The parrot crossbill is a small passerine bird in the finch family Fringillidae. It breeds in pine forests in northern and northeastern Europe.
Region
Northern and northeastern Europe
Typical Environment
Found primarily in boreal and sub-boreal conifer forests across Fennoscandia, the Baltic region, and western Russia. It favors mature pine stands and large plantations with reliable cone crops. In years of cone failure it may wander widely and appear in the British Isles, the Low Countries, Germany, and elsewhere. Habitats include dry sandy pinewoods, mixed conifer forests, and edges where Scots pine is common.
Altitude Range
Sea level to 1200 m
Climate Zone
Continental
Ease of Keeping
Beginner friendly: 1/5
This large-billed crossbill specializes in extracting seeds from thick-scaled pine cones, especially Scots pine. It often breeds in late winter when cone crops are abundant, a strategy tied to food availability rather than day length. Parrot crossbills can irrupt far from their core range in poor cone years, sometimes reaching western Europe. They are notoriously tricky to distinguish from Red and Scottish crossbills; the deeper, more parrot-like bill and lower-pitched calls are key clues.
Temperament
social and active
Flight Pattern
strong, undulating finch flight with short rapid wingbeats
Social Behavior
Typically forms small to medium flocks outside the breeding season, often mixed-age groups roaming between cone-rich stands. Pairs are monogamous during the breeding period and nest high in conifers, using twigs and lining with softer material. Breeding can begin mid-winter if cones are abundant, and family groups may join flocks soon after fledging.
Migratory Pattern
Partial migrant
Song Description
Calls are low-pitched, trumpet-like 'choop' notes, deeper than those of Red Crossbill. The song is a series of chattering and warbling phrases interspersed with the characteristic calls. Flight calls are diagnostic for experienced listeners.
