Photo: Richard Crossley / CC BY-SA 3.0 (Wikimedia Commons)
Scottish Crossbill
Loxia scotica
Scottish Crossbill (Loxia scotica) — Songbirds & Perching Birds of Europe & Northern Asia.
Found across 13 guides in our atlas — open any for the full checklist, photos and what's around right now.
The Scottish Crossbill (Loxia scotica) is a member of the Fringillidae family found in Europe & Northern Asia. Adults weigh 43.2 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 scotica
Where it lives
Insular western Palearctic in lowland Scots pine: northern, northeastern Scotland (northern British Isles)
Quick facts
- Weight
- 43.2 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 Scottish 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 Scottish Crossbill is partially migratory: some populations move with the seasons while others stay resident year-round.
The Scottish Crossbill (Loxia scotica) is a species of bird in the Fringillidae family, part of the order Passeriformes. Its range spans Europe & Northern Asia. Its distribution covers PAL insular w Palearctic in lowland Scots pine: n, ne Scotland (n British Isles).
It is a small bird. Adults weighs around 43.2 g, with a wing length of about 9.7 cm and a tail of around 6.2 cm.
The IUCN Red List currently assesses it as Least Concern. That category covers species that remain widespread and reasonably abundant in the wild.
Its mapped global range covers an estimated 14,000 km² — a relatively restricted global range.
Songs & calls
Frequently asked questions
How big is the Scottish Crossbill?
The Scottish Crossbill is a small bird that weighs around 43.2 g.
Where does the Scottish Crossbill live?
The Scottish Crossbill is found across Europe & Northern Asia with a range covering PAL insular w Palearctic in lowland Scots pine: n, ne Scotland (n British Isles), where it is typically found in wooded and forested habitats.
What family does the Scottish Crossbill belong to?
The Scottish Crossbill (Loxia scotica) belongs to the Fringillidae family, in the order Passeriformes.
What does the Scottish Crossbill eat?
The Scottish Crossbill is a granivore — it feeds mainly on seeds and grain.
Does the Scottish Crossbill migrate?
The Scottish Crossbill is partially migratory: some populations move with the seasons while others stay resident year-round.
Is the Scottish 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 Scottish Crossbill make?
1 real field recording of the Scottish Crossbill — including its alarm call — can be played in the Songs & calls section on this page, credited to the recordist who captured it.
How large is the Scottish Crossbill's range?
The Scottish Crossbill has a mapped global range of about 14,000 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
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.
Meet the Fringillidae
A field guide to the Fringillidae family — 238 species in the Birbs encyclopedia, with the best-known members to start with.