Red Crossbill - Loxia curvirostra

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Common Name : Red Crossbill
Scientific Name : Loxia curvirostra (Linnaeus, 1758)

Order : Passeriformes
Family : Fringillidae
Taxonomic Group : Passeriformes - Fringillidae ( Siskins, Crossbills and allies )

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General Species Profile

Taxonomy

Clements Checklist of Birds of the World 6.4 December 2009 Updated

Common Name : Red Crossbill
Scientific Name : Loxia curvirostra
Order : Passeriformes Family : Fringillidae (Siskins, Crossbills, and Allies)
Number of SubSpecies : 20

Taxon Category	Sub Species / Race	Range
subspecies	Loxia curvirostra curvirostra	Coniferous forests of n Europe to e Siberia and n Mongolia
subspecies	Loxia curvirostra corsicana	Coniferous forests of Corsica
subspecies	Loxia curvirostra balearica	Balearic Islands
subspecies	Loxia curvirostra poliogyna	Morocco, Algeria and Tunisia
subspecies	Loxia curvirostra guillemardi	Troödos Mountains (Cyprus)
subspecies	Loxia curvirostra mariae	SW Crimean Peninsula
subspecies	Loxia curvirostra altaiensis	Altai Mountains
subspecies	Loxia curvirostra tianschanica	Tien Shan Mountains (Kazakstan)
subspecies	Loxia curvirostra himalayensis	Himalayas (Kashmir to Nepal, Sikkim, sw China and sw Tibet)
subspecies	Loxia curvirostra meridionalis	Mountains of s Vietnam (Da Lat Plateau)
subspecies	Loxia curvirostra japonica	Extreme ne Asia; winters to e-cent. China and s Japanese islands
subspecies	Loxia curvirostra luzoniensis	N Philippines (mountains of n Luzon)
subspecies	Loxia curvirostra bendirei (neogaea)	S Yukon and n Br. Col. to w US e of Cascades; winters to Baja
subspecies	Loxia curvirostra sitkensis	Coastal s Alaska to nw California; winters to ne US
subspecies	Loxia curvirostra benti	Mts. of se Montana and ne Wyoming to sw US; winters to s Texas
subspecies	Loxia curvirostra minor	S-central Canada and n-central US; winters to se US
subspecies	Loxia curvirostra grinnelli	Mountains of sw US
subspecies	Loxia curvirostra stricklandi	Mts. of n Baja California, s Arizona and s New Mexico to Chiapas
subspecies	Loxia curvirostra mesamericana	Montane pine forests from Guatemala to n Nicaragua
subspecies	Loxia curvirostra pusilla	Newfoundland; winters to ne US

Howard and Moore Complete Checklist of the Birds of the World 2006

3rd Edition, 2003. Revised and Corrected per Corrigenda to December 31, 2006

Common Name : Red Crossbill
Scientific Name : Loxia curvirostra
SubFamily : Carduelinae

Number of SubSpecies : 19

Sub Species / Race
Loxia curvirostra curvirostra
Loxia curvirostra corsicana
Loxia curvirostra balearica
Loxia curvirostra poliogyna
Loxia curvirostra guillemardi
Loxia curvirostra altaiensis
Loxia curvirostra tianschanica
Loxia curvirostra himalayensis
Loxia curvirostra meridionalis
Loxia curvirostra japonica
Loxia curvirostra luzoniensis
Loxia curvirostra pusilla
Loxia curvirostra minor
Loxia curvirostra bendirei
Loxia curvirostra vividior
Loxia curvirostra reai
Loxia curvirostra grinnelli
Loxia curvirostra stricklandi
Loxia curvirostra mesamericana

IOC World Bird Names (version 2.2)

IOC Common Name : Red Crossbill
IOC Scientific Name : Loxia curvirostra

Distribution :
Region : EU, OR, NA, MA Range : widespread
Order : PASSERIFORMES Family : Fringillidae
Category : Finches

A Synopsis of the Birds of India and Pakistan

SYNOPIS NO : 2032

Scientific Name: Loxia curvirostra
Common Name: Crossbill

Birdlife International Checklist Ver 3 June 2010

Common Name : Red Crossbill
Scientific Name : Loxia curvirostra (Linnaeus, 1758)
Birdlife Synonym : Common Crossbill (1); Crossbill (6)

BirdLife Redlist Status Year 2010: LC
BirdLife Species FactSheet for Red Crossbill ( Loxia curvirostra )

Taxonomy Treatment : R

International Union for Conservation of Nature and Natural Resources

IUCN Common Name (Eng) : Red Crossbill, Common Crossbill, Crossbill
Scientific Name : Loxia curvirostra (Linnaeus, 1758)
IUCN Redlist Species FactSheet for Red Crossbill, Common Crossbill, Crossbill ( Loxia curvirostra )

Species : curvirostra
Genus : Loxia
Family : Fringillidae Order : Passeriformes

IUCN RedList Status : LC

IUCN RedList Criteria Version : 3.1
IUCN RedList Year Assessed : 2008
IUCN RedList Petitioned : N

Oriental Bird Club Checklist Draft Novemebr 2009

Family : FRINGILLIDAE

Scientific Name : Loxia curvirostra
Common Name : Red Crossbill

Bibliography

Bibliography of Red Crossbill ( Loxia curvirostra )
Number of Results found : 100

This is latest 100 Papers. To see Complete Bibliography of Red Crossbill ( Loxia curvirostra ) Use Species Bibliography Module

1. Benkman CW;Smith JW;Keenan PC;Parchman TL;Santisteban L; , (2009), A New Species of the Red Crossbill (Fringillidae: Loxia) from Idaho, The Condor, 111:1: 169 - 176.

