Red crossbill

Loxia curvirostra

About

The Red crossbill is a bird of coniferous forests, and in the Carpathians, it is easiest to encounter among spruces. In Ukraine, it is a resident, nomadic, and wintering bird of the Carpathians, northeastern Polissya, and the Crimean Mountains. In southern Europe, the crossbill inhabits the mountain belt of coniferous forests, most often at altitudes of 1200–2000 m, and in years when cones are scarce, flocks wander far beyond their usual ranges.

The main feature of the crossbill is its bill: the tips are crossed, like scissors. With this bill, the bird pries open the scales of spruce cones and extracts seeds, which it feeds on for almost the entire year. The crossbill is up to 17 cm long, with a wingspan of 27–31 cm and a weight of 28–40 g. The adult male is almost entirely bright red, the female is greenish-yellow, and the young birds are grayish and mottled.

Crossbills often call out with a sharp short "pit-pit," especially in flight, while their song consists of twittering trills. Under the spruces, where a flock feeds, scattered cones lie on the ground, and a quiet cracking sound can be heard.

The most remarkable thing about crossbills is their nesting schedule: they raise chicks when the seeds are ripe, so chicks can appear in winter, autumn, and spring, most often from December to May. The birds build a large, well-insulated nest from twigs, moss, lichens, and fur directly on spruce branches, even when deep snow lies around. The Red crossbill is not listed in the Red Data Book of Ukraine.

Where in the Carpathians

fewermore3 321 records in the Carpathians

The map shows where naturalists recorded the species (GBIF, CC0 and CC BY records), not every place it lives. The Ukrainian Carpathians are less studied, so a blank area does not mean the species is absent.

Countries: Poland · Slovakia · Romania · Czechia · Ukraine · Hungary · Austria · Serbia
Mountain ranges: High Tatras, Western Tatras, Moravian-Silesian Beskids, Low Tatras, Żywiec Beskids, Volovec Mountains, Silesian Beskids, Gorgany, Gorce, Babia Góra
Altitude belts: Foothills (below 600 m) · Beech forests (600–1200 m) · Conifer forests (1200–1600 m)

When to see it

	Jan	Feb	Mar	Apr	May	Jun	Jul	Aug	Sep	Oct	Nov	Dec
Sightings

From naturalists’ observations in the Carpathians (iNaturalist, research grade): the darker the cell, the more often the species is seen that month.

Protection and rules

Not listed in the Red Data Book of Ukraine.

Red Data Book of Ukraine

FAQ

Why does the crossbill have a crossed bill?

With its crossed bill tips, it pries open the scales of cones and extracts seeds, which it feeds on for almost the entire year.

Do crossbills really nest in winter?

Yes. They raise chicks when the seeds are ripe, so nests can be found even amid snow, most often from December to May.

Similar species

In season nowEurasian bullfinchPyrrhula pyrrhulaA sturdy bird with a red breast and a black cap. It nests in the Carpathian forests and decorates gardens in winter.

In season nowSpotted nutcrackerNucifraga caryocatactesA brown bird with white spots of the spruce forests that hides thousands of nuts and seeds of the cedar pine — and thus plants the forest.

Norway sprucePicea abiesNorway spruce is the main coniferous tree of the Carpathians: a dark sharp crown, prickly needles, and long cones that hang downwards. It grows up to the forest boundary.

Where to meet it

Trails and peaks near which naturalists recorded the species (GBIF, iNaturalist), matched by altitude and habitat. Sightings are not guaranteed.

Sources

GBIF · iNaturalist · Wikidata · Distribution data: GBIF.org (CC0 and CC BY records), iNaturalist; names and identifiers: Wikidata (CC0). Text: Karpaty.rocks, checked 09.11.2026.