Red Crossbills are one of Oregon's most fascinating finches, not just for their appearance but also for their highly specialized feeding behavior. They are nomadic birds, with their movements largely dictated by the availability of conifer seeds, their primary food source. What makes them particularly interesting is that there are multiple "types" of Red Crossbills, each with slightly different bill sizes and call notes, adapted to extract seeds from specific conifer species. While subtle, these differences are significant enough that some ornithologists consider them to be different species.

Key Identifying Feature (Both Sexes): The Crossed Bill
The most distinctive characteristic of a Red Crossbill is its crossed bill. The tips of the upper and lower mandibles (beak halves) do not meet squarely; instead, they overlap or cross over each other. This unique adaptation allows them to efficiently pry open the scales of conifer cones to extract the seeds inside. This crossed bill is often difficult to see from a distance but is unmistakable up close.

Male Red Crossbill in Oregon:
Coloration: Adult males are typically a rather dull, brick-red or rusty-red color over most of their body, including their head, breast, and back. The intensity of this red can vary, sometimes appearing more orangish-red or even yellowish-red, especially in immature males or those with a less carotenoid-rich diet.
Wings and Tail: Their wings and tail are darker, usually a dusky or brownish-red to blackish-brown. They typically lack prominent wingbars, which helps distinguish them from White-winged Crossbills (a much rarer visitor to Oregon, though sometimes seen in the Blue Mountains or Wallowas).
Overall Impression: Stocky, medium-sized finch with a relatively short, notched tail.

Female Red Crossbill in Oregon:
Coloration: Females lack the red plumage of the males. They are generally much duller, with an overall yellowish, yellowish-green, or olive-brown coloration, particularly on their underparts. Their back and head are usually a more muted brownish or olive-brown.
Streaking: Females often show some streaking, particularly on their underparts, but it's typically less defined than the heavy streaking on a juvenile crossbill.
Wings and Tail: Like males, their wings and tail are darker (dusky or brownish), and they also lack prominent wingbars.
Overall Impression: A relatively plain, greenish-yellow finch with the unique crossed bill.

Juvenile Red Crossbills in Oregon:
Juveniles of both sexes are quite different in appearance. They are heavily streaked with brown over a pale, whitish, or yellowish background, both above and below. They may show faint buffy wingbars, which can make identification a bit tricky without a good look at the bill. As they mature, immature males will go through a patchy mix of red, orange, and yellow before reaching full adult plumage.

Habitat and Behavior in Oregon:
Habitat: Red Crossbills are strongly associated with coniferous forests in Oregon. This includes ponderosa pine, Douglas-fir, western hemlock, mountain hemlock, and various spruces, depending on the specific "type" of crossbill present and the cone crop. They can be found across the Cascades, in the Coast Range, and in the Blue and Wallowa Mountains of eastern Oregon.
Diet: Their diet consists almost exclusively of conifer seeds. They use their specialized bills to extract seeds from cones. Different bill sizes allow them to specialize on different cone types (e.g., smaller-billed types might prefer hemlock, while larger-billed types might prefer ponderosa pine). They will also occasionally eat buds, berries, and some insects.
Nomadic Nature: Red Crossbills are highly nomadic. Their presence and abundance in any given area of Oregon depend entirely on the cone crop. If an area has a bumper crop, crossbills may flock there, breed, and stay for an extended period. When the cone crop declines, they will move on, sometimes undertaking long "irruptions" far from their usual ranges. This means their detection in lower elevation or urban areas of Oregon is often irregular.
Vocalizations: They are often first detected by their distinctive, sharp, metallic "kip-kip" or "jip-jip" call notes given in flight. These calls are important for identifying the different "types" of Red Crossbills.
Flocking: They are typically found in flocks, which can range from a few individuals to dozens or even hundreds of birds.