UNINVITED CHRISTMAS TREE
Being the sole resident of my home and having only rare visitors, I have not had a Christmas tree or a menorah for decades. Besides, so many days of every year are impromptu holidays full of woods and water and wildlife and the colors of flowers and mushrooms that life is sufficiently full of holidays. This morning, however, a spruce next to the house was finely decorated and no colored glass or toxic paints in the mix.
These red crossbills are in the finch family and often mistaken for purple finches or house finches. The young start with a typical cone or wedge shaped bill. The upper and lower halves then cross. The sharp top tip helps the birds dig into cones of hemlock, spruce, fir, and pine.
One or more males often perch high in a tree on the lookout for predators. The rest of the flock usually feeds toward the interior of a tree where they have added protection, including less visibility.
An immature male but with beak well formed.
A male and female. Mating can occur at any time, apparently triggered by abundant food in the cones of evergreens. For the first five days the male feeds the young, then both parents bring food. Within 3 weeks the young are foraging with adults. Each flock has its own distinguished flight call–distinguished at least among crossbills.