White-winged Crossbill (Loxia leucoptera)
A female on a cool but sunny morning. The spruce cones and seeds rain down after a visit from these birds. Surprising how many germinate, I pick seedlings out like weeds the following spring. From Birds of the World "These birds are highly efficient at finding and extracting conifer seeds, using their crossed bills to wedge open cone scales and then lifting seeds free with their tongues. Individuals can eat up to 3,000 conifer seeds per day"
White-winged Crossbill (Loxia leucoptera)
A female on a cool but sunny morning. The spruce cones and seeds rain down after a visit from these birds. Surprising how many germinate, I pick seedlings out like weeds the following spring. From Birds of the World "These birds are highly efficient at finding and extracting conifer seeds, using their crossed bills to wedge open cone scales and then lifting seeds free with their tongues. Individuals can eat up to 3,000 conifer seeds per day"