Well, this year I've seen juvenile Robins, Juncos, Pine Siskins, Towhees, Goldfinches, House Sparrows, and today 4 juvenile Red Crossbills showed up (with Dad) for good long looks and pictures. The parents have been around a week, and a couple days ago I realized that that large House Finch on the back side of the feeder had a funny bill. For a split second a second one perched on the feeder hanger, then they all flew away.

I'm wondering whether these birds hatched this spring. Three pretty much match those shown in Sibley, Kaufman, and Peterson's Western guides, and one had the finer striping on the front shown in National Geographic's Western guide. There was some, but minimal,fluffing of feathers begging for food from Dad. They were all brown, except for a couple had the beginnings of color showing on the rump. I thought first year birds would have a lot more color.

I'm somewhat stunned to think that Red Crossbills have bred here, only a mile or so south of the Seattle cty limits. Or perhaps this might be post-breeding dispersal? Would the whole family stay together? Any reason they would disperse to suburbia?


Eric Stahlfeld
Burien WA 19846