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LOXIA LEUCOPTERA— GMEL. 



WHITE-WINGED CROSSBILL. 



White-winged Crossbill, Loxia leucoptera, Wils. Amer. Orn. 

 Loxia leucoptera, Bonap. Syn. 



White-winged Crossbill, Loxia leucoptera, Bonap. Amer. Orn. 

 Loxia leucoptera, White-winged Crossbill, Sw. & Rich. 

 White-winged Crossbill, Loxia leucoptera, Nutt. Man. 

 White-winged Crossbill, Loxia leucoptera, Aud. Orn. Biog. 



Specific Character — Bill slender in comparison with that of the 

 preceding species ; on the wings two white bands. Adult male 

 with the head and neck all round, the lower parts and rump car- 

 mine ; wings and tail coverts black, as are some of the feathers on 

 the fore part and middle of the back ; two white bands on the wings, 

 formed by the secondary and first row of small coverts ; seconda- 

 ries also tipped with white ; primaries and tail feathers narrowly 

 edged and tipped with dull white. Female with the upper part of 

 the head and hind neck grayish-yellow, spotted with dusky ; fore 

 neck, breast, and rump, reddish-yellow ; abdomen and sides gray, 

 streaked with dusky ; wings same as the male, with the back dusky. 

 Length six inches and a half, wing three and three quarters. 



In this locality this species is not as frequently observed as the 

 preceding, in the general habits of which it resembles. Like the 

 former, it prefers the northern part of the continent, and only re- 

 sorts to our milder climate when driven by severe weather, 



" This Crossbill inhabits the dense white spruce forests of the fur 

 countries, feeding principally on the seeds of the cones. It ranges 

 through the whole breadth of the continent, and probably up to the 

 68th parallel, where the woods terminate, though it was not observ- 

 ed by us higher than the 6 2d. It is mostly seen on the upper 

 branches of the trees, and when wounded, clings so fast that it will 

 remain suspended after death. In September it collects in small 

 flocks, which fly from tree to tree, making a chattering noise — and 

 in the depth of winter it retires from the coast to the thick woods of 

 the interior." — Fauna Boreali Americana, part second, page 263. 



