Finches (Fringillidae)
Red Crossbill
Loxia curvirostra. Conifer seeds pried from cones with the crossed bill.
Finches (Fringillidae)Red CrossbillLoxia curvirostra
- Scientific name
- Loxia curvirostra
- Length
- 5.5–6.7 in
- Weight
- 0.9–1.4 oz
- Nest
- Cup on a conifer branch; can nest in any month when cones are ripe
- Entrance hole
- Does not use nest boxes
- Clutch
- 2–5 eggs
- Incubation
- 12–16 days
- Broods
- 1–2 per season
Identification
- Mandibles crossed at the tips
- Male brick-red with dark wings
- Female olive-yellow; both stocky and big-headed
Voice
Sharp 'jip-jip' flight calls; several distinct call types roam separately.
Diet and feeding
Conifer seeds pried from cones with the crossed bill.
What do red crossbills eat? · Best feeder for red crossbills
Red Crossbills by state and province
| Region | Status | Nesting |
|---|---|---|
| Alabama | Winter visitor | — |
| Alaska | Year-round resident | February–December |
| Alberta | Year-round resident | February–December |
| Arizona | Winter visitor | — |
| Arkansas | Winter visitor | — |
| British Columbia | Year-round resident | February–December |
| California | Year-round resident | December |
| Colorado | Year-round resident | January–December |
| Connecticut | Year-round resident | January–December |
| Delaware | Winter visitor | — |
| Florida | Winter visitor | — |
| Georgia | Winter visitor | — |
| Idaho | Year-round resident | January–December |
| Illinois | Winter visitor | — |
| Indiana | Winter visitor | — |
| Iowa | Winter visitor | — |
| Kentucky | Winter visitor | — |
| Louisiana | Winter visitor | — |
| Maine | Year-round resident | February–December |
| Manitoba | Year-round resident | February–December |
| Maryland | Winter visitor | — |
| Massachusetts | Year-round resident | January–December |
| Michigan | Year-round resident | January–December |
| Minnesota | Year-round resident | February–December |
| Mississippi | Winter visitor | — |
| Missouri | Winter visitor | — |
| Montana | Year-round resident | February–December |
| Nebraska | Winter visitor | — |
| Nevada | Year-round resident | January–December |
| New Brunswick | Year-round resident | February–December |
| New Hampshire | Year-round resident | February–December |
| New Jersey | Year-round resident | January–December |
| New Mexico | Winter visitor | — |
| New York | Year-round resident | January–December |
| Newfoundland and Labrador | Year-round resident | February–December |
| North Carolina | Winter visitor | — |
| North Dakota | Winter visitor | — |
| Northwest Territories | Year-round resident | February–December |
| Nova Scotia | Year-round resident | February–December |
| Nunavut | Year-round resident | February–December |
| Ohio | Winter visitor | — |
| Oklahoma | Winter visitor | — |
| Ontario | Year-round resident | February–December |
| Oregon | Year-round resident | January–December |
| Pennsylvania | Year-round resident | January–December |
| Prince Edward Island | Year-round resident | February–December |
| Quebec | Year-round resident | February–December |
| Rhode Island | Year-round resident | January–December |
| Saskatchewan | Year-round resident | February–December |
| South Carolina | Winter visitor | — |
| South Dakota | Winter visitor | — |
| Tennessee | Winter visitor | — |
| Texas | Winter visitor | — |
| Utah | Year-round resident | January–December |
| Vermont | Year-round resident | February–December |
| Virginia | Winter visitor | — |
| Washington | Year-round resident | January–December |
| West Virginia | Winter visitor | — |
| Wisconsin | Year-round resident | February–December |
| Wyoming | Year-round resident | February–December |
| Yukon | Year-round resident | February–December |
Frequently asked
What do red crossbills eat?
Conifer seeds pried from cones with the crossed bill. At feeders: black-oil sunflower, hulled sunflower.
How big is a Red Crossbill?
5.5–6.7 in long and 0.9–1.4 oz.
Do red crossbills use birdhouses?
No. Cup on a conifer branch; can nest in any month when cones are ripe.
Sources
- Red Crossbill — All About Birds, Cornell Lab of Ornithology
- Red Crossbill life history — Cornell Lab of Ornithology
- Red Crossbill — Audubon Guide to North American Birds
Timing reflects typical patterns for the region as a whole; local dates vary with elevation and year. Check the linked eBird bar charts for your county.