White-winged Crossbill in April
Where white-winged crossbills are in April, whether they are nesting, and the best foods to offer right now.
April in the White-winged Crossbill's year
April is when spring migration hits its stride. Waves of migrants move north on warm southerly winds, wintering birds leave for good, and early nesters are already on eggs in the South. Every week brings species that weren't there the week before.
For the White-winged Crossbill specifically, April is a spring month inside the nesting season — one of the most active and demanding periods of this bird's year. Across the 55 states and provinces where white-winged crossbills occur, what the bird is doing this month depends heavily on latitude — the details below break it down by band.
Where white-winged crossbills are in April
- Southern states
- absent
- Mid-latitudes
- year-round resident
- Northern states & Canada
- absent
In April, white-winged crossbills are absent in the South, year-round resident across the mid-latitudes, and absent in the northern states and Canada. That north–south split is the defining feature of this month: where you live changes which version of this bird you're looking at.
Nesting in April
April is inside the White-winged Crossbill nesting season. Nest: cup on a spruce branch; can nest mid-winter. Clutch 2–5 eggs, incubation 12–14 days, 1–2 per season.
The season is broadly synchronized across the range this month. During the nesting months, adults switch to protein-rich foods for their young, become more secretive around the nest site, and often visit feeders in quick, purposeful trips rather than lingering.
What to feed in April
- Spruce, larch and hemlock seeds
Wanders the boreal forest chasing spruce cone crops; nests in any month cones are ripe.
Migrants arriving after long flights are hungry — feeders can be genuine lifelines during cold, wet spells that suppress insects.
Full White-winged Crossbill diet guide → · Best feeder for white-winged crossbills →
Watching white-winged crossbills this month
In April, the best watching is around food rather than the nest — adults make repeated foraging trips and are most visible at dawn and dusk. Give nesting birds space: if a bird is carrying food or scolding you persistently, you're close to a nest and should back off.
The state guides below show exactly where in your region white-winged crossbills are expected this month and which native plants hold them in a yard.
White-winged Crossbill month by month
White-winged Crossbill by state
Frequently asked
Where are white-winged crossbills in April?
In April, white-winged crossbills are absent in the South, year-round resident across mid-latitudes and absent in the North.
Do white-winged crossbills nest in April?
Yes — April falls inside the White-winged Crossbill nesting season at mid-latitudes.
What do white-winged crossbills eat in April?
Spruce, larch and hemlock seeds.
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.