Finches (Fringillidae)
White-winged Crossbill
Loxia leucoptera. Spruce and tamarack seeds pried from cones.
Finches (Fringillidae)White-winged CrossbillLoxia leucoptera
- Scientific name
- Loxia leucoptera
- Length
- 5.9–6.7 in
- Weight
- 0.8–0.9 oz
- Nest
- Cup on a spruce branch; can nest mid-winter
- Entrance hole
- Does not use nest boxes
- Clutch
- 2–5 eggs
- Incubation
- 12–14 days
- Broods
- 1–2 per season
Identification
- Crossed bill with two bold white wing bars
- Male pinkish-red, female olive-yellow
- Black wings and tail
Voice
Rapid, dry 'chif-chif' flight calls and a loud warbling song.
Diet and feeding
Spruce and tamarack seeds pried from cones.
What do white-winged crossbills eat? · Best feeder for white-winged crossbills
White-winged Crossbills by state and province
| Region | Status | Nesting |
|---|---|---|
| Alabama | Winter visitor | — |
| Alaska | Year-round resident | February–December |
| Alberta | Year-round resident | February–December |
| Arkansas | Winter visitor | — |
| British Columbia | Year-round resident | February–December |
| Colorado | Winter visitor | — |
| Connecticut | Year-round resident | January–December |
| Delaware | Winter visitor | — |
| Florida | Winter visitor | — |
| Georgia | Winter visitor | — |
| Idaho | Winter visitor | — |
| 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 | Winter visitor | — |
| Nebraska | Winter visitor | — |
| Nevada | Winter visitor | — |
| New Brunswick | Year-round resident | February–December |
| New Hampshire | Year-round resident | February–December |
| New Jersey | Year-round resident | January–December |
| 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 |
| 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 | — |
| Utah | Winter visitor | — |
| Vermont | Year-round resident | February–December |
| Virginia | Winter visitor | — |
| West Virginia | Winter visitor | — |
| Wisconsin | Year-round resident | February–December |
| Wyoming | Winter visitor | — |
| Yukon | Year-round resident | February–December |
Frequently asked
What do white-winged crossbills eat?
Spruce and tamarack seeds pried from cones. At feeders: hulled sunflower, black-oil sunflower.
How big is a White-winged Crossbill?
5.9–6.7 in long and 0.8–0.9 oz.
Do white-winged crossbills use birdhouses?
No. Cup on a spruce branch; can nest mid-winter.
Sources
- White-winged Crossbill — All About Birds, Cornell Lab of Ornithology
- White-winged Crossbill life history — Cornell Lab of Ornithology
- White-winged 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.