Red Crossbill – 4/4/21

Observer: Josh Simons

Observation Date: 4/4/21

Observation Time: 3:45 p.m.

Observation Location: Moose Hill

Common Name: Red Crossbill

Scientific Name: Loxia curvirostra

Comments: I wish I could claim some special birding or photography skill but three red crossbills flew literally right over my head and into a tree a few feet above me, and then jumped over to a nearby branch to get some water. There is something to be said for being in the right place at the right time, I guess.

Red crossbills use their peculiar curved bills to break into unopened pine cones, giving them an advantage over other finch species. Because conifers produce seeds unpredictably, Red Crossbills sometimes wander (or “irrupt”) far beyond their usual range. They nest wherever and whenever they find abundant food, sometimes even in winter.

More Information: All About Birds