Parrot crossbill or Red crossbill - Belgium today (1 Viewer)

Wallander · Feb 25, 2018

Is an ID possible with this picture? It's for sure a female.

Many thanks in advance! :t:+B

Andy Adcock · Feb 25, 2018

Seems to have a pretty deep bill though I doubt that you'll get a positive ID from this shot?

A

CARERY · Feb 25, 2018

Well it is sitting on a pine which is the preferred tree from Parrot... But I wouldn't dare to ID it from this blurred photo.

Nutcracker · Feb 25, 2018

Tricky, but I'd err towards Common Crossbill.

You need to go to North America to see Red Crossbills

Andy Adcock · Feb 25, 2018

Nutcracker said:
Tricky, but I'd err towards Common Crossbill.

You need to go to North America to see Red Crossbills

Or Asia, I've seen it in Vietnam.

A

Nutcracker · Feb 25, 2018

andyadcock said:
Or Asia, I've seen it in Vietnam.

They'd be Common Crossbills too :t:

Andy Adcock · Feb 25, 2018

Nutcracker said:
They'd be Common Crossbills too :t:

Not according to the IOC, Common Crossbill is Red Crossbill on my list.

A

Birdbrain22 · Feb 25, 2018

IMO That bill looks huge for a Common/Red... so I'd lean heavily towards Parrot.

Wallander · Feb 25, 2018

Maybe I need to add that they first flew over and sounded 'jup jup' more parrot bill and... look at the curving of the upper beak??? Not?

John Cantelo · Feb 25, 2018

OK it isn't a great photo but I've never seen a Common/Red Crossbill with such an apparently bulbous bill so I'm in the Parrot Crossbill camp.

Xenospiza · Feb 25, 2018

Come on, it's not identifiable from that picture!

If you want to base it on statistics... A few birds have indeed been present on site (Rekem, Vallei van de Zijpbeek) since 17 February, with Common apparently in (even) lower numbers:
https://waarnemingen.be/soort/view/..._hidden=1&global_tag=0&only_approved=0&page=1

Earnest lad · Feb 25, 2018

I can say most conclusively that the id of this bird cannot be made from that pic.