yellow crossbill (1 Viewer)

hello all
just been to Elan Valley, powys, Wales. while walking through the woods a female crossbill landed on the path in front of us. It was joined by another crossbill but this one was bright canary yellow all over except for dark patches on its wings. I have seen a lot of crossbills but never one this colour. It was not a greeney yellow female as some have suggested. Has anyone got any info on this

Chota said:

hello all
just been to Elan Valley, powys, Wales. while walking through the woods a female crossbill landed on the path in front of us. It was joined by another crossbill but this one was bright canary yellow all over except for dark patches on its wings. I have seen a lot of crossbills but never one this colour. It was not a greeney yellow female as some have suggested. Has anyone got any info on this

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Most likely a second year male common crossbill - they can be a yellowy/orangey colour depending on the food pigments they have ingested. Sometimes referred to as 'golden cocks'. Sometimes (older) females can look this way but can (usually) be identified by dark centres to the crown feathers. It is rarer in females and not everyone is convinced by the whole dark centres to the crown feathers theory.

Crossbills, bah !

Linley Codswallop