2. Antoni BORRÃ�S, Joseph CABRERA and Juan Carlos SENAR , (2008), Local divergence between Mediterranean crossbills occurring in two different species of pine, Ardeola, 55:2: 169 - 177.

3. Keenan PC;Benkman CW; , (2008), Call Imitation and Call Modification in Red Crossbills, The Condor, 110:1: 93 - 101.

4. Antonio Arnaiz-Villena, Juan Moscoso, Valentin Ruiz-del-Valle, Javier Gonzalez, Raquel Reguera, Almudena Ferri, Michael Wink, Juan Ignacio Serrano-Vela , (2008), Mitochondrial DNA Phylogenetic Definition of a Group of Ã¢â�¬Ë�Arid-ZoneÃ¢â�¬â�¢ Carduelini Finches, The Open Ornithology Journal, 1: 1 - 7.

5. Summers RW; Dawson JG; Phillips RE , (2007), Assortative mating and patterns of inheritance indicate that the three Crossbill taxa in Scotland are species., Journal ofÂ Avian Biology, 38: 153 - 162.

6. Brown A , (2007), One hundred years of notable avian events in British Birds., British Birds, 100: 214 - 243.

7. Ber Van Perlo , (2006), Common or Red Crossbill (Loxia curvirostra), Field Guide Birds of Mexico and Central America; CollinsÂ , : 98.

8. IAN NEWTON , (2006), Movement patterns of Common Crossbills Loxia curvirostra in Europe, Ibis, 148:4: 782 - 788.

9. Newton I. , (2006), Advances in the study of irruptive migration. , Ardea, 94:3: 433 - 460.

10. Alonso D., Arizaga J., Miranda R. & HernÃ¡ndez M.A. , (2006), Morphological diversification of Common Crossbill Loxia curvirostra populations within Iberia and the Balearics. , Ardea, 94:1: 99 - 107.

11. FÃ¶rschler MI; FÃ¶rschler L; Dorka U , (2006), Population fluctuations of Siskins Carduelis spinus, Common Crossbills Loxia curvirostra, and Citril Finches Carduelis citrinella in relationship to flowering intensity of spruce Picea abies., Ornis Fennica, 83(2): 91 - 96.

12. Craig Robson , (2005), Common or Red Crossbill (Loxia curvirostra), BIRDS OF SOUTH-EAST ASIA; New Holland Publishers Ltd, : 140.

13. Ron W. SUMMERS y David C. JARDINE , (2005), Vocal similarities between Mediterranean and north European Pine Crossbills Loxia spp, Ardeola, 52:2: 269 - 278.

14. Edelaar PIM;Phillips RE;Knops PETE; , (2005), SEXUALLY DIMORPHIC BODY PLUMAGE IN JUVENILE CROSSBILLS, The Wilson Bulletin, 117:4: 390 - 393.

15. Brown A , (2005), More Tadcaster rarities?, British Birds, 98: 554 - 555.

16. RF Porter; S.Christensen; P.Schiermacker-Hansen , (2004), Common or Red Crossbill (Loxia curvirostra), BIRDS OF THE MIDDLE EAST; Poyser, : 212.

17. Edelaar P; Terpstra K , (2004), Is the nominate subspecies of the Common Crossbill Loxia c. curvirostra polytypic? I. Morphological differences among years at a single site., Ardea, 92: 93 - 102.

18. Hellgren O; Waldenstrom J; Bensch S , (2004), A new PCR assay for simultaneous studies of Leucocytozoon, Plasmodium, and Haemoproteus from avian blood., Journal of Parasitology, 90: 797 - 802.

19. David Allen Sibley; Rick Cech , (2003), White-winged or Two-barred Crossbill (Loxia leucoptera), The Sibley Field Guide to Birds of Western North America; Knopf, : 449.

20. David Allen Sibley; Rick Cech , (2003), Common or Red Crossbill (Loxia curvirostra), The Sibley Field Guide to Birds of Western North America; Knopf, : 448.

21. H.Raffaele; J.Wiley; O.Garrido; A.Keith; J.Raffaele , (2003), White-winged or Two-barred Crossbill (Loxia leucoptera), BIRDS of the WEST INDIES; Princeton University Press, : 192.

22. David Allen Sibley; Rick Cech , (2003), Common or Red Crossbill (Loxia curvirostra), The Sibley Field Guide to Birds of Eastern North America; Knopf, 1st Edition: 415.

