For the most part, winter is a quiet and predictable time of year. Oddly enough, late autumn is even quieter and more predictable. The summer birds have gone, the winter birds may be around, but they are never really asserting themselves because they have no snow to contend with. As a result, it is at this time of year that I find myself twiddling my thumbs without a great deal to do.
This, invariably, gets me to thinking.
Exactly what I think about is relatively random, but I almost always find myself opening up old journals and looking for odd or interesting entries that I can contemplate. It is in these quiet times of reflection and contemplation that I start to form lists. When was the first time I saw that bird? When was the last time I saw that other bird? On what date could I expect to see them? Are there any harbingers of their arrival?
Well, it was just this sort of pleasant, aimless wandering through the data that brought something to my attention: We are long overdue for a visit from birds known as common redpolls (Acanthis flammea). Small members of the finch family, the last time I saw a common redpoll at my feeders was the same winter that Linus the catbird was here. If you have no idea what I’m talking about, then that is just more proof that it’s been a while.
Here is a quick review of the data starting back 10 years: 2009, present; 2010, present; 2011, absent; 2012, present; 2013, absent; 2014, absent; 2015, present; 2016 to 2018, absent. I don’t think that there is nearly enough data here to scientifically establish a pattern, but it’s been three years since I’ve spotted a redpoll at my feeders. One might reasonably ask: will this be the year?
The common redpoll is a bird of the far north. They breed in the open woodlands of northernmost Canada and here in New England, we find ourselves at the extreme southern edge of their normal winter range. The problem with the word “normal” is the fact that redpolls are members of a group of birds that are described as “irruptive” migrants. This means that their migratory movements are somewhat erratic and they don’t show up in the same places from year to year.
The last time I saw a common redpoll at my feeders was on Feb. 18, 2015, according to my notes. In keeping with the habits of these irruptive migrants, my feeders were wonderfully swarmed by a huge flock of these delightfully busy, bustling birds. Their energy and their hysterical interactions are made even more delightful by the simple fact that they will congregate in large groups and are extremely mellow around humans; going about their business without much concern that they are being watched.
I don’t want to talk too much about their natural history because, if they do appear this winter, I want to be able to give them the full treatment. However, I need you to keep your eyes open for them in case they arrive at your house before they arrive at mine. So here is a general description.
The common redpoll is about 5 inches in length, which makes it roughly the same size as an American goldfinch. Males are the most colorful, with a background plumage of white feathers marked with dark gray streaks on the breast. The feathers are further decorated with a blush of pink on the breast, as though the bird was dipped in cranberry juice. Finally, there is a beautiful patch of cranberry-red feathers on the top of the head.
Females have a red patch on the head, but they lack the blush on the breast feathers. As a result, they are sometimes able to blend into a group of house finches because the plumage coloration of the females of both species is superficially similar enough to not attract too much attention. However, the faces of the two species are quite different. House finches have a relatively heavy, gray beak whereas the redpolls have more delicate, yellow beaks. A close look at the face will also reveal a black chin patch that is a dead giveaway that you’re not looking at a house finch.
So, will this be the year? It’s very quiet at my feeders right now, but I have noticed a healthy number of house finches in attendance over the past weeks. I must make sure to look at them closely to see if they are all actually house finches. If you spot something different, please let me know. I’d love to hear that the redpolls may be among us once again.
Bill Danielson has been a professional writer and nature photographer for 22 years. He has worked for the National Park Service, the US Forest Service and the Massachusetts State Parks and currently teaches high school biology and physics. Visit www.speakingofnature.com for more information, or go to Speaking of Nature on Facebook.