmir Nutcracker (2 Geelani, K. (2023). Birdwatchers in Kashmir benefit science and conservation. The Third Pole. Close ). Most of the photographs of this species currently available were taken after 2020, providing valuable insights into its behavior and characteristics. This trend highlights the crucial role of citizen science in enhancing our understanding of lesser-known species.

This species is common in high-altitude coniferous forests and facilitates seed dispersal from various pine species. Its population benefits from its mutualistic relationship with the chilgoza pine (Pinus gerardiana), as the bird's seed dispersal activities significantly contribute to the regeneration of these trees. Closely related to the Northern Nutcracker (Nucifraga caryocatactes) and the Southern Nutcracker (Nucifraga hemispila), these three species were previously considered conspecific. However, morphological and genetic studies have led to their recognition as separate species. The Kashmir Nutcracker is distinguished from its relatives by its strikingly whitish appearance contrasted with a blackish crown, wings, and base of the tail. It also features bold white spots on its rump and upper tail coverts, a relatively slimmer bill, and a longer tail.

Despite its restricted range within the Western Himalayas Endemic Bird Area, the Kashmir Nutcracker maintains a stable population and is classified as Least Concern on the IUCN Red List.