Identifying Redpolls? (1 Viewer)

[Stuarty]

We had them in our garden for the first time on the 1st, since when the flock size has increased daily to a peak of around 30 today. The trouble is, I'm unsure what type(s) of Redpoll they are? Some have a very prominent, almost full pink breast; others are very white; some are distinctly speckled brown with obvious red head and throat patches, and some only have a tiny amount of red on their head which is almost indistinguishable.

Any help? The books I have don't make the common/arctic/mealy/lesser differences very clear, if they even exist!

 

[Stoggler]

Thank you - someone else in the same predicament as me. Looking forward to the replies!

 

[Bananafishbones]

Lesser and Mealy

If you have a flock of Redpolls they are sure to be Lessers, which come in a variety of plumages with some browner than others and some with no pink on the breasts to almost completely deep pink.

I have attached an image (sorry its not clearer) of a Mealy Redpoll. If you have one in your flock it could be fairly distinctive. Mine is almost grey, with pure white wingbars and a little bigger and bulkier. A different Jizz too... it is just seems different in its posture and you can identify this from the other birds around it.

 

[The Cumbrian]

Thank you - someone else in the same predicament as me. Looking forward to the replies!

I am not lucky enough to get more than a single Redpoll. I am fairly confident it is lesser but the whole subject of Redpolls has me fuddled. There seems to be so many different names often to the uninitiated it appears the came bird has 2 or 3 possible names. I too look forward to the replies.

I have attached a couple of photos of my single in the hope that at least Stuarty can say some of mine are like that and somebody can say well they are ...........

Thanks for any comments.

Sorry about the quality they are crops from shots taken through a window.

 

[Stuarty]

Thanks for replies and pictures folks. We always have at least one Redpoll which is very pale compared to the rest, with an almost white underside. If only I had clean windows and a decent camera!

 

[wolfbirder]

I suggest you go to the regional thread on Birdforum and go to north-east then Durham birding (from page 512 onwards) as there is lots of discussion and also loads of photos/video stuff. Discusses all these issues.

Its a minefield I warn you!

 

[Stuarty]

I suggest you go to the regional thread on Birdforum and go to north-east then Durham birding (from page 512 onwards) as there is lots of discussion and also loads of photos/video stuff. Discusses all these issues.

Its a minefield I warn you!

I want to simplify the matter, not further complicate it! :-O

Thanks mate, I'll have a wee look.

 

[birding maniac]

Its difficult with Redpolls, very difficult... :-C

I wouldn't like to ID any of your birds without a photograph. However, the smaller browner birds will most likely be a LESSER REDPOLL Carduelis Cabaret, our breeding species.

Paler birds could possible be MEALY/COMMON REDPOLL C. Flammea.

Very rarely large flocks of Redpoll are accompainied by Arctic/Hoary Redpoll C. Hornemanni which are split into races further- Coues' Arctic Redpoll C. H. Exilipes and Hornemann's Arctic Redpoll C. H. Hornemanni

Wiht much overlap between species and races ID is very difficult. See the Durham birding thread, or Coues' Arctic Redpoll thread for more on this. I hope I have cleared up names, and think they're right

 

[The Cumbrian]

Its difficult with Redpolls, very difficult... :-C

I wouldn't like to ID any of your birds without a photograph. However, the smaller browner birds will most likely be a LESSER REDPOLL Carduelis Cabaret, our breeding species.

Paler birds could possible be MEALY/COMMON REDPOLL C. Flammea.

Very rarely large flocks of Redpoll are accompainied by Arctic/Hoary Redpoll C. Hornemanni which are split into races further- Coues' Arctic Redpoll C. H. Exilipes and Hornemann's Arctic Redpoll C. H. Hornemanni

Wiht much overlap between species and races ID is very difficult. See the Durham birding thread, or Coues' Arctic Redpoll thread for more on this. I hope I have cleared up names, and think they're right

Certainly you have cleared the name situation in my head. Thank you.

 

[Stoggler]

Certainly you have cleared the name situation in my head. Thank you.

I'll echo that sentiment - just the names of the different species was confusing me (and having more than one name for species that are physically very similar and difficult to tell apart really does not help!).