Appearance:

Only in the UK. Similar to Red and Parrot Crossbill in plumage. Bill size possibly the only visual identification clue, but even this overlaps with the other two species. Bill is usually deeper and heavier than Red Crossbill. Certain separation from Parrot Crossbill in the field by visual characters alone, probably not possible. Species status mainly upheld by isolated breeding population and differences in excitement calls from other crossbills. Calls probably play an important role in maintaining the reproduction barrier between Crossbill populations with different bill-size. See Birdlife link below for more info.

Sound:

Calls very similar to Parrot Crossbill, and sonogram analysis may be needed for certain identification. Flight and excitement calls show most unique quality. Sonogram image above by Ron Summers (used with permission). A detailed article about crossbill calls can be found here.

Distribution:

Xeno-canto: map

Ecology:

Birdlife ecology

Links:

Observation.org Latest observations

Video IBC

Image search Flickr NB! May give other species

Sound search at Xeno-canto

CC

Collage photo By Richard Crossley (The Crossley ID Guide Britain and Ireland) [CC BY-SA 3.0 (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/3.0)], via Wikimedia Commons.

Appearance:

Male: Charcoal to black plumage, with rufous red tail, pale belly and pale wing-panel (south-eastern subspecies with rufous belly and no wing-panel). Female: Grey brown overall, except rufous tail. Lacks the orange tinge to breast and belly of female Common Redstart. Juveniles resembles the adult female, and lacks the buff speckles of congeners. May jump around on the ground like CR, but are more prone to run. Also shows a more erect posture.

Sound:

Song consists of three parts and is distinct if heard well. It opens with some clear notes that may form a trill, which are then followed by a pause. Next part is rather unique, and sounds as if shaking a handful of gravel. The phrase then usually closes with a couple of trills. The "gravel-part" does not carry as far as the rest of the song. Alarm call is a chat-like alternation between short, high-pitched "wit" sounds, and series of hard and dry "teck".

Song:

Distribution:

Wikipedia: map (se also Xeno-canto below)

Ecology:

Birdlife ecology

Links:

Observation.org Latest observations

Video IBC

Image search Flickr NB! May give other species

Sound search at Xeno-canto

Featherbase

CC