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White-winged Crossbill

Loxia leucoptera

The White-winged Crossbill is a colorful bird known for its special beak that helps it crack open pine cones to eat seeds. They are often found in snowy forests and are great at flying through trees!

Habitat: Forests

Appearance

The White-winged Crossbill is a medium-sized finch. Males are rosy-red with distinctive dark wings and two prominent white wing bars. Females have yellowish-olive plumage with similar contrasting white wing markings.

KingdomAnimaliaPhylumChordataClassAvesOrderPasseriformesFamilyFringillidaeGenusLoxia
White-winged Crossbill
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White-winged Crossbill

Category

Birds

Rarity

Common

Danger

1/5 · Very low

Snaps

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Interesting facts

Their young are born with straight beaks, which cross as they grow up!

These birds can travel thousands of kilometers just to find yummy conifer cones.

They often breed in the depths of winter, even when it's super cold.

White-winged Crossbills can extract seeds from closed cones faster than squirrels!

Special abilities

Ability

Cone Unzipper

White-winged Crossbill can pry open tough conifer cones because of its unique crossed bill that helps them extract hidden seeds.

Ability

Winter Breeder

White-winged Crossbill can nest and raise chicks in winter when food is abundant because of their specialized diet of conifer seeds.

Ability

Acrobatic Feeder

White-winged Crossbill can hang upside down like a parrot because of strong feet that help them access hard-to-reach seeds.

Measurements & details

Length
14-17 cm
Wingspan
26-29 cm
Weight
0.025-0.04 kg
Lifespan
3-7 years
Top Speed
55 km/h
Clutch Size
3-5
Incubation
12-14 days
Migration Distance
2500 km

Diet & Feeding

These birds mostly eat seeds from conifer cones, using their special bills to get them out.

Primary Foods

  • Spruce seeds
  • Larch seeds
  • Pine seeds
  • Fir seeds
  • Birch seeds

Foraging Method

  • Foraging

Ecological connections

Traits

Also known as

No aliases listed yet.

Collections

Safety

Danger

1/5 · Very low

Enjoy watching birds from a distance and don't try to touch them.

Frequently Asked Questions

How long is White-winged Crossbill?

14-17 cm

What is White-winged Crossbill's wingspan?

26-29 cm

How much does White-winged Crossbill weigh?

0.025-0.04 kg

How long does White-winged Crossbill live?

3-7 years

How fast can White-winged Crossbill move?

55 km/h

What does White-winged Crossbill eat?

These birds mostly eat seeds from conifer cones, using their special bills to get them out.

Where is White-winged Crossbill usually found?

Forests

How does White-winged Crossbill hunt?

Foraging

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Where to spot

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