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A bird that shares its name with the famous Russian ballet that begins as night falls on Christmas Eve, the nutcracker has one of the most remarkable memories in the animal kingdom.

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Nutcracker (Nucifraga caryocatactes) in snow, Muhos, Finland, January - Markus Varesvuo
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Markus Varesvuo / Nutcracker (Nucifraga caryocatactes) in snow, Muhos, Finland, January
Spotted nutcracker (Nucifraga caryocatactes) with hazelnut in forest, Crans Montana, the Alps, Wallis, Switzerland. February - David Pattyn
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David Pattyn / Spotted nutcracker (Nucifraga caryocatactes) with hazelnut in forest, Crans Montana, the Alps, Wallis, Switzerland. February
Spotted nutcracker (Nucifraga caryocatactes) perched on snowy branch, Crans Montana, the Alps, Wallis, Switzerland. February - David Pattyn
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David Pattyn / Spotted nutcracker (Nucifraga caryocatactes) perched on snowy branch, Crans Montana, the Alps, Wallis, Switzerland. February
Traditional nutcracker in shape of a soldier and Walnut (Juglans regia) in nutcracker. - ARCO
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ARCO / Traditional nutcracker in shape of a soldier and Walnut (Juglans regia) in nutcracker.
Spotted nutcracker (Nucifraga caryocatactes) in snowy forest, Crans Montana, the Alps, Wallis, Switzerland. February - David Pattyn
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David Pattyn / Spotted nutcracker (Nucifraga caryocatactes) in snowy forest, Crans Montana, the Alps, Wallis, Switzerland. February
Spotted Nutcracker (Nucifraga caryocatactes) feeding from pine cones, Joensuu, Finland, September. - Markus Varesvuo
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Markus Varesvuo / Spotted Nutcracker (Nucifraga caryocatactes) feeding from pine cones, Joensuu, Finland, September.
Spotted nutcracker (Nucifraga caryocatactes) finding cached hazelnut, Sweden, February. - Pal Hermansen
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Pal Hermansen / Spotted nutcracker (Nucifraga caryocatactes) finding cached hazelnut, Sweden, February.
Spotted nutcracker (Nucifraga caryocatactes) finding cached hazelnut, Sweden, February. - Pal Hermansen
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Pal Hermansen / Spotted nutcracker (Nucifraga caryocatactes) finding cached hazelnut, Sweden, February.
Spotted nutcracker (Nucifraga caryocatactes) on snow covered spruce tree, Bavaria, Germany, January. - Konrad Wothe
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Konrad Wothe / Spotted nutcracker (Nucifraga caryocatactes) on snow covered spruce tree, Bavaria, Germany, January.
Spotted nutcracker, (Nucifraga caryocatactes) in flight, foraging for pine conees, Finland, July. - Jussi Murtosaari
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Jussi Murtosaari / Spotted nutcracker, (Nucifraga caryocatactes) in flight, foraging for pine conees, Finland, July.
Clark's Nutcracker (Nucifraga columbiana) perched in a Pine tree with purple pine cones, Alberta, Canada - George McCarthy
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George McCarthy / Clark's Nutcracker (Nucifraga columbiana) perched in a Pine tree with purple pine cones, Alberta, Canada
Spotted nutcracker (Nucifraga caryocatactes), Vitosha Mountain, Sofia, Bulgaria - Guy Edwardes
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Guy Edwardes / Spotted nutcracker (Nucifraga caryocatactes), Vitosha Mountain, Sofia, Bulgaria
Spotted Nutcracker (Nucifraga caryocatactes) removing pine cone from tree, Joensuu, Finland September. - Markus Varesvuo
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Markus Varesvuo / Spotted Nutcracker (Nucifraga caryocatactes) removing pine cone from tree, Joensuu, Finland September.
Nutcracker (Nucifraga caryocatactes) feeding on Reindeer (Rangifer tarandus) meat at a winter herders' camp in the Purovsky region of the Yamal. Western Siberia, Russia, February. - Bryan and Cherry Alexander
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Bryan and Cherry Alexander / Nutcracker (Nucifraga caryocatactes) feeding on Reindeer (Rangifer tarandus) meat at a winter herders' camp in the Purovsky region of the Yamal. Western Siberia, Russia, February.
