Scientific name: Loxia curvirostra Linnaeus, 1758
Bird group: Finches and Crossbills
Field characters. 16.5 cm. Both sexes have peculiar crossed bill, short tail, and large head, which together with acrobatic feeding habits gives parrot-like appearance. Adult male orange-red on head and body, with black wings and tail. Female grey-green where male is red. Vent and undertail whitish. Juvenile streaked brown and with smaller bill. In rare cases confusion with Two-barred Crossbill may occur: a few Crossbill juveniles show a narrow double pale buff wingbar and about 1 in 1000 Crossbill adults also has two wingbars and white tips to tertials. However, wingbars are narrower (1-2.5 mm, compared to 2.6-6 mm in Two-barred Crossbill). Usually in flocks high in trees, sitting or hanging upside down on branch. Often comes down to puddles to drink.
Voice. Common flight call characteristic 'keep keep'. Song melodious warble, made of calls and Greenfinch-like trills, usually in winter and early spring.
Distribution. Rather common. Invasions occur sometimes and birds may then stay to breed in areas outside of regular region.
Habitat. Coniferous forest, especially spruce. Occurs in wider range of habitats during invasions.
Food. Mainly seeds of spruce, also pine seeds. Occasionally takes insects, especially in summer.