Latin: Loxia curvirostra (Linné 1758)
Svenska: Mindre korsnäbb
Deutsch: Fichtenkreuzschnabel
The early bird
The red crossbill lays its eggs long before other birds have even begun to court. Their breeding time coincides with the spruce tree seeds’ ripening time. The birds pick the seeds out from the cones with their specially-designed crossed beaks.
These birds are found in spruce-dominated forests throughout Uppland. When the spruces have a good seed year, there will likely be quite a few red crossbills around. In a bad seed year, though, you won’t see as many.
Red crossbills may take a short trip one winter and a long migration another winter, depending on conditions.
Photo: Elvor Ohlin ©
Latest sightings of red crossbills in Uppland
NatureGate on the red crossbill
Wikipedia article on the red crossbill