Hispaniolan Crossbill
A species of Crossbills Scientific name : Loxia megaplaga Genus : Crossbills
Hispaniolan Crossbill, A species of Crossbills
Botanical name: Loxia megaplaga
Genus: Crossbills
Content
Description General Info
Photo By pedrogenarorodriguez , used under CC-BY-NC-4.0 /Cropped and compressed from original 
Description
The Hispaniolan crossbill (Loxia megaplaga) is a crossbill that is endemic to the island of Hispaniola (split between Haiti and the Dominican Republic), and the only representative of the Loxia genus in the Caribbean. 
Size
16 cm
Life Expectancy
4 years
Nest Placement
Tree
Feeding Habits
Hispaniolan Crossbill specializes in consuming Hispaniolan pine seeds. It uses its distinct crossed bill to extract seeds from cones, also feeding on palm fruits, pine mistletoe, and occasional insects. This foraging strategy highlights unique dietary adaptations for these specific resources.
Habitat
Hispaniolan Crossbill primarily resides in the mountainous pine forests of the Caribbean. These habitats are characterized by an open pine canopy and a mid-canopy layer that is less dense, underlain by a thicker mixed-broadleaf understory approximately 2.5 meters tall. Hispaniolan Crossbill depends on mature pine forests, between 75 to 100 years of age, as these older trees yield more cones, ensuring a dependable food supply essential to the species' survival. The habitat also features significant canopy coverage and tall pine trees that are crucial to the bird's nesting and foraging activities.
Dite type
Granivorous
General Info
Feeding Habits
Bird food type
Species Status
Because of its restricted range, small population size, and reliance on threatened pine forest, this species is listed as Endangered by the IUCN (International Union for Conservation of Nature and Natural Resources; BirdLife International 2008). The population is highly fragmented and is currently thought to be declining, primarily due to increased agricultural clearance and habitat loss. The mature population, which is thought to range somewhere between 400 - 2300 individuals, is concentrated primarily in the Sierra de Baoruco National Park, which lacks any active protection.
Scientific Classification
Phylum
Chordates Class
Birds Order
Perching birds Family
Finches Genus
Crossbills Species
Hispaniolan Crossbill 
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