the finches of the type cross-beaks is summarized crimson-bullfinches with other types in the type-group.
Spread The three types of the cross-beaks are the elderly and new world widespread over the whole northern hemisphere, southwards as far as to Guatemala and to the Philippines. They have themselves with it in the lowlands and in the mountains (in the Himalaja up to 4200 m of height), settled successfully as far as into the tropics from the cold northern region; only the jaw-cross-beak lives in the forest-areas of the northwest-like Eurasia. In general, the cross-beak-types are tied at different forest-types.
Characteristics One recognizes cross-beaks by the Ãœberkreuzung of the waiter and sub-beak, a special-formation unique among all birds of our area. It is at the food-acquisition on this occasion about a very extensive adaptation. Because the birds can with the cruised beak-tops, through comings, and ago-movement of the head, the sheds of the spruces and fir-taps also this of the larches and with bigger effort this of the pines, removes in order to reach the seeds.
The direction of the Schnabelüberkreuzung to the left or right is not type-decisive but can be different already within a brood. The beaks of cross-beak-populations, that live from seeds from big, hard-flaky pinecones, are considerably bigger and thicker than Z normally. B. this the spruce-seed-glutton. The spruce-seeds of eating cross-beaks become the property of jaw-seeds as main-food only with food-lack. If necessary, also the seeds of other trees (beech, maple, alder) or leaf-buds are consumed. Also aphids seem to be a regular addition-food.
Coloring The plumage-coloring is variable (formation of races) with all types. Usually the adult male is red, often more or less yellow while the females are colored oliv.
Chant The chant of the cross-beaks is chirping and pipes, but not showy.
Spruce-cross-beak (Loxia curvirostra)) Preferably, the spruce-cross-beak, that shows until 16,5 cm of length, populates spruce-forest or Nadelmischwald, that consist. The populations living in the southern spread-areas are stand-birds mainly while the northern brood-birds admittedly don't move regularly, but in the brood-area around-cancels and itself often invasion-nicely westward and south extends. This appearance probably stands with population-fluctuations and local food-lack in close context.
Nistverhalten As "gypsy-birds", the spruce-cross-beaks don't cover any established brood-precinct but brood everywhere, where food-fullness prevails. Still early in the year, before the seeds fall from the taps, the nests are positioned. The open bowl is manufactured from grass, moss, lichens and wool and is fortified on a base from spruce-branches; the nest-stand is different. Usually, three eggs are to be found in a nest, that is incubated only by the female. The male takes over as long as the feeding. Only so it can be prevented, that the nest under-chills becomes.
The spruce-cross-beak can brooding in all months, is found; by each pair, however, only one yearly-brood is reared.
Jaw-cross-beak (Loxia pytyopsittacus)) The jaw-cross-beak usually lives in dry jaw-forests and rarely comes along together with other cross-beak-types before. it also is much rarer than its twin-type Fichtenkreuzschnabel, for which it is very similar. With 17 cm of length, however, it is somewhat bigger. Since it lives from jaw-seeds, it has also a notably thick beak.
Nistverhalten The nest-construction is similar that of the spruce-cross-beak, however, the construction is more extensive. The female incubates the 2 - 4 eggs 14-16 days. In this time, it is fed by the male. If the boys slipped, they are fed with jaw-seeds from the crop of the alto-birds. If the boys leave the nest after 24 days, they still remain dependent on the parents some weeks.
Bandage-cross-beak (Loxia leucoptera)) This type broods particularly in Zirbelkiefern and larch-forests. The name touches from two white wing-bandages. The bandage-cross-beak has the thinnest beak. it sometimes is socialized with the spruce-cross-beak and wanders also with this.
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