The Redpolls
01-30-2008 - If you haven?t noticed flocks of Common Redpolls this year, you?ve either spent too much time in the ....
 If you haven?t noticed flocks of Common Redpolls this year, you?ve either spent too much time in the deep woods or holed-up by the wood stove with the curtains closed.
Sporting a black ?goatee,? redpolls are named for their red cap or ?poll.? Roughly the size of a Goldfinch, redpolls are heavily streaked on the flanks, rump, and back, with a gold conical bill tipped in black, and dark wings and tail. In winter, males have a rosy wash to their chest and sides, while females, such as the one pictured above, are buff-colored and more heavily streaked.
These small, lively boreal finches have been widespread this winter, frequenting feeders, fields, pastures and other open habitats across Vermont.
Along with several other arctic species, redpolls have moved south from their tundra breeding grounds as they typically do every other year in response to the biennial seed production of high latitude trees, especially spruce and birch. During these irruptive years, they may travel long distances in order to locate suitable food supplies. A Common Redpoll that was banded one winter in Fairbanks, Alaska, was recaptured the following winter 3,000 miles away near Montreal.
Gregarious and acrobatic, in winter, redpolls are most abundant in open grassy areas where their bouncy flight and rolling feeding flocks enhance the sensation of constant and exuberant activity. When scanning a flock of redpolls, be on the lookout for pale individuals that stand-out from the others in appearance. These are likely to be the less-common Hoary Redpoll (Carduelis hornemanni) which closely resembles the Common Redpoll (C. flammea), but is frostier overall.
While Common and Hoary redpolls have traditionally been considered separate species, recent studies show no genetic differences between them. However, valid arguments against merging the two forms into a single species have, for the time being, prevailed. These include measureable differences in vocalizations and bill shape (shorter in the Hoary), and the fact that they do not readily hybridize. Not to mention that maintaining both redpoll species gives winter-weary birders the chance to check-off two species instead of just one.
Pasted from <http://feeds.feedburner.com/VermontCenterForEcostudies?format=xml>
2008-01-17T14:12:00-06:00 | Steve Faccio
With thanks to www.vtecostudies.org
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