Red Crossbill

Loxia curvirostra

Also known as:Common Crossbill

Explore this bird

Identification

Field notes

13-18 cm (5-7") Locally common but unpredictable - depending on availability of pine cones. Coniferous forests in summer especially pines; in winter ornamental trees, roadsides for salt.

Highly variable plumage. Plain dark wings; short dark tail. Distinctive crossed bill with which it noisily cracks open evergreen cones. Often dangles while feeding.

Male: brick-red, orange or yellow overall.

Female: grayish-olive or yellowish-olive with dull yellow on rump and underside.

Song: two-note phrases and a warbled trill; "kip-kip-kip" call given in flight.

Details in the field

Photo gallery

4 photos

Credit: Sergey Yeliseev

Credit: Eugene Beckes

Credit: eugene beckes

Credit: J.N. Stuart

Watch and learn

Videos

2 videos

Red Crossbill ripping pine cone for seed ktbirding.com

Credit: Khanh Tran

Red Crossbill in Hemlock Tree

Credit: Chrissy & Andy

Where it lives

Distribution maps

Source legend · original intervals

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Unshaded in source · does not imply absence

Generic and winter maps may use different intervals.

Bird Advisor Identification rules 2 variants 3 rules

These are the observation paths the Bird Advisor can use to identify this species. Each rule is an alternative match.

Red Crossbill (Male)

2 rules

Rule 1 11 criteria confidence 3

What was the sex of the bird ?: Male · Unknown
Did the WINGS have STRIPES or PATCHES ?: No · Unknown
What colour were the WINGS ?: Brown, or chestnut (reddish-brown) · Gray, or blue-gray · Black, purple, or dark · Unknown
Were the SIDES STREAKED, SPOTTED or BARRED ?: No · Unknown
What colour was the BREAST ?: Orange, buff (orange-yellow), or tan · Red, or pink · Rufous (dull-red or rust-colored) · Unknown
What colour was the THROAT ?: Orange, buff (orange-yellow), or tan · Red, or pink · Rufous (dull-red or rust-colored) · Unknown
What SHAPE was the BILL ?: Straight and thick · Conical and slender · Conical and thick · Hooked · Downcurved · Crossed at the tips · Unknown
What LENGTH was the BILL ?: Short · Medium · Long · Unknown
What colour was the TOP of HEAD ?: Orange, buff (orange-yellow), or tan · Red, or pink · Rufous (dull-red or rust-colored) · Unknown
How BIG was the bird ?: Smaller than a sparrow · Sparrow-sized
What TYPE of bird was seen ?: Songbird (ground or perching bird)

result:1046-red-crossbill-male:1:1 Source: 1046 Red Crossbill (Male), row 1

Rule 2 6 criteria confidence 3

What was the sex of the bird ?: Male · Unknown
Was the bird seen best or only on the ground ?: No
How BIG was the bird ?: Sparrow-sized · Robin-sized
List any unique feeding behaviour observed ?: Poking or probing pine cones
What TYPE of bird was seen ?: Identify from a Unique Behaviour
What type of environment was the bird seen in?: Urban or residential area or at a feeder · Coniferous forest · Mixed forest

result:1046-red-crossbill-male:2:1 Source: 1046 Red Crossbill (Male), row 2

Red Crossbill (Female)

1 rule

Rule 1 12 criteria confidence 3

What was the sex of the bird ?: Female · Unknown
Did the WINGS have STRIPES or PATCHES ?: No · Unknown
What colour were the WINGS ?: Brown, or chestnut (reddish-brown) · Gray, or blue-gray · Black, purple, or dark · Unknown
What colour was the BACK ?: Yellow · Olive (yellowish-green) · Green · Brown, or chestnut (reddish-brown) · Gray, or blue-gray · Black, purple, or dark · Unknown
What colour was the BREAST ?: White, or pale (grayish-white) · Yellow · Orange, buff (orange-yellow), or tan · Olive (yellowish-green) · Brown, or chestnut (reddish-brown) · Gray, or blue-gray · Unknown
What colour was the THROAT ?: White, or pale (grayish-white) · Yellow · Olive (yellowish-green) · Gray, or blue-gray · Unknown
What SHAPE was the BILL ?: Straight and thick · Conical and slender · Conical and thick · Hooked · Downcurved · Crossed at the tips · Unknown
What LENGTH was the BILL ?: Short · Medium · Long · Unknown
What FACIAL or HEAD features were noted if any ?: Light area between the bill and the eye · Light area running up the side of the neck or head · Sideburn stripe running down beneath the eye · Dark area behind, under, through or around the eye · Crest of feathers on top of the head · Ear "tufts" or horns · NONE of the above or a PLAIN unmarked FACE · Unknown
What colour was the TOP of HEAD ?: Yellow · Olive (yellowish-green) · Gray, or blue-gray · Unknown
How BIG was the bird ?: Smaller than a sparrow · Sparrow-sized
What TYPE of bird was seen ?: Sparrow-like · Songbird (ground or perching bird)

result:1047-red-crossbill-female:1:1 Source: 1047 Red Crossbill (Female), row 1