Introduction
The red crossbill is one of the most unusual and surprising birds in Catalan-speaking lands. Red and orange tones are dominant in the males, and green and yellow ones in the females. Its twisted, crossed beak is adapted for extracting pine nuts and other seeds.
Some individuals’ beaks twist to the right and others to the left. They also use their beaks for moving between branches. Given how they grip the pine cones with their feet and their acrobatics when eating them, they can be reminiscent of small parrots.
It is worth mentioning the strength of their jaws, which can even bend the bars of cages. They rarely land on the ground, and it they do, it is to drink.
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