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White-winged Crossbill

Loxia leucopteraOrder: PASSERIFORMESFamily: Finches (Fringillidae)
White-winged Crossbill Winter Breeding Male Head Illustration

Head

  • Bill Shape: Specialized, Cone
  • Eye Color: Dark brown to nearly black.
  • Head Pattern: Eyeline, Masked
  • Crown Color: Pink
  • Forehead Color: Pink
  • Nape Color: Pink
  • Throat Color: Pink
  • Cere color: No Data
White-winged Crossbill Winter Breeding Male Body Illustration

Body

  • Length Range: 15-17 cm (6-6.75 in)
  • Weight: 28 g (1 oz)
  • Size: Size 2. Small (5 - 9 in)
  • Color: Pink, White, Black
  • Underparts: Pink with brown streaking on flanks and white center belly.
  • Upperparts: Pink with broad black band across back.
  • Back Pattern: Solid
  • Belly Pattern: Solid
  • Breast Pattern: Solid
White-winged Crossbill Winter Breeding Male Flight Illustration

Flight

  • Flight Pattern: Swift bounding flight with rapidly beating wings alternating with brief periods of wings pulled to sides.
  • Wingspan Range: 24-27 cm (9.5-10.5 in)
  • Wing Shape: Pointed-Wings
  • Tail Shape: Fan-shaped Tail
  • Tail Pattern: Solid
  • Upper Tail: Black
  • Under Tail: Black
  • Leg Color: Gray-black
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Family Buntings, Finches, Sparrows (Emberizidae)_blue
Species Loxia leucoptera
Length6 - 6.75 Inches
Wingspan10 Inches

White-winged Crossbill

White-winged Crossbill: Medium crossbill, bright pink overall except for black wings with two bold white wing-bars. Belly has dull white center; white undertail coverts. Black tail, deeply notched. Swift bounding flight, alternates rapid wing beats with wings pulled to sides.

● Song: "sweet-sweet-sweet", "chif-chif-chif", "peet"

● Foraging & Feeding: White-winged Crossbill: Eats conifer seeds, other seeds, weeds, grasses, and insects. Forages in small flocks during most of year; attracted to salt licks and salt on surfaces of winter highways.

● Breeding & nesting: White-winged Crossbill: Three to five brown and purple spotted, white to blue green eggs are laid in a nest made of grass, bark, lichens, moss, and hair, and lined with twigs and weeds. Incubation ranges from 12 to 14 days and is carried out by the female.

● Similar species: White-winged Crossbill: American Goldfinch is smaller, has stubby pink bill, white undertail coverts, black wings with two white to buff wing-bars, and lacks white patch across base of primaries.

Flight Pattern

Swift bounding flight with rapidly beating wings alternating with brief periods of wings pulled to sides.
White-winged Crossbill Winter Breeding Male Body Illustration
● Range & Habitat: White-winged Crossbill: Breeds from Alaska and northern Quebec south to Newfoundland and British Columbia. In winter, found south to the Carolinas and Oregon. Also occurs in Eurasia. Found in coniferous forests.
BreedingMonogamous, Solitary nester
PopulationFairly common
MigrationNonmigratory
Weight1 Ounces