48 THE AC DSU TBrOIUNs Brule ete 
no nest was found, there were two birds present and the male always 
responded to the recorder as to defend his territory. Thanks to the recorder, 
large numbers of St. Louis birders observed the bird. 
We can’t help but wonder the effect of all this disturbance to the 
birds. We hope it is minimal. 
—Richard A. Anderson 
1147 Grenshaw 
St. Louis 63137 
ft £ ie ne 
Red Crossbills in Central Illinois in Late Summer 
Red crossbills (Loxia curvirostra) are considered irregular and uncommon 
winter residents in Illinois (Smith and Parmalee, 1955). The recent winter 
(1971-72) showed a late influx of winter finches. The red crossbill was one 
of the latest to arrive and was out-numbered by white-winged crossbill 
(Loxia leucoptere) which is the reverse of the usual situation (Kleen 
and Bush, 1972). 
I was surprised to find red crossbills still present on May 20, 1972 at 
Chandlerville, Cass County. The crossbills, two males and one female, were 
at a cemetery feeding on pine cones in the company of two pine siskins 
(Spinus pinus). At that time, I assumed these birds were stragglers from the 
winter influx. 
However, on Aug. 9, 1972, I found a flock of ten (at least two males, 
a female, and two immatures—the others not well observed) feeding on 
pine cones at Oak Ridge Cemetery in Springfield. 
Again I found red crossbills on Aug. 26 at two different locations in 
Mason County. The first was a flock of approximately fifteen birds flying 
overhead (calling) at the Mason State Forest four miles north of Topeka. 
I was unable to determine sex or age. 
Later that day, I found another flock of fifteen birds at a cemetery 
in Bath which is approximately twenty miles from the earlier sighting. The 
flock consisted of three males, three females, and nine immatures. At this 
locality, I collected a female with a partly ossified skull, moderate fat, and 
weighing 34.9 grams. This bird is now No. 605247 in the Illinois State 
Museum Collection at Springfield. The birds at Bath were feeding in the 
tops of scotch pine (Pinus sylvestris) and white pine (Pinus strobus) on the 
cones. Also I observed three of the crossbills feeding (?) beside the road 
with a flock of House Sparrows (Passer domesticus). 
The closest breeding area for red crossbills is Northern Wisconsin 
and Southern Michigan (A. O. U. Checklist, 1957). Ford (1956) records the 
folowing summer dates from the Chicago region, but gives no other data 
with them; May 25, June 1, July 19, and August 21. Also Princen (1971) 
states of the red crossbill: “June 13, (1970) Mason State Forest, Mason 
County, many observers. About thirty birds stayed in Illinois longer than 
ever before recorded.” 
In view of the summer records for red crossbills, I believe there are 
two possible explanations: (1) These birds bred in suitable areas such as 
Mason State Forest, or (2) these birds bred in northern localities and 
