Holsaeter's Crossbill

Other names
Wing-barred Crossbill, Devonshire Crossbill

Description
Length: 6½" (17cm). Bill is c. 1cm.

Males are bright pink overall with one white wingbar and dark wings, rump, crissum and tail. The female is mottled yellowish-olive with a darker olive-green back. Her wings are dark grey and her tail is dark grey to black, and her rump and crissum are yellow, unlike the males.

Both sexes share these same characteristics: light yellow bills, the flanks closest to the wings are greyish-white and their feet are both dark grey to black.

Similar species
The male resembles a Two-barred Crossbill, however the Holsaeter's has one wing bar. It is rarely found with two wing bars, <1% of the population have two wing bars. It very rarely hybridises with the two-barred crossbill. The tail is not forked, unlike the other crossbills; however, this might be hard to see when in the field or when the bird is facing the person viewing it.

The female Holsaeter's resembles the Red Crossbill, but red's tail is crossed and her back is "scaled" olive-green on her back.

Behaviour
It forms large flocks in the winter.

Diet
Conifer seeds, particularly that of the Devonshire fir (Abies devonshirensis)*. It sometimes insects and spiders.

Calls
A dry echoing chipp-chipp-chipp, kip-kip-kip, or chiff-chiff-chiff. Nasal twitterings are not uncommon, but hard to hear.

Reproduction
Pairs are monogamous. Their nest is a cup of grass stems and twigs, placed in a small conifer tree

Distribution/habitat
It is native to Europa. Found in larch, fir or pine forests.