The Hispaniolan crossbill is a crossbill that is endemic to the island of Hispaniola, and the only representative of the Loxia genus in the Caribbean.
Region
Caribbean (Hispaniola)
Typical Environment
Occurs in montane Hispaniolan pine (Pinus occidentalis) forests, primarily on ridges, plateaus, and open pine woodlands with a sparse understory. It favors areas with mature, cone-bearing trees and will also forage in recently burned stands as cones open. The species is tightly linked to pine seed availability and rarely descends into broadleaf forest or lowlands. It is found in the Dominican Republic’s Cordillera Central and Sierra de Baoruco and in adjacent highlands of Haiti.
Altitude Range
1500–3000 m
Climate Zone
Highland
Ease of Keeping
Beginner friendly: 1/5
The Hispaniolan crossbill is the only member of the genus Loxia in the Caribbean and is confined to high-elevation pine forests on Hispaniola. Its distinctive crossed mandibles are perfectly adapted to prying open the scales of Hispaniolan pine (Pinus occidentalis) cones to extract seeds. It often breeds opportunistically when cone crops are abundant, sometimes outside typical seasonal windows. Habitat loss, altered fire regimes, and pine harvesting threaten this specialist.
Hispaniolan Crossbill perched on a Hispaniolan pine in Haiti
Temperament
social and active
Flight Pattern
short rapid wingbeats with slightly undulating flight
Social Behavior
Typically seen in small, mobile flocks that track cone availability across the highlands. Pairs form within flocks and may breed opportunistically when seed crops are strong. Nests are placed high in pines and constructed from twigs and needles; both parents tend the young.
Migratory Pattern
Resident
Song Description
Calls are sharp, metallic chips and jip-jip notes typical of crossbills, often given in flight. The song is a soft, hurried twitter interspersed with nasal buzzes and tinkling phrases.
Plumage
Males are mostly brick-red to orange-red with dusky brown wings and tail; females are olive to yellowish with streaked underparts and similar dark wings. Both sexes show a robust head and the distinctive crossed bill tips. Plumage lacks obvious wing bars and appears fairly uniform at a distance.
Diet
Specialized on seeds of Hispaniolan pine, using its crossed mandibles to pry cone scales and a nimble tongue to remove seeds. It also consumes fallen seeds beneath trees and may visit recently opened cones after fires. Occasionally it supplements with small invertebrates or grit, but seeds dominate the diet.
Preferred Environment
Forages high in the canopy of mature pines and in cone-laden branches along edges and ridgelines. Will also feed on the ground under pines where seeds accumulate, especially in wind-dispersed patches.
