[TN-Bird] Common Redpolls -- age/sex

A question that has come up several times:  Do male and female first  
winter redpolls look the same?  According to Mullarney et al., "Birds  
of Europe," the answer is yes, they do look the same and essentially  
the same as adult females.  The only individuals with a reddish flush  
on the breast are adult males.  Hence, the age/sex of the Common  
Redpoll in Hohenwald now can't be determined, other than to say it is  
not an adult male.

By the way, this European field guide, sold by Princeton in the US  
and Collins in Europe, is a superb book well worth owning even if you  
don't ever planning on traveling to Europe. Its detailed treatment of  
plumages of different age classes is indispensable.  I would never go  
to Pace Point or any other gull hot spot without having it handy.

Bill Pulliam
Hohenwald TN
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