Lesser Redpoll (Acanthis cabaret)

OTHER NAMES: Redpoll

Latin Etymology: Acanthis (Greek name for a small unidentied bird) cabaret (French name for kind of finch)

Adult male Lesser Redpoll (Acanthis cabaret) at Geddington, Northants - March 2013

Featured Subspecies: N/A
Weight: 9-12g  /  Length: 11.5-12.5cm  /  Wingspan: 20-22.5cm

UK RED LIST / IUCN Red List: Least Concern

Theoretically at least, this is a widespread finch present for most of the year in most of the country (or at least in Winter in a certain central section). On the flip-side of that however is that it's got a comparatively small population, and thus presumably, a rather patchy distribution. Winter is probably the best time to see it as without the leaves on the trees it'll be much more visible.  The real pain of Redpolls however, is the seemingly always shifting or at least much debated taxonomic status - traditionally there was a single species "the redpoll", ranging up to 8 species, (though currently, generally 3) and potentially going to be lumped all back into a single species again soon.  Fortunately for me, I currently only have a single species of this bird, so if they do get lumped, I won't lose out.

Related Species:
Order: Passeriformes
Family: Fringillidae
Genus: Acanthis

Subspecies: none - monotypic

 - Sighting Locations -

UNITED KINGDOM - A widely distributed breeding resident (220,000 pairs) which disperses in Winter to be found in wider habitat.

 - Seen some Winters in Geddington. Also seen at Rutland Water and Fineshade Woods. .

Further Information: BirdForum Opus, IUCN Red List, RSPB, Wikipedia, Xeno-canto