Spotlight on crossbills
Look at that unmistakeable crossed bill! It’s perfectly adapted to extracting seeds from pine cones.
If you’re lucky enough to be able to visit a local heath on your daily exercise, keep an eye out for crossbills. These distinctive, chunky finches often call to each other with a ‘jip jip’ from the top of pine trees. They descend to puddles for a drink, where you can get a better look at the yellowy-green females and red males.
They’re early breeders, often nesting in January.
Michael
Education & Engagement Officer
#MoreThanJustNightjars