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:

Shows no red patches in any plumages. Only woodpecker in WP with barred flanks. White stripes extends from behind eye to back and from base of bill to scapulars, but head is generally much darker than in other pied woodpeckers. Crown in male yellow, in female speckled white.

Sound:

Drumming powerful and slow, with each beat clearly distinguishable. Most similar to Black Woodpecker but not as long (1 - 1.4 seconds). Accelerated ending (just the last few beats). Contact call similar to Great Spotted, but deeper and softer. Not very vocal.

Drumming:

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

CC-sounds:Antero Lindholm, www.xeno-canto.org/247630.