Crossbills, Alps, Italy (1 Viewer)

[xrxss15]

Hi all,

am I correct that these are Parrot Crossbills - female, male, juvenile resp.?

Regards,
Johannes

 

[Valéry Schollaert]

Common (Red) Crossbills Loxia curvirostra

 

[stonechat1]

I agree with your ID, Johannes.
Some nice close ups here:
http://www.kreuzschnäbel.de/content.php?type=content&quicklink=kreuzschnabelarten

 

[SJC]

Common Crossbills for me as well. Bill is not heavy enough.

 

[stonechat1]

You convinced me guys. Seems that the photo angle played a trick with me.

 

[xrxss15]

Thanks, Valéry.

How do you distinguish these two species? I am still struggling.

 

[Andrew Whitehouse]

Thanks, Valéry.

How do you distinguish these two species? I am still struggling.

I guess the main things to look for are the relative depth of the bill and the 'bluntness' of the bill tip. In your pictures the bill is nowhere near as deep as it is long, whereas on Parrot Crossbill the depth and length are more even, giving a 'squarer' shape. The curve of the upper and lower mandibles also tends to be at a greater angle in Parrots and the lower mandible often has a downwards bulge. See these pictures of Parrots and compare with your shots:
http://www.wildbirdgallery.com/images/birds/loxia_pytyopsittacus/pytyopsittacus.htm

 

[Valéry Schollaert]

As Parrot Crossbill would be an extreme and unlikely rarity in Italy and the Alpes in general, the default species is CC. The bill is not especially thick and certainly in the normal variations of CC, so no reason to even think of PC.

 

[xrxss15]

Thanks for your replies! This forum is really incredible helpful and knowledgeable!

Valéry, I can see from the distribution charts from the link stonechat1 posted that PC would be extremely unlikely.

Andrew, I think I can see what you mean... a little

Regards,
Johannes