Montana · Year-round resident

Clark's Nutcrackers in Montana

When Clark's nutcrackers are present in Montana, when they nest, which native Montana plants feed them, and how to host them in a USDA 3a–6a yard.

Crows and jays (Corvidae)Clark's NutcrackerNucifraga columbiana

Status in Montana: Year-round resident
Nesting window: March–April
Broods: 1 per season
Hardiness zones: USDA 3a–6a

When to expect Clark's nutcrackers in Montana

Clark's Nutcrackers live in Montana all year. Very cold winters on the plains, with chinook winds bringing sudden thaws. That makes the cold months the time your yard matters most to them.

Continental — Rocky Mountain forest in the west, semi-arid Great Plains in the east.

Nesting in Montana

Across Montana, Clark's nutcrackers typically nest from March–April. Plan around that window: February for setup, April for clean-out.

Warm, dry summers and a short growing season.

Clark's Nutcrackers don't use nest boxes. Keep dense native shrubs and trees such as rocky mountain juniper, ponderosa pine, douglas fir for nest sites.
Delay heavy pruning of shrubs until after April.

Native Montana plants that attract Clark's nutcrackers

Of the regional native plants we track for Montana, these 4 provide food or cover Clark's nutcrackers use:

Rocky Mountain juniper

Juniperus scopulorum · Tree

Berry-like cones feed bluebirds, solitaires and waxwings in winter.

Ponderosa pine

Pinus ponderosa · Tree

Seeds and bark insects; pygmy nuthatch and woodpecker habitat.

Douglas fir

Pseudotsuga menziesii · Tree

Seed for crossbills, siskins and chickadees.

White spruce

Picea glauca · Tree

Cone crops drive winter irruptions of finches and crossbills.

Feeding Clark's nutcrackers through the Montana year

Top foods: Peanuts in the shell, Black-oil sunflower.
In Montana's winter: Very cold winters on the plains, with chinook winds bringing sudden thaws.

Full diet breakdown for Clark's nutcrackers · Best feeder for Clark's nutcrackers

Frequently asked

Are Clark's nutcrackers in Montana year-round?

Yes. Clark's Nutcrackers are year-round residents in Montana.

When do Clark's nutcrackers nest in Montana?

Nesting in Montana typically runs March–April, with 1 per season. Clutches are 2–6 eggs, incubated for 16–18 days.

What native plants attract Clark's nutcrackers in Montana?

Rocky Mountain juniper, Ponderosa pine, Douglas fir, White spruce are native plants in Montana that provide food or cover for Clark's nutcrackers.

Clark's Nutcrackers in other regions

Alberta British Columbia California Colorado Idaho Nevada Oregon Utah Washington Wyoming

Other backyard birds in Montana

Black-capped Chickadee Downy Woodpecker Hairy Woodpecker American Goldfinch White-breasted Nuthatch House Wren House Finch Mourning Dove American Robin Dark-eyed Junco Song Sparrow Chipping Sparrow Northern Flicker Pileated Woodpecker Red-headed Woodpecker Red-breasted Nuthatch Brown Creeper Common Grackle Red-winged Blackbird Baltimore Oriole Evening Grosbeak Pine Siskin Common Redpoll Gray Catbird Brown Thrasher Cedar Waxwing Tree Swallow Barn Swallow Yellow-rumped Warbler Eastern Screech-Owl Eastern Kingbird American Tree Sparrow House Sparrow European Starling Steller's Jay Black-billed Magpie Canada Jay Mountain Chickadee Chestnut-backed Chickadee Pygmy Nuthatch Black-chinned Hummingbird Rufous Hummingbird Cassin's Finch Spotted Towhee Western Bluebird Mountain Bluebird Say's Phoebe White-crowned Sparrow Fox Sparrow Varied Thrush Violet-green Swallow Black-headed Grosbeak Lazuli Bunting Bullock's Oriole Eurasian Collared-Dove American Crow Common Raven Cooper's Hawk Sharp-shinned Hawk Red-tailed Hawk Great Horned Owl American Kestrel Wild Turkey Mallard Great Blue Heron Belted Kingfisher Brown-headed Cowbird Ruby-crowned Kinglet Golden-crowned Kinglet Hermit Thrush Pine Grosbeak Red Crossbill Gray Catbird Western Tanager Black-throated Sparrow Lark Sparrow Green-tailed Towhee Pinyon Jay Western Screech-Owl Hooded Merganser Band-tailed Pigeon Yellow Warbler Common Yellowthroat American Redstart Yellow-breasted Chat Orange-crowned Warbler Red-eyed Vireo Warbling Vireo Least Flycatcher Western Kingbird Ash-throated Flycatcher Cliff Swallow Northern Rough-winged Swallow Bank Swallow Common Nighthawk Canada Goose American Coot Killdeer Spotted Sandpiper Black-crowned Night Heron Turkey Vulture Osprey Bald Eagle Merlin Peregrine Falcon Northern Saw-whet Owl Burrowing Owl Lewis's Woodpecker Black-backed Woodpecker American Three-toed Woodpecker Savannah Sparrow Vesper Sparrow Snow Bunting Lapland Longspur Horned Lark Common Redpoll Hoary Redpoll White-winged Crossbill Gray-crowned Rosy-Finch Bohemian Waxwing Bobolink Yellow-headed Blackbird Brewer's Blackbird Rock Pigeon

Sources

Timing reflects typical patterns for the region as a whole; local dates vary with elevation and year. Check the linked eBird bar charts for your county.