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Unusual birds have been visiting Kokanee Creek Park: the White-winged Crossbill. Our area is on the southern edge of its range. I have seen it around here a few times, but never in the same place.<\/p>\n
The bird is named for its crossed bill: its two mandibles do not meet at a point, although more of the birds have the lower mandible crossing to the right than the left.\u00a0 When born their beak isn’t crossed but becomes crossed about the time they fledge.<\/p>\n
This odd adaptation results from how it extracts its favourite food: the seeds from conifer cones. This search for cone seeds, in turn, causes it to roam widely over the northern woods. It seems to not have a regular nesting place or time. It has been seen to nest any time in the year where there is a good supply of food.<\/p>\n
This is either an adult female or a juvenile male. Photo by Cynthia Fraser.
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The adult male’s body is red but black wings have two white bars. Photo by Cynthia Fraser.
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Unusual birds have been visiting Kokanee Creek Park: the White-winged Crossbill. Our area is on the southern edge of its range. I have seen it around here a few times, but never in the same place. The bird is … Continue reading