The parrot crossbill (Loxia pytyopsittacus) is a large, powerful finch with a a deep parrot-like bill crossing at the tips. The male is orange to red with dusky wings and tail, the female is olive-green or grey. The scientific name is from Ancient Greek. Loxia derives from loxos, "crosswise", and pytyopsittacus is from pitus, pituos, "pine", and psittakos, "parrot. Specialist feeders on conifer cones, the unusual bill shape is an adaptation to assist the extraction of the seeds from the cone.
