English and Scientific names:	White-winged Crossbill, Loxia leucoptera
Number of individuals:	3
Locality: LOUISIANA:	Claiborne Parish
Specific Locality:	The Hill Farm Research Station on Hwy 9 near Homer. From Hwy 9 head east on Hill Farm Dr (NOT Ln). Follow the winding road 1.2 miles to Lyons Hill Rd. NW corner of intersection
Date(s) when observed:	Dec. 15, 2006
Time(s) of day when observed:	About 9 am
Reporting observer and address:	Rosemary Seidler, 740 Prospect St., Shreveport, LA 71104
Other observers accompanying reporter who also identified the bird	Paul Miliotis, Jeff Trahan, Jean Trahan, M.E. Lewis, Janis Harrison, Nancy Menasco
Other observers who independently identified the bird	Sterling Lacey (who found the birds on Dec. 14, 2006), Loice Kendrick-Lacey
Light conditions (position of bird in relation to shade and to direction and amount of light):	It was overcast and misting but birds were in good light although high in tops of pine trees.
Optical equipment:	Swarowski 60mm scope
Distance to bird(s):	75 ft
Duration of observation:	5 min
Habitat:	Open fields on one side of the road and lots of tall pine trees on the other.
Behavior of bird:	A flock of maybe 15 birds flew into the top of the pine tree and fed on the many small pine cones there. The three birds that I saw in the scope were hanging upside down feeding.
Description:	What was most notable was the two broad white wing bars. The birds that I saw in my scope were brownish with darker streaking on the breast and flanks. The wings were darker than the head, back, breast and belly with two white wing bars. Tail was slightly notched. Face had a pattern. Did not notice “crossed” bills. They were smaller than female Red-winged Blackbirds and larger than A. Goldfinch which were nearby. The ones I saw were not adult males. They seemed to be adult females.
Voice:	I heard none.
Similar species:	House Finch ( wings were darker, face more patterned, 2 broad white wing bars, larger longer bill), Purple Finch (darker wings, 2 broad white wing bars, larger bill), Pine Siskin (bill larger, broader white wing bars, underside of wing in flight seemed to be more uniform in color).
Photographs or tape recordings obtained?	Alas, no.
Previous experience with this species:	Seen once before in the summer of 1996 in Alaska. Saw many males and females that summer.
Identification aids:	Sibley, National Geographic.
This description is written from:	Notes from a tape recorder at the time of the sighting.
Are you positive of your identification? If not, explain:	Yes.
Reporter:	Rosemary Seidler
Date and time:	01/21/2007 1 pm.