Animal of the Week September 17, 2014 -- Scotland decides

NB: some of the tenses and phrasing in the following need thoughtful amendment.

Amid the ongoing debates about Scottish independence, one thing not many people seem to care much about is that come Friday morning, if a Yes vote for a new country is returned, the UK will lose its only endemic vertebrate species: Loxia scotica (Scottish crossbill). No other mammal, bird, reptile, or amphibian is found solely in the UK, and the Scottish crossbill is found only in the Caledonian forest, well north of the border.

Picture: RSPB.

As their name suggests, Scottish crossbills are Scottish and have crossed bills, in which the tips of the top and bottom curve to opposite sides. Crossbills use their peculiar beaks to extract seed from the cones conifers such as pines and larches. The red and the parrot crossbills can also be found in the UK (including England), but they are also found sur le continent.

Hard to distinguish from related species, the best way to tell the crossbills apart is by their call—it was the recognition of the distinct vocalisations of Scottish crossbills (a metallic jip) that confirmed them as a distinct species as recently as 2006.

So, it's not just the currency, taxation, health systems, national identity, etc affected by the #indyref #scotlanddecides referendum, it's also whether the UK loses its only endemic species. Not that I really care either way: as long as an independent Scotland looks after its crossbills, as it has done so far, I'm good.

Happy voting everyone. I hope it all works out well whatever you decide. x