Common Redpoll

Common Redpoll male

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Common Redpoll female

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1. Description
2. Sound
3. Conservation Status
4. Other Names
5. Cool Facts
6. Full detailed species account

An abundant breeding bird of the boreal and taiga regions, the Common Redpoll is seen in North America primarily only in the winter. Even then, it generally occurs during irruptions, typically every other year.

Description

• A very small finch.
• Bill small and conical.
• Chin black.
• Forehead red.

• Size: 12-14 cm (5-6 in)
• Wingspan: 19-22 cm (7-9 in)
• Weight: 11-20 g (0.39-0.71 ounces)

Sex Differences

Male pink on chest and less streaked, female without pink and heavily streaked.

Sound

Call is a series of chittering notes with some rising, questioning notes.

Conservation Status

Not listed as threatened or endangered.

Other Names

Sizerin flammé (French)
Pardillo sizerín (Spanish)

Cool Facts

• Redpolls have throat pouches for temporarily storing seeds. They may fill their pouches with seeds quickly then fly away to swallow the seeds in a more protected, warmer spot.

• For a detailed view of the redpoll irruption of 1997-98 winter, click here.

Sources used to construct this page:

Knox, A. G., and P. E. Lowther. 2000. Common Redpoll (Carduelis flammea). In The Birds of North America, No. 543 (A. Poole and F. Gill, eds.). The Birds of North America, Inc., Philadelphia, PA.