Red Crossbill

The patient of the week joined our baby bird nursery just as we were about to close it down for the season. Red crossbills can breed later in the year and even during winter. This patient was found injured at a campsite on the Olympic Peninsula. Our animal care team discovered and treated a fractured right clavicle that has now healed. The cross of the bill isn’t as pronounced as it will be once fully mature. In another week or so the beak will be long enough to allow this bird to efficiently extract seeds from evergreen cones.

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