White-winged Crossbills

[Gaelen Schnare]

Hi West Kootenay Birders, 

While travelling over Kootenay Pass today, I came across several large flocks of Pine Siskin eating gravel along the roadway. With them, there were 100 plus White-winged Crossbills. In addition, the large flock of Grey-crowned Rosy-finches is still present just west of the summit. I haven’t seen these numbers of WWCR since the big crossbill winter several years ago. 

Has anyone else been seeing crossbills lately?

Gaelen 

[Gary Davidson]

I didn't see that many, but I saw a few on the road on my way to Vernon across the Monashee Pass last week.

Gary

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[Cynthia Fraser]

That’s marvellous Gaelen!  I saw a few WWCB in Taghum in late January.  Cynthia 

https://blog.kootenay-lake.ca/?p=35298

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[Sachi Snively]

I haven’t been up high much but I did have two WWCR down at valley bottom on Sunday. Has anyone noticed how the cone crops are up high? Still fully laden?? 

Sachi

On Feb 18, 2026, at 10:36 AM, 'Gary Davidson' via West Kootenay Birds <wkb...@googlegroups.com> wrote:



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[Gaelen Schnare]

The trees at the summit of Kootenay pass are still quite laden with cones. It was a significant crop up there earlier this year. 

Gaelen

[Sachi Snively]

It certainly was! Glad to hear that the food is still available plentiful up there! That is why so many crossbills are :)

Sachi

On Feb 18, 2026, at 12:32 PM, Gaelen Schnare <gaelen...@gmail.com> wrote:



[Sachi Snively]

It sounds like a spectacular drive! 

Sachi

On Feb 18, 2026, at 2:57 PM, Sachi Snively <sach...@gmail.com> wrote:

It certainly was! Glad to hear that the food is still available plentiful up there! That is why so many crossbills are :)

[Verena Shaw]

I've been seeing a few White-winged Crossbills  in the parking lot at Apex over the past few weeks. Unfortunately I saw a dead one there (hit by vehicle?) as well. SO MANY Pine Siskins at Busk while skiing the other day. 

Remember to honk for the birds if you see any on the road as they respond to honking. I had to do this a lot when I went over Kootenay Pass a couple of weeks ago as there were so many birds along the side of the road.

Verena

[James Turner]

Hi alll,

A few weeks ago, We had a quite a few large flocks of WWCR up on top of Kootenay pass mixed in with high numbers of Cassin’s finch. Lots of Siskin and red crossbills on the road as well. 

Just this morning had a lone, male, WWCR at Nelson landing! A nice surprise.

James Turner

On Feb 18, 2026, at 8:40 PM, Verena Shaw <veren...@gmail.com> wrote:

I've been seeing a few White-winged Crossbills  in the parking lot at Apex over the past few weeks. Unfortunately I saw a dead one there (hit by vehicle?) as well. SO MANY Pine Siskins at Busk while skiing the other day. 

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