crossbill

[ kraws-bil, kros- ]
/ ˈkrɔsˌbɪl, ˈkrɒs- /

noun

any bird belonging to the genus Loxia, of the finch family, characterized by mandibles curved so that the tips cross each other when the bill is closed.

Origin of crossbill

First recorded in 1665–75; cross- + bill2

Example sentences from the Web for crossbill

British Dictionary definitions for crossbill

crossbill
/ (ˈkrɒsˌbɪl) /

noun

any of various widely distributed finches of the genus Loxia, such as L. curvirostra, that occur in coniferous woods and have a bill with crossed mandible tips for feeding on conifer seeds