Red Crossbill

Red Crossbills have the anatomical peculiarity of having an asymmetrical beak. The two parts cross at the end. It is an adaptation that allows them to extract seeds from conifer cones with the help of their tongue. The Red Crossbill has a long and well developed one. It also shows a significant sexual dimorphism. Males are brightly colored while females have cryptic plumage.
The adult male Red Crossbill in breeding plumage has the body plumage with an intense red-vermillion color when worn. The rump is the region where red is the most intense. The wings and tail are dark brown. There is no light bar in the wing. There are individual variations. Some males, probably partly in the 2nd year, appear orange in color, or even close to the color of the females.
The adult female appears yellow-green. Also here it is the rump, bright yellow, the most colorful part of the body, but hidden by the tip of the wings at rest. The yellow-green is not uniform but dotted, such as on the cap or mottled with gray on the lower parts. Some females are more gray overall. There are also individual variations here. Wings and tail are brownish, no wing bars. The small clawed legs are reddish or brownish.
The juvenile is recognized by its cold plumage, without color, and especially very spotted/striped with brown everywhere. The wing feathers, new, have pale edges, which creates a light bar effect on the big coverts, but not enough to be confused with a young bifascia. The beak is also paler. From the first winter, the young bird becomes female type. It can be distinguished from the adult female by the edgings that persist on the wing coverts.