MD Osprey:
Just a follow-up to Mike's excellent discussion of Red Crossbills in
Maryland. In March, the MD/DC Records Committee (MD/DCRC) published it's
first ever Maryland "subspecies review list" based on a detailed manuscript
that will be published in the future by Marshall Iliff. His manuscript is
an annotated checklist of subspecies observed in Maryland, with comments on
yet undocumented and expected subspecies.
Based on Marshall's recommendation, the MD/DCRC has included on our
subspecies review list both Type I and Type II Red Crossbills. So, as
difficult as it might be, submissions to the committee would be welcome for
these subspecies, if encountered by MD birders.
The subspecies review list (a separate document from the primary "species"
review list) can be found from a link on our MD/DCRC web page here ...
http://www.mdbirds.org/mddcrc/rcindex.html
Thanks.
Phil
At 02:41 05/10/2005, Mike Burchett wrote:
>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.
===================================================
Phil Davis, Secretary
MD/DC Records Committee
2549 Vale Court
Davidsonville, Maryland 21035 USA
301-261-0184
mailto:[log in to unmask]
MD/DCRC Web site: http://www.MDBirds.org/mddcrc/rcindex.html
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