Crossbills are named after their odd bill shape, with the tips of the mandibles crossed.  This bill is adapted for prying open the cones of conifer trees to extract the seeds, which the bird does with its tongue. 

Red crossbills are about the size of house finches – look for their dark wings and distinctive bills. Males are red, while females are yellowish.  They are often first detected by their very sharp kip-kip call notes as they fly in small flocks above the tops of conifer trees.  In the Wenatchee River Watershed this species can occur anywhere near conifer trees.  They are slightly more abundant in the fall and winter when crossbills from Canada may be forced south in search of food.

The life cycle of the red crossbill revolves around conifer seeds.  Because cone crops are unpredictable, this species is nomadic, wandering widely to search for food.  Crossbills breed when cone crops are best.  Nesting typically occurs in winter or spring but can occur at any season.  There are nine different types of red crossbills, which may represent nine separate species. Each type has a different sized bill to feed on different conifer tree species, and each type has a unique flight call.  Crossbills range from the large-billed birds that specialize in pines to the small-billed ones that feed on spruce.