Page 386 - Complete Birds of Britain and Europe (DK - RSPB)

FINCHES
Order Passeriformes Family Fringillidae Species Carduelis flammea
Redpoll dark red
forehead
red forehead
tiny
buff bar across bill
wings
small, slim, streaked
streaked brown body
dark back
tail no pink small
on breast black
chin
FEMALE
IN FLIGHT
pale to
deep pink
on breast
buffish to whitish
FLIGHT: bouncy, bounding, with deep undulations; underside with
often in tight flocks. long dark streaks
ypically a treetop bird, the Redpoll can also be found with Linnets
Tin weedy fields, or feeding on the ground under birches where vast MALE (SUMMER)
amounts of seeds have fallen. Most often, however, Redpoll groups feed,
frequently with Siskins, in trees and move between treetops in noisy, well-
coordinated flocks, circling together and often returning to the same tree SUBSPECIES
after being disturbed.They may effectively “disappear” instantly on settling, whiter band
becoming quiet and unobtrusive as they feed. over eye
VOICE Flight call particularly hard, staccato chattering, metallic paler
chuchuchuchuchuchuch, loud
twangy tsooeee; song in flight
combines chatter with fast,
thin, reeling trill, trreeeeee. C. f. flammea
(Scandinavia); whiter wingbar
NESTING Cup of twigs
and grasses, lined with hair
or wool, in bush or tree;
4–6 eggs; 1 or 2 broods;
May–July.
FEEDING Mostly feeds in
trees, on seeds, such as birch, FEEDING FLOCK
alder, and larch, but also on The outer twigs of seeding birch trees can be decorated with Redpolls
or near ground in weedy hanging upside down and perched at all angles, reaching their
fields and under birch trees. preferred food.
SIMILAR SPECIES OCCURRENCE
Breeds with fluctuating numbers
ARCTIC REDPOLL TWITE 32; LINNET 32; and range in Iceland, Ireland, Alps,
white rump; see p.383 see p.382 Great Britain, Low Countries, and
see p.451
pale NE through Scandinavia. In winter
white streaks throat pale
on wings throat to S France and Italy. In birch
and tail woods, larch, and bushy heaths;
on ground under birch in spring.
white white
undertail on wing Seen in the UK
coverts and tail J F M A M JJ A S O N D
Length 11–14.5cm (4 1 ⁄4 –5 3 ⁄4in) Wingspan 20–25cm (8–10in) Weight 10–14g ( 3 ⁄8 – 1 ⁄2oz)
Social Flocks Lifespan 2–3 years Status Secure†
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