General
Common Redpoll: Small finch, brown-streaked grey upperparts, bright rose-pink breast, boldly streaked flanks and undertail coverts. Red cap and black chin. Bill is orange-yellow with fine black tip. Wings are dark with two narrow white bars; tail is black and notched. Black legs, feet. Rump usually streaked. Female plumage like male but with little or no red on breast. Immatures lack red on breast and have more brown on flanks. Birds from western Europe have more tawny-brown in plumage than birds from northeastern Europe.
Range and Habitat
Common Redpoll: Migrant visitor and winter visitor to the UK. Can be seen during autumn and winter monthsm, especially along the east coasts of Scotland and England. Can be seen in mixed forest and willow or birch scrub areas; it often forages for seeds and insects in the trees.
Breeding and Nesting
Common Redpoll: Breeds in boreal coniferous forest and scrub. Female builds nest 1 or 2 metres above ground in a small tree or shrub, often spruce or willow. Nest is an open cup of twigs, rootlets and grasses, well lined with feathers or hair. Both parents care for young. Second brood not uncommon.
Foraging and Feeding
Common Redpoll: Feeds on very small seeds, especially those from birch, willow, and alder trees. Also eats other seeds, grains, buds, weeds, grasses. Eats some insects in summer; feeds insects, spiders and other small invertebrates to young.
Readily Eats
Sunflower Seed, Commercial Mixed Bird Seed
Vocalisation
Common Redpoll: During breeding season sings from perches or in flight. Song comprises single or repeated calls in short combinations: "chit-chit-chit-chit." Call is a plaintive, nasal, drawn-out whistle; rising in pitch, "swee-ee-eet."
Similar Species
Common Redpoll: The Linnet has a shorter tail, a buff, rather than rufous, breast. The Twite has a shorter bill, lacks the rufous crest of the Redpoll, and has a more starkly white breast and underparts. Lesser Redpoll is slightly smaller, shows less white in the rump and wing edges, and is more buff coloured.