Skip to main content

Photo: William Louis Abbott (Life time: 1860-1936) / Public domain (Wikimedia Commons)

Endangered

Hispaniolan Crossbill

Loxia megaplaga

Hispaniolan Crossbill (Loxia megaplaga) — Songbirds & Perching Birds of North America.

The Hispaniolan Crossbill (Loxia megaplaga) is a member of the Fringillidae family found in North America. Adults weigh 28.7 g. The IUCN Red List lists it as Endangered.

EN Endangered

Facing a very high risk of extinction in the wild.

Where it fits

  1. Class Aves
  2. Order Passeriformes
  3. Family Fringillidae Finches, Euphonias
  4. Genus Loxia
  5. Species megaplaga

Where it lives

Hispaniola

Quick facts

Weight
28.7 g
Family
Fringillidae
Habitat
Woodland

How to identify

Similar birds

Biology & behaviour

Diet

The Hispaniolan 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 Hispaniolan Crossbill is largely sedentary, staying within its range year-round rather than making regular long-distance migrations.

The Hispaniolan Crossbill (Loxia megaplaga) is a species of bird in the Fringillidae family, part of the order Passeriformes. It is found across North America. Its distribution covers NA Hispaniola.

It is a small bird. Adults weighs around 28.7 g, with a wing length of about 8.5 cm and a tail of around 6.1 cm.

It is classified as Endangered on the IUCN Red List and is a focus of conservation concern. Endangered species face a very high risk of extinction in the wild.

Its mapped global range covers an estimated 3,541 km² — a relatively restricted global range.

Songs & calls

Hispaniolan Crossbill — Call

Recorded by Hans Matheve Licence: CC BY-NC-ND 4.0

Frequently asked questions

How big is the Hispaniolan Crossbill?

The Hispaniolan Crossbill is a small bird that weighs around 28.7 g.

Where does the Hispaniolan Crossbill live?

The Hispaniolan Crossbill is found across North America with a range covering NA Hispaniola, where it is typically found in wooded and forested habitats.

What family does the Hispaniolan Crossbill belong to?

The Hispaniolan Crossbill (Loxia megaplaga) belongs to the Fringillidae family, in the order Passeriformes.

What does the Hispaniolan Crossbill eat?

The Hispaniolan Crossbill is a granivore — it feeds mainly on seeds and grain.

Does the Hispaniolan Crossbill migrate?

The Hispaniolan Crossbill is largely sedentary, staying within its range year-round rather than making regular long-distance migrations.

Is the Hispaniolan Crossbill endangered?

It is classified as Endangered on the IUCN Red List and is a focus of conservation concern Endangered species face a very high risk of extinction in the wild.

What sound does the Hispaniolan Crossbill make?

1 real field recording of the Hispaniolan Crossbill — including its call — can be played in the Songs & calls section on this page, credited to the recordist who captured it.

How large is the Hispaniolan Crossbill's range?

The Hispaniolan Crossbill has a mapped global range of about 3,541 km².

Conservation

Endangered

Every bird benefits from bird-safe windows, native plants, and keeping cats indoors. Small changes at home add up to real protection.

How to help birds

Explore more birds

More in Fringillidae

More in Songbirds

Guides for this bird

Best Bird Feeders for Garden Songbirds

How to choose a bird feeder for garden songbirds — the feeder styles compared, the seed they prefer, where to hang it, and how to keep birds safe. A decision framework grounded in real data, with no mystery picks.

4 min read

Meet the Fringillidae

A field guide to the Fringillidae family — 238 species in the Birbs encyclopedia, with the best-known members to start with.

1 min read

Back to top