crossbill
noun
cross·bill
ˈkrȯs-ˌbil 
: any of a genus (Loxia of the family Fringillidae) of finches with curved mandibles that cross each other
Examples of crossbill in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
Modest numbers of red crossbills at the Montague Sandplains Wildlife Management Area in Montague where at least 33 were tallied.
—
BostonGlobe.com, 19 Aug. 2023
At Birch Hill Wildlife Management Area in Winchendon three acadian flycatchers and 28 red crossbills were counted, and five evening grosbeaks were present in Royalston.
—BostonGlobe.com, 19 Aug. 2023
Worcester County: Four sandhill cranes on Hall Road in Hardwick and eight red crossbills at gate 43 at Quabbin Reservoir in Hardwick.
—BostonGlobe.com, 19 Aug. 2023
In addition, scattered small flocks of red crossbills continue to be reported from a number of localities in western parts of the state.
—BostonGlobe.com, 5 Aug. 2023
Four sandhill cranes off Central Street in Plainfield, a continuing blue grosbeak on Aqua Vitae Road in Hadley, 18 greater yellowlegs and two sanderlings in the East Meadows in Northampton, and three red crossbills at Quabbin Park at the Quabbin Reservoir in Belchertown.
—BostonGlobe.com, 29 July 2023
Franklin County: Eight red crossbills near Cranberry Pond in Sunderland.
—Isabela Rocha, BostonGlobe.com, 15 July 2023
Red crossbills are nomadic in their feeding and nesting habits and a bit harder to locate.
—Tracey Minkin, Southern Living, 12 July 2023
Single least bitterns at a Richmond marsh and in Cheshire, two worm-eating warbler on Mount Washington Road in Egremont, a hooded warbler at the Hopkins Memorial Forest, and 10 red crossbills at the October Mountain State Forest.
—Isabela Rocha, BostonGlobe.com, 17 June 2023
BostonGlobe.com, 19 Aug. 2023
At Birch Hill Wildlife Management Area in Winchendon three acadian flycatchers and 28 red crossbills were counted, and five evening grosbeaks were present in Royalston.
—BostonGlobe.com, 19 Aug. 2023
Worcester County: Four sandhill cranes on Hall Road in Hardwick and eight red crossbills at gate 43 at Quabbin Reservoir in Hardwick.
—BostonGlobe.com, 19 Aug. 2023
In addition, scattered small flocks of red crossbills continue to be reported from a number of localities in western parts of the state.
—BostonGlobe.com, 5 Aug. 2023
Four sandhill cranes off Central Street in Plainfield, a continuing blue grosbeak on Aqua Vitae Road in Hadley, 18 greater yellowlegs and two sanderlings in the East Meadows in Northampton, and three red crossbills at Quabbin Park at the Quabbin Reservoir in Belchertown.
—BostonGlobe.com, 29 July 2023
Franklin County: Eight red crossbills near Cranberry Pond in Sunderland.
—Isabela Rocha, BostonGlobe.com, 15 July 2023
Red crossbills are nomadic in their feeding and nesting habits and a bit harder to locate.
—Tracey Minkin, Southern Living, 12 July 2023
Single least bitterns at a Richmond marsh and in Cheshire, two worm-eating warbler on Mount Washington Road in Egremont, a hooded warbler at the Hopkins Memorial Forest, and 10 red crossbills at the October Mountain State Forest.
—Isabela Rocha, BostonGlobe.com, 17 June 2023
These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'crossbill.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.
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Cite this Entry
“Crossbill.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/crossbill. Accessed 25 Apr. 2024.
Copy CitationKids Definition
crossbill
noun
cross·bill
-ˌbil
: any of a genus of finches with the upper and lower parts of the bill curved so that they cross each other when the bill is closed
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