Common Crossbill

A tough day--cold, repeated bouts of snow, and a couple of long walks with few birds. We had a group of 3 red kites early, but quite high and completely backlit.

This common crossbill (Loxia curvirostra)--probably a juvenile--was one of a small group which appeared around the courtyard of a visitors center while we were eating lunch. I dashed out to our van for my big lens, but when I got back the one colorful adult male had flown on, and I settled for this individual on the courtyard wall--note how the tail is used for support (as with woodpeckers against trees). Crossbills are named for their bills, which have crossed tips which aid in prying open cones and extracting seeds.

We are staying in the Ardennes mountains in the east of Belgium; our longest walk today was in the Eiffel, near the German border. Tomorrow afternoon we take the train from Lille back to Paris.