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Redpolls... (1 Viewer)

KenM

KenM

Well-known member
Usual Redpolls on the feeder this am...then this pale individual arrived.
The rump area was extensively white albeit with spotting, the head looking particularly contrasty, also the under-parts extremely snow white. The feathering around the ear coverts, scaps, nape and mantle appearing grey/ white, got me wondering?...any comments appreciated.

cheers
 

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KenM said:
Usual Redpolls on the feeder this am...then this pale individual arrived.
The rump area was extensively white albeit with spotting, the head looking particularly contrasty, also the under-parts extremely snow white. The feathering around the ear coverts, scaps, nape and mantle appearing grey/ white, got me wondering?...any comments appreciated.

cheers
Click to expand...

Mealy Redpoll, There seems to have been a mini invasion this winter. I had three a few weeks ago
 

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Last edited:
Rump colour no longer seems a defining factor to me. 1stW Coues can have streaky rumps, some adult mealies (like this) have good pale rumps.

The bill and bold rump streaking strongly indicate Mealy.

You knew all this didn't you Ken;)

Its those pale Icelandic birds that throw me.
 
wolfbirder said:
Rump colour no longer seems a defining factor to me. 1stW Coues can have streaky rumps, some adult mealies (like this) have good pale rumps.

The bill and bold rump streaking strongly indicate Mealy.

You knew all this didn't you Ken;)

Its those pale Icelandic birds that throw me.
Click to expand...

Cheers Nick, I knew that with it's appearance, it could only default to Meally/Common, however It's the Coues conundrum that confounds! I've often wondered about the relevance of the ''small bill'' as the Aldeburgh, hornemanni didn't so much have a small bill, but appeared to have more down feathering at the bill base than yer typical cabaret/flammea, perhaps reflecting the mean temperatures ''oop North'', bit like Snowy Owl?
 

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FWIW...might be of interest to Redpoll-philes?..bird was in again today, and I was fortunate catching it in good light and posture, thought it contrasted well with the bird behind. cheers
 

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JHDraytonbassettpits said:
Hi Ken,
I believe it's normally the 1st winter Mealy Redpolls that are this bright
John
Click to expand...

Thanks John, here's a shot of one of the bigger individuals in the Redpoll (bigger than the Meally type) group of c9. This is also a Meally, and one that looked significantly different (browner) than the pale bird...presumably an adult bird, or at the other end of the ''Meally cosmetic'' cline.

Cheers Ken.
 

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