Finches · Perching birds
Parrot Crossbill
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Loxia pytyopsittacus
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Voice
Song
How to recognize it
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Body length 16–18 cm
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Large head and very thick bill with a blunt tip
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Deep, rough call, "tyup-tyup-tyup"
About the species
Males range from red to orange, while females are usually green or yellow, though their colors vary. A broad head and especially thick bill give the Parrot Crossbill a heavier look than other crossbills. Its crossed bill tips can be hard to see, but the deep, blunt shape is a useful clue.
Its call is a deep, hard "choop" or "tyuup." Females sing too, more quietly and with less variety than males. Outside the breeding season, crossbills gather in flocks, sometimes mixing with other species.
It breeds in pine forests across northern and northeastern Europe and into western Russia, feeding chiefly on Scots pine seeds, along with seeds and buds from other conifers. It also takes insects and their larvae. Most stay in the same region year-round, but some move south or west when food runs short.
Where to find
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On a pine-forest walk outside town, listen for the repeated "tyuup" call among the trees.
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Among the pines, look for Parrot Crossbills extracting seeds from cones.
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Outside the breeding season, scan pine woods for flocks, sometimes mixed with other crossbills.
