Crossbill
| Irish Name: | Crosghob |
| Scientific name: | Loxia curvirostra |
| Bird Family: | Finches |
green
Conservation status
Conservation status
Status
Widespread resident in fluctuating numbers throughout Ireland, mainly in conifer plantations.
Identification
Larger than a House Sparrow, with heavy, thick set body and head. Tail short, noticeable fork. Distinctive heavy bill has tips crossed. Male brick red, brighter on the rump, young males are variable, orange or yellow, streaked but with bright rump. Females are greenish and streaked. Apart from visiting pools or ponds to drink, spends most of its time in the canopy of conifers. Flocks distinctive in flight, strong and undulating, short tail with fork and distinctive, metallic, chipping call.
Voice
The main call, which is frequently given in flight is a distinctive repeated “glipp-glipp-glipp”. The song is a quiet twitter, which is only rarely heard. Note that young Greenfinches in late-summer have a similar call frequently given in flight
Diet
Conifer seeds form the bulk of the diet, particularly Norway Spruce but also Sitka Spruce and Larch.
Breeding
Almost always breeds and feeds in coniferous woodland, mainly Scots Pine and Larch. Crossbills have a complicated breeding cycle as will breed in coordination with conifer cone crops meaning fledglings can be seen in any month of the year.
Wintering
Crossbill movements are dependant on availability of pine cones.
Monitored by
Resident in coniferous woodlands throughout Ireland, for example Coronation Plantation in Co. Wicklow, Union Wood in Co. Sligo and Gosford Forest Park in Co. Armagh. Numbers of Crossbills fluctuate and may be absent from sites where common previously.
Populations swollen irregularly by large irruptions from Eurasia.
