A member of the finch family. The Crossbill breeds in the spruce forests of North America, Europe and Asia.
It is characterised by mandibles that cross at their tips, lending the group its English name.
They feed on conifer cone seeds, particularly of spruce, douglas-fir, and pine.
The unusual bill shape is an adaptation to assist the extraction of the seeds from the cone.
Adult males tend to be red or orange in color.