They are highly adapted to feeding on seeds taken from native Scots pine cones, breaking into the cones with their strong beaks. They also feed on the seed cones of other commercially grown conifers including noble fir and Norwegian spruce. Males are crimson pink with grey wings and tail. Females are predominantly olive with yellowish under parts.
This is a well-built finch with a large head and substantial beak with the distinctive crossed mandibles
Discover more about the Scottish Crossbill
When to see
This bird is unique to Scotland. It is resident throughout the year and breeds in early summer.
Where to see
Found only in the Highlands it is seen in mature Scots pine woods where family flocks can be found feeding together at the tops of conifers from June onwards.
Did you know?
This is Scotland’s one and only endemic species of bird (that is a species found only in Scotland and nowhere else). It can be difficult to tell the Scottish crossbill apart from the two other members of the crossbill family that share its range, namely the crossbill and the parrot crossbill. For more information about the debate about whether the Scottish crossbill is a separate species, click here.
When to see
This bird is unique to Scotland. It is resident throughout the year and breeds in early summer.
Where to see
Found only in the Highlands it is seen in mature Scots pine woods where family flocks can be found feeding together at the tops of conifers from June onwards.
Did you know?
This is Scotland’s one and only endemic species of bird (that is a species found only in Scotland and nowhere else). It can be difficult to tell the Scottish crossbill apart from the two other members of the crossbill family that share its range, namely the crossbill and the parrot crossbill. For more information about the debate about whether the Scottish crossbill is a separate species, click here.
When to see
This bird is unique to Scotland. It is resident throughout the year and breeds in early summer.
Where to see
Found only in the Highlands it is seen in mature Scots pine woods where family flocks can be found feeding together at the tops of conifers from June onwards.
Did you know?
This is Scotland’s one and only endemic species of bird (that is a species found only in Scotland and nowhere else). It can be difficult to tell the Scottish crossbill apart from the two other members of the crossbill family that share its range, namely the crossbill and the parrot crossbill. For more information about the debate about whether the Scottish crossbill is a separate species, click here.
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Registered Company No: 303299 | Registered address: Wild Scotland, Suite 212, 8 Church Street, Inverness IV1 1EA