Bird guide · Acanthis flammea
Redpoll
What the redpoll eats, where it lives, when it comes to feeders and how to recognise it – with sightings from every US state.
- Season
- Irruptive winter visitor; migrates by day in flocks, only as far south as needed to find food.
- Size
- 5.0 in (13 cm)
- Eats
- nyjer
- Feeds
- tube (nyjer feeder)
- Most common
- Alaska, Minnesota, North Dakota
Food
What do redpolls eat?
At feeders, redpolls take nyjer.
Often remarkably tame at winter feeders, feeding in restless flocks.
Feeder that suits it
A tube or hopper feeder with sunflower seed or sunflower hearts.
Range
Where do redpolls live?
Nests in the Arctic, sometimes invading southern Canada and the northern states in winter; UK: breeds mainly in Scotland, northern England, Wales and Northern Ireland, more widespread in winter. By share of all bird sightings, redpolls are most common in Alaska (1.6%).
States where redpolls are most common
- Alaska1.6%
- Minnesota0.3%
- North Dakota0.2%
- Vermont0.2%
- Wisconsin0.1%
- Montana0.10%
- Michigan0.09%
- New Hampshire0.07%
- Maine0.05%
- Illinois0.04%
Share of all bird sightings in each state that are redpolls, 2019–2024.
Season
Does the redpoll migrate?
Irruptive winter visitor; migrates by day in flocks, only as far south as needed to find food.. Across the US it is reported in every month; its share of bird sightings is highest in February.
Share of all bird sightings in the US that are redpolls, by month.
Identification
How to identify the redpoll
Adults: Small streaky finch with a red forehead, black chin and yellow bill; variable pink wash on the chest.
Size: 5.0 in (13 cm)
Easily confused with
- House Finch – Redpoll is smaller, with a black chin and yellow bill
On camera
Getting the redpoll on a feeder camera
Any seed camera feeder works. Hang it near shrubs for cover, about five feet off the ground, with the lens facing away from direct sun.
Questions
Redpoll: questions
What do redpolls eat?
At feeders, nyjer.
Do redpolls migrate?
Irruptive winter visitor; migrates by day in flocks, only as far south as needed to find food.. Across the US it is reported in every month; its share of bird sightings is highest in February.
Where do redpolls live?
By share of all bird sightings, they are most common in Alaska, Minnesota, North Dakota, Vermont, Wisconsin. They are rare or absent in Alabama, Arizona, Arkansas, California, Colorado, Connecticut.