Common Redpolls have been numerous in New Brunswick this fall and winter and began coming to bird feeders early in the season.

Individuals of the large, dark subspecies that breeds farthest north have been seen frequently among them and a few Hoary Redpolls have also occurred.

Here are some redpoll photos from around our feeders at Mary's Point. -- David Christie

This female Hoary Redpoll appeared at and below our niger seed feeder on 8 Dec 2007 and briefly on the morning of 10 December. Note its pale coloration, indistinct streaking on the flanks, unstreaked rump, single, narrow streak on the undertail coverts, and quite short beak.

This male Hoary accompanied 150 Common Redpolls on 11 January. Adult males are paler and less streaked than females.

At least two, perhaps three, female Hoary Redpolls were also present on 11 January. Photos 1 to 3 are of the same individual. Photos 3 and 4 seem to be of differently marked females, so maybe there were three of them present. These latter two birds were not cooperative enough to allow careful study..

12 December 2007: Among the dozens of Common Redpolls at my feeder I've noticed two or three large, darker individuals, apparently of the northern subspecies Carduelis flammea rostrata that breeds on Baffin Island and Greenland. Attempts to photograph the ones that particularly caught my attention have so far failed, but at least one bird that exhibits northern characteristics is visible in some of the redpoll photos I've taken.

In the following composite picture, the bird in the two images at the right (in one, repelling an attempt to land by the Hoary Redpoll) shows a brownish finely-streaked head with little contrast between the eyebrow, cheek, malar and side of the neck except for the slightly darker post-ocular line and back edge of the auriculars. It also has broad flank streaking. These features, and larger size, are characteristics of C. f. rostrata as compared to C. f. flammea. There is, however, gradation in degree of these characteristics, so it is difficult to be sure of birds others than those at the extremes.

The six redpolls in the image on the left side illustrate some of the variation in width of underpart streaking, contrast of facial markings and apparent size. The bird on the back side at upper right with its subdued eyebrow and broad black chin spot suggests rostrata to some degree but I could not be sure. Lighting conditions influence appearance; except for one small spot of sunlight these birds were all in a shaded area.

This male rostrata was at the feeder on 12 December.

David Christie