The parrot crossbill (Loxia pytyopsittacus) is a small passerinebird in the finch family Fringillidae. It breeds in pine forests in northern and northeastern Europe.
[3][4] The species is monotypic: no subspecies are recognised.[5] The genus name Loxia is from Ancient Greekloxos meaning "crosswise"; the specific epithet pytyopsittacus combines pitus, pituos meaning "pine" with psittakos meaning "parrot.[6] The crossbills are characterised by the mandibles crossing at their tips, which gives the group its English name.
Some pine-feeding populations currently assigned to red crossbill in southern Europe may possibly be better referred to either this species or alternatively to new species in their own right, but as yet, research into them is still at a very early stage.
Descriptionedit
Adult males tend to be red or orange in colour, and females green or yellow, but there is much variation. This species is difficult to separate from red and Scottish crossbills, and plumage distinctions are negligible. It is slightly larger than other crossbills, measuring 16 to 18 cm (6.3 to 7.1 in) long and spanning 27 to 31 cm (11 to 12 in) across the wings.[7] It is quite bulky and heavy weighing from 44 to 58.2 g (1.55 to 2.05 oz), with an average of 53 g (1.9 oz).[8] The head and bill are larger than in either of the other species. The bill is thicker than those of its relatives, and the crossed tips are often not readily apparent. Extreme care is needed to identify this species. The deeper, harder choop or tyuup call is probably the best indicator.
Distribution and habitatedit
This bird breeds in the pine forests of northwest Europe and into western Russia. There is also a small population in Scotland, adding to the difficulty of distinguishing it from the sympatric red crossbill and the endemic Scottish crossbill. This crossbill is mainly resident, but will migrate south and west if its food source fails.
Behaviouredit
Parrot crossbills will form flocks outside the breeding season, often mixed with other crossbills.
Food and feedingedit
They are specialist feeders on conifer cones, and the unusual bill shape is an adaptation to assist the extraction of the seeds from the cone. The parrot crossbill is a specialist feeder on the cones of Scots pine.
^BirdLife International (2016). "Loxia pytyopsittacus". IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. 2016: e.T22720638A88651987. doi:10.2305/IUCN.UK.2016-3.RLTS.T22720638A88651987.en. Retrieved 12 November 2021.
^Borkhausen, Moritz Balthasar (1793). Rheinisches Magazin zur Erweiterung der Naturkunde (in German). Vol. 1. Giesen: G.F. Heyer. p. 139.
^Hartert, Ernst (1904). Die Vögel der paläarktischen Fauna (in German). Vol. 1. Berlin: R. Friedländer und Sohn. p. 122.
^Paynter, Raymond A. Jr, ed. (1968). Check-List of Birds of the World. Vol. 14. Cambridge, Massachusetts: Museum of Comparative Zoology. p. 287.
^Gill, Frank; Donsker, David; Rasmussen, Pamela, eds. (January 2021). "Finches, euphonias". IOC World Bird List Version 11.1. International Ornithologists' Union. Retrieved 9 July 2021.
^Jobling, James A. (2010). The Helm Dictionary of Scientific Bird Names. London, United Kingdom: Christopher Helm. pp. 231, 327. ISBN978-1-4081-2501-4.
^. Archived from the original on 2017-12-04. Retrieved 2012-08-31.
^CRC Handbook of Avian Body Masses by John B. Dunning Jr. (Editor). CRC Press (1992), ISBN978-0-8493-4258-5.
External linksedit
Wikimedia Commons has media related to Loxia pytyopsittacus.
