46 THE REDPOLL. 
No. 20. 
REDPOLL. 
A. O. U. No. 528. Acanthis linaria (Linn.). 
Synonyms.—CommMon ReEpb-poLti; LINNEY; LINTIE. 
Description.—Adult male: Crown crimson; breast and shoulders crimson 
in varying proportions according to season; frontlet, lores, and throat-patch sooty 
black; remaining lower parts white, flanks and crissum streaked with dusky ; 
above, variegated dusky, flaxen-brown and whitish, the feathers having 
dusky centers and flaxen edgings; rump dusky and white in streaks, tinged 
with rosy; wings and tail dusky with flaxen or whitish edgings; two inconspicu- 
ous wing-bars formed by white tips of middle and greater coverts. Female: 
Similar but without red on rump and breast, the latter suffused with buffy instead; 
sides heavily streaked with dusky. Jmmature: Like female but without crimson 
crown. Length 5.50 (139.7) or less; wing 2.80 (71.1) ; tail 2.30 (58.4) ; bill .34 
(8.6) ; depth at base .23 (5.8). : 
Recognition Marks.—Warbler to Sparrow size; crimson crown-patch in 
adults; no dusky spot on breast. 
Nesting.—Does not breed in Ohio. Nest, a bulky affair of twigs and grasses, 
lined with feathers and placed in trees and bushes. Eggs, 4-6, pale blue, dotted 
and speckled with reddish brown or umber. Av. size, .65 x .50 (16.5 x 12.7). 
General Range.—Northern portions of northern hemisphere, south irregu- 
larly in winter, in North America to the Middle States. 
Range in Ohio.—Of very irregular occurrence. Many winters will pass 
without any; at other times swarms are to be seen in the northern part of the 
state. Casual anywhere. 
THESE rather rare hyperborean visitants are often allowed to pass for 
winter Goldfinches when they do occur. Indeed, the resemblance is most 
striking, both as to form and habits and notes as well. When the eyes have 
been opened by a near revelation of convincing red, then the ears remember also 
a slight foreign accent in the “sweetie” call and in the rattling flight notes. 
Failure in the food supply in the Hudson Bay regions seems to afford the 
only excuse for the occasional southern flights of this species, since the birds are 
absolutely impervious to cold. When they do come they appear to materialize 
in great numbers out of the leaden sky along with the snowflakes; but they 
settle to a breakfast of weed-seeds or alder catkins as tho to the manor born, 
and have no apparent dread of dispossessing the Juncoes and Field Sparrows 
who already occupy the land. ‘They are fond of pine trees, and if occasion 
offers, contentedly pick up the crumbs which fall from Master Crossbill’s pine- 
cone table. Redpoll’s manner is very confiding. He has had nothing to fear in 
his Greenland home, and he assumes that you will mind your business and let 
him mind his. 
