How long do red crossbills live?
The oldest Red Crossbill on record lived to 16.1 years, a record from a wild bird. That is a ceiling, not an average: most wild red crossbills live only a few years.
- Longest recorded lifespan
- 16.1 years
- Record from
- Wild bird
- Age at first breeding
- About 1 year
- Eggs per clutch
- 2–5 eggs
- Broods per year
- 1–2 per season
- Size
- 5.5–6.7 in, 0.9–1.4 oz
- Rank in family (of species on this site)
- 1 of 12
Record age versus typical age
Longevity records come from birds that were marked and later found again, usually through bird banding, or from birds kept in zoos. They show what a Red Crossbill can survive to, not what most do.
For small birds, the first year is the hardest. Many eggs and nestlings are lost to predators and weather, and young birds that leave the nest still have to learn to find food and avoid hawks and cats. A bird that survives its first winter has a much better chance of living several more years. That is why average lifespans in the wild are short even when the record is long.
Red crossbills usually start breeding at about 1 year old. Each season a pair lays 2–5 eggs and raises 1–2 per season, with eggs taking 12–16 days to hatch.
How red crossbills compare with relatives
Oldest recorded ages for other finches on this site.
- Purple Finch14 years
- American Goldfinch13 years
- Common Redpoll12.2 years
- House Finch11.6 years
- Pine Siskin11 years
- Pine Grosbeak9.8 years
More about red crossbills
Frequently asked
How long do red crossbills live?
The longest-lived Red Crossbill on record reached 16.1 years, recorded from a wild bird. Most wild red crossbills live far shorter lives, because the majority of young birds don't survive their first year.
How old is a Red Crossbill when it first breeds?
Usually about 1 year old.
What is the oldest Red Crossbill ever recorded?
16.1 years, according to the AnAge longevity database.
How many young can a Red Crossbill raise in a year?
Pairs lay 2–5 eggs and raise 1–2 per season.
Source: AnAge, The Animal Ageing and Longevity Database (Human Ageing Genomic Resources), record quality "acceptable", sample size "small". genomics.senescence.info