The Hazel Grouse is a corvid with dark brown plumage speckled with white, giving it a mottled appearance. Its head is usually darker, and it has a sturdy, pointed beak suited for cracking open seeds. Its diet consists mainly of conifer seeds, particularly those of the Swiss stone pine, which it gathers and stores for the colder months. It prefers forested habitats, especially coniferous forests in the mountains. It nests between March and May, building its nest in tall trees. It is able to store seeds for the winter in thousands of hiding places, thereby contributing to the dispersal of seed-bearing plants.