118 
BIRD LIFE IN WASHINGTON 
red coats. Both the Crossbill and the 
White-winged Crossbills were there. The 
White-winged are much the brighter col¬ 
ored. Both kinds were often found in the 
same flock but each species appeared to 
prefer the society of its own. 
When I heard “Weet, weet, v I always 
expected to find the Wliite-winged Cross¬ 
bills; the American talked more like the 
Siskins. Some people think they talk like 
little chickens. 
WHITE-WINGED CROSSBILL 
They cling to the hanging cones while 
they pick out the seeds. The entire flock 
is often found on the same side of the 
tree or even on the same limb. Their 
pretty red coats contrast beautifully with 
their white wing bars. The females are 
yellowish green. Their queer crossed bills 
help them to tAvist the seeds from the 
cones. 
