Suggests a small gray crow with black wings. Bill is proportionally long, narrow, and very pointed. Face may have whitish wash. Head, back, and belly gray. Wings black. Tail black with broad white edges above and all white below. In flight, wide white tail edges conspicuous; wings black with prominent white trailing edges.

Length: 30 (cm) Wingspan: 61 (cm)

Voice:

Short, grating graa-gra or scolding kro-kro-kro.

Habitat:

In summer, alpine areas near timberline. Prefers whitebark pine, but also found in ponderosa pine forests.

Behavior:

Caches large amounts of pine cone seeds in autumn. Some wander to lower elevations during winter. May become quite tame around picnic areas.

Feeding:

Diet consists of pine cone seeds, insects, eggs, berries, and carrion.