Common Redpoll

Distinguishing between the different redpoll taxa is extremely difficult solely on the basis of plumage. Location of observation is an important initial parameter. Alongside the more typical phenotypes, there are many other kinds that it is difficult to associate to a precise taxon. In France, only the Common Redpoll is a breeding and wintering species. The Common Redpoll is a rare irregular winter visitor. An adult redpoll can be distinguished by a red front of the crown and a black bib. The breeding male additionally has pink or red on the chest that the breeding female does not, or only very faintly. It should be kept in mind that the breeding plumage, new at the beginning of the year, wears off regularly during spring, which changes the appearance of the birds. The upperparts become uniform, the underparts become paler, and the red on males intensify.
The Common Redpoll is slightly larger than the cabaret. The upperparts are a cooler gray-brown. In new plumage they have a slightly frosty appearance. The mantle is more contrasty with paler stripes. The underparts are white with brown streaks on rusty sides. The head is also quite pale, making it stand out from the black face. The dark eye is bordered by two white arches. The rump is more apparent especially in flight. The bill, small and well conical, is yellow-straw. The legs are brownish to grayish.
The adult male in breeding plumage at the beginning of the season has a carmine red front of the crown and throat, cheeks and chest of a more or less intense pink. With time and wearing of the plumage, these become carmine red, like the crown. The red can even spread along the sides striped with brown. The rump is rose and more or less striped with brown. The adult female only has red on the crown.Its flanks are more striped, the stripes being able to align. For both sexes, the wear of the plumage makes the mantle bands and rust-coloured flanks less visible, making the underside more pale.
The juvenile has a finely striped beige head with no red or black but with slightly rust-coloured cheeks. The bill is brownish. The upperparts including the rump are striped with brown and fawn. Two creamish rust bars are visible on the middle and large coverts. The underparts are whitish, very striped with brown except on the belly. The legs are pink. It looks a bit like a young Common Redpoll, but the wing bars are diagnostic.