Common Redpolls love birch and spruce seeds. An irruption from Ontario is forecast for this winter. This male, the only Redpoll I saw, traveled with a flock of Goldfinches. They have been arriving later than during irruption in the winter of 2007/2008 because the birch seed crop in the north this year is a little better than back then, but not great. Once that's exhausted they are moving south. So look for them in birch trees and at your feeders.
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The adult male and juvenile Goldfinches in the group were strikingly colorful with buffy wing bars and bronze crowns and backs.
A thought for the New Year: can the Redpolls and Goldfinches, living together in harmony, teach us something?
Happy Birding in 2011!
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