Among birds with white heads, the Ross’s gull lives in Antarctica and very rarely visits North America. In breeding season, these birds have white feathers that are dusted with light gray.

White-winged crossbills have smaller bills and weaker jaw muscles than red crossbills and hence specialize on smaller cones. Black spruce are the favored cones with hemlocks providing a second choice.

Spring’s arrival means bird-watchers across the country may begin to spot migrating birds making their way back from wintering grounds. Not all birds migrate, but many travel south as winter ...