White-winged Crossbill

Loxia leucoptera

Breeds whenever spruce cones ripen, even in January. Doesn't believe in seasons.

Population: ~79 million mature individuals globally (~40 million in USA/Canada; 204,000–613,000 in Europe); overall stable trend
Habitat: Boreal and montane coniferous forest, especially spruce, tamarack/larch, and fir stands; also ornamental conifers in parks/cemeteries/campuses and feeders during winter irruptions
Fun fact: A single White-winged Crossbill can extract and eat up to 3,000 conifer seeds in one day, prying open cone scales with its uniquely crossed bill.
Range: Circumpolar boreal zone: breeds across Alaska, Canada, and the northern conterminous US, and across northern Europe/Scandinavia and Russia to Siberia; a highly irruptive nomad that periodically wanders far south of its core range in food-shortage years
Diet: Conifer seed specialist — pries seeds from spruce, tamarack/larch, fir, hemlock, pine and other cone scales with its crossed bill (up to ~3,000 seeds/day); supplements with insects (spruce budworm, coneworm) in summer, rowan berries, and grit
Size: 0.16 m
Wingspan: 0.27 m
Lifespan: 8 years

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