Common Redpoll - Acanthis flammea

Common Redpoll has a partial preformative molt but no prealternate molts. There is considerable variation in appearance of Common Redpolls, including within age and sex classes. As such, while extent of pinkish plumage can be suggestive of age and sex, it is advisable to always check the wing and tail for additional clues, especially for individuals with an intermediate amount of colouration.

Ageing and sexing of Common Redpolls is complicated to some extent by the occurrence of two subspecies. Descriptions are based primarily on the more widespread flammea subspecies; generally the notes also apply to the larger rostrata subspecies, but it tends to be somewhat darker, and with less extensive pink/red.

Quick tips

• Examine the greater coverts - on FCF (HY/SY) birds there is generally a contrast between darker replaced inner feathers with pale to white tips versus slightly paler outer feathers with buff tips; note that some individuals replace all greater coverts in their preformative molt, such that the contrast is between the greater and primary coverts. On DCB (AHY/ASY) birds the coverts are uniform in appearance.
• Look at the outer rectrices - they are narrow and distinctly pointed at the tip on FCF (HY/SY) birds, and somewhat broader and more rounded on DCB (AHY/ASY) birds, but note that some intermediates are difficult to classify.
• Consider the overall plumage - individuals with particularly extensive red and pink patches are usually DCB (AHY/ASY) males, while individuals lacking red aside from the crown are typically FCF (HY/SY) females; intermediates may be FCF (HY/SY) males or DCB (AHY/ASY) females.

Species account prepared by McGill Bird Observatory (2018). Last updated by Marcel Gahbauer (Mar 2022)