Loxia Fantastica Blog dealing with crossbills in Scotland
April 25, 2024
parrot, crossbill, parrot, crossbill, loxia, pytyopsittacus, small, passerine, bird, finch, family, fringillidae, breeds, pine, forests, northern, northeastern, europe, male, parrot, crossbill, conservation, status, least, concern, iucn, scientific, classifica. The parrot crossbill Loxia pytyopsittacus is a small passerine bird in the finch family Fringillidae It breeds in pine forests in northern and northeastern Europe Parrot crossbill Male parrot crossbill Conservation status Least Concern IUCN 3 1 1 Scientific classification Domain Eukaryota Kingdom Animalia Phylum Chordata Class Aves Order Passeriformes Family Fringillidae Subfamily Carduelinae Genus Loxia Species L pytyopsittacus Binomial name Loxia pytyopsittacusBorkhausen 1793 Contents 1 Taxonomy 2 Description 3 Distribution and habitat 4 Behaviour 4 1 Food and feeding 5 References 6 External linksTaxonomy editThe parrot crossbill was formerly described in 1793 by the German naturalist Moritz Balthasar Borkhausen under the binomial name Loxia pytyopsittacus 2 The type locality was designated as Sweden by Ernst Hartert 3 4 The species is monotypic no subspecies are recognised 5 The genus name Loxia is from Ancient Greek loxos meaning crosswise the specific epithet pytyopsittacus combines pitus pituos meaning pine with psittakos meaning parrot 6 The crossbills are characterised by the mandibles crossing at their tips which gives the group its English name Some pine feeding populations currently assigned to red crossbill in southern Europe may possibly be better referred to either this species or alternatively to new species in their own right but as yet research into them is still at a very early stage Description editAdult males tend to be red or orange in colour and females green or yellow but there is much variation This species is difficult to separate from red and Scottish crossbills and plumage distinctions are negligible It is slightly larger than other crossbills measuring 16 to 18 cm 6 3 to 7 1 in long and spanning 27 to 31 cm 11 to 12 in across the wings 7 It is quite bulky and heavy weighing from 44 to 58 2 g 1 55 to 2 05 oz with an average of 53 g 1 9 oz 8 The head and bill are larger than in either of the other species The bill is thicker than those of its relatives and the crossed tips are often not readily apparent Extreme care is needed to identify this species The deeper harder choop or tyuup call is probably the best indicator Distribution and habitat editThis bird breeds in the pine forests of northwest Europe and into western Russia There is also a small population in Scotland adding to the difficulty of distinguishing it from the sympatric red crossbill and the endemic Scottish crossbill This crossbill is mainly resident but will migrate south and west if its food source fails Behaviour editParrot crossbills will form flocks outside the breeding season often mixed with other crossbills Food and feeding edit They are specialist feeders on conifer cones and the unusual bill shape is an adaptation to assist the extraction of the seeds from the cone The parrot crossbill is a specialist feeder on the cones of Scots pine nbsp Egg of Loxia pytyopsittacus MHNT nbsp References edit BirdLife International 2016 Loxia pytyopsittacus IUCN Red List of Threatened Species 2016 e T22720638A88651987 doi 10 2305 IUCN UK 2016 3 RLTS T22720638A88651987 en Retrieved 12 November 2021 Borkhausen Moritz Balthasar 1793 Rheinisches Magazin zur Erweiterung der Naturkunde in German Vol 1 Giesen G F Heyer p 139 Hartert Ernst 1904 Die Vogel der palaarktischen Fauna in German Vol 1 Berlin R Friedlander und Sohn p 122 Paynter Raymond A Jr ed 1968 Check List of Birds of the World Vol 14 Cambridge Massachusetts Museum of Comparative Zoology p 287 Gill Frank Donsker David Rasmussen Pamela eds January 2021 Finches euphonias IOC World Bird List Version 11 1 International Ornithologists Union Retrieved 9 July 2021 Jobling James A 2010 The Helm Dictionary of Scientific Bird Names London United Kingdom Christopher Helm pp 231 327 ISBN 978 1 4081 2501 4 Parrot Crossbill Loxia pytyopsittacus Planet of Birds Archived from the original on 2017 12 04 Retrieved 2012 08 31 CRC Handbook of Avian Body Masses by John B Dunning Jr Editor CRC Press 1992 ISBN 978 0 8493 4258 5 External links edit nbsp Wikimedia Commons has media related to Loxia pytyopsittacus Loxia Fantastica Blog dealing with crossbills in Scotland Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Parrot crossbill amp oldid 1123676666, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
