loxia
Loxia is a genus of passerine birds in the finch family Fringillidae, commonly known as crossbills. The name derives from the Latin and Greek roots for “crosswise,” a reference to the crossed tips of their beaks, a distinctive adaptation that helps them pry open cones to extract seeds.
Species in the genus inhabit boreal and montane forests across the Northern Hemisphere, including parts of
Diet centers on conifer seeds, though crossbills may consume buds and, less commonly, insects. Their foraging
Taxonomy within Loxia is subject to revision, and several populations are treated as distinct species by some
Conservation status varies by species and region. While many crossbills are widespread and stable, some endemic