Sighting Record for Utah

Common name:	White-winged Crossbill
Scientific name:	Loxia leucoptera
Date:	August 16th, 2024
Time:	4:12 PM
Length of time observed:	5 minute
Number:	3
Age:	Varying ages from possible molting juvenile, or female, an immature male, and an adult male.
Sex:	Male and possibly a female?
Location:	Mirror Lake Campground
County:	Duchesne
Latilong:	40.700709 N, -110.885308 W
Elevation:	10,050
Distance to bird:	10 to 20 feet on average
Optical equipment:	8 x 43 Zen Ray binoculars,
Weather:	Sunny, clear skies, temperatures in the upper 60s, and a slight breeze
Light Conditions:	bright conditions, The birds were lit from the front most of the time, with the evergreen tree providing some shade at times that they were perched on.
Description: Size of bird:	finch size, around 6 inches tall.
(Description:) Basic Shape:	finch shape
(Description:) Overall Pattern:	because it was three birds the coloring varied from pinkish red, black white, to more of a red tone, black, and white, and then yellowish, white and black.
(Description:) Bill Type:	A conical type bill that crossed over itself with sharp points at the end of the upper and lower mandible
(Description:) Field Marks and Identifying Characteristics:	We initially heard a call we were unfamiliar with, and was trying to find the bird making the call ( it ended up being a recently fledged Cassin's Finch) and saw a bright yellow warbler, with black in the wings flying around, while we were trying to get a better look at the warbler it flew into a spruce tree nearby, while trying to locate the warbler, we noticed a single crossbill sitting in an evergreen tree with red, black wings, and white wing bars in the tree. The bird then flew out of the tree and was joined by two other birds to fly into another tree close by. It was in this evergreen tree that we began to get good looks at the bird. We started to notice that we were dealing with three birds in different plumages. I first noticed the immature male with more of a red/orange hue instead of the pinkish hue that I'm accustomed to with an adult male White-winged Crossbill. I noticed the red extending to the mid chest, and then streaking taking over from the belly down into the undertail coverts. As it bounced and flew I noticed the red/orange in the rump as well. The wings were black with bolder solid white wing bars. I looked at the lores and noticed it had black lores, and that it had a black comma near the ear. It also had a conical type bill with the lower and upper mandible crossing over one another. As I was looking at this bird I then got a glimpse of an adult male sitting up on top of a branch in full view. It had a much more pinkish red hue, much more than the immature male we were viewing. It also had bold white wing bars, black wings. The pink extended into the belly of the bird, with some on the rump. It had streaking that took over, then it had white under tail coverts with some black. It also had the black comma near the ear, black lores, and a conical bill that each mandible crossed over the other. I also noticed a notched tail on the adult bird. We finally saw a third bird that was being more shy, and the most I saw was that it had some less bold white wing bars, and a bill that each mandible crossed over the other. The others also noticed the bird, but didn't get detailed looks. The description for the third bird is based on my views of the bird and on photos that Matt was able to capture. The bird did have a more yellow tone, with some orange feathering coming in. It had a lot of streaking throughout the bird also. The wings were black, but the white on the wing was not as bold as seen on the other two birds. It also had a black comma near where the ear is on the bird. Photos of two of the different birds are on our eBird checklist, as well as emailed. (see photos)
Song or call & method of delivery:	none were heard by any of us.
Behavior:	Birds were seen moving around in evergreen trees, mainly in the top third of the tree. We didn't see them actively feeding on cones. They flew to a couple different trees in close proximity to us.
Habitat:	A mixed conifer forest of Englemann Spruce, Sub-alpine Fir, and Lodgepole Pines.
Similar species and how were they eliminated:	The first most obvious bird that it has the most in common with is a Red Crossbill. I also am aware that Red Crossbill can have white wing bars, though the boldness of the white on the black wings is not seen on a Red Crossbill. Also the pink hue adult is a distinctive color and not a tone seen on Red Crossbill. The immature bird had more of a red hue, vs. a pink hue, but that is typical for a juvenile, and the boldness of the wingbars was apparent. The juvenile type bird does have more narrow white winged bars, but feels within range for the time of a molting White-winged Crossbill. The Pine Grosbeak can have a pinkish hue, but it does not have a bill that crosses over itself. A Pine Grosbeak is also larger than a crossbill, and does not have a black comma near the ear. A Cassin's Finch also does not have a bill that crosses over itself, nor bold white wing bars on black wings. A House Finch would also not have a bill that crosses over itself, or bold white wing bars on black wings. Finally, though even more rare, a Purple Finch wouldn't have a bill that crosses over, nor would it have bold white wing bars on black wings.
Previous experience with this & similar species:	I have seen White-winged Crossbills previously on a couple occasions, including the day prior at Redmond Campground in Big Cottonwood Canyon. Felicia, and Matt also have experience with this bird. We all have seen Red Crossbills on many occasions, including the same day around Mirror Lake and Ruth Lake. We all have experience with Pine Grosbeaks, including earlier that day while hiking Bald Mountain. We all have extensive experience with Cassin's Finches, including on the same day as seeing the White-winged Crossbills. I've seen Purple Finches in Oregon.
References consulted:	Sibley Field Guide, Cornell Labs, All About Birds, and Also the photo section on Ebird.
Description from:	The description came from the three birders who observed it discussing and comparing what we noted immediately after sighting, and from notes we took down after discussing it. Photos were also used to help write this report,
Observer:	KC Childs
Observer's address:	Orem, UT
Observer's e-mail address:	**
Other observers who independently identified this bird:	Felicia Alvarez, Matt Hoecherl
Date prepared:	August 16, 2024
Additional material:	Photos
Additional comments: