Redpoll
Redpoll
Acanthis flammea
At a Glance
One of the 'winter finches,' nesting in the Arctic and sometimes invading southern Canada and the northern states. Redpolls are tiny, restless birds, feeding actively on seeds among trees and weeds, fluttering and climbing about acrobatically, their flocks seemingly always on the move. At bird feeders in winter, Redpolls are often remarkably tame. For their small size, they have a remarkable ability to survive cold temperatures; their southward flights are sparked by the temporary scarcity of food in the North, not by cold. The northernmost breeding populations are noticeably paler and were formerly separated as a distinct species, Hoary Redpoll. Although they tend to stay farther north, a few of these paler birds may be mixed in with winter Redpoll flocks visiting southern Canada and the northern states.
All bird guide text and rangemaps adapted from by Kenn Kaufman© 1996, used by permission of Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. All rights reserved.
Category
Finches, Perching Birds
IUCN Status
Least Concern
Habitat
Fields, Meadows, and Grasslands, Forests and Woodlands, Freshwater Wetlands, Shrublands, Savannas, and Thickets, Tundra and Boreal Habitats
Region
Alaska and The North, Eastern Canada, Great Lakes, Mid Atlantic, New England, Northwest, Plains, Rocky Mountains, Southeast, Southwest, Western Canada
Behavior
Flitter, Rapid Wingbeats, Undulating
Population
275.000.000
Range & Identification
Migration & Range Maps
The Redpoll migrates by day, in flocks. Very irregular in winter range, probably moving only as far south as necessary to find food.
Description
Both sexes — Length: 4.5–5.5 in (12–14 cm); wingspan: 8–10 in (20–25 cm); weight: 0.3–0.7 oz (9–20 g). The Redpoll is small, with a red forehead, a black chin, and a yellow bill. Darker overall in summer. Male has a variable pink wash on the chest. Compare Redpoll to House Finch and other red finches.
Size
About the size of a Sparrow
Color
Black, Brown, Pink, Red, White
Wing Shape
Pointed
Tail Shape
Notched, Square-tipped
Songs and Calls
Twittering trill; call a soft rattle.
Call Pattern
Flat, Rising
Call Type
Chatter, Chirp/Chip, Trill, Whistle
Habitat
Birches, thickets, tundra scrub. In winter, weeds, brush. The Redpoll breeds in shrubby habitats of the North, including clearings in birch or spruce forest, thickets of willow, alder, or dwarf birch, and bushy areas on tundra. Winters in various kinds of semi-open country, including woodland edges and brushy or weedy fields.
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Behavior
Eggs
4-5, rarely up to 7. Pale green to blue-green, with purplish to reddish brown spots often concentrated at the larger end. Incubation is by female only, about 10-11 days. The male Redpoll feeds the female during incubation.
Young
Fed mostly by female; contribution by male varies. Young leave the nest about 12 days after hatching.
Feeding Behavior
The Redpoll forages very actively in trees, shrubs, weeds, and on the ground. Except when nesting, it usually forages in flocks. Has a pouch within its throat where it can store some food for up to several hours; this helps the bird in bitterly cold weather, allowing it to feed rapidly in the open and then digest food over a long period while it rests in a sheltered spot.
Diet
Mostly seeds, some insects. The Redpoll's diet for most of the year is mainly seeds and other vegetable matter. Feeds on catkins, seeds, and buds of willows, alders, and birches, small conifer seeds, and also seeds of many weeds and grasses. Also eats insects, mainly in summer.
Nesting
Male Redpolls dominate females in winter flocks, but as breeding season approaches, females become dominant and may take the lead in courtship. Does not seem to defend much of a nesting territory; nests of different pairs may be close together. Nest: Usually very well hidden in dense low shrubs, within a few feet of the ground, sometimes in grass clumps or under brushpiles. Nest (probably built by female) is an open cup of fine twigs, grass, moss, lined with feathers (especially ptarmigan feathers), plant down, or animal hair.
Conservation
Conservation Status
Still widespread and abundant.
Climate Threats Facing the Redpoll
Choose a temperature scenario below to see which threats will affect this species as warming increases. The same climate change-driven threats that put birds at risk will affect other wildlife and people, too.
