80 



Furukorsnaeb. Poland: Krzyzodziob papuzka. Russia: Klest sosnowik. 

 Sweden: Storre Korsnabh, Kruvas. 



Loxia pityopsittacus Beclist. Newton, ed. Yarrell, II, p. 207; Dresser, 

 Birds of Europe, IV, p. 121; id. Man. Pal. Birds, p. 340. Loxia pytyopsittaciis 

 Borkh. Hartert, Vog. Pal. Fauna, p. 122. 



Breeding Range: Scandinavia and N. Russia as far as Poland. 

 Occasionally also in E. Germany. 

 c°"- In Scandinavia the Parrot Crossbill occurs irregularly as a breeding 



Europe, species in pine forests throughout the whole country from northern Sk&ne 

 to Lappmark, but is everywhere less numerous than the Common Crossbill; 

 and according to Wheelwright, the two species are never found breeding 

 together in one district in the same season. This is probably accounted 

 for by the different food of the two species, the Parrot Crossbill feeding 

 chiefly on pine cones and the Common Crossbill on those of the fir. In 

 Finland the large-billed bird nests at irregular intervals in various parts 

 of the country and is also resident in Esthonia, Livonia and Poland. It 

 also breeds irregularly in E. Prussia, in the forests of Silesia and in 

 Thuringia, between the rivers Roda and Orla, where C. L. Brehm first 

 described its breeding habits, while it is said also to have nested occasionally 

 in Upper Bavaria and Switzerland, and a pair on one occasion remained 

 to breed near Darmstadt. 

 Nest. Similar in construction to that of the Common Crossbill, but perhaps 



rather better built and more warmly lined with strips of bark, lichens, a 

 few feathers, etc., and constructed of grass stalks, pine needles, mosses 

 [Sphagnum, Hypnum, etc.) and lichens upon a foundation of twigs. It 

 has been found at varying heights, but seldom less than 15 ft. from the 

 ground, and from 4 to 7 ft. from the main stem. External diameter 

 5 I — 6 in., height 2f — 3-|^ in., diameter 24 — 3 in., depth 1-| — 1| in. 

 Eggs. 3 or 4 as a rule, but 5 sometimes, though rarely, occur. Not only 



are the eggs larger than those of the Common Crossbill, but the markings 

 are frequently bolder and often almost black in colour. Occasionally the 

 ground is suffused with a beautiful pinkish blush. 



Breeding Variable, eggs having been found from December to June. In 



^Season. Scandinavia the usual breeding time is from the beginning of March till 

 late in April, but eggs have occasionally been taken in February. In 

 Silesia Brehm found most birds nesting in February and March, but also 

 in mid-December and January, as well as in May and June in some 

 seasons. 



Measure- Average of 100 eggs (23 by Konig-Warthausen, 13 by Rey, 12 by 



ments. Meves and 52 by the writer) 22.31 X 16.5 mm.. Max. 26.32 X 16.36 and 

 22.29 X 18.05 mm., Min. 20 X 15 mm (Wheelwright, Sweden). Rey gives 

 the average weight as 169 mg., varying from 160 to 180 mg. 



