The Common Redpoll is a frequent and often abundant winter visitor across all of Alberta. As spring approaches, redpolls leave one and all for their arctic breeding grounds. Some redpolls breed in extreme northeast Alberta.
On their breeding grounds redpolls inhabit patches of scrubby birch and willow. In winter, redpolls can be found anywhere with suitable cover, including city parks and back yards stocked with suitable feeders.
When not gorging at feeders in winter stocked with their favorite niger seed or sunflower seeds, redpolls eat seeds of trees such as birch, and of grasses and other plants. They may also nibble from suet feeders, especially in winters where their numbers are high, and there is lots of competition at feeders. On their breeding grounds redpolls also feast on the explosion of buzzing insects that emerge, seemingly without respite in the Arctic summer.
Redpolls build a nest of twigs and grasses on the ground or in low shrubs. Four to seven pale blue eggs splotched with dark markings are laid and incubated for 10 or 11 days. Young are fledged in another 12 days or so.
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Where to find Common Redpolls in Alberta
Common Redpolls are irruptive winter visitors to the Weaselhead/Glenmore Park area. Therefore the occurence of this species can range anywhere from rare to abundant. Watch for these birds low to the ground in shrubs and high overhead in conifers whenever there is snow on the ground. Brent Johner
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PAUL FINKLEMAN
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