Hoary Redpoll - Acanthis hornemanni

Hoary Redpoll has a partial preformative molt but no prealternate molts. The extent of pink on Hoary Redpolls is generally less than on Common Redpolls, and as such, the plumage differences between age/sex classes are even more subtle; except for extremes, examination of the wing and tail is usually required to be confident of age and sex.

Two distinct subspecies of Hoary Redpolls are recognized; while hornemanni is somewhat larger and paler than exilipes, ageing and sexing considerations are similar for both.

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 no greater coverts in their preformative molt, such that the contrast is between the median and greater 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, but those with little or no pink may be FCF (HY/SY) males or females of any age.

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