Most birds that migrate here are summer residents that head somewhere warmer for winter. Not Redpolls, Carduelis flammea. They are one of only a handful of birds that spend their summers much farther north. A member of the Finch family, they spend the winter where, to them, it’s warmer: K-Country.
A northern resident
Their summer grounds are near the Arctic right at the northern extent of Canada’s treeline. They start appearing in K-Country in late October, then disappear in March. Accordingly, they are a species highly adapted to winter and cold temperatures. They can literally walk on snow without sinking. Somewhat like Chickadees, they are mini-furnaces. They eat constantly, keeping themselves fuelled and warm. They are seed eaters, and love aspen and birch catkins. But they also love weed seeds, so are often found roadside and in disturbed areas.
Friendly
Because of this need to eat constantly, they have to be tolerant of disturbances. That includes you. They like feeders, and so long as you don’t make sudden motions, they’ll let you get close.
Redpolls are an irruptive species here. Redpolls are sometimes found in small flocks, but sometimes, the flock numbers in the hundreds. Some winters, you can hardly find them. In other winters, they are everywhere.
Back to one species
Redpolls certainly add a splash of colour to winter, with their distinctive red heads. Males also have a reddish belly. Up until mid-2021, there were several recognized species of Redpolls that could be found here. The Common Redpoll was the most common (duh), but the Hoary Redpoll could also be found. Hoarys look like the Commons but with a white bum instead of a pink one. However, researchers at the University of Colorado are now suggesting they are all the same species. The American Ornithological Society, who controls the splitting and lumping of species, is open to looking at the research. Who knows? Soon, there may only be one Redpoll.
We don’t think it matters. We’re happy to see them no matter what people want to call them.
Meet some of the other critters of K-Country here!
