Measurements
Both Sexes
- Length
- 4.7–5.5 in
12–14 cm - Wingspan
- 7.5–8.7 in
19–22 cm - Weight
- 0.4–0.7 oz
11–20 g
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.
Habitat
Open Woodland
- Breeds in open subarctic coniferous forest and scrub. Avoids dense forests.
- Winters in open woodland and scrub, weedy fields, and suburban and urban areas.
Food
Seeds
Very small seeds, such as birch, willow, alder, grasses, and weeds. Also arthropods in summer.
Nesting
Nesting Facts
- Clutch Size
- 2–7 eggs
- Egg Description
- Greenish white to pale blue, spotted with purple at large end.
- Condition at Hatching
- Helpless and with little down.
Nest Description
An open cup of fine twigs, rootlets and grasses. Lined with thick layer of feathers or hair. Placed in small tree or shrub.
Nest Placement
Shrub
Behavior
Foliage Gleaner
Feeds on small branches, often hanging upside down. Uses feet to hold food items. Frequently visits bird feeders, especially thistle feeders.
Conservation
Least Concern
Not listed as threatened or endangered.
Credits
- 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.