Mississippi · Winter visitor

White-winged Crossbills in Mississippi

When white-winged crossbills are present in Mississippi, when they nest, which native Mississippi plants feed them, and how to host them in a USDA 7b–9a yard.

Finches (Fringillidae)White-winged CrossbillLoxia leucoptera
Status in Mississippi
Winter visitor
Nesting window
Does not typically nest here
Hardiness zones
USDA 7b–9a

When to expect white-winged crossbills in Mississippi

In Mississippi, white-winged crossbills are winter visitors rather than breeders. Mild winters with rare hard freezes.

Humid subtropical, with the Delta in the northwest, piney woods in the south and a short Gulf coastline.

Native Mississippi plants that attract white-winged crossbills

Of the regional native plants we track for Mississippi, these 2 provide food or cover white-winged crossbills use:

Eastern red cedar
Juniperus virginiana · Tree

Dense evergreen roost cover and bluish 'berries' eaten through winter.

Loblolly pine
Pinus taeda · Tree

Pine seed and bark insects; key habitat for Brown-headed Nuthatch.

Feeding white-winged crossbills through the Mississippi year

  • Top foods: Hulled sunflower, Black-oil sunflower.
  • In Mississippi's winter: Mild winters with rare hard freezes.

Full diet breakdown for white-winged crossbills · Best feeder for white-winged crossbills

Frequently asked

Are white-winged crossbills in Mississippi year-round?

No. White-winged Crossbills are winter visitors in Mississippi and do not typically nest there.

What native plants attract white-winged crossbills in Mississippi?

Eastern red cedar, Loblolly pine are native plants in Mississippi that provide food or cover for white-winged crossbills.

White-winged Crossbills in other regions

Other backyard birds in Mississippi

Northern CardinalEastern BluebirdCarolina ChickadeePurple MartinDowny WoodpeckerHairy WoodpeckerAmerican GoldfinchTufted TitmouseWhite-breasted NuthatchHouse WrenBlue JayHouse FinchPurple FinchRuby-throated HummingbirdCarolina WrenMourning DoveAmerican RobinDark-eyed JuncoWhite-throated SparrowSong SparrowChipping SparrowRed-bellied WoodpeckerNorthern FlickerPileated WoodpeckerRed-headed WoodpeckerYellow-bellied SapsuckerRed-breasted NuthatchBrown-headed NuthatchBrown CreeperCommon GrackleRed-winged BlackbirdOrchard OriolePine SiskinIndigo BuntingPainted BuntingEastern TowheeGray CatbirdNorthern MockingbirdBrown ThrasherCedar WaxwingTree SwallowBarn SwallowEastern PhoebeChimney SwiftYellow-rumped WarblerPine WarblerEastern Screech-OwlWood ThrushGreat Crested FlycatcherEastern KingbirdHouse SparrowEuropean StarlingRufous HummingbirdWhite-crowned SparrowFox SparrowEurasian Collared-DoveAmerican CrowCooper's HawkSharp-shinned HawkRed-tailed HawkBarred OwlGreat Horned OwlAmerican KestrelWood DuckWild TurkeyNorthern BobwhiteMallardGreat Blue HeronBelted KingfisherScarlet TanagerEastern MeadowlarkBrown-headed CowbirdRuby-crowned KingletGolden-crowned KingletHermit ThrushWinter WrenRed CrossbillField SparrowGray CatbirdLark SparrowHooded MerganserYellow WarblerCommon YellowthroatAmerican RedstartBlack-and-white WarblerYellow-throated WarblerProthonotary WarblerOvenbirdYellow-breasted ChatOrange-crowned WarblerPalm WarblerRed-eyed VireoWarbling VireoWhite-eyed VireoEastern Wood-PeweeCliff SwallowNorthern Rough-winged SwallowBank SwallowCommon NighthawkEastern Whip-poor-willCanada GooseAmerican CootKilldeerSpotted SandpiperAmerican WoodcockGreen HeronGreat EgretBlack-crowned Night HeronTurkey VultureBlack VultureOspreyBald EagleRed-shouldered HawkMerlinPeregrine FalconNorthern Saw-whet OwlBarn OwlRed-cockaded WoodpeckerSavannah SparrowSwamp SparrowVesper SparrowHorned LarkBlue GrosbeakBrown-headed NuthatchYellow-billed CuckooBrewer's BlackbirdRusty BlackbirdBoat-tailed GrackleRock Pigeon

Sources

  1. White-winged Crossbill — All About Birds, Cornell Lab of Ornithology
  2. White-winged Crossbill life history — Cornell Lab of Ornithology
  3. White-winged Crossbill — Audubon Guide to North American Birds
  4. eBird region overview and bar charts — Mississippi
  5. USDA Plant Hardiness Zone Map (2023)
  6. Audubon Native Plants Database

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.