Northampton Uk Redpoll (1 Viewer)

[rylirk]

Taken just a few minutes ago, mealy redpoll or lesser?

 

[wheatearlp]

Difficult to tell whether the overall apparent paleness is real or an artefact in this boc shot. Wing-bar doesn't appear very white but undertail coverts seem to have limited streaking. On balance I'd say Lesser, but an original pic would be easier to assess.

 

[rylirk]

Difficult to tell whether the overall apparent paleness is real or an artefact in this boc shot. Wing-bar doesn't appear very white but undertail coverts seem to have limited streaking. On balance I'd say Lesser, but an original pic would be easier to assess.

I will get the original when able, but i can confirm the bird was very pale in real life, thats what got us onto it. There are plenty of much buffier redpolls here which are obvious lessers, but the photo bird was all on its own so couldnt make a direct comparison.

 

[Bismarck Honeyeater]

I think Redpolls are at their darkest in Spring, so by rights, this pale bird ought to be a Common (Mealy) Redpoll.

 

[Hotspur]

Its grey not brown, and cold tones in super so Mealy.

 

[rylirk]

As promised, the original photo with no colour correction. Also we went back to the site a couple of days later and got a few more picture of the suspect birds (up to 2 mealies had been reported by others in the flock). Any thoughts on these?