ML642641582

Observation details

See notes on Red/Cassia. Count is minimum of 2 birds calling in background of the individual D recording. Two crossbills (a banded male and an unbanded female/juvenile-type) were coming down to the ground to drink from the spring beneath a willow in the meadow across from campground entrance. Got photos and video of the banded bird, which seem to show lower mandible crossing to right and what looks to me like green over white bands on right leg and yellow over aluminum on left. Sent photos to Craig Benkman who said: "This is crossbill we first captured in May 2018 and was photographed earlier this summer as well. He was an after-second-year in 2018, so he is at least 3 years old. Unfortunately, he did not call when we released him so I am uncertain whether he is a Cassia Crossbill or not. You didn’t happen to hear him or especially record his contact calls, did you?" The bird did give one call note in my video as it took flight. That note is clipped from video and attached here. Looks good to me for Cassia.