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White-winged Crossbill (Loxia leucoptera)
© John Harrison at https://www.flickr.com/photos/15512543@N04/ CC BY-SA 3.0

Finches · Perching birds

White-winged Crossbill

Loxia leucoptera

Winters here

Voice

Call

Max Karlsson

0:22

Song

Doug Hynes

0:43

Call

Max Karlsson

0:18

How to recognize it

  • 14.5–17 cm, like a goldfinch

  • Male: bright red body, black wings

  • Two white wing-bars

  • Crossed bill, short forked tail

About the species

The White-winged Crossbill is easiest to remember for its crossed bill, built for prying seeds out of cones. Adult males also show two clear white wing-bars, which make the whole look especially neat and distinctive.

It spends much of its time working at cones, moving with a focused, busy manner. During courtship, males give long, high whistles that sound like “sofi-i-i-i-i-i…”.

It favors conifer forests, especially places with plenty of larch. It feeds mainly on cone seeds, but also takes rowan berries; in North America it also uses hemlock and spruce cones. Outside the breeding season it can gather in flocks and wander when food runs short.

Where to find

  • In mature city parks with larches and other conifers, look up for its thin whistles from the canopy and the sound of cones being stripped.

  • Near spruces and pines in big courtyards or along quiet streets, it often flashes past as a small flock moving quickly from treetop to treetop.

  • At park edges with rowans, especially in winter, it may hang on slender branches while picking berries.

  • Where tall conifers stand close together—old parks or sheltered green corners—watch for cone-feeding high in the crowns and brief, high calls.

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