WHITE-WINGED CROSSBILL, Loxia leucoptera

December

Photo by Pete Gilmore

The White-winged Crossbill is an occasional winter visitor to the Newton area. It uses its crossed mandibles to pry open cones of spruce and hemlock, extracting seeds with its tongue. It also feeds on the ground to tackle fallen cones. They move around in small flocks, and the two white wing-bars allow one to distinguish this species from the more plainly colored red crossbills.

More information

All About Birds

Internet Bird Collection

Nature of New England

Wikipedia