white-winged crossbill female at Lake Meyer Park IA 653A8781
This white-winged crossbill is another wonderful northern finch that likes to wander across the country searching for fresh food supplies during winter. Notice the two bold white wing bars on her black wing and that very cool crisscrossed bill that help us identify her. That crossed bill is normal and lets the birds pry open conifer cones so they can pull out the nutritious seeds stored inside. This visiting female white-winged crossbill will likely nest somewhere in Canada's sprawling boreal forest.
white-winged crossbill female at Lake Meyer Park IA 653A8781
This white-winged crossbill is another wonderful northern finch that likes to wander across the country searching for fresh food supplies during winter. Notice the two bold white wing bars on her black wing and that very cool crisscrossed bill that help us identify her. That crossed bill is normal and lets the birds pry open conifer cones so they can pull out the nutritious seeds stored inside. This visiting female white-winged crossbill will likely nest somewhere in Canada's sprawling boreal forest.