redpoll

Either of two species of finch of genus Carduelis, especially the common redpoll, with subspecies mealy redpoll, lesser redpoll, and Greenland redpoll (Carduelis flammea); also the Arctic redpoll or Hornemann's redpoll (Carduelis hornemanni); native to the N hemisphere, and introduced in New Zealand. (Family: Fringillidae.)

The Redpolls are a group of small passerine birds in the finch family Fringillidae which have characteristic red markings on their heads.

All redpolls are northern breeding woodland species, associated with birch trees.

The Greenland race is a very large and pale bird, with the male sometimes described as a "snowball", but both forms are pale with small beaks, white rumps and often more yellow than grey-brown tones in their plumage.

Common Redpoll, Carduelis flammea, breeds somewhat further south than Arctic Redpoll, also in habitats with thickets or shrubs. Many birds migrate further south in winter, but the milder climate means that this redpoll can be found all year round in much of its range, and may be joined by the other two species in winter. It co-occurs with the Mealy Redpoll in southern Norway, apparently without significant interbreeding though sympatry was established too recently to draw firm conclusions (Sangster et al., 2002).