Another Redpoll :)

[Insomniak]

Shortly after the Goldfinches arrived, these little fellows showed up.
Only one in the picture sharing the feeder with a Goldfinch, but I think up to 5 visit daily now.
Just confirm for me that it is a Redpoll, please!

[pressld2]

Happy to confirm it's definitely a redpoll but further than that I dare not go! See Redpoll Confusion??? and you'll understand why!

Dave P.

[Insomniak]

Thank you!

[Jim Ford]

It looks like it could be a redpoll. I've cropped and adjusted the levels of the image, and there's a hint of a black chin:



Jim

[Picidae]

Yes, it's a Lesser Redpoll.

Most likely a female Lesser Redpoll rather than a young male (note lack of red/pink on lower breast/flanks and face as indication female). Warm brown with black streaking and warm upper tail coverts for Lesser cf. to Mealy. Also lack of moustachial stripe, yellowish buff super and streaky head also indicate Lesser.

Possibly a 1st winter female as tail feathers look pointed (juvenile feature).

Separating female Lessers from female Mealys can be tricky as there's lots of overlap with some female Lessers quite bulky looking. Covert tips also whiten on both species with wear (by late winter/Spring) as can face/head. The heavily abraded tips to tertials also suggests a 1w but again, both species become more worn and faded as winter progresses. A female Mealy would have heavier wear on the face/mantle this time of year which makes it a bit easier (ie. face would be much paler overall, and rump/upper tail coverts would be paler than the photo indicates).

The easiest way to separate female Mealy and female Lesser is in the field and on structure but even that can be tricky since there's overlap in size/bill structure depending on age/sex. (why on earth they were ever split in the first place, I can't imagine! I think WABbers should unite and demand they all be lumped back together again ))

[tigger]

I like you feeder! Going to get one of those myself now... much better than the plastic niger feeders.

[Insomniak]

Originally Posted by tigger

I like you feeder! Going to get one of those myself now... much better than the plastic niger feeders.

The stainless steel ones are good, alright, though expensive enough.
You can get a ss tray that screws into the base but I just have a diy version made from a plant pot saucer with holes punched in it for drainage and tied on with cable ties!

[tigger]

Thanks Insomniak