Texas statewide summary of red crossbill (Loxia curvirostra) records from 2017 through June 2024

Abstract

The Red Crossbill (Loxia curvirostra) occurs in Texas as a rare resident in the Guadalupe and Davis Mountains of the Trans-Pecos ecoregion. Otherwise it occurs only as an irruptive visitor primarily during the fall, winter and spring months in the northern two-thirds of the state. Researchers have identified eleven distinctive Red Crossbill forms in North America based on the structure of their flight calls. Each of these “call types” occupies a core range in North America. Red Crossbills depend on various conifer seeds as a primary food source, and during years of poor seed production can be driven out of their core range in search of food. This is when Red Crossbills may enter Texas in numbers. We summarized Red Crossbill reports throughout Texas from 2017 through June 2024. This time period includes three incursions where their numbers spiked. Most Red Crossbill reports (99.2 %) were obtained from online eBird checklists. A statewide total of 963 reports from 224 locations across 62 counties was obtained. Seven of the ten Gould ecoregions of Texas reported Red Crossbills. The Trans-Pecos ecoregion had the most locations (48.6%) followed by the High Plains (20.5%). Red Crossbill call type was confirmed for 87 (9%) of the 963 reports. Call types 1 through 5 were identified with the most common being type 2. Various conifer cone seeds accounted for 75.9% of foraging.

Citation

Schaefer, Richard R.; Young, Matthew A. 2024. Texas statewide summary of red crossbill (Loxia curvirostra) records from 2017 through June 2024. Bulletin of the Texas Ornithological Society. 57: 1-7.