Scottish Crossbill
Loxia scotica
Crossed bill tips give crossbills their name. Only found in pine forests of Scotland, where uncommon and local. As a rule, not safely identified in the field because it looks intermediate between smaller-billed Common (Red) Crossbill and bigger-billed Parrot Crossbill (both of which can occur in same areas). With experience (and computer analysis!), may be identified by voice. Like other crossbills, found in pairs or flocks feeding quietly on pine cones or calling excitedly before taking off in wide-ranging, bounding flight. Male plumage reddish overall; female grayish green overall, with brighter rump.
Taxonomy
- Scientific name
- Loxia scotica
- Authority
- Hartert, EJO, 1904
- Order
- Passeriformes
- Family
- Fringillidae
- Genus
- Loxia
Range and habitat
- Breeding range
- PAL : insular w Palearctic in lowland Scots pine: n, ne Scotland (n British Is.)
- Non-breeding range
- locally to other conifer types
- Migration
- Resident species
Conservation
- Population trend
- stable
Photos
Distribution
Bird Calls
Other Birds
Greater Painted-Snipe
Rostratula benghalensis
A medium-sized, stunningly plumaged shorebird of grassy fields and marshes. Both sexes have a bright white “comma” around the eye and white underparts that extend up in an arc above the shoulder. As in phalaropes, the male is much duller than the female. The female has a bright reddish-brown head and greenish-tinged back and wings; the more cryptically colored male has a light brown head and brown upperparts dappled with orange and tan spots, thus more similar to snipe. Displaying female gives a series of owl-like hoots.
Halmahera Boobook
Ninox hypogramma
A brown owl with a rounded head, yellow eyes, and rufescent barred underparts. Inhabits forest in the lowlands and lower foothills, where it usually occurs in territorial pairs. Confined to the North Moluccas, where it overlaps with migrant Northern Boobook and Barking Owl, but can be separated from those species by its barred underparts and very different voice. Song is a gruff, abrupt, two-note frog-like “woo-wooo” with a slightly longer second note.
Rufous-browed Hemispingus
Poospiza rufosuperciliaris
Scarce bird of wet high-elevation forest in the eastern Andes of northern and central Peru. Not often seen, since its remaining habitat is difficult to access. Plumage is striking, with reddish-orange eyebrow and underparts as well as a black mask. Similar to Rufous-breasted Warbling-Finch of the western Andes, but eyebrows are longer and do not connect over the bill. It tends to stay very low, which can make it quite hard to see well, and it often hops on the ground or along fallen logs. Sometimes joins mixed-species flocks. Typical song is a lengthy series of seemingly random squeaks and chips.
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