Symmetry is one of the rules in nature – and it’s a rule few birds break. One group of birds that do confound expectations, however, are the crossbills.
These finches have a famously wonky beak, with the upper and lower halves of the beak crossing each other at the tip. It looks strange, even uncomfortable, but the twisted beak is perfect for splitting pine cones to reach the tiny seeds hidden inside.
The chief species in Britain is the common crossbill, and amazingly, in March pairs are already feeding young.
Males are brick red, females olive green, though it’s difficult to get a decent look at these birds as they like staying out of sight at the top of pine, fir and larch trees.
Usually, you’ll hear the crossbills first. Their precise ‘chip, chip, chip’ calls aren’t loud, yet the sound travels a long way through the conifer plantations that are the birds’ main habitat.
Their nests are made out of moss, twigs and animal hair.
Top image: mirceax/Getty Images
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