Common or Lesser Redpoll? (1 Viewer)

[Little Angel]

I'm in NE Scotland & these have been in the garden the last few days feeding mainly on Nyger seeds.

I just cant decide which one it is. Less likely to be Common Redpoll, I know.

Thanks

LA

 

[Nutcracker]

Pics 3 & 4 I'd say are Lesser; not sure on pics 1, 2, 5, they might well be Mealy.

 

[Little Angel]

Thanks, can anyone else confirm?

LA

 

[birdboybowley]

All Lessers for me

 

[wolfbirder]

I'd guess 5 is good for Common Mealy. 1 & 2 could be too.
3 & 4 are Lessers I think.

 

[Andy Lakin]

Try this guide, I've only had a very quick scan but it looks very thorough. It's the "brownish" Mealies that the experts identify that baffle me I don't know if some of them are I.D,d on biometrics alone or what.

 

[Mark Lew1s]

I think they are all lessers

 

[wolfbirder]

Try this guide, I've only had a very quick scan but it looks very thorough. It's the "brownish" Mealies that the experts identify that baffle me I don't know if some of them are I.D,d on biometrics alone or what.

Interesting that Andy. Thank you.

That article is by Lee Evans, sometimes maligned but nevertheless a very astute and capable birder.
But the 2 photos of the same Redpoll on page 6 he calls a Lesser Redpoll, is the same bird as that much discussed from Marsh Lane. Many expert birders discussed whether it was a Mealy, pale Icelandic type, or Arctic, but certainly not mooted as a Lesser, as Lee suggests. (Unless someone tells me it is not atually the same bird as on page 6).