Crossbills were unlikely resident in the Bahamas; thus, there was no population to be extirpated

Reply to Benkman: Hispaniolan crossbills formerly resided in the Bahamas

“…We appreciate the issues raised in Benkman's letter (1), which is critical of our paper (2). Here, we will address these issues.…”

“…Benkman (1) believes that the late Pleistocene Bahamian (Abaco island) fossils we identified as Hispaniolan crossbill (Loxia megaplaga), in fact, represent nonresident individuals of red crossbill (Loxia curvirostra). The title of his letter begins with "Crossbills were unlikely resident in the Bahamas" (leaving some uncertainty), but concludes with apparent certainty that "thus, there was no population to be extirpated."…”