Red Crossbill

LC - Least Concern

N5 - Secure

SNRB, SNRN - Unranked Breeding and Nonbreeding

not listed

Red Crossbill is a common, colorful, medium-sized finch. It occurs in the temperate and subpolar regions of the Northern Hemisphere. In Minnesota it is most common in the Arrowhead region, especially in the fall. In the remainder of the state, it is occasional to rare. There are about 28 subspecies of Red Crossbill worldwide, 7 to 10 subspecies in the United States, and at least 1 subspecies in Minnesota. These numbers vary over time and depending on the source. New subspecies are still being defined as isolated populations diverge genetically.

Adults feed mostly on conifer seeds, especially pine, but also spruce, fir, and hemlock. They also feed on buds, on seeds of deciduous trees, and occasionally on insects. They rarely visit bird feeders. Conifer seed production varies considerably from year to year. Red Crossbills are nomadic, not migratory. When food supply is scarce in their normal range, they move in great numbers, sometimes including thousands of birds. Their sporadic arrivals (irruptions) in northern Minnesota tend to coincide with bumper crops of conifer seeds in the state. In their normal range, Red Crossbills are found in coniferous and mixed forests and in conifer plantations. In winter and during travel outside of their normal range, they may also be found in deciduous forests, open shrubby areas, parks, and gardens.

Adults are stocky, 5½″ to 7⅞″ (14 to 20 cm) in length, have a 10⅝″ to 11½″ (27 to 29 cm) wingspan, and weigh 0.8 to 1.6 oz. (23.7 to 45.5 g).

The head is large. The bill is large and consists of an upper and lower mandible curved in opposite directions. It is inserted closed onto a pinecone, then opened to spread the scales and retrieve the seed. This is the feature that gives the genus its common name.

On the male, the head, back, and undersides, including the throat, are dull brick red or orangish red. The wings and tail are dark brown. The tail is short. The female is similarly patterned, but is olive gray to yellow where the male is red.

Length: 5½″ to 7⅞″ (14 to 20 cm)

Wingspan: 10⅝″ to 117⁄16″ (27 to 29 cm)

Weight: 0.8 to 1.6 oz. (23.7 to 45.5 g)

Coniferous, mixed, and deciduous forests, conifer plantations, open shrubby areas, parks, and gardens

Red crossbills do not migrate, though they do wander far outside of their breeding range.

Conifer seeds, buds, seeds of deciduous trees, and occasionally insects

The Minnesota Ornithologists’ Union All Seasons Species Occurrence Map

They came in today with a flock of Pine siskins, however the Crossbill numbers were small compared to the Siskins. I've heard others in the area spotting the Crossbills about a week ago, but it wasn't til today that I first spotted them at my feeders. The wind was blowing these ball shaped feeders all over, so a bit difficult to capture. I'll try again on a calmer day.

I know these birds hang out in pine or evergreens forests, so am surprised to see them out here is the wide-open prairie area. The Woodlots in the area are primarily Popple, but in my yard with just a few evergreens stand.

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Location: Northwest corner Numedal Twp., Pennington Co. Minnesota

They came in today with a flock of Pine siskins, however the Crossbill numbers were small compared to the Siskins. I've heard others in the area spotting the Crossbills about a week ago, but it wasn't til today that I first spotted them at my feeders. The wind was blowing these ball shaped feeders all over, so a bit difficult to capture. I'll try again on a calmer day.

I know these birds hang out in pine or evergreens forests, so am surprised to see them out here is the wide-open prairie area. The Woodlots in the area are primarily Popple, but in my yard with just a few evergreens stand.