As I came down our driveway I noticed an unusually red House Finch on the finch feeder. I got my binocs on it and could see that it was no House Finch... it was a male Red Crossbill! A few seconds later a second one appeared. Thankfully I had my camera with me and I was able to snap off a couple of shots (this one and the next) before a squirrel chased them off - not to return.

I didn't realize that Red Crossbills could have as much color variation (other than red) as these birds showed. The variation is enough that the second bird reminds me of a molting Summer Tanager that I had on Duxbury Beach in May, 2010. From what I read, this coloring suggests that these are first year males coming into full adult plumage. In support of that, there appear to be vestiges of the dark stripes of the juvenile plumage showing through the red on the belly and back of the first bird.