Carduelis hornemanni
During winter, great flocks of redpolls descend into birch trees or to feeders along forest edges in the Rockies, and mixed in with the large flocks of Common Redpolls, there is often a lightly colored redpoll with an unstreaked rump. The Hoary Redpoll debate predictably arises and birdwatchers square off over the ambiguous field marks. Although the confirmation of a Hoary Redpoll is hard to come by, simply appreciate the bird's cold tolerance and its amazing migratory feats, rather than wasting the moment in second guesses and debate. The Hoary Redpoll is one of the most northerly wintering songbirds. Jens Wilken Hornemann was one of Denmark's leading botanists, and he helped organize an expedition to Greenland where this bird was first discovered. |
I.D.: Sexes similar: red forecrown (cap); black chin; yellow bill; pale plumage overall; unstreaked rump; lightly streaked flanks. Male: pinkish-tinged breast. Female: light gray breast. Size: L 5-51/2 in. (13-14 cm). Range: common migrant and winter resident in the Canadian Rockies; populations fluctuate from year to year. Habitat: open fields, meadows, roadsides, townsites, railways and forest edges in the montane and the subalpine. Nesting: on the taiga and arctic tundra; in a shrub or among rocks, often near water; cup nest is woven with twigs, grass and small roots and lined with fur and ptarmigan feathers; female incubates 4-5 eggs for 11 days. Feeding: gleans the ground, snow and vegetation in flocks for seeds and buds; occasionally visits feeding stations. Voice: song is a twittering series of trills; calls are a soft chit-chit-chit-chit and a faint swe-eet; indistinguishable from the Common Redpoll. Similar Species: Common Redpoll: streaked rump; more heavily streaked flanks; red cap is often less defined. Pine Siskin: very heavily streaked; yellow flashes in the wings and tail. |
