Red crossbill Percna subspecies (Loxia curvirostra percna): description of residence

Section 33 of the Species at Risk Act (SARA) prohibits damaging or destroying the residence of a listed threatened, endangered, or extirpated species. SARA defines residence as: “a dwelling-place, such as a den, nest or other similar area or place, that is occupied or habitually occupied by one or more individuals during all or part of their life cycles, including breeding, rearing, staging, wintering, feeding or hibernating” [s.2(1)]. With respect to a listed wildlife species that is an aquatic species or a species of bird protected under the Migratory Birds Convention Act, 1994, the prohibition applies wherever residence of the species is found. For any other listed wildlife species, the prohibition applies automatically when the residence of the species is on federal lands and will only apply on non-federal lands if an order is made pursuant to sections 34 or 35 of SARA. Under section 97 of SARA every person who contravenes section 33 of the Act commits an offence.

The following is a description of residence for the Red Crossbill percna subspecies  (Loxia curvirostra percna), created for the purposes of increasing public awareness and aiding enforcement of the above prohibition. Red Crossbills are known to have one type of residence – the nest.

Species information

Common name
Red Crossbill
Scientific name
Loxia curvirostra (percna subspecies)
Current COSEWIC status & year of designation
Endangered (2004)
Occurrence in Canada
Insular Newfoundland
Rationale for designation
Habitat loss, interspecific competition, and human disturbance
Figure 1. Known distribution of the Red Crossbill (percna subspecies) in Canada (shown in red)Footnote1,Footnote2. Distribution is approximate and not intended for legal use.
Image of map (see long description below)
Long description for Figure 1

Figure 1 shows the known distribution of the species in Canada. It covers the entirety of the island of Newfoundland with the exception of Fogo Island and New World Island.

1 The nest

Physical appearance and context

Any place used as a nest by Red Crossbill percna subspecies is considered a residence.  The nest of the Red Crossbill is described as well concealed within the branches of spruce, or pine trees, ranging from 2 to 20 m off the groundFootnote3. However, nests in Newfoundland are described as being found in all coniferous trees, and are made of twigs, rootlets or strips of bark, and are lined with moss, hair or furFootnote4. Nest dimensions measured for a nest in Colorado (non percna subspecies) were: 105–127 mm across, 52 mm deep; cup: 60 mm wide, 27 mm deepFootnote5. No nest dimensions are available for a percna nest.

Clutch size is generally 3 eggsFootnote3 in North America, but 4 – 5 eggs were reported for Newfoundland nestsFootnote4. Eggs are pale green in colour. Onset of incubation begins after the last egg, except in cold weather when incubation may begin on the first egg. Only the females are known to incubate the eggsFootnote3.  Incubation times range from 12 – 16 daysFootnote3. There is little information available from North America on the synchronization of hatch.  Nests of Scottish Crossbills (Loxia scotica) hatched all eggs within 24 hours for 4 nests and within 48 hours for 8 nests. Colder temperatures may prompt more asynchronous hatchFootnote3.

Fledging times are varied and there is no information for the percna subspecies.  Other Red Crossbill subspecies fledging times range from 15 – 25 days, with an extreme of 35 daysFootnote3. Once fledged the young may stay near and roost at the nest tree for several days. Chicks are altricial (born featherless, blind, and helpless) at hatch, and will remain in the nest until they fledge.

Function

The function of the nest residence is to provide protection, shelter, and the required conditions for egg-laying, incubation, and hatching, as well as the rearing of young.

Damage and destruction of the Residence

Federal Policy defines damage or destruction of a residence as:

Any alteration to the topography, geology, soil conditions, vegetation, chemical composition of air/water, surface or groundwater hydrology, micro-climate, or sound environment which either temporarily or permanently impairs the function(s) of the residence of one of more individuals.Footnote6

Any activity that destroys the function of the nest would constitute damage or destruction of the residence.  This includes, but is not limited to, loss of access, direct destruction of the nest, loss of the tree that contains the nest, and alteration to surrounding canopy cover, foliage height, and foliage diversity and density.

Period and frequency of occupancy

Nest initiation generally occurs between mid December and mid SeptemberFootnote3 in North America, and more specifically described as January through July for Newfoundland depending upon the availability of foodFootnote4.

Nests should be protected as a residence during the period they are active. Due to the variability of breeding, nest protection for this species cannot be assigned to a given time frame. Red Crossbills are very transient and eruptive and will occur in areas of high food concentration. Therefore they may not display fidelity to a nest location from year to year. Protection should include the period encompassing nest building, egg laying, incubation, hatching, brood rearing, fledging, and approximately one week of the post-fledging time period – a total time frame of approximately 60 days.

Additional information

For more information on the Red Crossbill percna subspecies, please visit the species profile website.

For more information on SARA, please visit the SAR Registry.

Recommended citation

Please cite this document as:

Government of Canada. Species at Risk Act Public Registry. Residence Descriptions. Description of residence for Red Crossbill percna subspecies (Loxia curvirostra percna) in Canada. December 2006.

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