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Red Crossbill (Loxia curvirostra)
FIELD MARKS
Crossbills
are well known for the unusual way in which the tips of their bills are
crossed. The tip of the upperpart of their bill curls downwards and the
tip of the lower part curls upwards. The male Red Crossbill is mostly dull
red in colour. His wings and tail are brownish-black and his belly is greyish.
The female is greyish-olive with dark stripes and spots. She has a yellow
breast and yellow on the sides of her body. Her wings and tail are plain
brownish-black, like that of the male Red Crossbill. Both the male and female
have short, forked tails. The Red Crossbill is very easy to approach and
is often found in small flocks. Approximate length: 14 cm
FOOD
Crossbills usually forage on cones that are still attached to the tree.
The crossed tips of their bills are adapted to collect seeds by prying open
evergreen cones. Their favourite seeds are those from pine cones, but they
also eat buds, deciduous seeds, berries and some insects.
HABITAT
The Red Crossbill prefers coniferous forests. They may also appear in conifers
that have been planted in parks or suburbs.
NESTING
The Red Crossbill nest very early in the year depending on the production
of cone crops are available. Their nests are built on a horizontal branch
of a conifer, far out from the trunk. They are made of twigs, grass, bark
and wood chips, and are lined with fine grass, moss, lichen, feathers
and hair. The female lays 3-4 pale greenish-white or bluish eggs that
have brown and purple spots at the larger end.
STATUS
Locally, some populations may be vulnerable to loss of habitat, but overall
the Red Crossbill is common and widespread.
DISTRIBUTION
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