The Redpoll is one of our many species of finch, and is mostly seen as a winter visitor. It is normally identified by a red patch on its head, but annoyingly, this one doesn't really have one, which probably indicates that is a young one, probably in its first winter. They have buff colouration, streaky sides and a neat dark bib. They feed like Siskin, hanging acrobatically from branches picking out seeds.
Redpolls come in many varieties, and their plumage varies considerably. I've labeled this one as simply a Redpoll, but it is actually called a Lesser Redpoll and is the common form. There is also a much less common form called a Mealy Redpoll, which is confusingly also called a Common Redpoll. Confused? (I won't mention the Arctic Redpoll)
