THE WHITE-WINGED CROSSBILL. re 
No. 19. 
WHITE-WINGED CROSSBILL. 
A. O. U. No. 522. Loxia leucoptera (Gmel.). 
Description.—J/ale: 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 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 olivaceous. 
Very variable. Length 6.00-6.50 (152.4-165.1); wing 3.50 (88.9); tail 2.25 
(S722) ebull 67 Gi7a)e 
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 (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, 80 x .55 (20.3 x 14.)” 
(Chamberlain). : 
_ General Range.—Northern parts of North America, south into the United 
States in winter. Breeds from northern New England northward. 
Range in Ohio.—Of casual occurrence during migrations and in winter. 
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, altho it also breeds in the mountains of the West. It is much less frequent 
in winter than the preceding species, altho 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. Altho 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 inconsolable, ceased to sing, refused his food, and died of grief in a very 
few days” (Brewer). 
