Arctic Redpoll? (1 Viewer)

[2spot Ladybird]

Just saw a very light coloured Redpoll in my garden about 1 1/2 hrs ago. Just wondering if it's an Arctic Redpoll or an other subspecies?

I'm in Midlothian, Scotland.

 

[tittletattler]

Just saw a very light coloured Redpoll in my garden about 1 1/2 hrs ago. Just wondering if it's an Arctic Redpoll or an other subspecies?

I'm in Midlothian, Scotland.

Do you have any shots of its rump or the undertail? It's probably a Mealy Redpoll with those flank streaks but on these photos, I reckon a poorly marked female 'Coue's Arctic' can't be ruled out.

Cheers,

Andy.

 

[Perry Smale]

I was thinking this looks promising for Arctic exilipes.

 

[chris butterworth]

Thats a very pale bird and the undertail coverts look right and the wingbars seem correct. Tenatively - Yes, Arctic ( and if it isn't then it's still a superb looking bird)

Cowardly Chris ( when it comes to Redpolls )

 

[2spot Ladybird]

That's the only pics I managed to get, the other Red Polls wouldn't let her feed so she flew off and hasn't been back. I will keep a close eye incase she comes back |=)|

 

[lostinjapan]

Seems quite large for Arctic and more images or information on undertail coverts and rump.

Cheers

Sean

 

[2spot Ladybird]

Seems quite large for Arctic and more images or information on undertail coverts and rump.

Cheers

Sean

The bird didn't appear to be any larger than the Lesser Redpoll that's on the feeder she's perched beside, infact I'd say she looked slightly smaller. Hopefully she'll come back and I'll be able to get more pics/info.

 

[mäkpe]

Seems basic Mealy Redpoll for me. We have good numbers of those around right now.

It could offcourse be exilipes but there's no critical features visible in these pics (and nothing pointing towards exilipes more than Mealy).

 

[Jane Turner]

Do you have any shots of its rump or the undertail? It's probably a Mealy Redpoll with those flank streaks but on these photos, I reckon a poorly marked female 'Coue's Arctic' can't be ruled out.

Cheers,

Andy.

I agree. Its at the white end of Mealy, and for once there is no possibility of confusion with Lesser. I've seen a lot of people claim Coue's when there is no way of excluding Mealy.

 

[OlaB]

Seems quite large for Arctic and more images or information on undertail coverts and rump.

Cheers

Sean

I don´t understand this. Arctic isn't smaller than Mealy?

 

[lostinjapan]

I think what I was trying to say was that jizz-wise it appeared larger and bulkier in the pic compared to the obvious Lesser.

In my limited experience of both 'exlipes' and 'hornemanii' they appeared to me to be smaller..perhaps due to the bill appearing smaller.

Sorry wasn't very helpful as very subjective.

Should have stuck to rump, undertail coverts etc.

Sean

 

[wolfbirder]

Arctic Exilipes may well be smaller than Common Mealy, remember males can be considerably bigger than females in Redpolls.

I find very pale undersided Lessers very hard to differentiate from Exilipes on basic colouration and jizz (until / unless you see rump).

To me this bird is probably a Mealy, but the flank streaking does not exclude Arctic IMO. Paleness of upperparts counts for little except for ruling out Lesser, many Arctics have a buff brown head and brownish upperparts. So it could be either. It's subtle features like bill size (again there is overlap), position of eye on head, undertail covert streak width that have to be seen well . Even then it is near on impossible to identify such birds with confidence - i.e Marsh Lane bird.

Always fascinates me does Redpoll i/d, even tho we have been there again and again.