178 BIRDS OF NEW ENGLAND AND EASTERN NEW YORK 



rising inflection. The young bird, just out of the nest, 

 has a peculiar call, chi-pee' , a characteristic sound in late 

 summer. 



Goldfinches often associate with Redpolls and Siskins, 

 when these visit southern New England, but may be dis- 

 tinguished from them at all seasons by the black and 

 white in the wings and tail, and by their unstreaked breasts. 

 The winter plumage of the male is very different from the 

 bright yellow and black of spring, but there is always a 

 tinge of yellow on the throat. 



Redpoll. Acanthis linaria 



5.32 



Ad. $ . — Crown crimson; back streaked with gray and brown; 

 middle of throat blackish ; rump slightly tinged with pink ; breast 

 and upper belly suffused with rose ; sides streaked with brown. 

 Ad. 9 • — Similar, but no rose on rump or breast. Im. — Similar 

 to 9 > hut without crimson crown. 



The Redpoll is a very irregular winter visitant in south- 

 ern New York and New England, often absent for periods 



of from five to ten years. 

 In northern Xew Eng- 

 land it occurs more fre- 

 quently. It varies, too, 

 in abundance, occurring 

 at times in large flocks, 

 and throughout the coun- 

 "^ try, at other times in 



small flocks, and only 

 here and there. It fre- 

 quents neglected fields, feeding on the seeds of weeds and 

 grasses, or visits groves of birch, picking the seeds from the 

 ripe catkins. It is often found near the sea beaches. 



The Redpoll has a sweet call-note, almost identical with 

 a note used both by the Goldfinch and by the Pine Siskin. 



Fig. 53. Redpoll 



