Rare Bird of the Week #3! BOTW #15

This week's Bird of the Week is Common Redpoll!

Common Redpolls are the size of goldfinches, with streaked sides, brown backs and red caps. Males have pink chests unlike the females which don't. They have buzzy calls, similar to other finches. They feed on seeds and often gather in flocks. They can be found in semi coniferous forests

Common Redpolls breed over the northern half of Canada and Alaska. They winter over southern Canada and the northern U.S. They are an irruptive species, so they will sometimes winter as far south as Virginia. In New York City, these birds are usually only seen during irruption years. When these happen, flocks can be found in Staten Island, as well as scattered birds over the rest of the city. In Central Park, there is one currently visiting the bird feeders in the Ramble. It likes to hang out with the goldfinches.