I've seen glimpses of this bird on the sunflower seeds and wondered - from the back - if it was a female goldfinch. Today I got a better look, and it's definitely not. The bill is distinctive, and the only match I can find is a female red crossbill. But the range maps don't show it this far south or east by a long ways. Nor do they show an area of migration. What do you think?
Yes, it looks like it to me. They have been seen in Iowa before, but most often in the winter.
I would suggest you contact the Iowa Ornithologists' Union to let them know of your find, if you wish The contact button is on this page.
http://iowabirds.org/Default.aspx
If you lived a little closer, I'd be tempted to go your way to see this bird. :)
Yep, female Red Crossbill.
Likely a cone crop failure in their normal areas has forced them away to search for other food sources, crossbills are very nomadic in response to cone crop variations.
Resin
