North American field guide
White-winged Crossbill
Loxia leucoptera
Also known as:Two-barred Crossbill
Identification
Field notes
15-18 cm (6-7") Fairly common but unpredictable - depending on availability of cones. Coniferous forests in summer especially spruce, hemlock; in winter ornamental trees, roadsides for salt.
Dark wings with two broad white wing bars; short dark tail. Distinctive crossed bill with which it noisily cracks open cones. Often dangles while feeding.
Male: bright pinkish-red overall.
Female: gray with olive on head and back; yellowish on breast and rump.
Song: canary-like warble and trills; flight call is a series of "chit" notes.
Details in the field
Photo gallery
Watch and learn
Videos
White-winged Crossbills
Credit: Wild Bird and Nature Videos by McElroy ProductionsHow Nature Works: White-winged Crossbill Feeding Technique
Credit: Cornell Lab of OrnithologyCrossbill White-winged , Port Credit ONT. Jan 8 '13 by LUC FAZIO.mts
Credit: PeregrineFalcon1918Where 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.
White-Winged Crossbill (Male)
2 rulesRule 1 10 criteria · confidence 2
- What was the sex of the bird ?
- Male · Unknown
- Did the WINGS have STRIPES or PATCHES ?
- Yes · Unknown
- What colour were the WINGS ?
- Black, purple, or dark · 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)
Rule 2 6 criteria · confidence 6
- 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
White-Winged Crossbill (Female)
1 ruleRule 1 10 criteria · confidence 2
- What was the sex of the bird ?
- Female · Unknown
- Did the WINGS have STRIPES or PATCHES ?
- Yes · Unknown
- What colour were the WINGS ?
- 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 · Brown, or chestnut (reddish-brown) · Gray, or blue-gray · Unknown
- What colour was the THROAT ?
- 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 colour was the TOP of HEAD ?
- 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)