General
Two-barred Crossbill: Medium-sized crossbill, bright pink to red overall except for black wings with two bold, broad white wing-bars. Belly has dull white center; undertail coverts are white. Tail is black and deeply notched. Female is brown-streaked overall with olive-brown rump. Juvenile is heavily streaked.
Range and Habitat
Two-barred Crossbill: Rare vagrant to the UK & Ireland. Year-round resident in thick evergreen forests in a wide band from the Atlantic coast of North America west across Canada and the northern US, to the Pacific coast of Asia, continuing west across north Asia to eastern Finland. Makes only short-distance moves in search of new food sources in winter, but famously irruptive.
Breeding and Nesting
Two-barred Crossbill: Three to five brown and purple spotted, white to blue green eggs are laid in a nest made of grass, bark, lichens, moss, and hair, and lined with twigs and weeds. Incubation ranges from 12 to 14 days and is carried out by the female.
Foraging and Feeding
Two-barred Crossbill: Eats conifer seeds, other seeds, weeds, grasses, and insects. Forages in small flocks during most of year; attracted to salt licks and salt on surfaces of winter highways.
Readily Eats
Suet, Sunflower Seed, Millet
Vocalisation
Two-barred Crossbill: Vigorous musical warbles and chatters, "sweet, sweet, sweet", on different pitches and often issued during display flight on hovering wings. Call is rapid, harsh repetitive series of "chif-chif-chif" notes and plaintive "peet." Also uses a loud "meep" call, as well as chatter and twittering notes.
Similar Species
Two-barred Crossbill: Similar species lack broad white wing-bars and have heavier bills.