Common Redpoll    Carduelis flammea

Migratory Status: Short-distance migrant

PIF Population Estimate: 30 000 000

Percent of western hemisphere population breeding in boreal forest: <25%

BAM Effective Detection Radius (m) : 79.18

PIF Maximum Detection Distance (m) : 125

Canadian BBS Population trend: Insufficient data

Life History

Common Redpolls are social finches, constantly calling and flitting among one another while foraging. Rarely seen on their northern breeding grounds, they are frequent visitors to winter feeders. Redpolls have an irruptive cycle caused by the failure of the northern seed-crops of spruce (Picea spp.) and birch (Betula spp.), which forces the birds south every second winter, predictably during even numbered years. During widespread seed-crop failure, large flocks amass, some over 10,000 in number, and move south in search of food.

Common Redpolls are small, light-coloured finches that are noticeably streaked, although their plumage varies greatly across their range. In general, Common Redpolls have brownish, heavily streaked upperparts and pale underparts with streaked flanks. Redpolls have short, conical yellow bills surrounded by dark lores and a red forehead, or “poll”, as their name implies. The male has a rosy wash across its breast that may also flush higher into the cheeks. In winter, both sexes become paler in colour.

Redpolls were once considered six different species, mostly due to plumage and bill size variations. Today, they are treated as only two separate species, Common Redpoll and Hoary Redpoll (C. hornemanni). The two species are difficult to separate, even at close range. Hoary Redpolls are paler in colour, less streaked and have an overall bulkier appearance. Their breeding ranges overlap in the north, although Common Redpolls tend to prefer less open habitats. In winter, the two species may form mixed flocks in which Common Redpolls invariable outnumber Hoary Redpolls.

Common Redpolls breed in the subarctic where they are frequently the most common breeding songbird. Redpolls prefer to breed in open coniferous forests, scrublands, or damp rocky barrens, but will regularly nest in stunted mixed or deciduous stands of alder (Alnus spp.), birch and willow (Salix spp.). Redpolls occasionally nest in towns or settlements where they occur along the treeline. The song is a repeated buzzy trill, “che, che, che, tschrrr”. Calls are similar, but shorter; a nasal chattering is given continually when in flocks and particularly while foraging at winter feeders.

Reference(s)

Knox, A. G., and P. E. Lowther. 2000. Common Redpoll (Carduelis flammea), The Birds of North America Online, . A. Poole, Ed. Ithaca: Cornell Laboratory of Ornithology; Retrieved from The Birds of North America Online database: http://bna.birds.cornell.edu/bna/species/543