Crossbills / Red Crossbill and White-winged Crossbill

Red Crossbill photo by 'Coniferous Forest'

White-winged Crossbill photo by 'All About Birds'

There are six species of Crossbills in the world.   Two are found in Canada: the Red Crossbill and the White-winged Crossbill.   I have resisted writing about the Crossbills, up to this point, because of the complicated nature of the Crossbill species and subspecies.

But here goes...

The Red Crossbill (and as many as eight subspecies) is fairly common and widespread across Canada, although I don't recall ever seeing one or photographing one.

The White-winged Crossbill is also found across Canada, even more broadly, and further north in the huge country.

Crossbills feed exclusively on conifer seeds, especially from pine trees.   Their unique oddly-crossed mandibles enable them to extract seeds from the tree cones.   Both Crossbills insert their crossed mandibles into conifer cones, forcing the scales apart while their tongues scoop the seeds into their mouths.   Both species also take sunflowers seeds from feeders.

Because their chosen food is available in the winter, they commonly begin nesting as early as January, but they have been found nesting in every month of the year.

Both species are vulnerable to habitat loss caused by logging operations.

These sparrow-sized birds wander irregularly, depending upon pinecone availability (their principal food).   They irrupt far south of their usual range during some winters.

Red Crossbills range from southern Alaska, Manitoba, Quebec and Newfoundland, south to North Carolina (in the mountains) and Wisconsin; and in the west to northern Nicaragua.

The White-winged Crossbill ranges from northern Alaska east to Newfoundland and south to British Columbia and Maine.   They winter across the northern half of the United States.

The Red Crossbill's voice is a hard "kip-kip", mostly given in flight.

The White winged Crossbill's voice is a dry slow rattle, also usually given flight.

The White-winged Crossbill suffers heavy mortality in winter due to salted roadway automobile traffic.

I could go on and on, but won't.

Please comment if you wish.

Barry the Birder