COMMON & HOARY REDPOLLS

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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