North Dakota · Winter visitor

White-winged Crossbills in North Dakota

When white-winged crossbills are present in North Dakota, when they nest, which native North Dakota plants feed them, and how to host them in a USDA 3a–4b yard.

Finches (Fringillidae)White-winged CrossbillLoxia leucoptera

Status in North Dakota: Winter visitor
Nesting window: Does not typically nest here
Hardiness zones: USDA 3a–4b

When to expect white-winged crossbills in North Dakota

In North Dakota, white-winged crossbills are winter visitors rather than breeders. Severe winters to −30°F; Snow Buntings and redpolls arrive from the Arctic.

Continental northern prairie with prairie-pothole wetlands and the Missouri River breaks.

Native North Dakota plants that attract white-winged crossbills

Of the regional native plants we track for North Dakota, these 3 provide food or cover white-winged crossbills use:

Eastern red cedar

Juniperus virginiana · Tree

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

Rocky Mountain juniper

Juniperus scopulorum · Tree

Berry-like cones feed bluebirds, solitaires and waxwings in winter.

Ponderosa pine

Pinus ponderosa · Tree

Seeds and bark insects; pygmy nuthatch and woodpecker habitat.

Feeding white-winged crossbills through the North Dakota year

Top foods: Hulled sunflower, Black-oil sunflower.
In North Dakota's winter: Severe winters to −30°F; Snow Buntings and redpolls arrive from the Arctic.

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

Frequently asked

Are white-winged crossbills in North Dakota year-round?

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

What native plants attract white-winged crossbills in North Dakota?

Eastern red cedar, Rocky Mountain juniper, Ponderosa pine are native plants in North Dakota that provide food or cover for white-winged crossbills.

Other backyard birds in North Dakota

Northern Cardinal Eastern Bluebird Black-capped Chickadee Purple Martin Downy Woodpecker Hairy Woodpecker American Goldfinch White-breasted Nuthatch House Wren House Finch Ruby-throated Hummingbird Mourning Dove American Robin Dark-eyed Junco Song Sparrow Chipping Sparrow Northern Flicker Red-headed Woodpecker Red-breasted Nuthatch Common Grackle Red-winged Blackbird Baltimore Oriole Orchard Oriole Rose-breasted Grosbeak Evening Grosbeak Pine Siskin Common Redpoll Indigo Bunting Gray Catbird Brown Thrasher Cedar Waxwing Tree Swallow Barn Swallow Eastern Phoebe Chimney Swift Eastern Screech-Owl Great Crested Flycatcher Eastern Kingbird American Tree Sparrow House Sparrow European Starling Black-billed Magpie Spotted Towhee Mountain Bluebird Say's Phoebe White-crowned Sparrow Black-headed Grosbeak Lazuli Bunting Bullock's Oriole Eurasian Collared-Dove American Crow Common Raven Cooper's Hawk Sharp-shinned Hawk Red-tailed Hawk Great Horned Owl American Kestrel Wood Duck Wild Turkey Mallard Great Blue Heron Belted Kingfisher Eastern Meadowlark Brown-headed Cowbird Golden-crowned Kinglet Red Crossbill Field Sparrow Gray Catbird Western Tanager Lark Sparrow Hooded Merganser Yellow Warbler Common Yellowthroat American Redstart Ovenbird Yellow-breasted Chat Red-eyed Vireo Warbling Vireo Eastern Wood-Pewee Least Flycatcher Western Kingbird Cliff Swallow Northern Rough-winged Swallow Bank Swallow Common Nighthawk Eastern Whip-poor-will Canada Goose American Coot Killdeer Spotted Sandpiper American Woodcock Green Heron Great Egret Black-crowned Night Heron Turkey Vulture Osprey Bald Eagle Red-shouldered Hawk Merlin Peregrine Falcon Northern Saw-whet Owl Barn Owl Burrowing Owl Savannah Sparrow Harris's Sparrow Vesper Sparrow Snow Bunting Lapland Longspur Horned Lark Dickcissel Blue Grosbeak Common Redpoll Hoary Redpoll Gray-crowned Rosy-Finch Bohemian Waxwing Yellow-billed Cuckoo Bobolink Yellow-headed Blackbird Brewer's Blackbird Rock Pigeon

Sources

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.