Common Redpoll Acanthis flammea flammea (male) - Whately, Franklin Co., MA. February 11th, 2021.
No problems with well marked birds such as this. Bright crimson-red throat, fore-cheeks, breast and upper breast sides along with a fairly long pointed bill,
and heavily streaked flanks, that's as well as an overall brownish-gray cast to the upperparts - surely pointing to an adult male flammea?
Common Redpoll Acanthis flammea flammea (male) - Whately, Franklin Co., MA. February 11th, 2021.
Somewhat similar to the male featured above.
Common Redpoll Acanthis flammea flammea - Whately, Franklin Co., MA. February 9th, 2021.
Quite cold gray-brown tones on this bird which has a small blackish bib and rather heavily streaked flanks.
Common Redpoll Acanthis flammea flammea - Whately, Franklin Co., MA. February 10th, 2021.
This bird looked Hoary-like in the field and was as gray and white as it appears in these two images (above and below). The rump was mostly white but with obvious streaking 'bleeding' from the lower back and the uppertail coverts. The images also show reasonably well marked flank streaking and multiple streaks on the undertail coverts. The bill length and shape also look more in keeping with flammea. This was a tricky bird in the field but I came away with features that better matched a pale, gray flammea rather than exilipes.
Common Redpoll Acanthis flammea flammea - Whately, Franklin Co., MA. February 10th, 2021.
Common Redpoll Acanthis flammea flammea - Whately, Franklin Co., MA. February 8th, 2021.
Probably the coldest, whitest-gray flammea that I noted during the whole week. It seemed to lack any brown, ochre or crimson tones. The rump was very white
as were the undertail coverts (showing a small amount of black streaking) However, the fairly heavily streaked flanks, long pointed bill plus head shape appear to favor Common Redpoll A. fl. flammea.
The larger, 'bull-necked' redpoll buried deeper into the tangle looks better for a Hoary Redpoll A. e. exlipes.
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