A male White-winged Crossbill perched at the very top of a pine tree, in profile view looking to the right. His head and breast are pink, while his back and wings are black to dark gray, with white wing bars. You can see how his upper and lower mandibles are crossed, enabling him to pry seeds out of cones.

A female White-winged Crossbill perched in a pine tree, in profile view looking to the right. She is a soft grayish yellow with fine darker streaking. You can see how her upper and lower mandibles are crossed, enabling her to pry seeds out of cones.

White-winged Crossbills are one of my favourite "winter finches." They occasionally come south for the winter when the cone crop is poor in their boreal forest homeland. I was thrilled to see these ones last week. #birds #birding #crossbills #finches #winterfinches

A crossbill tosses a pine nut into its beak after releasing it from the pine cone

A crossbill opens a pine cone with its specialized beak, high in the canopy of the pine woods

First time seeing crossbills at a local wood. Hard to get clear shots but a lot of fun trying!

#crossbills #ukbirds #birdphotography #nikonphotography

Crossbills - feeding on the overwintering buds of Ash & Beech.
With a casual glance, the females look like Greenfinches.
Always easier to observe now the deciduous trees are completely leafless.
#ukwildlife 🦉 #crossbills

Lovely views of Crossbills on Bullbarrow Hill today, in the crisp morning light.
We saw 2 small flocks but there were more calling, deeper into the conifers.
What a year it's been for them here in Dorset.
@dorsetbirdclub.bsky.social @ianparsons.bsky.social
#ukbirds #Dorset #crossbills 🦉🌿

It has been a great autumn for crossbills in #Fife with hundreds seen in the bigger forests and smaller parties roaming across the county #nature #crossbills #birding

Crossbill male

Nice views of a few #Crossbills in a dark corner under some pines at #HolmeDunes today #NorfolkBirding

A chance encounter with a group of #Crossbills in S Devon today. Not always the easiest species to get good views of. #DevonBirds #UKBirding

Crossbills (amongst other finches)
#crossbill #crossbills #bird #birds #nature #wildlife #photography

New on the blog! Craig Benkman talks to us about Crossbills & Conifers 🌲

Read the full interview ➡️ https://tinyurl.com/5n6wr454

#crossbills #conifers #coevolution #diversification #ecology #conservation #ornithology

Published today! Crossbills & Conifers by Craig Benkman 🌲

This beautifully illustrated book takes readers on a 40-year journey of research and discovery.

Learn more and order your copy ➡️ https://tinyurl.com/4ay65ba3

#crossbills #conifers #coevolution #diversification #conservation #ornithology

New on the blog! Read a sample chapter of Crossbills & Conifers by Craig Benkman, due for publication later this month 📖

Take a look 👀➡️ pelagicpublishing.com/blogs/news/crossbills-co...

#crossbills #coevolution #diversification #ecology #ornithology

White-winged Crossbill Loxia leucoptera
#Birds #Birdsofbluesky #Ontario #Winter #Nature #Photography #Crossbills

A lucky encounter in the early morning sunshine today. This crossbill came down to the road and was pretty much at my feet! #lucky #crossbills #birds #wildlife #earlymorning #sunshine #Yorkshire #wildlife #nature #RSPB

My first lifer of 2025 was a special find, a White-winged Crossbill! Their bills are crossed which is perfectly suited for prying seeds out of the cones of coniferous trees. As their preferred food it's likely why you won't see them at your feeders. #birds , #lifers , #crossbills , #getoutside

Crossbills are stunning birds and I was lucky to spot 6 of them by the side of a road this morning. #crossbills #birds #wildlife #wildlifephotography #nature #photography #Yorkshire #stunning #colourful #RSPB

Got cone🐦
#birds #photography #crossbills #cones
@glengrambo.bsky.social

Searching cones🐦
#crossbills #birds #photography
@glengrambo.bsky.social

A crossbill perched at the top of a cone laden spruce branch, with an all grayish white sky backdrop. He's looking to the right - a lovely combo of pinks, grays and white wingbars. As his name says, the tips of his beak are crossed, enabling them to winkle seeds out of cones.

White-winged Crossbills seem to be the only winter finch that have had a bit of an irruption southwards this winter. I was very pleased to see a pair yesterday; this is the male #birds #birding #winterfinch #crossbills #Toronto

A tree full of White-winged Crossbills I enjoyed watching in Algonquin Park this week. #birds #winterfinches #crossbills 🪶

So many birds are named for the colour of the males, which means the names are often totally inappropriate for the females. Think Scarlet Tanager (female is yellow), Indigo Bunting and Purple Finch (females are brown). Here's a pair of Red Crossbills at Algonquin Park #birds #birding #crossbills

Great to see 2 #Crossbills at Tardree Forest, Co Antrim #NorthernIreland today.