Red Crossbill

The Red Crossbill is memorable for its crossed bill, a tool made for prying seeds out of cones. It moves with confidence through the treetops and can hang upside down while working at a cone.

It is a noisy, restless presence overhead. Flocks call back and forth in flight, and the voice is sharp and repeated. When cone crops fail, it shifts to better areas instead of staying put.

Look for it in conifer woods, especially spruce stands, and also in mixed forest. Its main food is conifer seeds, though it also takes weeds, sunflower seeds, and sometimes insects. In good years it may breed in winter as well as summer.