Redpoll (Common)

The Common Redpoll is an irregular winter visitor as it migrates. Redpolls have red crowns; yellow bill; black feet; notched tails. Males have a crimson breast which gets darker during breeding.

The Redpoll is most commonly found from fall to early spring. They appear in large groups and become so focused on food that they become fearless of people in the winter. Redpolls have throat pouches for temporarily storing seeds and fill up with seeds quickly, then fly away to swallow the seeds in a more protected spot.

Redpolls can endure the cold better than any other songbird so keep the feeders full. They will eat seeds of any kind, but seem to like nyjer seeds.

Photographed in the wild, Gravenhurst, ON