Two-barred Crossbill
Loxia leucoptera
Two-barred Crossbill (Loxia leucoptera) — Songbirds & Perching Birds of Europe & Northern Asia.
Found across 19 guides in our atlas — open any for the full checklist, photos and what's around right now.
The Two-barred Crossbill (Loxia leucoptera) is a member of the Fringillidae family found in Europe & Northern Asia and North America. Adults weigh 28.7 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 leucoptera
Where it lives
Subarctic to northern temperate Holarctic conifer forest: eastern Scandinavia through Russia to Sea of Okhotsk, south through south-central Russia, northeastern Mongolia and probably Heilongjiang (far northeastern China); Alaska and Canada (except northern), Rocky Mts. and northern tier of contiguous US states
Quick facts
- Weight
- 28.7 g
- Diet
- Omnivores
- Family
- Fringillidae
- Order
- Passeriformes
- Habitat
- Woodland
How to identify
Similar birds
Least Concern
Least Concern
Endangered
Biology & behaviour
Diet
The Two-barred Crossbill is a omnivore — it takes a broad, omnivorous diet of both plant and animal foods.
Behaviour
A bird of dense forest, it spends much of its time perched in trees and shrubs.
Migration
The Two-barred Crossbill is migratory, making regular seasonal journeys between its breeding and non-breeding ranges.
The Two-barred Crossbill (Loxia leucoptera) belongs to the Fringillidae family of the order Passeriformes. It occurs naturally across Europe & Northern Asia and North America. Its distribution covers PAL, NA subarctic to n temperate Holarctic conifer forest: e Scandinavia through Russia to Sea of Okhotsk, s through sc Russia, ne Mongolia and probably Heilongjiang (far ne China); Alaska and Canada (except n), Rocky Mts. and n tier of contiguous US states.
It is a small bird. Adults weighs around 28.7 g, with a wing length of about 8.9 cm and a tail of around 5.9 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 16.1 million km² — a very large global range.
Songs & calls
Frequently asked questions
How big is the Two-barred Crossbill?
The Two-barred Crossbill is a small bird that weighs around 28.7 g.
Where does the Two-barred Crossbill live?
The Two-barred Crossbill is found across Europe & Northern Asia and North America with a range covering PAL, NA subarctic to n temperate Holarctic conifer forest: e Scandinavia through Russia to Sea of Okhotsk, s through sc Russia, ne Mongolia and probably Heilongjiang (far ne China); Alaska and Canada (except n), Rocky Mts. and n tier of contiguous US states, where it favours woodland, forest and well-treed country.
What family does the Two-barred Crossbill belong to?
The Two-barred Crossbill (Loxia leucoptera) belongs to the Fringillidae family, in the order Passeriformes.
What does the Two-barred Crossbill eat?
The Two-barred Crossbill is a omnivore — it takes a broad, omnivorous diet of both plant and animal foods.
Does the Two-barred Crossbill migrate?
The Two-barred Crossbill is migratory, making regular seasonal journeys between its breeding and non-breeding ranges.
Is the Two-barred 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 Two-barred Crossbill make?
1 real field recording of the Two-barred Crossbill can be played in the Songs & calls section on this page, credited to the recordist who captured it.
How large is the Two-barred Crossbill's range?
The Two-barred Crossbill has a mapped global range of about 16.1 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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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.