23. David Allen Sibley; Rick Cech , (2003), White-winged or Two-barred Crossbill (Loxia leucoptera), The Sibley Field Guide to Birds of Eastern North America; Knopf, 1st Edition: 414.

24. Yoshida, K. , (2003), [The first record of attempted breeding of the Crossbill in Tokushima Prefecture, western Japan.], Strix, 21: 225 - 226.

25. McGhie H , (2002), Numbers of Siskins in relation to Scots Pine cone crop., Scottish Birds, 23: 32 - 35.

26. Joseph Kren , (2001), Common or Red Crossbill (Loxia curvirostra), BIRDS OF THE CZECH REPUBLIC; Christopher Helm Publishers Ltd, : 251.

27. Joseph Kren , (2001), White-winged or Two-barred Crossbill (Loxia leucoptera), BIRDS OF THE CZECH REPUBLIC; Christopher Helm Publishers Ltd, : 250.

28. Koenig WD; , (2001), Synchrony and Periodicity of Eruptions by Boreal Birds, The Condor, 103:4: 725 - 735.

29. Beaton, G. , (2001), Unprecedented numbers of Red Crossbills in Bartow County., Oriole, 66: 19.

30. Tenovuo O , (2001), [The identification of the White-winged crossbill Loxia leucoptera and the wing-barred Red Crossbill L. curvirostra.], Linnut, 36(issue # missing): 36 - 41.

31. RS Kennedy; PC Gozales; EC Dickinson; HC Miranda Jr; TH Fisher , (2000), Common or Red Crossbill (Loxia curvirostra), A GUIDE TO THE BIRDS OF THE PHILIPPINES; Oxford University Press, USA, : 72.

32. Woo-Shin Lee; Tae-Hoe Koo; Jin-Young Park , (2000), White-winged or Two-barred Crossbill (Loxia leucoptera bifasciata), A FIELD GUIDE TO THE BIRDS OF KOREA; LG Evergreen Foundation,Korea, : .

33. Woo-Shin Lee; Tae-Hoe Koo; Jin-Young Park , (2000), Common or Red Crossbill (Loxia curvirostra japonica), A FIELD GUIDE TO THE BIRDS OF KOREA; LG Evergreen Foundation,Korea, : .

34. Krys Kazmierczak; Ber van Perlo , (2000), Common or Red Crossbill (Loxia curvirostra), A FIELD GUIDE TO THE BIRDS OF THE INDIAN SUBCONTINENT; Yale University Press, : 300.

35. Clouet M; , (2000), The breeding biology of the Common Crossbill Loxia curvirostra in the Central Pyrenees, Bird Study, 47:2: 186 - 194.

36. McGhie HA; Summers RW , (2000), Egg sizes of Crossbills in Scotland., Scottish Birds, 21: 85 - 87.

37. Robb MS , (2000), Introduction to vocalizations of crossbills in north-western Europe., Dutch Birding, 22: 61 - 107.

38. Clouet M , (2000), The breeding biology of the Common Crossbill in the Central Pyrenees., Bird Study, 47: 186 - 194.

39. Salim Ali; S Dillon RipleyÂ , (1999), No. 2032. Crossbill (Loxia curvirostra himalayensis ) Blyth, Handbook of the Birds of India and Pakistan; Oxford University Press, New Delhi, Volume 10 (Flowerpeckers to Buntings ): 200.

40. K.Mullarney; L.Svensson; D.Zetterstrom; P.J.Grant , (1999), White-winged or Two-barred Crossbill (Loxia leucoptera), COLLINS BIRD GUIDE - BRITAIN & EUROPE; Collins, : 357.

41. K.Mullarney; L.Svensson; D.Zetterstrom; P.J.Grant , (1999), Common or Red Crossbill (Loxia curvirostra), COLLINS BIRD GUIDE - BRITAIN & EUROPE; Collins, : 357.

42. Carol Inskipp; Tim Inskipp; Richard Grimmett , (1999), Red Crossbill (Loxia curvirostra), HELM FIELD GUIDES - BIRDS of BHUTAN; A&C Black, : 178.

43. Ebels EB; van Beusekom RFJ; Robb MS , (1999), Invasion of Two-barred Crossbills in the Netherlands and Europe in 1997/98, with notes on identification, vocalizations and ecology., Dutch Birding, 21: 82 - 96.

44. Benkman, C. W. , (1999), The selection mosaic and diversifying coevolution between crossbills and lodgepole pine., American Naturalist, 153: S75 - S91.

45. Chris Kightly; Steve Madge; Dave Nurney , (1998), White-winged or Two-barred Crossbill (Loxia leucoptera), POCKET GUIDE TO THE BIRDS OF BRITAIN AND NORTH-WEST EUROPE; , : 287.

46. Chris Kightly; Steve Madge; Dave Nurney , (1998), Common or Red Crossbill (Loxia curvirostra), POCKET GUIDE TO THE BIRDS OF BRITAIN AND NORTH-WEST EUROPE; , : 286.

