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Message: <blockquote data-quote="Steven Astley" data-source="post: 672302" data-attributes="member: 15646">I have researched redpolls thoroughly. Just out of interest how many birders regularily see and scrutinise redpolls, have the relevant id knowledge(collins doesn't explain it) in the breeding territories in the remoter parts of southern and middle scotland. I saw 2 male redpolls similar to this but with white wingbars locally in july and hence reported them as mealyas a result of seeing these birds i ended up buying camera and catergorise all redpoll as the same species until someone is able to describe adequately what they look like.what i am trying to say is a suspect the picture is the same throughout redpolls northern and upland breeding range not just where you are expected to find vagrants. hopefully new research will be able to shed light on the situation. glad i am not the only 1 baffled.i think there is probally a gradual morphological difference in redpolls with increased northerly (perhaps altitude aswell) range. which would support argument that redpolls are 1 species.</blockquote>