Redpoll

Overview

The redpoll (Acanthis flammea) is a small passerine bird in the finch family Fringillidae, specifically the only species in the genus Acanthis. It is currently classified as Least Concern on the IUCN Red List.

Identification

• A small brownish-grey finch measuring 11.5 to 14 cm in length with a bright red patch on the forehead.
• Features a black bib and two pale stripes on the wings, with males' breasts often suffused with red.
• Possesses a dark-tipped yellowish bill, brown legs, and dark brown irises.
• Displays a streaked rump and a broad dark brown streak across the vent.

Habitat

The species breeds in the Arctic and north temperate Holarctic tundra and taiga, with a range extending through northern Europe, Asia, and northern North America to Greenland and Iceland. Its typical habitat consists of boreal forests of pines, spruces, and larches, and it is a partial migrant that moves southward in late autumn. In New Zealand, subspecies A. f. cabaret have been established throughout the North and South Islands since the 19th century.

Diet

The diet consists mainly of very small seeds, particularly those from birch trees, though alder seeds are also consumed in winter. During the breeding season, invertebrates are occasionally eaten. Foraging takes place primarily in trees, with occasional ground foraging.

Did you know?

The redpoll was formerly treated as three distinct species—the common, arctic, and lesser redpoll—but is now considered conspecific due to small genetic differences and continuous phenotypic variation.