Red Crossbill
Loxia curvirostra
Also known as: Common Crossbill, Crossbill
Habitat
Mid-canopy
Diet
PlantSeed
Active Time
Diurnal
Size
38 g
About This Species
A specialist finch of coniferous forest, instantly recognisable by its crossed mandibles used to prise seeds from pine and spruce cones, usually detected first by hard, sharp flight calls given from high in the canopy. Flocks move erratically and unpredictably between conifer stands depending on cone crops, so productive sites vary from year to year. Good views come from patiently watching mid- to upper-canopy branches in mature conifer stands, especially where cone crops are heavy.
Ethical Viewing Guidelines
- A quiet, patient approach from below the canopy is enough, since this species is generally more wary of sudden movement than of moderate distance.
- Protections for wild birds apply broadly across its range, but specific rules differ between countries, so check local guidance before attempting close photography of feeding flocks.
- Avoid disturbing a stand of feeding birds unnecessarily, since flushing them can send the flock well away from a productive food source.
Seasonal Activity
1,375,957 sightings · 2000–2026
Citizen science records via GBIF
Classification
- Kingdom
- Animalia
- Phylum
- Chordata
- Class
- Aves
- Order
- Passeriformes
- Family
- Fringillidae
Traits
- Diet
- PlantSeed
- Foraging
- Mid-canopy
- Activity
- Diurnal
- Body mass
- 38 g
Photo
(c) Пакалнис Дэниел, some rights reserved (CC BY-NC), uploaded by Пакалнис Дэниел
CC-BY-NC-4.0
Occurrence data from GBIF.