Tuesday 3 March 2020

Common Crossbill - Flash Lane

There has been a small flock of Common Crossbill around Flash Lane throughout the winter. The numbers have varied peaking at around 20 at the turn of the year but generally around 6 to 10 birds. Males have been singing and I've seen occasional display flights. 
The Common Crossbill is known to be one of the earliest breeding passerines and in other areas of the UK nests with eggs have been reported but so far I have seen no signs of nesting activity. Strangely Doug Aston photographed juveniles on Flash Lane in July 2018 and I can only assume that these were from a second brood.
This morning I had a group of around 6 birds low down in the trees and managed to get some photos, usually they are either in flight or at the very tops of conifers so don't give much opportunity for photos.
Ringing studies have shown that both males and females can have orange in the plumage but only males have an orange throat so all three birds depicted below look to be males.
Common Crossbill adult male


Common Crossbill immature male

Common Crossbill immature male

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