Crossbill

"Is there only one kind of Crossbill in North America?" asked Rap.

Citizen Bird Scenes from Bird-Life in Plain English for Beginners Elliott Coues 1870

I have seen the gregarious Double-Breasted Twit deliberately hold the heads of a poor, little Tripple-Headed Crossbill underwater for some time when the inexperienced Crossbill made the mistake of taking a seed out of turn.

The Amateur Birder 2007

You would think that the Triple-Headed Crossbill would have more than its share of smarts, but it is truly a very dim little bird.

The Amateur Birder 2007

In feeding the Crossbill perches upon a cone with its head downwards, or lays the cone upon a branch and stands upon it, holding it fast with his sharp, strong pointed claws.

Birds Illustrated by Color Photograph [April, 1897] A Monthly Serial designed to Promote Knowledge of Bird-Life Various

The Crossbill troubles itself but little about the other inhabitants of the woods, and is said to be almost fearless of man.

Birds Illustrated by Color Photograph [April, 1897] A Monthly Serial designed to Promote Knowledge of Bird-Life Various

Snipper the Crossbill has opened but hasn't picked all the seeds out of.

Burgess Bird Book for Children 1919

Their curving bills are _crossed at the tip_, which strange arrangement gives them their name of Crossbill.

Citizen Bird Scenes from Bird-Life in Plain English for Beginners Elliott Coues 1870

"No, this Red Crossbill has two cousins; one with two white bars on each wing, called the White-winged Crossbill, who sometimes travels with him, but is rarer; and another who lives in Mexico."

Citizen Bird Scenes from Bird-Life in Plain English for Beginners Elliott Coues 1870

[Illustration: American Crossbill] "How and where do you think these birds build their nests in such a cold season?"

Citizen Bird Scenes from Bird-Life in Plain English for Beginners Elliott Coues 1870

And it says that four new investigations will soon result in prosecutions - operations Westphalian, Yukon, Crossbill and Loyosa.

Evening Standard - Home Tom Cheshire 2012