White-winged Crossbill - Loxia leucoptera

White-winged Crossbill typically has a limited to incomplete preformative molt and no prealternate molts. A small number of individuals may also retain some primary coverts and secondaries during prebasic molts. Determination of age can be complicated by variability in timing of molt, which usually occurs at or near the breeding grounds and can range from April to December. However, sexes are usually distinguishable by overall colour of plumage.

Quick tips

• Examine the wing - on most FCF (HY/SY) birds there is a contrast between darker and fresher inner greater coverts and paler older outer greater coverts. If all greater coverts are dark and with distinct white tips, look at the primary coverts next - if they are all relatively dull and tapered, this is also an indication of FCF (HY/SY), whereas on DCB (AHY/ASY) individuals they are all rounded and similar in wear and darkness to the greater coverts. Note that some individuals can be recognized as SCB (SY/TY) if they have retained a few contrastingly pale and worn inner primary coverts, and/or have 1-6 pale and brown-edged secondaries, contrasting with adjacent fresher and yellow (female) or reddish (male) edged secondaries and primaries.
• Look at the tail - FCF (HY/SY) birds have either relatively uniformly pointed rectrices or a mix of faded and pointed juvenile rectrices and darker, more rounded replaced central rectrices; DCB (AHY/ASY) birds have uniformly rounded rectrices.
• Consider the overall plumage - any individuals with distinct pinkish or red plumage are males, but bear in mind that young FCF (HY) males may lack red.

Species account prepared by McGill Bird Observatory (2018). Last updated by Marcel Gahbauer (Mar 2022)