The RSPB: Lesser redpoll

Conservation status: Red

This tiny finch – only slightly bigger than a blue tit – is streaky and brown with patches of red on its head and sometimes its breast. They like to hang upside down to feed in trees. It has recently been 'split' from the mealy (or common) redpoll, a larger and paler species which is a winter visitor to the UK.

Overview

Latin name

Carduelis cabaret

Family

Finches (Fringillidae)

Where to see them

They breed in woodland, but also visit gardens. Lesser redpolls can be seen dangling from tiny twigs in birch and alder trees, or perhaps on shrub stems. This is a widespread breeding species in Scotland, northern and eastern England and Wales. It is less common in central, southern and south-west England, but does occur in these places in winter.

When to see them

In many areas, winter is the easiest time to see lesser redpolls, after the trees have lost their leaves. Their breeding population has declined and they're much less common than they once were.

What they eat

Seeds, particularly of birch and alder, plus plants like willowherb and sorrel, but they also visit bird feeders.

Population

Europe	UK breeding*	UK wintering*	UK passage*
-	26,900 pairs	-	-

* UK breeding is the number of pairs breeding annually. UK wintering is the number of individuals present from October to March. UK passage is the number of individuals passing through on migration in spring and/or autumn.