FINCHES, SPARROWS, ETC. 
315 
522. Loxia leucoptera Gmel. White-winged Crossbill. 
Adult male. — Dull rose red, occasionally tinged with yellow or orange ; 
dark bases of feathers showing through and back clouded with black ; 
wings and tail black, wings with two white 
bands, confluent at upper portion. Adult fe¬ 
male : olive green or gray above, indistinctly 
streaked with dusky ; rump yellowish; wings 
as in male, but not so black; under parts 
lighter, more tinged with yellowish. Young : similar to female, but colors 
duller and streaking pronounced. Male : length (skins) 5.39-6.54, wing 
3.33-3.60, tail 2.00-2.34, bill .02-.69. Female: length (skins) 5.20-6.22, 
wing 3.26-3.55, tail 1.92-2.32, bill .59-.66. 
Distribution. — Breeds in Boreal zone forests of northern North America; 
winters in the United States to about 39°. 
Nest. — As described by Adams, deeply saucer-shaped, made of spruce 
twigs and lichens, lined with hairs and inner bark. Eggs: pale blue, 
spotted around larger end with black and lilac. 
Food. — Spruce seeds, buds, and berries. 
In general habits the white-winged closely resembles the other 
species of Loxia. 
GENUS LEUCOSTICTE. 
General Characters. — Bill much shorter than head, short-conical; nasal 
plumules covering nostrils ; wing long, pointed ; tail about two thirds as 
long as wing, emarginate ; tarsus short; hind claw equal to or longer than 
its toe, strongly curved. 
Fig. 401. 
KEY TO ADULTS. 
1 . Body black.. • atrata, p. 317. 
1 '. Body brown. . ... 0irr 
2. Body light brown. australis, p. 317. 
2 '. Body dark brown. 
3. Gray of crown spreading down over sides of head. 
littoralis, p. 316. 
3'. Gray of crown not spreading down over sides of head. 
tephrocotis, p. 315. 
524. Leucosticte tephrocotis Swains. Gray-crowned Leu- 
COSTICTE. 
Adult male in summer. — Bill black; crown black, bord ered be hind and 
on sides with gray, the gray not spreading 
down over sides of head ; general body color 
deep chestnut brown , lighter, and with black¬ 
ish mesial streaks on back; belly, rump, 
upper tail coverts, wings, and tail more or 
less tinged with pink. Adult male in win¬ 
ter : bill yellow, tipped with blackish ; brown 
feathers edged with whitish ; black of crown 
restricted. Adult female: like male, with 
the same seasonal changes, bnt averaging 
paler and duller. Young: plain brownish, 
without black or gray on head, or rosy tail 
coverts. Male: length (skins) 5.70-6.81, 
wing 4.00-4.40, tail 2.42-2.80, bill .42-.48. 
Fig. 402. 
