Red Crossbills

The big news is that there is a Red Crossbill influx in NH and other areas this year. Saw a flock of 15 Red Crossbills yesterday at the Harris Center for Conservation Education in NH. They were picking up grit in the parking lot. Cone specialists, they can breed at any time but usually breed late summer into autumn or late winter into early spring. This species is complex and different populations or "types" have different flight calls and bill shapes. Identification as to type requires a recording of flight calls. There may be 10 North American types and this is still being studied. Very cool to see them. We have recorded them and sent recordings to Cornell for identification as to type. The Harris Center birds seem to be type 10, who come all the way from the Pacific Northwest!

Red Crossbill