White-winged Crossbill
A nomadic boreal crossbill that follows spruce and tamarack cone crops; appearances at ornamental trees or feeders are irregular and seasonal.
By Birdly Yard Editorial TeamReviewed Updated
Local season
Months with a state-level historical signal for this species.
Status
Backyard reports
Look for it
Look in spruce, tamarack, and boreal forest, or around ornamental spruce in parks and neighborhoods during irruption winters.
Food
Primarily spruce and tamarack seeds, with fir seeds, insects, and occasional alternative seeds when cone crops are scarce.
Nesting
Natural nesting guidance
One useful next step
Build for the habitat, not just the feeder.
Protect mature cone-bearing conifers and understand that local abundance can shift dramatically with annual cone supply.
See the yard actionsA good yard is layered
Food helps, but cover, clean water, native plants, and a safe distance from hazards make a more dependable place for birds.
White-winged Crossbill habitat
Protect mature cone-bearing conifers and understand that local abundance can shift dramatically with annual cone supply.
White-winged Crossbill diet and food
Primarily spruce and tamarack seeds, with fir seeds, insects, and occasional alternative seeds when cone crops are scarce.
May appear at a clean feeder during an irruption, but retain spruce and tamarack resources rather than trying to hold the birds with food.
How to attract it
Food & feeder
Primarily spruce and tamarack seeds, with fir seeds, insects, and occasional alternative seeds when cone crops are scarce.
Cover & plants
Protect mature cone-bearing conifers and understand that local abundance can shift dramatically with annual cone supply.
White-winged Crossbill nesting and breeding
Builds a conifer cup near the trunk, often in spruce; do not offer a box or assume nesting follows a usual spring calendar.
White-winged Crossbill behavior and where to look
Year-round flocks communicate around cone crops, extract seeds with crossed bills, and may breed in any month when food is abundant.
Photography
Observe quietly around a cone crop and keep road safety in mind when birds come down for grit.
What to avoid
Do not bait irruptive flocks, crowd limited cone resources, or assume a one-year event will recur next winter.
Continue exploring
Explore related bird guides
Compare food, habitat and nesting. Local seasonal records vary by species.
