Scottish Crossbill

• It is one of only two land vertebrate species endemic to the United Kingdom, along with the red grouse.
• Its status as a species in its own right was confirmed in August 2006 on the basis of its distinctive song: it is one of very few cases in which voice has been the decisive argument for separating a species.
• The Scottish Gaelic name for the crossbill is Cam-ghob, which means "crooked bill".
• It is the only bird species endemic to Great Britain and the only land vertebrate found nowhere else in the United Kingdom. Its status as a species in its own right was confirmed in 2006 on the basis of its distinctive call.

Skeleton type

Vertebrate - internal bony skeleton (bird)

Habitat & environment

Endemic to the Caledonian forests of Scotland, where it occupies the conifer stands. The first global estimate of its population was made over 3,506 km² of conifer forest in northern Scotland

Size at birth

An altricial chick with down, which leaves the nest at 20-22 days; its bill does not cross until about ten days later, so it goes on depending on its parents

Sexual maturity

1 year

Gestation / incubation

12-14 days of incubation, by the female alone, fed by the male

Litter / clutch size

3-4 eggs, with recorded clutches of 2 to 6; the size depends on the pine cone crop

Sources consulted: IUCN Red List; EUNIS - Agencia Europea de Medio Ambiente; Informe Art. 12 de la Directiva Aves; Summers y Buckland 2010, Bird Conservation International (Cambridge University Press); British Ornithologists Union; Hartert 1904

Best time: All year round in the Caledonian forests of Scotland