Spotted nutcracker (Nucifraga caryocatactes) feeding on reindeer meat at a winter herders' camp, Purovsky region, Yamal. Western Siberia, Russia - Bryan and Cherry Alexander
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Bryan and Cherry Alexander / Spotted nutcracker (Nucifraga caryocatactes) feeding on reindeer meat at a winter herders' camp, Purovsky region, Yamal. Western Siberia, Russia
Spotted nutcracker (Nucifraga caryocatactes) with beetle prey, Finland, July. - Jussi Murtosaari
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Jussi Murtosaari / Spotted nutcracker (Nucifraga caryocatactes) with beetle prey, Finland, July.
Spotted nutcracker, (Nucifraga caryocatactes) with beetle prey, Finland, July. - Jussi Murtosaari
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Jussi Murtosaari / Spotted nutcracker, (Nucifraga caryocatactes) with beetle prey, Finland, July.
Spotted nutcracker, (Nucifraga caryocatactes),feeding on pine cone, Finland, July. - Jussi Murtosaari
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Jussi Murtosaari / Spotted nutcracker, (Nucifraga caryocatactes),feeding on pine cone, Finland, July.
Spotted nutcracker, (Nucifraga caryocatactes) feeding on pine cone, Finland, July. - Jussi Murtosaari
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Jussi Murtosaari / Spotted nutcracker, (Nucifraga caryocatactes) feeding on pine cone, Finland, July.
Spotted Nutcracker (Nucifraga caryocatactes) in flight, Finland, November - Markus Varesvuo
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Markus Varesvuo / Spotted Nutcracker (Nucifraga caryocatactes) in flight, Finland, November
Spotted nutcracker (Nucifraga caryocatactes) adult feeding fledgling, Tatra Mountains, Poland - Mateusz Piesiak
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Mateusz Piesiak / Spotted nutcracker (Nucifraga caryocatactes) adult feeding fledgling, Tatra Mountains, Poland
Spotted nutcracker (Nucifraga caryocatactes) fledgling begging. Tatra Mountains, Poland - Mateusz Piesiak
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Mateusz Piesiak / Spotted nutcracker (Nucifraga caryocatactes) fledgling begging. Tatra Mountains, Poland
Spotted Nutcracker (Nucifraga caryocatactes) in snow, Finland, January - Markus Varesvuo
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Markus Varesvuo / Spotted Nutcracker (Nucifraga caryocatactes) in snow, Finland, January
Mugo Pine cones (Pinus mugo) - ARCO
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ARCO / Mugo Pine cones (Pinus mugo)
Nutcracker (Nucifraga caryocatactes) calling, fluffed up against the cold, Ounasvaara, Rovaniemi, Lappi / Lapland, Finland. January - Jussi Murtosaari
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Jussi Murtosaari / Nutcracker (Nucifraga caryocatactes) calling, fluffed up against the cold, Ounasvaara, Rovaniemi, Lappi / Lapland, Finland. January
Spotted nutcrackers (Nucifraga caryocatactes) fighting, Vitosha Mountain, Sofia, Bulgaria - Guy Edwardes
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Guy Edwardes / Spotted nutcrackers (Nucifraga caryocatactes) fighting, Vitosha Mountain, Sofia, Bulgaria
Spotted nutcrackers (Nucifraga caryocatactes) fighting in snow, Vitosha Mountain, Sofia, Bulgaria - Guy Edwardes
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Guy Edwardes / Spotted nutcrackers (Nucifraga caryocatactes) fighting in snow, Vitosha Mountain, Sofia, Bulgaria
Spotted nutcracker (Nucifraga caryocatactes) fighting in snow, Vitosha Mountain, Sofia, Bulgaria - Guy Edwardes
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Guy Edwardes / Spotted nutcracker (Nucifraga caryocatactes) fighting in snow, Vitosha Mountain, Sofia, Bulgaria
Nutcracker (Nucifraga caryocatactes) on branch, Muhos, Finland, January - Markus Varesvuo
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Markus Varesvuo / Nutcracker (Nucifraga caryocatactes) on branch, Muhos, Finland, January
Spotted nutcracker (Nucifraga caryocatactes) with hazelenut, Upper Danube Nature Park, Baden-Wuerttemberg, Germany. - ARCO
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ARCO / Spotted nutcracker (Nucifraga caryocatactes) with hazelenut, Upper Danube Nature Park, Baden-Wuerttemberg, Germany.
Eurasian Nutcracker (Nucifraga caryocatactes) perched, Finland, September - Markus Varesvuo
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Markus Varesvuo / Eurasian Nutcracker (Nucifraga caryocatactes) perched, Finland, September
Spotted nutcracker, (Nucifraga caryocatactes) taking off from snow covered tree, Finland, January. - Jussi Murtosaari
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Jussi Murtosaari / Spotted nutcracker, (Nucifraga caryocatactes) taking off from snow covered tree, Finland, January.
