Which redpoll? Ottawa, Canada (1 Viewer)

[Gillian_M]

It's been a long time since I've posted here, but I need some help with a redpoll I saw two days ago at a feeder I frequent. It looked a little bit whiter than the redpolls it was associating with, and has the small bill I associate with Hoary Redpolls (Carduelis hornemanni). This is the best candidate I've seen for Hoary redpoll this winter but I am not certain that it is one.

All of the photos are of the same bird.

Can anyone positively confirm this as either a Hoary or Common Redpoll?

Thanks for your help!

 

[etudiant]

I'm no expert, but it seems streakier and darker than usual for a Hoary.

 

[Peter C.]

I think I can see a large, dark feather centre in the undertail coverts in #4, which would make it a Common.

 

[mrmanning]

I`ve seen darker Hoaries than this bird, but as Peter mentions, the streaking on the UTCs would be a concern for me to call it absolutely a Hoary.

 

[Gillian_M]

Thanks everyone. I guess I'll have to keep looking for my first Hoary!

 

[The Falcon]

Agree with the others -- it's a Common Redpoll.

 

[KenM]

I'd have considered that ''mark'' to be a wide flank streak, rather than a central UTC streak..try and get some better shots..if you can?

cheers

 

[TLeukering]

In one of the pictures, one can see some of the undertail coverts reasonably well, and there appear to be multiple vague shaft streaks. The bird also has fairly extensive streaking on the sides/flanks. I'd go with Common. However, many Hoaries have as many as two undertail coverts with distinct shaft streaks, but such streaked coverts are always the longest in the tract, thus the streaks are in the center of the tract. Lateral undertail coverts with streaking probably makes for a deal breaker for Hoary.