NEWFOUNDLAND CROSSBILL 499 



curvirostra percna scarlet, scarlet vermilion, vermilion, poppy red or 

 even geranium red of the most brilliant, glossy shades, with various 

 brUiiant shades of greenish yellow.' (Names of colors taken from 

 Ridgway's Nomenclatm-e of Colors, edition of 1886.)" 



I suspect that Mr. Bent typed this paragraph 10 years or more be- 

 fore his death and left it to complete later when more information 

 might become available about the subspecies' habits and life history. 

 He certainly wrote it before the A.O.U. Check-List Committee 

 officially recognized Gloger's prior name in 1944, and probably before 

 two revisers of the complicated taxonomy of this often perplexing 

 group (van Rossem 1934, Griscom 1937) pointed out that Gloger's 

 pusilla, proposed a century earlier in 1834 for an apparent migrant 

 with no more specific type locality than "eastern United States," 

 was available for and probably appKcable to the Newfoundland race. 



The 1957 A.O.U. Check-List retains pusilla for the red crossbills 

 breeding in Newfoundland and adds that the subspecies "Wanders, 

 chiefly in winter, west and south to western Iowa (Woodbury County) , 

 eastern Kansas (Burlington), northern Illinois (Chicago), northern 

 Indiana (Michigan City), southern Ontario (Toronto, Ottowa), 

 northern Virginia (Four-mile Run), and eastern Maryland; casually 

 to Georgia (St. Mary's, Stone Mountain) and Bermuda." 



No ornithologist has as yet made an intensive study of the red 

 crossbills in Newfoundland. Peters and Burleigh (1951) characterize 

 its status there as "Resident, fairly common locally in summer but 

 uncommon in winter. Erratic and local in distribution. Common 

 in Codroy Valley in September, indicating a southward migration." 

 They add it "frequently occurs in mixed flocks with the shghtly larger 

 White-winged Crossbill in Newfoundland. In spruce forests we often 

 see or hear flocks of crossbills flying overhead when the species cannot 

 be determined." They also make the following observations of 

 interest : 



* * * The Red Crossbills often cut the cone from the branch and carry it in 

 their claws to a better perch before breaking it open, while the White-winged 

 Crossbills usually break the cone open while it is still attached to the tree. 



Crossbills are quite erratic birds, possibly because they must continually search 

 out supplies of cones for food. They are often very early nesters, sometimes nest- 

 ing in January or February and at other times not until mid-summer. Perhaps 

 the available food supply influences their breeding cycle. They commonly move 

 southward in the winter but as long as proper food is available some will remain 

 during even the coldest weather. 



Crossbills are usually unsuspicious, and when a flock is feeding they may be 

 approached rather closely. A flock feeding on the cones clustered in the top of 

 a spruce * * * climb around the branches like small parrots, using both bills and 

 feet. One may hang by its beak or one foot while reaching for a nearby cone. 

 When frightened one may swing beneath a twig where it is partially concealed by 

 thick foliage. If the flock is thoroughly alarmed it may fly to a considerable dis- 

 646-737— 68— pt. 1 34 



