Migrating Bird - What is it???

This guy just came through, obviously on a migration, but I have never seen this bird and I cannot find anything that fits this description. Any ideas?





to give you a perspective on size, here are same feeds with grosbeaks



and a crow - closer in size to the crow

I just got a PM from one of the PC members who has correctly identified this bird as Clark Nutcracker!!!

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Clark%27s_Nutcracker

I have never seen this bird here, thanks I will be on the look out.

This bird was first observed in 1805 by William Clark (Lewis and Clark expedition) and bears his name.

We have had a lone Clark's Nutcracker at our feeders for about 3 months now. We call it Clark. It hangs out with the Stellar Jays and Magpies. I have not seen any others with it. It loves the suet feeders and is not too shy around the heated bird bath. They will allow you to hand feed them if you are persistant and have the patience. Many confuse them with Gray Jays (aka Camp Robbers) which are plentiful at ski resorts and will take food from your hand, or plate, without much hesitation. They are very smart.

Those are some fantastic pics.

Does the buck deer like suet & seed too?

If he could jump up there where the suet is, he sure would woof it down! The suet cakes are about 15 feet up on a steel line with pulley (keep bears and 'coons off)

We had them up on Black Mountain for awhile. About the same size and shape as the gray jays, but with a longer beak, and not
as aggressive as the jays. Don't remember what time of year it was, but I expect you're right about them migrating. Nice pics, as always.