About Red Crossbill
The red crossbill is a distinctive songbird easily recognized by its crossed
bill. It mainly inhabits coniferous forests where it feeds on seeds. The
species is an irregular visitor to Iceland.
Its diet consists primarily of conifer seeds extracted from cones. Red
crossbills nest in trees and may breed at unusual times of the year. They are
a rare but fascinating visitor in Iceland.
Habitat
Coniferous and mixed forests
Diet
Seeds from conifer cones, especially spruce and pine.
Nesting habitat
Coniferous woodland; nests in trees.
Identification
A stocky finch with a distinctive bill whose tips cross over each other.
Distribution
Occurs mainly in conifer woodland and plantations, with numbers varying greatly between years.
Interesting facts
The red crossbill uses its crossed bill to extract seeds from cones.