Loxia curvirostra

Red Crossbills are highly nomadic, depending on the availability of cone crops. This Type 3 male was part of a small flock that visited Central Park, feeding on seeds from the young cones of Eastern Hemlock.


Excerpts from a report by Matt Young: In mid-August, a very significant west to east Red Crossbill movement occurred into the Great Lakes, Midwest, Ontario, and Northeastern states. This was a large movement and was much earlier than usual. Recordings obtained so far have all involved the small-billed Type 3, which has its core range in the Pacific Northwest where it is most efficient at feeding on Western Hemlock. The Western Hemlock crop this year is reported to be poor, which is likely what has caused these birds to irrupt southward along the Pacific coast and eastward to the Atlantic coast. When Type 3 irrupt east in great numbers (as in 2012), nearly all retreat back to the Pacific Northwest in May-June when Western Hemlock cone crops start developing again.