White-Winged Crossbill {Loxia kucoptera) 



By Leander Keyser 



Description : Male : Rosy-red or carmine all over, save for grayish of nape 

 and black of scapulars, wings, and tail. The black of scapulars sometimes meets 

 on lower back. Two conspicuous white wing-bars are formed by the tips of the 

 middle and greater coverts. Bill slenderer and weaker than in preceding species. 

 Female and yoimg: Light olive-yellow, ochraceous, or even pale orange over 

 gray, clearer on rump, duller on throat and belly; most of the feathers with 

 dusky centers, finer on crown and throat, broader on back and breast; wings and 

 tail as in male, but fuscous rather than black ; feather-edgings olivaceous. Very 

 variable. Length, 6.00-6.50 (152.4-165.1) ; wing, 3.50 (88.9) ; tail, 2.25 (57.2) ; 

 bill, .67 (17.). 



Recognition Marks : Sparrow size ; crossed bill ; conspicuous white wing- 

 bars of both sexes. 



Nesting: Not known to breed in Ohio. "Nest, of twigs and strips of birch- 

 bark, covered exteriorly with moss (Usnca) and lined with soft moss and hair, 

 on the fork of an evergreen, in deep forests. Eggs, 3 ( ?), pale blue, spotted and 

 streaked near larger end with reddish brown and lilac, .80x.55 (20.3x14.)" 

 (Chamberlain). 



Range: Northern parts of North America, south into the United States in 

 winter. Breeds from northern New England northward. 



The habits of this lesser known species appear to be substantially the same 

 as those of L. c. minor. Its summer range lies for the most part further north, 

 although it also breeds in the mountains of the West. It is much less frequent in 

 winter than the preceding species, although it occasionally appears in great 

 numbers. 



"In the spring of 1869, Mr. Jillson, of Hudson, Mass., sent me a pair of 

 these birds which he had captured the preceding autumn. They were very tame, 

 and exceedingly interesting little pets. Their movements in the cage were like 

 those of caged Parrots in every respect, except that they were far more easy 

 and rapid. They clung to the sides and upper wires of the cage with their feet, 

 hung down from them and seemed to enjoy the practice of walking with their 

 heads downward. They were in full song and both the male and the female 

 were quite good singers. Their songs were irregular and varied, but sweet 

 and musical. They ate almost every kind of food, but were especially eager for 

 slices of raw apples. An occasional larch cone was also a great treat to them. 

 Although while they lived they were continually bickering over their food, yet 

 when the female was accidentally choked by a bit of eggshell, her mate was incon- 

 solable, ceased to sing, refused his food, and died of grief in a very few days." 



510 



