Parrot Crossbill

Loxia pytyopsittacus

Introduction

Separating Parrot Crossbill from Common and Scottish Crossbills is challenging. The Parrot Crossbill is bulkier and has a subtly different call.

Most interactions between Parrot Crossbill and birdwatchers occur during winter when the species occasionally irrupts from its native northern Europe in search of pine seed. Most UK 'invasions' of Parrot Crossbill number in the tens of individuals.

There is a small breeding population of Parrot Crossbill in the Caledonian pine forest of north-east Scotland. The winter range is similarly restricted.

Key Stats

Rare

54.5g

3-4

<1%

BTO Records

1.5k records

Population and distribution stats for:

No data

65 Pairs

% expansion

No data

No current data

-55.6% contraction

Identification

Curated resources to aid in the identification of Parrot Crossbill

Songs and Calls

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Listen to example recordings of the main vocalisations of Parrot Crossbill, provided by xeno-canto contributors.

Song:

Call:

Status and Trends

Population size, trends and patterns of distribution based on BTO and partnership surveys and atlasses with data collected by BTO volunteers.

Conservation Status

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This species can be found on the following statutory and conservation listings and schedules.

UK Birds of Conservation Concern

Amber listed

Species of European Conservation Concern

Least Concern

IUCN Red List of Threatened Species (global)

Least Concern

Schedule 1 Licence required (to disturb)*

Yes

Birds Directive Annex 1

Listed on the Annexes of*

WCA(I,IV), Bern(III)

* A guide only. Check details with the original legislation, especially those marked with an asterisk. See About Birdfacts for more information.

Population Size

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UK (breeding)

65 Pairs (2008)

Source

BOU Category

Source

First Record*

Suffolk, 1818

* First documented occurrence. Most species undoubtedly occurred before this. See About Birdfacts for more information.

Population Change

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This species is occasionally recorded in the UK during 'irruption' years when large numbers of crossbills arrive from Scandinavia. Large irruptions occurred in 1962/63 and 1982/83. The first confirmed breeding record in the UK occurred in 1984 in Norfolk (Catley & Hursthouse 1985). Re-assessment of previous Crossbill records in Scotland from specimens indicates that Parrot Crossbill were scarce during the twentieth century but a survey of Crossbills in Scotland in 2008 found around 100 Parrot Crossbills (Summers & Buckland 2011) suggesting that a possible change of status may have occurred. However, this is unclear as the records may relate to an irruption year: hence, further information is needed to confirm the status of this species in the UK.

Distribution

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Parrot Crossbill is a rare resident of ancient native pinewoods and large plantations in northern and northeastern Scotland. Identification issues make getting an accurate picture of the species' breeding distribution tricky. During the breeding season of 2008–11

Occupied 10-km squares in UK

These figures come from Bird Atlas 2007 and indicate how widespread a species is.

No. occupied in breeding season

% occupied in breeding season

0.3%

No. occupied in winter

% occupied in winter

0.2%

Bird Atlas distribution maps show where bird species breed or winter in Britain and Ireland. For breeding maps, larger dots indicate higher certainty the species bred in that area.

Winter Distribution for Parrot Crossbill

Click the map to enlarge,
or view it on Bird Atlas Mapstore.

Breeding Distribution for Parrot Crossbill

Click the map to enlarge,
or view it on Bird Atlas Mapstore.

To view and download up-to-date distribution information aggregated from across BTO and partnership surveys and schemes, see our data holdings on the NBN Atlas.

European Distribution Map

European Breeding Bird Atlas 2

Distribution Change

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Change in occupied 10-km squares in the UK

These figures come from Bird Atlas 2007-11 and indicate by how much occupied areas have expanded or contracted over recent decades.

% change in range in winter (1981–84 to 2007–11)

-55.6 %

Bird Atlas distribution change maps show how bird distributions have changed through time. Coloured upward-pointing triangles show places apparently colonised over the period; grey downward-pointing triangles show places apparently vacated. Shading show places occupied.

Winter Distribution change for Parrot Crossbill

Click the map to enlarge,
or view it on Bird Atlas Mapstore.

Breeding Distribution change for Parrot Crossbill

Click the map to enlarge,
or view it on Bird Atlas Mapstore.

