Jim Stasz and I found a female RED CROSSBILL on saturday in Garrett.  It was found at the 4-H Camp, which is located off of Bittinger Rd(rt. 495) appox. 10-13 miles South of I-68 exit 19.  We were parked by the lake and walked north? past a gate and into an area of mixed forest with several large piles of rubble nearby.  While on our way out, a Red Crossbill flew over calling and landed hidden in a tree right above us.  Jim got a look at the bird and sexed it as a female.  The bird took flight before I got a good look at it.  The bird flew away to the East? giving flights calls once again.  

Red Crossbills have many different "Types" across its global range, with at least 8 types in North America.  These types are currently considered subspecies but they definitely have the potential to be split into separate species.  Some sources actually consider them a separate species.  The December 1995 issue of Birding has a great article on these birds.  <http://research.amnh.org/ornithology/crossbills/contents.html> is a website that discusses geographic distribution, differences in bill size and shape, and differences in calls.

Types One, Two, Three and Four are those which can occur in Maryland.  Types One and Two are resident breeders in the Southern Appalachian region while Types Three and Four are migrants which can occur during irruption years.  I believe the bird that we observed was a Type One.  I base this on the flight calls that the bird was making.  This is also one of the Types that would be expected in Garrett at this time of year.  

To my knowledge, there are not any confirmed breeding records of Red Crossbill for Maryland.  There are, however, sight records from every month of the year.  The bird we observed could very well be a nesting bird.  There is a good chance that these birds are nesting in western Maryland but it is just a matter of finding them.  The next four weeks or so is great time to be out in Garrett, as breeders are arriving and the trees just might be getting their leaves back sometime soon.

Whenever Red Crossbills are encountered, the Type should try to be identified.  This is especially true if someone stumbles upon evidence of nesting.  If they, or when they, rather, split these species, it will be very helpful to know which records correspond to which Type.

This was my fourth or fifth trip to Garrett and each time I have become more and more interested in it.  Jim and others have done a great job of introducing all the regular hot spots to me and I am very thankful for that.  Over the next few months, and years, I plan on doing some exploring and seeing what I can come up with.  Reaching Garrett has recently become significantly easier for me, however.  I have decided on West Viriginia University in Morgantown for college.  I will most likely spend the next four or five years there and it is just a short drive from Garrett.  Only drawback... over five hours to eastern Worcester.  Long way for a rarity, but it will most likely be worth it!

Cheers,
Mike Burchett
Churchville, MD
Harford Co.