Scottish crossbill

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Scottish crossbill
Scottish crossbill (Loxia scotica)

Scottish crossbill ( Loxia scotica )

Systematics
Subordination : Songbirds (passeri)
Family : Finches (Fringillidae)
Subfamily : Goldfinches (Carduelinae)
Tribe : Carduelini
Genre : Crossbills ( Loxia )
Type : Scottish crossbill
Scientific name
Loxia scotica
Hartert , 1904

The Scottish crossbill ( Loxia scotica ) is a large finch bird (family Fringillidae ). The species is limited in its distribution to the Scottish occurrences of the Caledonian Forest , a form of the boreal coniferous forest . The Scottish Crossbill was only granted species status in August 2006.

history

The British Ornithologists' Union classified the Scottish crossbill as a separate species as early as 1980. This classification has been contested by a number of ornithologists and the Royal Society for the Protection of Birds (RSPB), which continued to regard it as a geographic breed of the crossbill or pine crossbill . However, recent research by experts from the RSPB has shown that the Scottish Crossbill differs from these species by having a different voice. The Scottish crossbill is believed to be the only species of bird endemic to the British Isles .

Appearance

The Scottish crossbill is a large, powerfully built finch bird. The top and bottom of colored males are brick red, the wings and the typical notched finch tail are brown. The rump and the under tail-coverts are dashed brown on a whitish background. The ear covers are indicated with a brownish flake. The females have an inconspicuous brownish pattern on the top and bottom on a greenish-brown or olive ground. The wings and tail are dull dark brown.

In terms of plumage, the Scottish crossbill can only be distinguished from the spruce or pine crossbill by direct comparison. The most striking distinguishing feature is the beak: It is not as high backed and clunky as the pine crossbill, but significantly more powerful than the crossbill. It also differs from these species in some acoustic expressions: The animal's call is a metallic jip , harder and brighter than the comparable calls of the other two species.

Habitat, way of life and reproduction

The Scottish Crossbill population comprises approximately 1,000 breeding pairs. Scottish crossbills breed mainly in Scots pine stands. However, breeding birds can also be found in larch plantations ( Larix decidua and Larix kaempferi ) and in coastal pine ( Pinus contorta ). The clutch usually consists of two to five eggs. According to current knowledge, the Scottish crossbill is a resident bird. Outside of the breeding season it forms loose swarms and during this time it socializes with other crossbill species.

Individual evidence

  1. ↑ "Status of 'UK's only endemic bird species' confirmed" , RSPB Scotland
  2. ^ "'Accent' confirms unique species" BBC Scotland , August 15, 2006

Web links

Commons : Scottish Crossbill ( Loxia scotica )  - Collection of images, videos and audio files