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Common Redpoll - (Carduelis flammea)
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March 15, 2009 - It
seems that this is the day we have seen the last
of redpolls for this winter season. Six of
these birds stopped by for a sunflower seed fill
up before heading back home. Such a cute, hearty
little bird that we look forward to seeing the
next time.
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| March 2, 2009 - In the midst
of a small snow storm and during a frantic
flurry of finches and pine siskins, we saw three
redpolls. Regrettably, we didn't see any of
these little guys for the Great Backyard Bird
Count. |
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At
the end of February 2009 we finally spotted a
male and female redpoll among all the
goldfinches and pine siskins. We had heard many
birders in our area were feeding quite a few
visiting redpolls this year. This irruptive bird
can usually be seen more often during even
years in our part of upstate New York.
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We
first spotted a redpoll in January 2008, but
didn't have an opportunity to photograph one
until the end of February. The name redpoll is
derived from the crown and chest color and
counting heads or taking a poll. Their German
name is birkenzeisig which means birch siskin.
Birch trees provide the seeds that are the
favorites of redpolls. The birch seeds scarcity
in any given winter accounts for the birds
irruptive migration to the states.
Redpolls are one of the smallest in the bird
family to winter so far north. Without much fat,
they have other ways to keep warm: good feather
insulation, high-energy food source, feed in
low-light intensities (start eating early and
stay out late); and forage for food in sheltered
areas (under the insulating snow).
The redpolls also have
developed an unusual adaptation: a small pouch
on one side of the esophagus. This is filled
with non-husked seeds. The bird can find a warmer,
more sheltered area to bring them up for
actual eating. The pouch can hold about
a quarter of one day's total energy
requirements. This midnight snack means
survival on severely cold nights in the
Arctic
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Size:
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Length: 5-5.5 in
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Weight: .5 oz |
Wingspan: 8.25-9 in |
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ID:
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Male: small winter finch with bright
red or orange-red crown
(thumbprint-like); buff colored bill is
sharp, conical and has a black tip; dark
face and black chin, bright deep pink
breast and sides; whitish overall with
heavy dark streaks on back and nape;
dark brown wings with 2 narrow white
wing bars; notched black tail; dark
brown streaks on sides, flanks, and
undertail coverts; dark feet
anisodactylous (three toes point forward
and one toe points backward)
Female: Same as male without red on
chest
Juvenile: Browner than adults; dark
streaks on chest; no red crown
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Habitat:
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Birches, scrub areas in the tundra;
winter in weeds and open areas
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Diet:
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Tiny seeds of birch and alder trees
(when seeds become scarce every couple
of years irruptive migration sends them
south to Northern US); feeder food:
nyjer, sunflower and small finch seeds;
insects in summer; will forage high in
trees, on feeders, and on the ground
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Family Behavior:
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Mating Habits: Monogamous to loosely
colonial; 1-2 broods per year
Local Breeding Period: Breeds in the
Artic
Nests: Cup shaped; built by female of
moss, plant material and feather; lined
with grass and twigs; placed n low
shrubs or rock crevices.
Eggs: 4-7 pale green
with purple markings dotted and
concentrated mostly at larger end;
incubated 10-11 days by female
Nestlings: Born altricial (helpless,
naked, eyes closed) and stay in nest
9-14 days; female feeds mostly but
sometimes the male and male helpers do
also
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Social Activities:
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Gregarious; lives in flocks year
round; breeding pairs stay close
together; can be tamed and fed by hand
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Range:
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Breed in the high Arctic; winter in
brushy areas of southern Canada and
occasionally northern US.
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Vocalization:
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Series of short repeated notes;
trills; rattling chet-chet or a rising
swee-ee-et
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| Lifespan: |
Up to 10 years |
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