THE WHITE-WINGED CROSSBILL..~~—~—~*97¢ 
species. Female and young: 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 olivaccous. 
Very variable. Length 6.00-6.50 (152.4-165.1); wing 3.50 (88.9); tail 2.25 
(672) bill=67, (47): 
Recognition Marks.—Sparrow size; crossed bill; conspicuous white wing- 
bars of both sexes. 
Nesting.—Nest has not yet been taken in Washington but bird undoubtedly 
breeds here. “Nest: of twigs and strips of birch-bark, covered exteriorly with 
moss (Usnea) 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 (20.3x 14)” (Chamberlain). Season: Feb.- 
March. 
General Range.—Northern parts of North America and southern Green- 
land, south into the United States in winter. Resident in coniferous timber thru 
the entire northern tier of states and irregularly south in the mountains at least 
to Colorado. Casual in western Europe. 
Range in Washington.—Several records of occurrences in northern Cas- 
cade Mountains. Doubtless regular and resident. 
Authorities.—Dawson, Auk, Vol. XVII. Oct., 1901, p. 403. D?. 
Specimens.—(U. of W.) Prov. C. B. 
TO TELL the truth, no one hereabouts appears to know much about 
the White-winged Crossbill. It is presumed to be common in the Cascade 
Mountains, but I have only thrice encountered it: once, May 15, 1891, in 
the mountains of Yakima County; again, July 23, 1900, on the slopes of 
Wright’s Peak near the head of Lake Chelan; and lastly, on the summit of 
Cascade Pass, June 25, 1906. ‘There are no other records.? This species 
is quite as erratic as its more common cousin; and while it is, perhaps, more 
nearly confined to the mountains, it should be looked for wherever C. minor 
occurs, and especially in flocks of the latter species. 
Of the bird’s occurrence in Alaska, where it is much more abundant, 
Nelson says?: “It is more familiar than the Grosbeak [i. e., Pinicola enu- 
cleator alascensis|, frequently coming low down among the smaller growth, 
and it is a common sight to see parties of them swinging about in every con- 
ceivable position from the twigs on the tops of the cottonwoods or birch 
trees, where the birds are busily engaged in feeding upon the buds. They 
pay no heed to a passing party of sleds, except, perhaps, that an individual 
will fly down to some convenient bush, where he curiously examines the 
strange procession, and, his curiosity satisfied or confidence restored, back 
he goes to his companions and continues feeding. When fired at they utter 
a. Since writing the above specimens have been taken at Kirkland by Miss Jennie V. Getty (Dec. 1908). 
b. Rep. Nat’l Hist. Coll. in Alaska, pp. 174, 175. 