47. Hess, P., M. R. Leahy, R. M. Ross. , (1998), Pennsylvania's crossbill winter of 1997--98., PA Birds, 12: 2 - 6.

48. Saari L; Pulliainen E , (1998), The occurrence of Two-barred Crossbills Loxia leucoptera in eastern Finnish Lapland., Linnut, 33(2): 12 - 15.

49. Fuller, J. , (1998), A summer invasion of Red Crossbills [to Iowa]., Iowa Bird Life, 68: 135 - 136.

50. Schaefer, R. R. , (1998), First county records of Red Crossbill in the Pineywoods Region of eastern Texas., Bulletin of Texas Ornithology Society, 31: 63 - 64.

51. Holden, T., J. Young. , (1997), Crossbills breeding early and in extreme conditions., Scottish Bird News, 46: 12.

52. Maumary, L., L. Vallotton, J. Lehmann. , (1997), [Bill malformation in the Crossbill Loxia curvirostra.], Nos Oiseaux, 44: 111.

53. Garner, M. , (1997), An apparent hybrid wing-barred crossbill., Birding World, 10: 71 - 72.

54. Proctor, B. , (1997), Wing-barred crossbills., Birding World, 10: 152.

55. R.W. Summers, D.C. Jardine, M. Marquiss and R. Proctor , (1996), The biometrics of invading Common Crossbills Loxia curvirostra in Britain during 1990-1991, Ringing & Migration, 17:1: 1.

56. Sangster, G. , (1996), How many species of crossbill are there?, Dutch Birding, 18: 29 - 32.

57. Summers, R. W., et al. , (1996), The biometrics of invading Common Crossbills Loxia curvirostra in Britain during 1990--1991., Ringing & Migration, 17: 1 - 10.

58. Clouet, M., J. Joachim. , (1996), [Comparison between three French Crossbill populations.], Alauda, 64: 149 - 155.

59. Heck, B. A. , (1996), The Red Crossbill invasion of Oklahoma during the summer of 1996., Bulletin of the Oklahoma Ornithological Society, 29: 25 - 27.

60. Steve N.G.Howell; Sophie Webb , (1995), Common or Red Crossbill (Loxia curvirostra), A Guide to the Birds of Mexico and Northern Central America; Oxford University Press, USA, : 758.

61. GEOFFREY E. HILL, CRAIG W. BENKMAN , (1995), Exceptional Response by Female Red Crossbills to Dietary Carotenoid Supplementation, The Wilson Bulletin, 107:3: 555 - 557.

62. Christen, W. , (1995), [The occurrence of Common Crossbills Loxia curvirostra north of Solothurn (Switzerland) 1980--1993.], Ornithol. Beob., 92: 82 - 85.

63. Ã�skarsson, Ã�. , (1995), [First breeding attempt of Crossbill Loxia curvirostra in Iceland.], Bliki, 15: 59 - 60.

64. Tomialoc, L. , (1995), The birds of the Bialowieza Forestâ��-additional data and summary., Acta Zoologica Cracoviensia , 38: 363 - 397.

65. Hill, G. E., C. W. Benkman. , (1995), Exceptional response by female Red Crossbills to dietary carotenoid supplementation., The Wilson Journal of Ornithology(formerlyÂ The Wilson Bulletin), 107: 555 - 557.

66. Senar, J. C., et al. , (1995), The bill crossover ratio of the Common Crossbill, Loxia curvirostra, is not always 1:1., Ardeola, 42(2): 209 - 210.

67. D. C. Jardine , (1994), Observations on the occurrence of red-orange female Common Crossbills Loxia curvirostra, Ringing & Migration, 15:2: 98.

68. Tozer, R. , (1994), Red Crossbills feeding at mineral sources., Ontario Birds, 12: 102 - 108.

69. Jardine, D. C. , (1994), Brood patch on a Common Crossbill Loxia curvirostra still in juvenile plumage., Bird Study, 41: 155 - 156.

70. CRAIG W. BENKMAN , (1993), THE EVOLUTION, ECOLOGY, AND DECLINE OF THE RED CROSSBILL OF NEWFOUNDLAND , North American Birds, 47.2: 225 - 229.

71. JEFFREY G. GROTH , (1993), Call Matching and Positive Assortative Mating in Red Crossbills, The Auk, 110:2: 398 - 401.

72. Senar, J. C., et al. , (1993), Testing for the relationship between coniferous crop stability and Common Crossbill residence., Journal ofÂ Field Ornithology, 64: 464 - 469.

73. Roos, G. , (1993), [Visible migration at Falsterbo in autumn 1990, especially in the occurrence of four irruptive species: Common Crossbill, Coal Tit, Blue Tit and Waxwing.], Anser, 32: 1 - 28.

74. Jardine, D. C. , (1993), Crossbills in Scotland 1990---an invasion year., Scottish Bird Report, 23: 65 - 69.

75. Riegel, J. , (1993), [On the presence of Crossbill (Loxia curvirostra) in the southern Bergisches Land, with special reference to flight activity during the invasion of 1990/91.], Charadrius, 29: 158 - 167.

