Red Crossbill

Loxia curvirostra

Genus · Crossbills Family · Finches, Euphonias, and Allies

Observation tips Difficulty: MODERATE

Best time

🕒 Any

Activity

☀️ Diurnal

Best months

Observation habitat

Canopy foliageConiferous branchesRocks

Look for them in the canopy of spruce or pine plantations. Listen for the 'jip-jip' call and look for shredded cones on the ground.

♂ Male · ♀ Female

Stats

Wingspan27–29 cm

Weight40–53 g

Length15–17 cm

Lifespan wild2–8 yrs

Size

Nesting

Nest typeCup

Clutch size3–4 eggs

Incubation13–16 days

Breeding months

Regional Status (Europe)

Least Concern (Europe)

IUCN Red List

MigrationNomadic

Social BehaviourFlocking

Diet: Granivore

🍃Plants

🌻Seeds

Habitat

🌲 Forest coniferous🌲🌳 Forest mixed

✦ Fun Fact

Crossbills can be 'right-handed' or 'left-handed' depending on how their bill tips cross. This allows individuals to peck cones from different angles.

About

A heavy-set finch with mandibles that cross at the tips. This bill allows it to extract seeds from tough pine and spruce cones. Crossbills are nomadic. They wander across Europe and settle to breed wherever there is a good cone crop. They can be found breeding even in the depths of winter.

Behaviour

Crossbills climb among conifer branches like small parrots. They are highly social and have a loud, metallic 'jip-jip' call. They often drop shredded cones to the forest floor while feeding. Their song is a mix of whistles and chattering delivered from the tops of tall trees.

Sexual Dimorphism

♂ Male

His color varies from bright brick-red to orange-red. The intensity depends on his diet and age. He has dark brown wings and a dark tail.

♀ Female

Dull olive-green or yellowish where the male is red. Juveniles are heavily streaked and do not develop the crossed bill until they leave the nest.

Similar species

Coccothraustes coccothraustes

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