Migration Research Foundation - McGill Bird Observatory - Photo Library

McGILL BIRD OBSERVATORY

PHOTO LIBRARY

Common Redpoll (Carduelis flammea)

Seasonal status at MBO:

JAN

FEB

MAR

APR

MAY

JUN

JUL

AUG

SEP

OCT

NOV

DEC

common

fairly common

uncommon

rare

occasional

no records

QUICK TIPS:

This species can be quite variable, and multiple characteristics are often required to be confident about age and sex:

	HY/SY female	HY-SY male	AHY-ASY female	AHY-ASY male
Cheeks	entirely lacking pink, or lightly freckled pink	lightly freckled pink	lightly to moderately freckled pink	moderately to heavily freckled pink
Breast	entirely lacking pink or with at most couple of small patches of pink-edged feathers	usually 5-50% of feathers edged pink; occasionally none	usually 5-50% of feathers edged pink; occasionally none	pink/red predominates
Flanks	entirely lacking pink or with at most couple of small patches of pink-edged feathers	usually 5-50% of feathers edged pink; occasionally none	usually 5-50% of feathers edged pink; occasionally none	pink/red predominates
Rump	entirely lacking pink or at most a few pink-edged feathers	usually light to moderate pink, occasionally absent	usually light to moderate pink, occasionally absent	usually light to moderate pink, occasionally absent
Outer rectrices	relatively narrow and pointed	relatively narrow and pointed	relatively broad and rounded	relatively broad and rounded
Primary coverts	brown with minimal pale edging; outer ppcov narrow	brown with minimal pale edging; outer ppcov narrow	dark brown with gray edging; outer ppcov broad	dark brown with gray edging; outer ppcov broad

Table adapted from the "Redpoll Pink Code" developed by Martha Caskey for Innis Point Bird Observatory,
using specimens at the Canadian Museum of Nature, Gatineau, Quebec

Note that size varies considerably between the large rostrata and smaller flammea subspecies,
but most plumage characteristics appear to be relatively consistent for both, though further study is needed

Ageing and sexing overview:

January - July:

ASY - M Breast and flanks predominately pink/red; outer rectrices and outer primary coverts relatively broad and rounded
ASY - F Light to moderate extent of pink on breast and flanks; outer rectrices and outer primary coverts relatively broad and rounded
SY - M Light to moderate extent of pink on breast and flanks; outer rectrices and outer primary coverts relatively narrow and pointed
SY - F Pink on cheeks, flanks, breast, and rump absent or limited; outer rectrices and outer primary coverts relatively narrow and pointed

June - December:

AHY - M Breast and flanks predominately pink/red; outer rectrices and outer primary coverts relatively broad and rounded
AHY - F Light to moderate extent of pink on breast and flanks; outer rectrices and outer primary coverts relatively broad and rounded
HY - M Light to moderate extent of pink on breast and flanks; outer rectrices and outer primary coverts relatively narrow and pointed
HY - F Pink on cheeks, flanks, breast, and rump absent or limited; outer rectrices and outer primary coverts relatively narrow and pointed

Ageing and sexing details:

after-second-year male

The easiest way to recognize after-second-year males is by the extensive pink-red wash that dominates the breast and flanks.

Photo by Marcel Gahbauer, March 2006

The outer primary coverts are broad and rounded, and in general the primary coverts are a dark brown similar in colour to the greater coverts.

Photo by Marcel Gahbauer, March 2006

The outer primary coverts are relatively broad, with a slightly rounded tip.

Photo by Marcel Gahbauer, March 2006

RETURN TO AGE/SEX OVERVIEW

after-second-year female

After-second-year females can show a variable amount of pink, as reflected by the two photos below; age is better determined using wing and tail criteria, and subsequently sex (if possible) by the extent of pink plumage.