This Tiny Bird Has Quite A Blood-Thirsty Look
The Common Redpoll (Acanthis flammea) is a small northern finch with a bright crimson cap and a rosy wash across its throat and chest.
Also called the mealy redpoll, this pudgy little bird breeds across northern North America, Greenland, Iceland, Europe, and Asia, where it is closely tied to birch trees and subarctic conifer forests. In winter, it often turns up in open woodlands, weedy fields, and even suburban or urban areas.
It may look a little fierce, but the Common Redpoll is mostly a seed forager, and its throat pouch helps it stash food for later. Read on for more surprising facts about this tiny bird with a surprisingly blood-thirsty look.
Introducing the Common Redpoll
While all Common Redpolls are adorable and plump, with grey-brown top feathers, the males are the ones that display a bright crimson head. This intense coloration travels down to their chests, sometimes appearing as a faint pink blush.
The male Common Redpoll's striking coloration is only amplified by their winter environments. They easily stand out against the snowfall.
Female Common Redpolls are elegant, even without the red.
The female Common Redpolls lack the red head and red chest of the male; instead, they have a sandy-colored chest with a cream belly striped with brown.
Juveniles can be difficult to assign to their particular species.
Resembling their mothers, juvenile Common Redpolls also lack the vibrant red until they mature. Because of this, it can be tricky to know just by looking if they're Common Redpolls or another Redpoll or Finch species.
These little birds really do pack a lot of personality into a tiny frame.
Teeny-tiny and adorably round.
An adult Common Redpoll measures between 4.5 and 5.5 inches in length and weighs between 0.42 and 0.56 oz.
Imagine holding an empty soda can; that's about as much as these little birds weigh!
Measuring up!
The wingspan of the Common Redpoll ranges from 7.5 to 8.7 inches, about as long as a banana!
Their size is part of the charm, but it also makes their long-distance movements a little surprising.
The Not-So-Great Migration
The Common Redpoll is a partial migrant, meaning some parts of the species migrate to another part of its range while others reside in another. They will move southward in late autumn and return northward again in early spring.
Their typical habitat is icy forests of spruces and pines, providing an incredible contrast to their bright red heads. In the winter, they will make homes out of weeds and brush.
Diminishing Habitat
As the Earth grows warmer, the habitat of many species of birds and animals shrinks. The habitat of the Common Redpoll is no exception.
Conservation status still at Least Concern
Despite the fact that the habitat and population trends appear to be diminishing, the range for the Common Redpoll is still extremely large. Therefore, this decline is not yet believed to be alarming enough to change their status from Least Concern.
Thankfully, the Common Redpoll is still widespread and abundant.
Even so, habitat changes can make life harder for birds that depend on these northern landscapes.
This crimson-headed look has the same bold “red vs black-and-white” contrast as the masked cardinal with a black-and-white coat and red head.
Birds of a feather...
Common Redpolls definitely flock together!
In abundant flocks, the Common Redpoll will forage for seeds and vegetable matter.
Common Redpolls can often be seen hanging from small branches, sometimes even hanging upside down while enjoying some seeds.
They will also primarily eat insects during the summer and are quite fond of bird feeders.
They may be small, but they are clearly built for life in a tough climate.
Creative Nesting
From April to August, the female Common Redpoll works diligently to build her nest on the branches of a spruce, sometimes in grass clumps, under brush piles, or in the crevice of a tree.
Their cup-shaped nest is made up of twigs, roots, and grass, and is lined with a thick layer of feathers and fur to help keep Mom and the eggs nice and warm.
The Common Redpoll will lay between four and six eggs. Their eggs range in color from pale green to blue-green, with speckles of purplish to reddish-brown spots found mainly at the larger end of the egg.
The female will incubate the eggs for up to 11 days, relying on the male to feed her during this time.
Once hatched, females remain the main providers for feeding their chicks, with the male occasionally helping out.
After about 12 days, their baby chicks are fully fledged and able to take off on their own.
Check out this bird right now in the video below!
Share this adorable little bird!
It was a delight to learn and share information about this plump little bird.
If you're one of the lucky ones living within their broad range, or even if you get to vacation somewhere in the far north of North America or Eurasia, hopefully, you can enjoy seeing them flock as they forage for goodies.
Maybe even put out a bird feeder or two; they'll definitely appreciate it. Be sure to share this with your fellow bird lovers!
It is hard not to root for a bird this tiny and dramatic.
Wait till you see how the southern pudu earns its “Chilean mountain goat” nickname in this tiny deer story, Earth’s Smallest Deer.
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