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Excerpts Adapted from the Birds of Saskatchewan:

The Red Crossbill is a widespread species found throughout the southern portions of the boreal forest from Northwest Territories to Newfoundland and in the western mountains from Alaska to Nicaragua. Although considered a year-round resident, it has a proclivity to wander, especially during the winter. Irruptions occur whenever there is a failure in seed production in their usual ranges.

Red Crossbills usually feed in and nest near mature coniferous trees, their movements often guided by the abundance or scarcity of the cone crop (Godfrey 1986). Found in jack pine across the boreal regions and Lodgepole Pine in the Cypress Hills (Smith 1996). Belcher (1980) noted, "They have been seen in deciduous trees in the city [Regina], in farm shelterbelts, and occasionally feeding on sunflower heads.?

The Red Crossbill is an uncommon permanent resident in boreal coniferous forests and a common permanent resident at Cypress Hills (Smith 1996). Rare and local breeder and uncommon visitant in the Parklands. Highly nomadic, it is an "occasional visitor at almost any time of the year? (Houston and Anaka 2003) across the settled portion of the province.

Original text by Maurice L. Mareschal. Text adapted by Daniel J. Sawatzky

Read more about the Red Crossbill in the Birds of Saskatchewan here.

LeeAnn M. Latremouille

Recommended citation: Latremouille, L. M. 2025. Red Crossbill in Latremouille, L. M., S. L. Van Wilgenburg, C. B. Jardine, D. Lepage, A. R. Couturier, D. Evans, D. Iles, and K. L. Drake (eds.). 2025. The Atlas of the Breeding Birds of Saskatchewan, 2017-2021. Birds Canada. Saskatoon, Saskatchewan https://sk.birdatlas.ca/accounts/speciesaccount.jsp?sp=RECR&lang=en [09 Nov 2025]