Common Redpolls Arrive at Area Feeders

Nature Notes for January 25, 2013

Last October, I wrote about the irruption of Pine Siskins into this area. By the end of October, most of them had disappeared from area feeders. A new wave of a different small finch appeared during the first week of January.

For a few days, my feeders were swarmed with Common Redpolls – about 50 to 60 daily for several days. Then, predators were attracted to all the activity. Within two days, I saw one each of Sharp-shinned and Cooper’sHawk, as well as a Northern Shrike in my garden.

Since then, although redpolls are still coming to the feeder, they are much more nervous and don’t stay for very long at a time. Since they breed in the Arctic, I suspect that my garden has a few too many trees for the birds to feel safe. They can’t see danger in time to flee.

A friend who lives near Gore’s Landing has reported as many as 200 Common Redpolls regularly visiting her yard. Her house is situated in a very open area with few nearby trees, so perhaps the finches feel safer there.

Common Redpolls are about the same size as Pine Siskin and American Goldfinch. Their plumage is streaky brown on most of the body, with dark feathers in the face and a small red spot on the front of the head. This red spot gives the species its name.

In most years, they spend the winter in the boreal forest, feeding on birch and alder seeds. None of the trees in the boreal forest had many seeds last summer due to the very dry weather. The redpolls have had to come south in search of food.

From my brother-in-law who lives there, I have learned that Common Redpolls are showing up as far south as southeastern New York State. This species occurs much less frequently that far south than it does in southern Ontario.

Common Redpolls are a circumpolar species. That is, they occur in the Arctic regions of Europe and Asia, as well as North American. They breed on the taiga where they build nests in the scattered, stunted trees that occur so far north. They line their nests with ptarmigan feathers and the fur of Arctic Fox.

Among the Common Redpolls are frequently found a few of the much less common Hoary Redpolls. The latter are much whiter in colour with a shorter bill that looks somewhat pushed in. There is some debate at present as to whether these are really two separate species. Recent DNA analysis seems to indicate that they may simply be two colour variants of the same species. The taxonomy jury is still out on this.

Several of the irruptive species reported earlier this winter are still being seen. Red-breasted Nuthatches are regularly at area feeders. A report of a flock of Bohemian Waxwings was received just last week. Small numbers of Evening Grosbeaks and Pine Grosbeaks continue to be found, mostly in areas not far from the Ganaraska and Northumberland Forests.

The dates of the next Great Backyard Bird Count are February 15 to 18, 2013. For more information about this event check out www.birdsource.org/gbbc.