Red Crossbill Irruptions

Summer 2026 Irruption

In July 2026 reports of Red Crossbills started to be filed on eBird. As the reports started to come in it became obvious that a significant irruption was occurring. These irruptions occur periodically and while crossbills are normally expected to be a winter species in the Great Plains, summer sightings are not that rare. As of late August, reports were still being filed on eBird.

The following map shows when the first confirmed report was filed for a county. Counties with the same color background indicate the first report came in the same month. As more reports are filed the map will be updated to show new counties.

New reports can be sent to Chuck Otte: cotte at twinvalley.net, or filed on eBird.

Red Crossbill Irruption of 2017-2018

Map shows date of first report - counties are color coded based on month of first sighting.
(Through June 16, 2018).