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The Crossbills are winter birds throughout most of settled Canada, and 
come irregularly out of the north for successive seasons, and then are not 
seen again, perhaps for years. In the mountains, where altitude brings 
northern conditions in close proximity to cultivation, they are more often 
seen. Like several other birds of similar irregular habits, especially their 
close relative the White-winged Crossbill, they are most uncertain in their 
breeding, both as to time and place, and their presence at any given season 
or locality can not be depended upon. Another peculiar thing about 
Crossbills of both species — and this applies also to the Pine Grosbeaks 
and Purple Finches — is that they have been suspected of assuming the bright 
red plumage in early maturity and losing it later; so that some of the 
common green plumages of the male may, after all, be the older adult 
instead of juvenile, as is usually assumed. 
Economic Status. The species feeds very largely upon the seeds of 
coniferous trees, and the speed with which they husk off the scales of various 
cones for the seed beneath causes one to think that the crossed bill is par- 
ticularly adapted for the purpose. Almost any dried fruit hanging on the 
winter trees is acceptable to them. They seem specially fond of the little 
woolly aphis. It was very interesting to watch a captive specimen open 
galls on poplar leaves. Seizing the fleshy tissue with the bill tips so that 
the points crossed within the mass, it gave a little twist of the head that 
split the gall wide open and the aphides within were removed with the 
tongue. 
522. White- winged Crossbill. Loxia leucoptera. L, 6*05. Similar to preceding 
species, but with white bars on wings. 
Distinctions. Perhaps brighter in coloration and a rosier red than the American 
Crossbill, but showing considerable variation in tint and shade. The white wing-bars and 
crossed bill are always diagnostic. 
Field Marks. Similar to those of the Red C ossbill, but with a white bar on the 
wing. 
Nesting. Usually in coniferous trees; in nest of twigs and grasses, lined with moss 
and rootlets. May nest almost any month of the year from January to September. 
Distribution. Northern North America. In Canada, across the continent, through 
the northern coniferous forest, and south in the mountains to southern British Columbia, 
Migrates irregularly south in winter. 
So similar to the preceding in habits and occurrence, that no special 
discussion is necessary. As a rule it is a bird of the spruces as the Red 
Crossbill is of the pines. 
524. Grey-crowned Rosy Finch (Including Hepburn’s Rosy Finch). grey- 
crowned leucosticte. pink snowbird. Leucosticte tepkrocotis. L, 6*15. A medium- 
sized Sparrow. Seal-brown over most of body; blackcap; conspicuous patch of light grey 
on face and across nape; rump, flanks, and abdomen and the greater part of the wings washed 
with light rose. 
Distinctions. A seal-brown Sparrow with considerable rose suffusion. Cannot be 
mistaken for any other species known to occur in Canada. 
Nesting. Nest of bark and grass; on the ground, between or under rocks at high 
altitudes. 
Distribution, Western North America. In Canada, breeding only in the mountains 
above timber-line in British Columbia and the Yukon. Comes in winter to lower levels, 
and spreads over the prairies, sometimes as far as Manitoba. 
SUBSPECIES. Two subspecies of this bird are recognized. The type form, 
Leucosticte tepkrocotis tepkrocotis, is characterized by having the cheeks and ear-coverts 
brown, like tne rest of the body. This is the bird of the main Rockies to central Yukon 
and Alaska. Hepburn’s Rosy Finch Leucosticte tepkrocotis litioralis has the grey of the 
face extended over the cheeks and ear-coverts, ana sometimes across the chin. It is the 
