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The different species specialize in feeding on different conifer species, with the bill shape optimized for opening that species of conifer. This is achieved by inserting the bill between the conifer cone scales and twisting the lower mandible towards the side to which it crosses, enabling the bird to extract the seed at the bottom of the scale ...
A conifer cone, or in formal botanical usage a strobilus, pl.: strobili, is a seed-bearing organ on gymnosperm plants, especially in conifers and cycads. They are usually woody and variously conic, cylindrical, ovoid, to globular, and have scales and bracts arranged around a central axis, but can be fleshy and berry-like.
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Males and young birds also have red markings on the neck or head. This species is found across the Palearctic including parts of North Africa. Across most of its range it is resident , but in the north some will migrate if the conifer cone crop fails.
One way to distinguish between them is by their cones. Each has barbs at the end of the scales. The sharp Jeffrey pine cone scale barbs point inward, so the cone feels smooth to the palm of one's hand when rubbed down the cone. Ponderosa pine cone scale barbs point outward, so feel sharp and prickly to the palm of one's hands.
The seed cones are ovoid-cylindric, 2 to 5 cm (3 ⁄ 4 to 2 in) long, with 40 to 80 seed scales; each scale bearing an exserted 4 to 8 mm (3 ⁄ 16 to 5 ⁄ 16 in) bract. The cones are green [ 5 ] to reddish purple when immature, turning brown and the scales opening flat or reflexed to release the seeds when mature, four to six months after ...
Juniper berries are actually modified conifer cones.. A juniper berry is the female seed cone produced by the various species of junipers.It is not a true berry but a cone with unusually fleshy and merged scales called a galbulus, which gives it a berry-like appearance.
The red crossbill is in the midst of an adaptive radiation into the niches presented by the various species of conifer. [12] There are about 10 North American and 18 Eurasian types so far identified, [13] with many known to affiliate with a particular conifer species or a suite of similar conifer species. While each type may be seen to feed on ...