Photo: Marton Berntsen / CC BY-SA 3.0 (Wikimedia Commons)
Parrot Crossbill
Loxia pytyopsittacus
Parrot Crossbill (Loxia pytyopsittacus) — Songbirds & Perching Birds of Europe & Northern Asia.
Found across 15 guides in our atlas — open any for the full checklist, photos and what's around right now.
The Parrot Crossbill (Loxia pytyopsittacus) is a member of the Fringillidae family found in Europe & Northern Asia. Adults weigh 53 g. The IUCN Red List lists it as Least Concern.
Conservation status
IUCN Red List (opens in a new tab)Widespread and abundant — not currently at risk.
Where it fits
- Class Aves
- Order Passeriformes
- Family Fringillidae Finches, Euphonias
- Genus Loxia
- Species pytyopsittacus
Where it lives
Subarctic to northern temperate northwestern Palearctic in conifers: Scotland (northern British Isles), Scandinavia to and Baltic countries northern Europe to Petchora River region (western Siberia), in southern Lithuania to southwestern Siberia
Quick facts
- Weight
- 53 g
- Diet
- Seed-eaters
- Family
- Fringillidae
- Order
- Passeriformes
- Habitat
- Woodland
How to identify
Similar birds
Least Concern
Least Concern
Least Concern
Biology & behaviour
Diet
The Parrot Crossbill is a granivore — it feeds mainly on seeds and grain.
Behaviour
A bird of dense forest, it spends much of its time perched in trees and shrubs.
Migration
The Parrot Crossbill is partially migratory: some populations move with the seasons while others stay resident year-round.
The Parrot Crossbill (Loxia pytyopsittacus) is a species of bird in the Fringillidae family, part of the order Passeriformes. Its range spans Europe & Northern Asia. Its distribution covers PAL subarctic to n temperate nw Palearctic in conifers: Scotland (n British Isles), Scandinavia to and Baltic countries n Europe to Petchora River region (w Siberia), in s Lithuania to sw Siberia.
It is a medium-sized bird. Adults weighs around 53 g, with a wing length of about 10.3 cm and a tail of around 6.6 cm.
The IUCN Red List currently assesses it as Least Concern. That category covers species that remain widespread and reasonably abundant in the wild.
The species has a mapped global range of roughly 3.2 million km².
Songs & calls
Frequently asked questions
How big is the Parrot Crossbill?
The Parrot Crossbill is a medium-sized bird that weighs around 53 g.
Where does the Parrot Crossbill live?
The Parrot Crossbill is found across Europe & Northern Asia with a range covering PAL subarctic to n temperate nw Palearctic in conifers: Scotland (n British Isles), Scandinavia to and Baltic countries n Europe to Petchora River region (w Siberia), in s Lithuania to sw Siberia, where it is typically found in wooded and forested habitats.
What family does the Parrot Crossbill belong to?
The Parrot Crossbill (Loxia pytyopsittacus) belongs to the Fringillidae family, in the order Passeriformes.
What does the Parrot Crossbill eat?
The Parrot Crossbill is a granivore — it feeds mainly on seeds and grain.
Does the Parrot Crossbill migrate?
The Parrot Crossbill is partially migratory: some populations move with the seasons while others stay resident year-round.
Is the Parrot Crossbill endangered?
The IUCN Red List currently assesses it as Least Concern That category covers species that remain widespread and reasonably abundant in the wild.
What sound does the Parrot Crossbill make?
1 real field recording of the Parrot Crossbill — including its flight call — can be played in the Songs & calls section on this page, credited to the recordist who captured it.
How large is the Parrot Crossbill's range?
The Parrot Crossbill has a mapped global range of about 3.2 million km².
Conservation
Every bird benefits from bird-safe windows, native plants, and keeping cats indoors. Small changes at home add up to real protection.
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Guides for this bird
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A field guide to the Fringillidae family — 238 species in the Birbs encyclopedia, with the best-known members to start with.