Spotted Nutcracker (Nucifraga caryocatactes) feedingin tree on pine cones, Joensuu, Finland, September. - Markus Varesvuo
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Markus Varesvuo / Spotted Nutcracker (Nucifraga caryocatactes) feedingin tree on pine cones, Joensuu, Finland, September.
Spotted nutcracker (Nucifraga caryocatactes) feeding on pine cones, Joensuu, Finland, September. - Markus Varesvuo
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Markus Varesvuo / Spotted nutcracker (Nucifraga caryocatactes) feeding on pine cones, Joensuu, Finland, September.
Spotted Nutcracker (Nucifraga caryocatactes) with pine coneJoensuu, Finland, September. - Markus Varesvuo
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Markus Varesvuo / Spotted Nutcracker (Nucifraga caryocatactes) with pine coneJoensuu, Finland, September.
Spotted nutcracker (Nucifraga caryocatactes) Tatra Mountains, Poland - Mateusz Piesiak
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Mateusz Piesiak / Spotted nutcracker (Nucifraga caryocatactes) Tatra Mountains, Poland
Spotted nutcracker (Nucifraga caryocatactes) Tatra Mountains, Poland - Mateusz Piesiak
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Mateusz Piesiak / Spotted nutcracker (Nucifraga caryocatactes) Tatra Mountains, Poland
Spotted nutcracker (Nucifraga caryocatactes) Tatra Mountains, Poland - Mateusz Piesiak
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Mateusz Piesiak / Spotted nutcracker (Nucifraga caryocatactes) Tatra Mountains, Poland
Spotted nutcracker (Nucifraga caryocatactes) fledgling begging Tatra Mountains, Poland - Mateusz Piesiak
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Mateusz Piesiak / Spotted nutcracker (Nucifraga caryocatactes) fledgling begging Tatra Mountains, Poland
Nutcracker {Nucifraga caryocatactes} juvenile on stump, Alps, Switzerland. - Philippe Clement
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Philippe Clement / Nutcracker {Nucifraga caryocatactes} juvenile on stump, Alps, Switzerland.
Spotted nutcracker, (Nucifraga caryocatactes), adult feeding a juvenile, Finland, July. - Jussi Murtosaari
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Jussi Murtosaari / Spotted nutcracker, (Nucifraga caryocatactes), adult feeding a juvenile, Finland, July.
Spotted nutcracker, (Nucifraga caryocatactes), adult feeding a juvenile, Finland, July. - Jussi Murtosaari
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Jussi Murtosaari / Spotted nutcracker, (Nucifraga caryocatactes), adult feeding a juvenile, Finland, July.
Spotted nutcracker (Nucifraga caryocatactes) perched on snowy branch, Crans Montana, the Alps, Wallis, Switzerland. February - David Pattyn
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David Pattyn / Spotted nutcracker (Nucifraga caryocatactes) perched on snowy branch, Crans Montana, the Alps, Wallis, Switzerland. February
Spotted nutcrackers (Nucifraga caryocatactes) fighting in snow, Vitosha Mountain, Sofia, Bulgaria - Guy Edwardes
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Guy Edwardes / Spotted nutcrackers (Nucifraga caryocatactes) fighting in snow, Vitosha Mountain, Sofia, Bulgaria
Spotted nutcracker (Nucifraga caryocatactes) fighting in snow, Vitosha Mountain, Sofia, Bulgaria - Guy Edwardes
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Guy Edwardes / Spotted nutcracker (Nucifraga caryocatactes) fighting in snow, Vitosha Mountain, Sofia, Bulgaria
Spotted nutcracker (Nucifraga caryocatactes) two fighting in snow, Vitosha Mountain, Sofia, Bulgaria - Guy Edwardes
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Guy Edwardes / Spotted nutcracker (Nucifraga caryocatactes) two fighting in snow, Vitosha Mountain, Sofia, Bulgaria
Spotted nutcracker (Nucifraga caryocatactes), Vitosha Mountain, Sofia, Bulgaria - Guy Edwardes
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Guy Edwardes / Spotted nutcracker (Nucifraga caryocatactes), Vitosha Mountain, Sofia, Bulgaria
Spotted nutcrackers (Nucifraga caryocatactes) fighting in snow, Vitosha Mountain, Sofia, Bulgaria - Guy Edwardes
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Guy Edwardes / Spotted nutcrackers (Nucifraga caryocatactes) fighting in snow, Vitosha Mountain, Sofia, Bulgaria
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