Red Crossbill

Loxia curvirostra

With its uniquely crossed bill, this finch is nature's master locksmith, effortlessly prizing open pine cones for their hidden seed treasures.

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Visual Identification

Appearance

The Red Crossbill is a small finch with a distinctive crossed bill. Adult males are primarily brick-red with darker wings and tails, while females are olive-green with yellowish rumps.

Both sexes have strong, crossed mandibles adapted for extracting seeds from conifer cones.

Juveniles resemble females but are more heavily streaked. The intensity of red in males can vary, and some populations show slight differences in bill size and shape based on their preferred conifer species.

Size

Length

15cm to 17cm

Wingspan

25cm to 28cm

Weight

30g to 53g

Colours

Male Female

Primary Colour

Red Green Yellow

Secondary Colour

Brown Grey

Beak Colour

Grey

Leg Colour

Brown

Primary Colour (Female)

Green Yellow

Secondary Colour (Female)

Grey

Beak Colour (Female)

Grey

Leg Colour (Female)

Brown

Habitat and Distribution

Habitats

Woodland

The Red Crossbill can be found in Woodland habitats.

Garden

The Red Crossbill is not typically found in Garden habitats.

Wetland

The Red Crossbill is not typically found in Wetland habitats.

Coastal

The Red Crossbill is not typically found in Coastal habitats.

Urban

The Red Crossbill is not typically found in Urban habitats.

Farmland

The Red Crossbill is not typically found in Farmland habitats.

Grassland

The Red Crossbill is not typically found in Grassland habitats.

Desert

The Red Crossbill is not typically found in Desert habitats.

Tundra

The Red Crossbill is not typically found in Tundra habitats.

Rainforest

The Red Crossbill is not typically found in Rainforest habitats.

Mountain

The Red Crossbill can be found in Mountain habitats.

Savanna

The Red Crossbill is not typically found in Savanna habitats.

Distribution

Red Crossbills inhabit coniferous and mixed forests across North America, Europe, and Asia. They are found in boreal forests, montane regions, and temperate woodlands, where their preferred conifer species grow.

In North America, they are present year-round in parts of Canada, the western United States, and the northeastern U.S. Their distribution can vary widely between years, depending on cone crop availability.

Elevation Range

Sea level to 4,100 meters

Climate zones

Temperate, Subarctic

Distribution Map

This map gives you a rough idea of where you might spot a Red Crossbill. The coloured areas show countries where these birds have been seen.

A few things to keep in mind:

Birds might not be everywhere in the coloured areas, for example, they may be present around the coast of that country
Where birds live can change with seasons and available food
This map is quite simple - it doesn't show exact locations

We're working on making our maps even better! Soon, we hope to show you:

More detailed maps for bigger countries, including state and region
How birds move around during different seasons