76. Borras, A., et al. , (1993), Simultaneous capture of several Common Crossbills with whitish wingbars., Butll. GCA, 10: 15 - 17.

77. Proctor, B., D. Fairhurst. , (1993), Identification forum: the Scottish Crossbill problem., Birding World, 6: 145 - 146.

78. Groth, J. G. , (1993), Call matching and positive assortative mating in Red Crossbills., Auk, 110: 398 - 401.

79. Whitney, N. R. , (1992), Two longevity records from North Dakota., North American Bird Bander, 17: 88.

80. Groth, J. G. , (1992), Further information on the genetics of bill crossing in crossbills., Auk, 109: 383 - 385.

81. McFarland, S. L. , (1992), Red Crossbills in Oklahoma during the winter of 1990--91., Bulletin of the Oklahoma Ornithological Society, 25: 1 - 3.

82. Fischer, S., et al. , (1992), [First breeding record of Two-barred Crossbill (Loxia leucoptera) in Central Europe.], Journal ofÂ Ornithology, 133: 197 - 202.

83. Whitney, N. R. , (1992), Two interesting longevity records., South Dakota Bird Notes, 44: 83.

84. Sigler, A. , (1992), Nest building by Red Crossbills., Meadowlark, 1: 24.

85. Elmberg, J. , (1992), Song-types of Two-barred Crossbills., Birding World, 5: 193.

86. Peeples, W. R. , (1991), Red Crossbill feeding young in Shelby County, Tennessee., Migrant, 62: 107.

87. Peterson, J., et al. , (1991), Additions to the breeding avifauna of the Davis Mountains., Bulletin of Texas Ornithology Society, 24: 39 - 48.

88. Clouet, M. , (1991), [The Crossbill (Loxia curvirostra) in the subalpine mountain pine (Pinus uncinata) forests of the central Pyrenees.], Acta BiologicaÂ Montana, 10: 25 - 35.

89. Lensink, R., F. Hustings. , (1991), [Invasion of Crossbills Loxia curvirostra in 1990.], Limosa, 64: 29 - 30.

90. Henson, L. , (1991), Red Crossbills recorded in June in Floyd County, Georgia., Oriole, 56: 49 - 50.

91. Benkman, C. W., A. K. Lindholm. , (1991), The advantages and evolution of a morphological novelty., Nature, 349: 519 - 520.

92. Bradshaw, C. , (1991), Identification of Parrot Crossbill., Birding World, 4: 354 - 355.

93. Holman, D., J. Kemp. , (1991), Identification of Two-barred Crossbill., Birding World, 4: 353 - 354.

94. Svensson, L. , (1991), Forum response: crossbill identification., Birding World, 4: 349 - 352.

95. Harrap, S., R. Millington. , (1991), Identification forum: Two-barred Crossbill., Birding World, 4: 55 - 59.

96. Millington, R., S. Harrap. , (1991), Field identification of Parrot Crossbill., Birding World, 4: 52 - 54.

97. Bankovics, A. , (1991), Two-barred Crossbill (Loxia leucoptera Gm. 1788) in Hungary., Aquila, 98: 188.

98. ALAN G. KNOX , (1990), The sympatric breeding of Common and Scottish Crossbills Loxia curvirostra and L. scotica and the evolution of crossbills, Ibis, 132:3: 454 - 466.

99. Knox, A. G. , (1990), The sympatric breeding of Common and Scottish crossbills Loxia curvirostra and L. scotica and the evolution of crossbills., Ibis, 132: 454 - 466.

100. Knox, A. G. , (1990), Identification of Crossbill and Scottish Crossbill., Br. Birds, 83: 89 - 94.

Book Excerpts

The Birds of India - Vol - II Part - I (1863)

Himalayan Cross-Bill (Loxia himalayana)

734. Loxia Himalayana, Hodgson.

J. A. S. XIII. 952 - Blyth, Cat. 671 - Horsf., Cat. 680 - Bonap. and Schlegel, Mon. Lox. pl. 7. - Gould, Birds of Asia, pt. XII. pl. 13.

The HIMALAYAN Cross-bill.

Descr. - The greater part of the head and neck, and the whole body beneath, red, of a hue between roseate and blood-red, and more or less tinged with dusky brown; the rest of the head, neck, back, wings, and tail, ashy brown, smeared and edged with red.

The female is brown above, the rump tinged with yellow; pale brownish beneath, tinged on the breast and abdomen with olive yellow.

Length 5 3/4 inches ; wing 3 1/4 ; tail 2 1/4; bill at front 1/2.

The Himalayan Cross-bill is only found in the higher regions of the Himalayas, not far from the snows; and even there, says Hodgson, it is rare. It is much smaller than the European species, with the colors somewhat deeper. We have no record of its habitat elsewhere, but it will probably be found in Tibet, and other regions of Central Asia. It does not appear to have been observed in the N. W. Himalayas.

