General
Arctic Redpoll: Small finch, with buff-gray, brown-streaked upperparts and brown-streaked white underparts washed pink. Head has red cap and black chin patch. Wings are black with two white bars. Rump is pale gray or white with few or no streaks. Tail is black and notched. Female lacks pink wash on underparts.
Range and Habitat
Arctic Redpoll: Breeds in tundra birch forests across northern Canada, Greenland, and Eurasia. Some birds migrate short distances south for the winter. Rare winter visitor to UK and Ireland, with the majority of sightings along the eastern English coast. Found in forest clearings, open fields, and near bodies of water.
Breeding and Nesting
Arctic Redpolll: Four to six green to blue green eggs spotted with red brown are laid in a nest made of twigs, grass, and rootlets, lined with soft grass, feathers and hair, and built in the middle of a low bush or on the ground sheltered by rocks or vegetation. Incubation ranges from 9 to 12 days and is carried out by the female.
Foraging and Feeding
Arctic Redpoll: Eats seeds and insects; forages on the ground and in bushes and trees.
Readily Eats
Suet, Sunflower Seed, Millet
Vocalisation
Arctic Redpoll: Song is a rapid series of "che, che, che" call notes followed by a trill. Call is a plaintive "tweet" or "che".
Similar Species
Arctic Redpoll: Common Redpoll is very similar to the Arctic Redpoll, but lacks white unmarked rump. Breast is more red than than pink.