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Common Redpoll

Acanthis flammea ORDER: PASSERIFORMES FAMILY: FRINGILLIDAE

IUCN Conservation Status: Least Concern

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Common Redpoll Photo

© Lang Elliott/CLO

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.

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Appearance

Finches
Finches
Typical Voice

Adult Description

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

Male Description

Crown bright red. Chin and lores black. Upperparts dark with pale edges; edges wear off through spring. Wings and tail blackish-brown. Wingbars broad and white. Lower back and rump paler and less streaked than upper back. Rump, cheeks and breast red or pink. Flanks with lines of dark streaks. Undertail coverts usually with dark centers and broad pale edges. Rest of underparts white or buffy.

Female Description

Similar to male, but darker and streakier. Little or no red, except on crown.

Immature Description

Immature male resembles adult female.

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Common Redpoll Range Map
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Similar Species

  • Pine Siskin more streaked, without red, without black bib. Yellow in wings.
  • Hoary Redpoll difficult to distinguish, but larger, frostier, with smaller bill and less streaking. Hoary rump white without streaks. Undertail coverts have little to no black markings. Note that Common Redpolls can look similar, and that the streaking on the undertail coverts is often hidden by the white of the overlapping feathers.