White-winged Crossbill -- South Dakota Birds
| Length: 6.5 inches | Wingspan: 10 inches | Seasonality: Winter |
| ID Keys: Males pink overall, black wings with 2 bold white wing bars, black tail, crossed-bill. Females similar but yellowish overall. | ||
|
|
|
|
White-winged Crossbill
Loxia leucoptera
White-winged Crossbills are true nomads, wandering in large flocks throughout much of the boreal Northern Hemisphere. While normally found in Canada and Alaska, in the winter, irregular irruptive migrations may bring large flocks deep into the continental United States. Their unusual crossed bills are extremely effective at opening their favorite food item, the seeds of spruce trees.
Habitat: Nearly always found in conifer forest. Breeding usually occurs in forests with high densities of spruce trees.
Diet: Primarily feeds on spruce seeds if they area available. They will also feed on seeds of other conifers, tree buds, berries, other seeds, and insects.
Breeding: Non-breeder in South Dakota
Song: Variety of musical chattering and warbling. To listen to this bird, click here for the "E-nature.com" site for the White-winged Crossbill, and click on "listen to this species":.
Migrations: They can be found in all seasons throughout much of Canada, Alaska, and New England. While not strictly migratory, individual flocks will sometimes move great distances in winter in the search for food, and could possibly be found nearly anywhere (in the proper habitat) in the northern half of the U.S. in winter.
Similar Species: Red Crossbill
Feeders: Will come to feeders for sunflower seeds.
Status: Difficult to monitor populations because of irregular migration habits, but it's thought numbers rise and fall with the availability of conifer seeds.
Further Information: 1) USGS Patuxent Bird Identification InfoCenter, White-winged Crossbill
2) Cornell Lab of Ornithology - White-winged Crossbill
3) E-nature.com: White-winged Crossbill
Photo Information: HELP!! I need a photo for this species!! If you have a photo you'd like to share, please contact me (e-mail at bottom of the page). Thanks!!
Proud Member Of:
Please mail any comments/suggestions/additional links for this page to: Terry L. Sohl
This page was last edited on 02/03/08