The European species of Cross-bill are L. curvirostra, the common Cross-bill; L. leucoptera, the white winged Cross-bill; and L. pityopsittacus, or the Parrot C, all of which have been observed in Britain ; and a fourth species from Eastern Europe is recorded by Bonaparte. Another species, is common in North America, L. Americana. A remarkable bird, Psittirostra psittacea, from the Sandwich Islands, is placed next Loxia by some systematists. It is green, with the head and neck yellow, thus still more approximating some of the Parrots; and Bonaparte latterly placed near this bird the Fringilla coccinea, of the Sandwich Isles, the type of the genus Hypoloxias, Lichtenst.

The next two genera might either be placed with the Crossbills, or the Rose-finches. Bonaparte puts them next the Crossbills ; Gray with the Rose-finches. The coloration of the males is common to both groups, whilst that of the females more approximates the tints of the Cross-bills by its yellow tone. The first noticed has more brilliant red plumage than any of the group.

The Avifauna of British India and its dependencies - Vol II (1890)

Himalayan Cross-Bill (Loxia curvirostra)

853. Loxia Curvirostra, Linn,

Syst. Nat. i., p. 299 ; Sharpe,' Cat. B. Br. Mus. xii., p. 435. Loxia himalayana, Hodgs, in Gray's Zool. Misc. 1844, p. 85 ; id., J. A. S. B. xiii. p. 932 ; id., P. Z. S. xxxv., p. 33 ; id., Ann. and Mag. Nat. Hist. xvi. p. 206 ; Jerd., B. Ind. ii. p. 393, No. 734; Gould, B. Asia, v., pl. 41 ; Hume, Str. F. 1879, p. 108. -

The Himalayan Cross-Bill.

The greater part of the head and neck and the whole body beneath rich roseate blood red, more or less tinged with dusky brown ; rest of the head, neck, back, wings and tail ashy brown, smeared and edged with red.

The female is brown above, the rump tinged with yellow; pale yellowish beneath, tinged on the breast and abdomen with olive yellow.

Length. - 5.75 to 6.5 inches ; wing 3.25 ; tail 2.3 ; bill at front 0.5.

Hab. - The greater part of Europe, and Northern Asia to Japan and North China, the Himalayas, Nepaul, Sikkim, and Thibet.

The Fauna Of British India including Ceylon and Burma 1st Ed. Vol II (1890)

Himalayan Crossbill (Loxia himalayana)

750. Loxia himalayana.

The Himalayan Crossbill.

Loxia himalayana, Hodgs., Gray, Zool. Misc. p. 85 (1844); Horsf. & M. Cat. ii, p. 453; Jerd. B. I. ii, p. 393; Stoliczka, J. A. S. B. xxxvii, pt. ii, p. 60 ; Hume, Cat, no. 734. Loxia himalayensis, Hodgs. J. A. S. B. xiii, p. 952 (1844) ; Blyth, Cat. p. 123. Loxia curvirostra, Linn., Sharpe, Cat. B. M. xii, p. 435 (part.).

Coloration. Male. Forehead, crown, nape, and hind neck red, the rump brighter red ; back and scapulars brown, the feathers broadly fringed with red; wing-coverts brown, margined with rufous-brown ; primary-coverts, winglet, and quills blackish with very narrow rufous margins; upper tail-coverts and tail dark brown margined with rufous ; sides of the head dark brown, more or less mixed with red ; lower plumage red ; under tail-coverts brown, broadly edged with whitish; under wing-coverts and axillaries ashy brown washed with rufous.

Female. Upper plumage brown, each feather edged with olive-yellow; the rump purer yellow ; wings and tail dark brown, margined narrowly with olive-yellow; chin, throat, and sides of the head and neck ashy, more or less mottled and washed with dull yellow ; abdomen ashy ; remainder of lower plumage dull yellow.

Young birds are ashy brown tinged with yellow and densely streaked all over with dark brown.

Bill and feet brown; iris dark hazel.

Length about 5.5; tail 2.2; wing 3.4; tarsus .65; bill from gape .75.

The Crossbills of the Himalayas form a very small race which I think it is advisable to keep distinct. There is a very marked difference in size between the Himalayan birds and L. curvirostra, from Northern Europe, on the one hand, and L. japonica, from Japan, on the other; and the only Crossbills which approach the Indian birds in size are some from America. Sharpe's view that all these Crossbills form but one species is no doubt correct; at the same time the Himalayan Crossbills are in my opinion quite distinguishable from all others in size, and it is consequently more convenient to retain them as distinct.

Distribution. The Himalayas from Chini and Lahul to Sikhim, extending into Tibet and Western China.

Habits &c. Inhabits the pine-forests and is highly gregarious.

The Fauna Of British India including Ceylon and Burma 2nd Ed. Vol III (1926)

Himalayan Crossbill (Loxia curvirostra himalayana)

(1050) Loxia curvirostra himalayana.

The Himalayan Crossbill.

Loxia himalayana Blyth, J. A. S. B., xiii, p. 952 (1844) (Nepal); Blanf. & Oates, ii, p. 208.

