Lesser Redpoll

The Redpoll's full name is the Lesser Redpoll. Relatively recently (year 2000) it was classified as a separate species from the very similar Common Redpoll (also called the Mealy Redpoll) which, despite the name, is not common in Britain at all and only comes here to overwinter from northern Europe. Lesser Redpolls are most likely to be seen on garden bird feeders between January and April, often with Siskins, when food in the countryside becomes scarce.

Lesser Redpolls look a bit like tiny Linnets with the ketchup smudge on their fronts and with an additional dollop on their heads. The male is heavily streaked with a brown back and whitish underparts. He has a small red crown, a pink breast and a small black bib. There are two pale bars on the wings. The female is duller than the male and lacks the pink breast, but does have the same red crown. Their call is a harsh, metallic, staccato "chuch-uch-uch-uch" given in flight or from a perch.

Lesser Redpolls are sociable birds and often forage in flocks. They feed acrobatically in the trees like a Blue Tit, eating mainly birch and alder seeds, though they will munch a few insects in the summer.

They nest in woodlands between April and July. Pairs form in winter and several pairs will nest close together in a loose colony. Mum builds a cup-shaped nest in a tree or tall bush from twigs, grass, moss and leaves. She lays 4-7 eggs which hatch after 12 days. Dad keeps her well fed and both parents feed the young. The youngsters can fly 12 days later and become fully independent after 2 weeks. Mum and dad will often have two broods.

There are about 200,000 Lesser Redpolls in Britain, but recent declines mean they are Red Listed. Redpolls from the north move south in autumn and some southern ones will migrate across to the continent. Their average lifespan is 2 years.

The taxonomy of Redpolls is unsettled, with several different, very closely related forms of Redpolls being considered as anything from one to five species. The Latin name for the Lesser Redpoll is 'acanthis cabaret' where 'acanthis' is from the Ancient Greek 'akanthis' for a small unidentified bird and 'cabaret' from the French for a type of finch. Historically in English, Redpolls were known as 'Redpoles' where 'pole' meant forehead, which describes them much better.

The Mealy or Common Redpoll is similar to the Lesser Redpoll, but bigger and lighter with whiter underparts. The upperparts are more buff coloured, and the rump is paler with dark streaks.