Parrot Crossbill

Loxia pytyopsittacus

Family:

Finches

Length:

16cm to 18cm

Wingspan:

30cm to 34cm

Weight:

48g to 61g

About the Parrot Crossbill

The parrot crossbill is a large and powerful member of the finch family, extremely similar to the crossbill and Scottish crossbill. They have a similar bill structure to both of these birds, but have a call that is much deeper and distinctive - this is the best way to separate them.

Males are orange to red colour with darkish wings and tails. Females are grey or olive-green in colour. Both have sharp forked tails and parrot-like bills.

The parrot crossbill flared up in Britain after the corn crop failure in parts of Europe and has bred away from Abernethy Forest where they have a stronghold.

What does a Parrot Crossbill eat?

Their diets consist of conifer seeds, mainly pine. In the breeding season they'll eat insects too.

Other birds in the Finches family

Common Crossbill (Balearic)

Twite

Siskin

The siskin is one of the UK’s smallest and prettiest resident finches.

Serin

Scottish Crossbill

Linnet

This small to medium sized finch is a breeding resident found throughout the UK apart from the far west of northern Scotland. A social bird, it often feeds in flocks throughout the year.

Lesser Redpoll

Small finch with a distinctive red forehead.

Hawfinch

Greenfinch

Slightly larger than a sparrow this pretty and social bird is a regular garden visitor.

Goldfinch

An exquisite little bird, distinguished by red face and characteristic bright yellow wing bands.

Common Rosefinch

Crossbill

This medium sized finch is a specialised feeder with a chunky downwards curving beak which is crossed at its end giving rise to its descriptive name.

Common Redpoll

Chaffinch

With its powerful voice and frequent singing, the chaffinch is one of the birds most heard in woodland and parks.

Bullfinch

One of the largest and most colourful finches.

Brambling

Although monotypic, the brambling is a close relative of the chaffinch with whom it often flocks. Found almost exclusively across the northern palearctic it migrates south in September returning to its breeding grounds in April each year.