Two-barred Crossbill (Loxia leucoptera)

OTHER NAMES: White-winged Crossbill
Latin Etymology: Loxia ("crosswise") leucoptera ("white winged")

Alex Holt · Two-barred Crossbill

Call of Two-barred Crossbill (Loxia leucoptera) at Mucho Lake, British Columbia, Canada - August 2024

Featured Subspecies: Loxia leucoptera leucoptera
Weight: 25-40g  /  Length: 14-17cm  /  Wingspan: 26-28cm
NO UK STATUS / IUCN Red List: Least Concern

The most distinct of the Crossbill species due to the prominant white wingbars that almost all other species lack, excluding the Hispaniolan Crossbill which has absolutely no range overlap by a factor of several thousand miles. Present in both North America and Eurasia where it's range in each coincides largely with northern boreal forests. They favour spruce as their trees of choice.

Related Species:
Order: Passeriformes
Family: Fringillidae
Genus: Loxia
SUBSPECIES: L. l. leucoptera, L. l . bifasciata

 - Sighting Locations -

CANADA -Breeds in most of Canada up to the Tree Line
  - CHICAGO TO ALASKA ROADTRIP 2024: - Heard in British Columbia

Further Notes: BirdForum Opus, IUCN Red List, RSPB, Wikipedia, Xeno-canto

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Common Crossbill (Loxia curvirostra)

OTHER NAMES: Red Crossbill, Crossbill
Latin Etymology: Loxia ("crosswise") curvirostra ("curved bill")

Adult male Common Crossbill (subspecies L. c. curvirostra) at Cockley Cley, Norfolk - February 2021

Featured Subspecies: Loxia curvirostra curvirostra
Weight: 23-53g  /  Length: 14-20cm  /  Wingspan: 29cm
UK GREEN LIST / IUCN Red List: Least Concern 

Perhaps the center of one of the most muddy bits of avian taxonomy in Europe, the Common Crossbill as it stands is a wide ranging conifer seed specialist with a range that covers a not insubstantial chunk of the Northern Hemisphere. However, as many populations are isolated and have begun to specialise in the seeds of particular trees, the debate for dividing them into subspecies or even species is a complex issue.  They have also long been one of my most infamous "bogey-birds" - they are highly irruptive so in theory can be found anywhere, but I have missed out on them time and time again in the UK, until finally seeing the birds resident on Mount Etna.

Related Species: 
Order: Passeriformes
Family: Fringillidae
Genus: Loxia
SUBSPECIES: L. c. curvirostra, L. c. corsicana, L. c. poliogyna, L. c. guillemardi, L. c. mariae, L. c. altaiensis, L. c. tianschanica, L. c. himalayensis, L. c. meridionalis, L. c. japonica, L c. luzoniensis, L. c. minor, L. c. sitkensis, L. c. bendirei, L. c. benti, L. c. grinelli, L. c. stricklandi, L. c. mesamericana, L. c. pusilla

 - Sighting Locations -

UNITED KINGDOM - A widespread but localised and highly mobile resident, plus irruptive Winter visitor

 - Seen at Cockley Cley, Norfolk in February 2021 .

ITALY - Italian - Crociere Comune 
A localised resident in coniferous areas

 - SICILY 2018 TRIP: Fairly common in the conifer zone of Mount Etna - subspecies  L. c. poliogyna*

Further Notes: BirdForum Opus, IUCN Red List, RSPB, Wikipedia, Xeno-canto

* The Crossbills of Etna are currently considered to be members of the North African subspecies, however, there is speculation that they might represent their own taxon due to physical differences.

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Parrot Crossbill (Loxia pytyopsittacus)

OTHER NAMES: N/A
Latin Etymology: Loxia ("crosswise") pytyopsittacus ("pine parrot")

Adult Male Parrot Crossbill at Wishmoor Bottom, Surrey - December 2017

Featured Subspecies: N/A
Weight: 53g  /  Length: 16-18cm  /  Wingspan: 27-31cm
UK AMBER LIST / IUCN Red List: Least Concern

The Parrot Crossbill is a bird which very much gets it's name from it's beak: the crossbills as a group of species are all conifer specialists with unique crossed mandibles that they use to pry open seeds from cones.  Out of the three species found in the UK, the Parrot Crossbill is generally considered to be the largest and rarest - only a small relic population remains in the Highlands of Scotland, though they remain more common elsewhere.  They do however on occasion, as in this case, irrupt from elsewhere when there is a shortage of food allowing me a much easier job of seeing them then looking in Scotland and trying to separate out the other two, very very similar species.

Related Species:
Order: Passeriformes
Family: Fringillidae
Genus: Loxia
SUBSPECIES: none - monotypic 

 - Sighting Locations -

UNITED KINGDOM - A small relic population in Scotland (65 pairs) and rare irruptive vagrant

 - An irruptive vagrant flock seen at Wishmoor Bottom in December 2017

Further Notes: BirdForum Opus, IUCN Red List, RSPB, Wikipedia, Xeno-canto .