Acanthis flammea
male
The Common Redpoll is a compact little finch. The sexes are dissimilar. Adult males have streaked gray-brown upperparts, and subtly darker wings showing two white wingbars and white margins to the flight feathers. The streaked gray-brown head has a red forecrown and black chin. The breast and flanks are suffused with pinkish red, which is more intense in summer than winter. The underparts are otherwise whitish but streaked on the flanks. Adult females are similar to an adult male but lack the red flush on the breast at all times. Juveniles are streaked and buffish brown, and lack the adult’s red forecrown; this feature is acquired by early winter.
The Common Redpoll is present year-round in boreal forests across the region. Birds that breed farther north in the Arctic are present there mainly May to August; outside the breeding season they form nomadic flocks that move south, roaming in search of reliable sources of alder and birch seeds.
female
FACT FILE
LENGTH 5.25 in (13.5 cm)
FOOD Invertebrates in summer; seeds and buds at other times
HABITAT Northern forests
STATUS Widespread and common resident, summer breeder, and winter visitor
VOICE Song is a series of trills and twitters. Call is a dry rattle
