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D & D Wildlife Photography
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The Red Crossbill is a highly irregular wanderer, even by winter finch standards! In fact, it may actually breed at any time of year, particularly in the southern part of its range. Therefore, it does not have a winter range per say, but rather occurs year-round from Newfoundland across Canada and the northern U.S. to Alaska; in the west, it occurs at high elevations south as far as Nicaragua. Description: Mandibles are crossed at tips. Adult male: Body dark red, brighter on rump; wings and tail dark brown; tail well forked. Adult female: Crown and rump yellowish orange; wings and tail grayish brown; rest of body olive-green.Because its nesting season extends from midwinter to midsummer, two types of nests are necessarily constructed, those for winter use being more substantially built to withstand the cold than summer nests. Winter nests are composed of twigs, weed stems, decayed wood fibre (worked into the exterior) and beard lichen. Summer nests are made of soft vegetable matter and lined with the silken down or tassels of fireweed. Lays 3-4 eggs, pale blue-green with spots of various shades of brown and lavender, chiefly around the larger end. The Red Crossbill's food preference is conifer cones, seeds and berries.
Length: 5 1/4 to 6 1/2 inches
Habitat:Pine, spruce or fir forests.
Voice: Song is a "chipa-chipa-chipa, chee-chee-chee-chee;" also a sharp ""kip-kip-kip."
Other Behavior: They may breed almost anywhere, and, because their chosen food is available in winter, they commonly begin nesting as early as January, but have been found nesting in every month of the year. .
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