White-winged Crossbill in February
Where white-winged crossbills are in February, whether they are nesting, and the best foods to offer right now.
February in the White-winged Crossbill's year
February still feels like deep winter, but days are lengthening and the first stirrings of the breeding season begin — resident birds start singing on mild mornings and some early nesters are already claiming territories. Late-winter storms can be the hardest feeding days of the year.
For the White-winged Crossbill specifically, February is a winter 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 February
- Southern states
- absent
- Mid-latitudes
- year-round resident
- Northern states & Canada
- absent
In February, 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 February
February 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 February
- Conifer seeds; occasional sunflower
Wanders the boreal forest chasing spruce cone crops; nests in any month cones are ripe.
Don't let feeders run empty during late-winter storms; birds burn enormous energy staying warm. This is also the month to clean and repair nest boxes before early nesters move in.
Full White-winged Crossbill diet guide → · Best feeder for white-winged crossbills →
Watching white-winged crossbills this month
In February, 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 February?
In February, 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 February?
Yes — February falls inside the White-winged Crossbill nesting season at mid-latitudes.
What do white-winged crossbills eat in February?
Conifer seeds; occasional sunflower.
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.