[Prima]

We had these in the garden for about 4 weeks during February but could not decide if they were Common or Lesser Redpolls or both.
Can anyone put us out of our misery?

[Ian Hamiltan]

Originally Posted by Prima

We had these in the garden for about 4 weeks during February but could not decide if they were Common or Lesser Redpolls or both.
Can anyone put us out of our misery?

common and lesser are the same thing

[Storm-Petrel]

yap same difference

[Andrew Whitehouse]

Common normally refers to a Mealy Redpoll, so not the same thing as Lesser. Might leave this to others to figure out - I'm a bit rusty on these.

[Ian Hamiltan]

Originally Posted by Andrew Whitehouse

Common normally refers to a Mealy Redpoll, so not the same thing as Lesser. Might leave this to others to figure out - I'm a bit rusty on these.

hi andrew
never heard a mealy referd as a common before

[Andrew Whitehouse]

Originally Posted by Ian Hamiltan

hi andrew
never heard a mealy referd as a common before

Carduelis flammea is either called Common Redpoll or Mealy Redpoll. Caduelis caberet is called Lesser Redpoll.
http://www.birdguides.com/species/default.asp

[Steven Astley]

They are Lesser. Very brown, note how the white markings on the mantle contrast heavily with the brown mantle on Common (Mealy) this feature is less contrasty due to the bird having a more paler appearance.