Each week, we bring Maine and New Brunswick photographers' captures of the beauty and uniqueness of our region.

Robert R. Williams spotted this crossbill as the wee lass surveyed the territory outside her little home at Echo Lake at The Aroostook State Park in Presque Isle

Crossbill, Echo Lake (Robert R. Williams photo)
Crossbill, Echo Lake (Robert R. Williams photo)
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The crossbill, from the genus Loxia in the finch family, is characterised by crossed-tipped mandibles. Adult males are usually red or orange and females generally green or yellow, but there is much variation. Crossbills use their unusual bill shape to extract seeds from conifers. This young lady may be setting up home, as crossbills usually breed in winter months to take advantage of the abundance of evergreen cones.

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