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Earlier this week, my friend Al from Rainy River, suggested to me that it might be interesting to post a comparison of the Hoary and Common Redpolls. This has been a good year for redpolls in my area... unfortunately, last year I saw two, all winter... while in 2009 there was an infestation of thousands in the Arrowhead region; as well as other areas of the northern USA.
The Hoary Redpoll has flown in at different times this winter season. I usually see a couple with the Common Redpolls every now and then... but this year there have been more than usual, at least in my area.
There are two redpoll species... the Common and the Hoary. Both have two subspecies breeding in North America... so there are four subspecies of redpolls...
The Southern Common Redpolls - more streaked flanks and under tail coverts, this subspecies seems to get mixed up more with the Hoary because of the varied whiter flanks and under tail whiteness... plus the different pinkness and reds of the breast.
Common Redpoll
Common Redpoll
Common Redpoll
Common Redpoll
Common Redpoll
The Southern Hoary Redpoll - breeds in the southern parts of the Arctic, overlapping with the Southern Common Redpoll, which I assume is the reason there are always intermingled sightings. The Southern Hoary Redpoll is paler by comparison to the Southern Common Redpoll. The neck and back of the Hoary Redpoll is whiter than that of the Common Redpoll. This Hoary Redpoll has less dark streaks on the flanks, sometimes non existent; plus the under tail coverts are usually pure white, without any streaking or brown "dashes." The more difficult ID in my opinion, is recognizing the stubby or shorter bill length on the Hoary.
Hoary Redpoll
Hoary Redpoll
Hoary Redpoll
Hoary Redpoll
The Greater Common Redpoll- is a larger sized redpoll that breeds in Greenland and on Baffin Island. I have never seen this subspecies, but I would imagine my friends in eastern Canada have.
Hornemann's Hoary Redpoll- breeds in the high Arctic and Greenland. A larger, whiter redpoll with the faintest streaking on the flanks... often described as having no streak marks at all on the under tail coverts... I don't think I have ever seen this bird as it would be a rarity in my range.
Since the Hoary Redpolls breed in similar areas as the Common Redpolls, I always wonder why they are fewer than the common cousin in my area. Even in 2009 when I had the redpoll "infestation" or "eruption" caused by pine cone and seed shortages in the far north, I saw fewer Hoary Redpolls than I have this year.
On my ridge, there is one thing for certain, they provide a varied beauty of "rosiness" to a stark, white, winter world.
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A few days ago, I walked up one of my ridge trails to feed my chickadees. I began to think I could have stayed in my yard, because most of the chickadees are there at my winter feeders... but a number of them came along when I whistled for them and ate hulled sunflower seeds from my hand. I positioned myself by a deadfall covered with lichen, so I could get a few photos of them on the decorative branches.
Black-capped Chickadee
I was with them for a half hour or so, when I heard a familiar "tapping" sound from a cedar wash about a hundred yards away.
I walked through the deep snow onto the packed down deer trails in the cedars. I would stop and listen for the pecking sound, because I was quite sure I had heard a Three-toed Woodpecker. Over the years, I have learned to discern the rhythm and torque of the three-toed variety. It is quite different sounding from the Downy and Hairy Woodpeckers... the intermittent pecking is a giveaway, as they stop to pry and scrape the dead bark away on the dead spruce... searching for the spruce beetles, larvae, etc. When I heard his tell tale "chirp", I knew it was one of the three-toed woodpeckers.
Black-backed Woodpecker
I waited until he resumed pecking; this blue collar woodpecker is so focused on his work, that if you are patient, you can walk right up to him... which I have done many times.
Black-backed Woodpecker
This time it happened to be the Black-backed Woodpecker, who used to be called the Arctic Three-toed Woodpecker... the lessor observed one of the north woods is the Three-toed Woodpecker; which has a ladder back and is a tad bit smaller. The bonus with this little beauty was that he was the male, with the perfect yellow "dollop" decorating the top of his head.
Black-backed Woodpecker
I proceeded to take a number of photos and spent quite a bit of time watching him work, until a red squirrel came into the area and chased him away...
Nemesis
I don't get a huge diversification of birds here in the winter, so the finding and capturing one of the sought after "recluse woodpeckers of the north woods," was a highlight of my winter.
