Sighting of White-winged Crossbill (Loxia leucoptera)

Observation: Village resident Edward Solook provided a photo of the White-winged crossbill (Figure 1.) that flew into a Diomede house. This bird was a new species to visit Diomede. Gay Sheffield, UAF Alaska Sea Grant, Marine Advisory Program (MAP) Agent and Edward Soolook, Diomede resident.

LEO Update: The bird sustained an injury in the home and died. The bird was then frozen and sent to the UAF Museum for further study.

LEO says: White-winged Crossbills (Loxia leucoptera) are found in predominantly needleleaf habitats, particularly white spruce stands. All age-classes of these medium-sized (17cm) birds have black wings with conspicuous white, wing-tips, two bold, white wing-bars, bright rumps and fine streaking along the flanks. In addition, their bills are uniquely positioned such that the mandibles are obliquely offset or crossed, rather than articulated in flush alignment. Adult males are vibrant pink overall, although their plumage dulls in winter. While immature males are largely yellow, with patches of red or pink throughout, females are a duller, mottled yellowish-olive or gray. The juvenile birds are pale, buffy and heavily streaked throughout. White-winged Crossbills inhabit the same range year-round, although in winter they wander sporadically in search of conifer-cone crops. They span across most of Alaska and Canada to Newfoundland and south into the northeastern states. Source: National Park Serivce