BIRDS OF THE ST. CROIX RIVER VALLEY 



167 



ern Highland, particularly after mid-January. Christmas Bird Count data 

 (Table 4) suggest a gradual decrease in relative abundance progressing 

 northward. Highest daily counts include 559 on 30 December 1978 (Sub- 

 urban St. Paul CBC) and 545 on 1 January 1975 (Afton CBC). 



Habitat: Typically a nesting species of edge situations including stream 

 banks, brushy edges of woods, highway rights-of-way, and ornamental 

 shrubbery in urban areas. 



Red Crossbill {Loxia curvirostra) 



Status: Regular migrant and winter resident, irregular summer resident, 

 and nesting species. 



Migration: Irregular migrant throughout the Valley. During periods of peak 

 occurrence, red crossbills are uncommon except in the Northern Highland 

 where they become locally common. Because of their erratic movements, it is 

 difficult to determine their migration periods, particularly in the Northern 

 Highland. The normal period of occurrence in the Western Upland and Cen- 

 tral Plain is 1 October to 1 April; stragglers remain until mid-May. 



Nesting Season Distribution: Rare and irregular during the nesting season, 

 primarily in the Northern Highland. Jackson (1943) mentioned the observa- 

 tion of a "flock" at Solon Springs, Douglas County, on 8 August 1919. 

 Jackson (1970) provided the only confirmed nesting record for the Valley 

 when he observed several adults feeding young at Stillwater, Washington 

 County, during May 1970. Larson (1970) found red crossbills near Taylor's 

 Falls, Chisago County, until 5 June 1970 but no evidence of nesting. 



Winter: Uncommon and irregular winter resident, usually observed in the 

 Northern Highland. Although this species is dependent on the pinecone 

 crop, population irruptions of red crossbill are not predictable. 



Habitat: Breeding season records are typically associated with Lowland 

 Coniferous Forest or Northern Hardwood Forest intermixed with coniferous 

 trees. 



White-winged Crossbill (Loxia leucoptera) 



Status: Regular migiant and winter resident, erratic summer resident. 



Migration: Uncommon to rare migrant; most observations are confined to 

 the Northern Highland. Similar in distribution to the red crossbill in occur- 

 rence and distribution. During years of peak influxes, white-winged cross- 

 bills are locally common to abundant, primarily in the Northern Highland 

 and Central Plain. The normal period of occurrence ranges from 15 October 

 to 15 March. 



Nesting Season Distribution: There are no confirmed nest records of this 

 crossbiU in the Valley. S. D. Robbins recorded single birds along the route of 

 the Minong BBS, Douglas County, on 11 June 1969 and 21 June 1977. Rob- 

 bins observed two white-winged crossbills along the route of the Union BBS, 

 Burnett County, on 22 June 1977. 



