A Juvenile Red Crossbill has shown up in the yard. First noticed on
Saturday July 28 but wanted to try and get photo proof as it seemed too
odd to me seeing one mid summer. The bird is extremely unafraid but
will flush with the other birds when its feeding. The first time I saw
it I just took it as a juvenile House Finch - but then I noticed it
seemed different...darker and a hair larger perhaps, and more streaked.
Then I noticed the bill was crossed! I observed from 4 feet the first
time. This morning I was filling feeders and it was on the ground under
the feeder I was reaching for...at 3 feet away I could tell it was the
same bird and that it was a Red Crossbill juvenile. Later I watched the
feeder from the window and it appeared above the feeder full of other
birds and got a couple photos there, then it dropped to the ground where
I "tried" getting images out the window, but the glass distortion angled
down prevented decent images, although you can see the crossed bill in a
sharpened file. I'm sure its a Red Crossbill as there is no white wing
patch like you'd see with a White-winged Crossbill.
...Bruce Morrison, S.E. O'Brien County
http://www.morrisons-studio.com
http://prairiepainter.blogspot.com
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