AMERICAN CROSSBILL. 



521. Loxia curvirostra minor. 6 inches. 



These curious creatures appear in flocks on the out- 

 skirts of our cities every winter, where they will be 

 found almost exclusively in coniferous trees. They 

 cling to the cones, upon which they are feeding, in 

 every conceivable attitude, and a shower of seeds and 

 broken cones rattling through the branches below shows 

 that they are busily working. They are very eccentric 

 birds and the whole flock often takes flight, without ap- 

 parent cause, only to circle about again to the same 

 trees. The flute-like whistle that they utter when in 

 flight sounds quite pleasing when coming from all the 

 individuals in the flock. 



Song. — A low twittering; call, a short, flute-like 

 whistle. 



Nest. — In coniferous trees, of spruce twigs, shreds 

 of bark and some moss or grass. The three or four 

 eggs are greenish white spotted with brown (.75 x .55). 



Range. — Breeds from northern New England north- 

 ward and westward, and south in mountains to Georgia; 

 winters in the northern half of the U. S. 



