science education resource

Crossbill (Red)

To view these resources with no ads, please Login or Subscribe to help support our content development.

School subscriptions can access more than 175 downloadable unit bundles in our store for free (a value of $1,500).

District subscriptions provide huge group discounts for their schools. Email for a quote: sheri@exploringnature.org.

Loxia curvirostra
Crossbill (Red)

Range

They are found in southern Alaska, across Canada, into the northern U.S. and down through the Rocky Mountains into Mexico.

Habitat

They live in coniferous forests.

Body Traits

They have brick-red bodies with darker wings. Their bill crosses at the tip. Females are dull-colored with a yellow “rump” patch.

Habits

They travel in small flocks all year round. Their bills are made for getting seeds from pinecones.

Diet

They eat mostly conifer seeds, but will also eat tree buds, berries and insects.

To view these resources with no ads, please Login or Subscribe to help support our content development.

School subscriptions can access more than 175 downloadable unit bundles in our store for free (a value of $1,500).

District subscriptions provide huge group discounts for their schools. Email for a quote: sheri@exploringnature.org.

Reproduction

They can breed at any time of year if there are enough seeds to eat -- even in the winter. They stay with the same mate for life (monogomous) in their flock. The female builds a cup-shaped nest of loose twigs, grass, and bark and lays 3 eggs. The male brings her food while she sits on the eggs for about two weeks (incubates).

Crossbill (Red)

Classification

Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Subphylum: Vetebrata
Class: Aves
Order: Passeriformes
Family: Fringillidae
Genus: Loxia
Species: L. curvirostra

Citing Research References

When you research information you must cite the reference. Citing for websites is different from citing from books, magazines and periodicals. The style of citing shown here is from the MLA Style Citations (Modern Language Association).

When citing a WEBSITE the general format is as follows.
Author Last Name, First Name(s). "Title: Subtitle of Part of Web Page, if appropriate." Title: Subtitle: Section of Page if appropriate. Sponsoring/Publishing Agency, If Given. Additional significant descriptive information. Date of Electronic Publication or other Date, such as Last Updated. Day Month Year of access < URL >.

Here is an example of citing this page:

Amsel, Sheri. "Crossbill (Red)" Exploring Nature Educational Resource ©2005-2024. December 13, 2024
< http://exploringnature.org/db/view/Crossbill-Red >

Exploringnature.org has more than 2,000 illustrated animals. Read about them, color them, label them, learn to draw them.