Seasonality

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Parrot Crossbill is a very rare resident and rare autumn vagrant.

Weekly pattern of occurrence

The graph shows when the species is present in the UK, with taller bars indicating a higher likelihood of encountering the species in appropriate regions and habitats.

Phenology graph — Weekly occurrence patterns (shaded cells and reporting rates (vertical bars) based on BirdTrack data. Reporting rates give the likelihood of encountering the species each week.

Movement

Information about Parrot Crossbill movements and migration based on online bird portals (e.g. BirdTrack), Ringing schemes and tracking studies.

Britain & Ireland movement

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View a summary of recoveries in the Online Ringing Report

Foreign locations of birds ringed or recovered in Britain & Ireland

Dots show the foreign destinations of birds ringed in Britain & Ireland, and the origins of birds ringed overseas that were subsequently recaptured, resighted or found dead in Britain & Ireland. Dot colours indicate the time of year that the species was present at the location.

Winter (Nov-Feb)
Spring (Mar-Apr)
Summer (May-Jul)
Autumn (Aug-Oct)

Foreign locations of birds ringed or recovered in Britain & Ireland

European movements

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EuroBirdPortal uses birdwatcher's records, such as those logged in BirdTrack to map the flows of birds as they arrive and depart Europe. See maps for this species here.

Biology

Lifecycle and body size information for Parrot Crossbill, including statistics on nesting, eggs and lifespan based on BTO ringing and nest recording data.

Productivity and Nesting

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Nesting timing

Typical (exceptional) number of broods

1(2)

Source

Egg measurements

Typical length x width

23x17 mm

Mass (% shell)

3.3g (5%)

Source

Clutch Size

Typical number

4-3 eggs

Average ±1 standard deviation

3.86±0.69 eggs

Observed minimum and maximum

2-5 eggs

Source

Incubation

Incubation by

Female

Typical duration

16-14 days

Source

Fledging

Type of chick

Altricial, downy

Typical duration

23-21 days

Source

Survival and Longevity

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Survival is shown as the proportion of birds surviving from one year to the next and is derived from bird ringing data. It can also be used to estimate how long birds typically live.

View number ringed each year in the Online Ringing Report.

lifespan

Typical life expectancy of bird reaching breeding age

with breeding typically at 1 year

Biometrics

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Wing length and body weights are from live birds (source).

Ring Size

B+*

Classification, names and codes

Taxonomy, names and species codes for Parrot Crossbill

Classification and Codes

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Order: Passeriformes
Family: Fringillidae
Scientific name: Loxia pytyopsittacus
Authority: von Borkhausen, 1793

BTO 2-letter code: PC
BTO 5-letter code: PARCR
Euring code number: 16680

Alternate species names

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Catalan: trencapinyes becgròs
Czech: krivka velká
Danish: Stor Korsnæb
Dutch: Grote Kruisbek
Estonian: männi-käbilind
Finnish: isokäpylintu
French: Bec-croisé perroquet

German: Kiefernkreuzschnabel
Hungarian: nagy keresztcsoru
Icelandic: Pánefur
Italian: Crociere delle pinete
Latvian: priežu krustknabis, priežu putns
Lithuanian: pušinis kryžiasnapis
Norwegian: Furukorsnebb

Polish: krzyzodziób sosnowy
Portuguese: cruza-bico-papagaio
Slovak: krivonos sosnový
Slovenian: veliki krivokljun
Spanish: Piquituerto lorito
Swedish: större korsnäbb

Research

Interpretation and scientific publications about Parrot Crossbill from BTO scientists.

Causes of Change and Solutions

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Causes of change

It is not yet clear whether the status of Parrot Crossbill has changed and whether it has become a more regular breeding species in the UK. Crossbill populations are prone to fluctuations following 'irruption' years, and the recent high counts in Scotland may relate to an irruption and may not represent a longer term change of status for this species.

More Evidence

More evidence from Conservation Evidence.com

Partners

Birdfacts is based on data collected by volunteers participating in surveys that are organised and funded by BTO, RSPB, Esmée Fairbairn Foundation, JNCC and other partners.

BTO

Esmée Fairbairn Foundation

JNCC

RSPB

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