Both a Hoary and a Common Redpoll at my feeders. Note the Hoary (upper left) is paler overall, has an even stubbier little bill than the Common Redpoll, and lacks the stripes/barring that the Common Redpoll has on its sides and underparts.
In a little over a week, I’ve now had three new “yard” birds. 10 days ago, I had Common Redpolls and a Sharp-shinned Hawk for the first time. Today, my son and I were downstairs, came up and looked out the sunroom window, and there were several Redpolls at the feeders again. However this time…one was obviously “different”…so much so, my son said “what’s the white one”? It was obviously paler than the other Redpolls, and didn’t have the barring on the sides and underparts.
A Hoary Redpoll! A dang rare bird in the lower 48 states, and here it was sitting at my feeders! It’s not often you can sit in your sunroom on a bitterly cold winter’s day and pick up a new “life” bird, not just a new “yard” bird.
WONDERFUL surprise today. I’m hoping he sticks around. He was around the feeders almost continuously for an hour and a half today.
Pretty and tough little creatures. I think people who feed birds are amazing.