White-winged Crossbill    Loxia leucoptera

Conservation Status

General Status in Canada : Secure

COSEWIC Status : Not assessed

Breeding Bird Surveys indicate that Canadian populations have changed little between 1966 and 2007. Due to the nomadic nature of the species, population trends are difficult to assess. In a particular region White-winged Crossbills can be abundant for several years, then totally disappear in subsequent years, or remain only in very small numbers. These annual fluctuations in crossbill numbers are probably linked to cone production in local areas. White-winged Crossbills appear to be tolerant of some disturbance and will nest in urban parks and along edge habitats, including busy roads. Harvesting of spruce forests affects local populations by reducing forage and nesting habitat. Shortened harvesting rotations impede the production of mature conifer trees and may affect cone crops. In the future, climate change may reduce the availability of mature conifer trees in northern boreal forests and impact overall White-winged Crossbill populations.

Reference(s)

Benkman, C. W. 1992. White-winged Crossbill (Loxia leucoptera), The Birds of North America Online, . A. Poole, Ed. Ithaca: Cornell Laboratory of Ornithology; Retrieved from The Birds of North America Online database: http://bna.birds.cornell.edu/bna/species/027