Alaska and central and southern Canada east to central and eastern Quebec, Newfoundland and Nova Scotia, southern in USA to northern Washington, northern Wisconsin and southern Maine; in winter also south to southern Minnesota, northern Ohio, Pennsylvania and Massachusetts.
Rarity Status
Currently this species is not classified as a rarity in this country OR information has not been updated.
Two-barred Crossbill (Loxia leucoptera) [XC89144]
by Patrik \u00c5berg from Alm\u00f6, Almn\u00e4s Hjo V\u00e4sterg\u00f6tland, Sweden (call, call and trumpet call)
Two-barred Crossbill (Loxia leucoptera) [XC483770]
by David Cooper from Highway 20, Stop 4, (near Riske Creek), Cariboo, British Columbia, Canada (song)
Nest
A twig platform, close to the trunk of a conifer.
Eggs (Guide)
3 - 5; pale bluish-white with faint markings.
Subspecies
Loxia leucoptera (Sibley and Monroe 1990, 1993) has been split into Two-barred Crossbill (Loxia leucoptera) and Hispaniolan Crossbill (Loxia megaplaga) following AOU (2003).
Previously treated as conspecific with Hispaniolan Crossbill (Loxia megaplaga), but differs in plumage details. Recent genetic analysis indicates that the two are better treated as separate species.
The following 2 subspecies are recognised:
bifasciata (Brehm, CL, 1827) - Eastern Finland, north-western and northern Russia (Kola Peninsula eastern in broad band through Siberia to Sea of Okhotsk, south to central Urals, L Baikal area, Yablonovy Mts and western Amurland), probably also extreme north-eastern China (northern Heilongjiang). Winters also south to north-eastern Europe (irregular), north-eastern China (Liaoning and Hebei) and southern Siberia.
leucoptera Gmelin, 1789 - Alaska and central and southern Canada east to central and eastern Quebec, Newfoundland and Nova Scotia, southern in USA to northern Washington, northern Wisconsin and southern Maine; in winter also south to southern Minnesota, northern Ohio, Pennsylvania and Massachusetts.
The Reader's Digest Book of British Birds 1980, 3rd Edition, Drive Publications Ltd ISBN 0 340 25308 8
Birds in Colour Campbell, B., 1960, Penguin Books Ltd
The Pocket Guide to Nest and Eggs Fitter, R.S.R., 1954, Collins
RSPB Handbook of British Birds Holden, P., Cleeves, T., 2002, A & C Black ISBN 0 7136 5713 8
Birds of Britain and Europe Sterry, P., et al., 2001, AA Publishing ISBN 0 7495 3068 5
The Popular Handbook of British Birds Hollom, P.A.D., 1973, H.F. & G. Witherby Ltd ISBN 0 85493 002 7
BirdLife International Species Factsheet