Vernacular names. None recorded.

Description. - Adult male. Forehead to hind neck scarlet-crimson, with a certain amount of the black bases to the feathers always showing through ; back and scapulars brown, each feather edged with red; rump bright scarlet; wing-coverts brown tinged with red and margined with pale rufous; remaining wing-feathers blackish with very narrow rufous edges, often abraded; cheeks and sides of head brown mottled with crimson; lower plumage red, vent and thigh-coverts more brown ; under wing-coverts and axillaries ashy-brown washed with red; under tail-coverts brown with broad white edges.

Colours of soft parts. "Iris bright hazel. Bill, upper mandible dark horny, lower tinged greenish, under portion dark horny ; tarsus brownish horny ; claws darker " (Stevens).

Measurements. Total length about 140 mm.; wing 85 to 92" mm.; tail 50 to 54 mm.; tarsus about 17 mm.; culmen 14 to 18 mm.

Female. Upper plumage, wings and tail brown, each feather edged with greyish olive-yellow ; rump and upper tail-coverts olive-yellow, the brown bases almost entirely concealed ; .whole lower plumage dull pale ashy-grey washed with yellow, especially on the breast.

Young birds are brown above with broad greyish edges to each feather and suffused with yellow on the lower back and rump : below they are dingy white, boldly streaked, except on the chin, with dark brown and washed with yellow.

Distribution. Himalayas from Chini and Lahul to Sikkim and South-East Tibet.

Nidification. I have in my collection a clutch of five eggs taken in Lahul, Kashmir, at an elevation of about 12,000 feet. They were taken by natives and the details given may not be very correct, but the nest was described as a shallow cup of pine-twigs and roots lined with wool and placed on a stunted pine-tree on the outskirts of Pine forest. The eggs are exactly like those of the English Crossbill and measure about 23.6 x 16.8 mm. They were taken on the 15th May.

Habits. The Himalayan Crossbill is a rare bird about which very little is known. In Summer it is found between 10,000 and 15,000 feet, descending in Winter to about 5,000 feet. It is a sociable bird collecting, like most other Finches, in small flocks in the non-breeding season, feeding principally on the seeds of fircones. Stevens found it feeding among " huge boulders on the Southern precipitous face" of Sandakphu early in December, February and early March. Mr. O. Lindgren shot some at Tarzum at 5,400 feet.

The Fauna Of British India including Ceylon and Burma 2nd Ed. Vol VII (1930)

Loxia curvirostra

Loxia curvirostra Linn.

(Loxia curvirostra Linn., Syst. Nat., 10th ed., vol. i, p. 171, Jan. 1758: Sweden, Europe.)

The Fauna Of British India including Ceylon and Burma 2nd Ed. Vol VII (1930)

Loxia curvirostra himalayensis

Loxia curvirostra himalayensis Blyth.

Loxia himalayensis Blyth, J. A. S. B., vol. xiii, p. 952, 1844 (late): Nepal, ex Hodgs. MS., Zool. Misc., 1844, p. 85: Loxia himalayana Hodgs., nom. nud.

Museum Collections

Number of Museum Specimen Records Found : 2 for Loxia curvirostra

No.	Museum	Species	Collection Deatils	Collector	Date of Collection	Record	Locality	GBIF Portal Link
1	Michigan State University Museum	Loxia curvirostra	MSU OR OR.8126	Collector Unknown	1960-11-27 00:00:00.0	Specimen	above Bigu, 8000 feet Nepal Southern Asia	Link
2	Michigan State University Museum	Loxia curvirostra	MSU OR OR.5699		1960-11-27 00:00:00.0	Specimen	above Bigu, E. No.2 Nepal Southern Asia	Link

Biodiversity occurrence data provided by: (Accessed through GBIF Data Portal, 2009-08-06)

Data Providers

Michigan State University Museum ( 2 Records )

Sound/Call

62 calls found for Loxia curvirostra

Remarks: Vocal type '4E'
Call Type: Flight Calls (B)

Remarks: Ssp: mexicanus?. perched calls from single female-plumaged bird at top of pine, another bird calling in response initially. Quite distinct, more 'ringing' call than birds heard in Sierra Madre Occidental or Oriental (which in turn sound diff from each oth
Call Type: calls (B)

Remarks: Birds not seen, crappy rec.
Call Type: calls in flight (no score)

Remarks:
Call Type: song (no score)

Remarks:
Call Type: call (no score)

Remarks: Ssp: sinesciuris. Type 9
Call Type: Flight Call (A)

Remarks: Ssp: sinesciuris. Type 9, the South Hills Crossbill, a proposed split from L. curvirostra
Call Type: flight call (A)

Remarks: Birds not seen, pine forest.
Call Type: calls in flight (no score)

Remarks:
Call Type: Call (A)

Remarks: Type 4 individual, 'Douglas Fir' Crossbill. This type is rare and sporadic in Colorado.
Call Type: call (A)

Remarks: Type 5' toop calls
Call Type: calls (B)

Remarks: Type 4 male
Call Type: Call (A)

