THE REDPOLL. 



No. 20. 



REDPOLL. 



A. O. U. No. 528. Acanthis linaria (Linn.). 



Synonyms. COMMON RED-POU,; LINNET; 



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. Immature : 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. 



