crossbill
1
9.3
- noun
- /ˈkrɔsˌbɪl/
- Specialized
- The curved bill of the crossbill allows it to access seeds that other birds cannot reach.
- Newfoundland crossbill
- red crossbill
- white-winged crossbill
Examples
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Additionally, the ABA's journal of ornithological record, North American Birds, has been at the forefront of the crossbill ID revolution with several articles by none other than Matt Young, focusing on status, distribution, and identification of the various types.
Blog text (7) -
During our hike, we spotted a crossbill perched on a branch, skillfully cracking open a cone.
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Since they were headed downwind, there was no warning but the cry of a crossbill, which the men ignored.
Fiction book (2001) -
The red-headed woodpecker was really nice, and later I was able to pick out a red crossbill among the white-wings at the Old Blind.
Blog text (4) -
Matt Young at Cornell Lab of Ornithology has been doing great work trying to suss out the differences in Red Crossbill populations.
Blog text (7) -
Matt also encourages birders who have recorded crossbills but need a hand identifying them to send those recordings to him at may6@cornell.edu.
Blog text (7) -
Much has been made of the fact that within the enigmatic species known as Red Crossbill may lie up to 10 cryptic, but fully in their own right, species differentiated from one another by bill size, food preferences, and especially flight calls.
Blog text (7) -
North American Birds editor Ned Brinkley, who is based on the eastern shore of Virginia, reports that both Type 3 and Type 10 crossbills have turned up in that state this fall, neither of which have ever been recorded in the past.
Blog text (7) -
Second only to the grosbeaks in inducing excitement with their arrival are the crossbills, both white-winged and red, that have been sweeping across the east in incredible numbers.
Blog text (7) -
The crossbill uses its unique bill to extract seeds from pine cones in the forest.
Synonyms
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1.6
A small bird with a short thick beak that eats seeds
A small bird with a crossed beak that takes seeds from pine cones
A group of finches with crossed beaks that eat pine seeds
Surface Forms
Morphology
Etymology
Crossbill is a simple name made of two parts: cross- meaning 'crossed' and bill meaning 'beak'. The bird's beak tips actually cross like scissors to open cones and pull out seeds, which is why it is called a crossbill.