Remarks: Ssp: sinesciuris. Type 9, the South Hills Crossbill, a proposed split from L. curvirostra
Call Type: flight call (A)

Remarks: calls of a flock of around 25. Using the Sound Approach's classification of European Common Crossbill types (some birds at least) show similarities with Type C 'Glip' Crossbill
Call Type: flight calls (B)

Remarks:
Call Type: Call (A)

Remarks: Type 5, two calls here, flight is high pitched and the 'toop' call an excited call. Thanks to Andrew Spencer for help on this one. ID has been discussed (and resolved). See the forum.
Call Type: Call (C)

Remarks: type 2' individual
Call Type: song (A)

Remarks: Flock in flight
Call Type: flight call (B)

Remarks:
Call Type: song (no score)

Remarks: Type 5' toop and flight calls
Call Type: calls (B)

Remarks: type 2' individuals
Call Type: calls (B)

Remarks: Type 5 in flight.
Call Type: Call (B)

Remarks:
Call Type: Call (no score)

Remarks: Type 5' flight calls
Call Type: calls (A)

Remarks: Ssp: type 4. flying over in mixed Douglas-fir/Western Hemlock forest, type 3 in same area
Call Type: flight call (A)

Remarks: Calls from a large flock containing around 30 individuals. Flew over fairly close.
Call Type: flight call (C)

Remarks: Ssp: sinesciuris. Type 9
Call Type: Flight Call (B)

Remarks: Birds not seen, pine forest.
Call Type: calls in flight (no score)

Remarks: Type 3
Call Type: Call (B)

Remarks:
Call Type: call (no score)

Remarks: Flock in flight
Call Type: excitement call (B)

Remarks: Ssp: curvirostra. Using the Sound Approach's classification of European Common Crossbill types, show characteristics most similar to Type E 'British' Crossbills
Call Type: flight calls of different aged birds (C)

Remarks: Ssp: sinesciuris. Type 9, the South Hills Crossbill, a proposed split from L. curvirostra
Call Type: flight call (B)

Remarks: Type 2
Call Type: Call (C)

Remarks:
Call Type: song (C)

Remarks: Type 2
Call Type: Song, call (B)

Remarks: Ssp: sinesciuris. Type 9, the South Hills Crossbill, a proposed split from L. curvirostra
Call Type: flight call (B)

Remarks: type 2' individual
Call Type: song (A)

Remarks: the newly discovered and as of yet undescribed type 10. Both 'toop' and flight calls in this cut. From a lone female bird on top of a Sitka Spruce.
Call Type: calls (A)

Remarks: Perched calls from 3 - 4 individuals. There was at least one adult male and some female-plumaged birds around.
Call Type: call (no score)

Remarks: individual in a flock of red crossbills all engaged in communal singing. Recording Equipment:Telinga Pro 7, Tascam HDP2
Call Type: song (B)

Remarks:
Call Type: Call (B)

Remarks: type 3' individuals; 'type 5' individuals faintly audable in the background
Call Type: call (B)

Remarks: excitement and fligth calls
Call Type: calls (B)

Remarks: Type 5 sitting atop a pine called like this for about five minutes before I walked away. Motorcycle on the trails below us.
Call Type: Call (B)

Remarks: type 5' individuals
Call Type: calls (A)

Remarks: Ssp: guillemardi. Using The Sound Approach's classification of European Common Crossbill types show characteristics most similar to Type A 'Wandering' Crossbill
Call Type: flight calls (B)

Remarks: The bird is sitting on the top of a spruce and fly away later.
Call Type: call (no score)

Remarks: Birds not seen, pine forest.
Call Type: calls in flight (A)

Remarks: Type 3. Several clips spliced together, multiple large flocks (ranging 50-70) foraging in an area dominated by Western Hemlock, followed by Douglas-Fir, and one or two Sitka Spruce.
Call Type: Flight Call, Song (A)

Remarks:
Call Type: Song (A)

Remarks: Identification sure, bird well seen
Call Type: Song (A)

Remarks:
Call Type: call and song (A)

Remarks: Calls while feeding, flight calls; flock with both adults and juveniles
Call Type: Calls (B)

Remarks: type 2' individual
Call Type: song (A)

Remarks: type 5' individuals
Call Type: calls (A)

Remarks:
Call Type: call and song (A)

Remarks: Ssp: poliogyna. Found a large group and got recordings of several birds singing then flight calls at the end.
Call Type: Song/call (C)

Remarks: 2k male
Call Type: song (A)

Remarks:
Call Type: song (B)

Remarks: ad male
Call Type: song (A)

The Bird Calls are embedded through xeno-canto.org See Terms of Use xeno-canto.org

Links

Cite this website along with its URL as:
Anonymous. 2013 Loxia curvirostra - Linnaeus, 1758 (Red Crossbill ) in Deomurari, A.N. (Compiler), 2010. AVIS-IBIS (Avian Information System - Indian BioDiversity Information System) v. 1.0. Foundation For Ecological Security, India retrieved on 05/13/2013

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