Red Crossbill

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Red Crossbill

This finch is a seed-eater like most finches but it uses its extraordinary bill to crack open tough pine cone seeds. Before I took this photo, I watched it at work opening with great efficiency these huge, sharp-prickled Ponderosa cones. Photo taken in Okanagan Provincial Park, B.C.

SteveOs

on Dec 24, 2007 9:08 pm

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Lat/Lon: 49.66407°N / 119.59442°W

Image Type(s): Wildlife

Image ID: 367600

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86.37% Score
22 Votes

Comments

klwagar - Dec 26, 2007 10:26 am - Voted 10/10

Incredible

photo. I've never been able to get close enough to these finches to get a photo. Wow, well done.

SteveOs - Dec 27, 2007 12:42 am - Hasn't voted

hey thanks!

I had to be very patient and still so the bird could get close enough for a detailed shot as i don't own one of those 12x megazoom lenses.

Anya Jingle - Dec 27, 2007 1:26 am - Voted 10/10

Awesome!

Great photo! Do you remember what season it was when you shot it? I have seen a Red Crossbill only once in December at about 10,000 feet. I'm not sure if they hang out in Nevada all year long or just winter.