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Common Redpoll


Common Redpoll
Photo Information
Copyright: Mario Belanger (EOSF1) Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 1427 W: 128 N: 5252] (23221)
Genre: Animals
Medium: Color
Date Taken: 2007-11-21
Categories: Birds
Camera: Canon EOS 40D, Canon EF 100-400 F4-5.6 L IS USM, ISO 400, B+W 77 010 UV-Haze 1 x
Exposure: f/5.6, 1/125 seconds
Details: Tripod: Yes (Fill) Flash: Yes
More Photo Info: [view]
Photo Version: Original Version, Workshop
Date Submitted: 2008-01-15 14:02
Viewed: 649
Points: 68
[Note Guidelines] Photographer's Note [French]
Another shot of a female Common Redpoll (Carduelis flammea, 13 cm) that I shot last November in the garden.

From: www.birds.cornell.edu

An abundant breeding bird of the boreal and taiga regions, the Common Redpoll is seen in North America primarily only in the winter. Even then, it generally occurs during irruptions, typically every other year.

Cool Facts

Redpolls have throat pouches for temporarily storing seeds. They may fill their pouches with seeds quickly then fly away to swallow the seeds in a more protected, warmer spot.

Description
Size: 12-14 cm (5-6 in)
Wingspan: 19-22 cm (7-9 in)
Weight: 11-20 g (0.39-0.71 ounces)

A very small finch.
Bill small and conical.
Chin black.
Forehead red.


Body pale brown and streaky.
Wings and tail dark.
Two white wingbars on each wing.
Pink to deep pink wash across chest.

Sex Differences
Male pink on chest and less streaked, female without pink and heavily streaked.

Male
Crown bright red. Chin and lores black. Upperparts dark with pale edges; edges wear off through spring. Wings and tail blackish-brown. Wingbars broad and white. Lower back and rump paler and less streaked than upper back. Rump, cheeks and breast red or pink. Flanks with lines of dark streaks. Undertail coverts usually with dark centers and broad pale edges. Rest of underparts white or buffy.

Female
Similar to male, but darker and streakier. Little or no red, except on crown.

Immature
Immature male resembles adult female.

Similar Species

Pine Siskin more streaked, without red, without black bib. Yellow in wings.
Hoary Redpoll difficult to distinguish, but larger, frostier, with smaller bill and less streaking. Hoary rump white without streaks. Undertail coverts have little to no black markings. Note that Common Redpolls can look similar, and that the streaking on the undertail coverts is often hidden by the white of the overlapping feathers.

Sound
Call is a series of chittering notes with some rising, questioning notes.

Range
Summer Range
Alaska and northern Canada. Also Scandinavia, Russia, and Siberia, parts of Europe. Introduced to New Zealand.

Winter Range
Winters from southern part of breeding range south to northern United States. Extent of southward movement varies year to year.

Habitat
Breeds in open subarctic coniferous forest and scrub. Avoids dense forests.
Winters in open woodland and scrub, weedy fields, and suburban and urban areas.

Food
Very small seeds, such as birch, willow, alder, grasses, and weeds. Also arthropods in summer.

Behavior
Foraging
Feeds on small branches, often hanging upside down. Uses feet to hold food items. Frequently visits bird feeders, especially thistle feeders.

Reproduction
Nest Type
An open cup of fine twigs, rootlets and grasses. Lined with thick layer of feathers or hair. Placed in small tree or shrub.

Egg Description
Greenish white to pale blue, spotted with purple at large end.

Clutch Size
Usually 4-6 eggs. Range: 2-7.
Condition at Hatching
Helpless and with little down.

Conservation Status
Not listed as threatened or endangered.

Other Names
Sizerin flammé (French)
Pardillo sizer�n (Spanish)
nglen, spalaxtr, MMM, jaycee, thijs, CeltickRanger, eqshannon, Evelynn, Adanac, angela926, NinaM, Juyona, fiyo, uleko, SelenE, mariki, gerbilratz, rcrick, earthtraveler, Islander_, Alex99, pierrefonds has marked this note useful
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ThreadThread Starter Messages Updated
To jaycee: Thanks !EOSF1 1 01-18 08:20
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Critiques [Translate]

  • Great 
  • lousat Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Note Writer [C: 1107 W: 6 N: 3063] (11326)
  • [2008-01-15 14:18]

2 points as usual,your pics are so nice that i'm thinking at a automatic daily vote..eheheh..thanks for share,everyday is better,Luciano

Hello Mario,
Another beautifully captured passerine the exposure is fantastic. The side profile really shows nice detail and colors. TFS. :)

  • Great 
  • MMM Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Note Writer [C: 787 W: 0 N: 1581] (7260)
  • [2008-01-15 14:49]

Salut Mario
Belle capture.Bon POV et belle pause du sujet.Image bien en focus avec d'excellent détails dans le plumage.
Merci Michel

  • Great 
  • jaycee Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Note Writer [C: 1911 W: 8 N: 4976] (16095)
  • [2008-01-15 15:21]
  • [+]

Hi Mario,

I should just save one of my comments on your pictures and cut and paste it every day! This is splendid. A beautiful Redpoll - a bird I have never seen - standing out so well from the black background. Colors - details - composition all perfect. If anyone is tempting me to get a DSLR it is you. But I fear I would never learn to use it.

Jane

  • Great 
  • thijs Silver Star Critiquer/Silver Note Writer [C: 36 W: 4 N: 42] (168)
  • [2008-01-15 16:04]

Hi Mario

It looks like this one 's a thinker:P
A beautifull bird which i'd really to see sometimes. You captured it in all his beauty. Very well detailed and coloured. Good PoV, whit a nice dark BG. I like your frame. Well done!

TFS, Thijs

Great...so close!
Well done.

salut Mario

une fois de plusss très belle photo superbement cadré,
j'aimes cette espace vide tout autour de l'oiseau,
les détails de son plumage et de la branche
et la densité des couleurs sont excellente, TFS

Asbed

You should make note of the fact, in my eyes, that these ones which have such a darkened background with superbly lit subject are very special and if you do make book, movie for Computer or whatever...then you space them a bit (as you do on TN).. in musical terms it is called a conclusive chord or a resolution or resolved chord...You show certain ones, then lead up slowly to a dramatic one...in music we go from minor key all along till conclusion of phrase with a major..This leaves viewers and listeners with anticipation and climax...It works!:-)
Peace from the US
Bob

  • Great 
  • Tabib Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Note Writer [C: 117 W: 5 N: 112] (554)
  • [2008-01-15 18:23]

Hello Mario!,

What a GREAT shot of white & black bird with black back ground. The bird just pop out of my screen!.

Nice little red cap she has there.
cheers,
/Tabib/.

You have such a variety of birds in Quebec... that I have never seen. What a treasure you find right in your own garden. I like how the flash isolated the subject so well. Nice work

TFS
Evelynn : )

Nice side portrait. I like the background too. It compliments the bird well.

  • Great 
  • Adanac Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Note Writer [C: 1111 W: 1 N: 4518] (15132)
  • [2008-01-15 19:01]

Hi Mario,Your images are always so sharp and well exposed this one is no different. Fantastic image my friend, great work.
Rick

Hello Mario,
Excellent shot, good composition and pov, excellent sharpness and depth of filed, wonderful details and beautiful colors. another terrific shot. outstanding work!
Angela

  • Great 
  • NinaM Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Note Writer [C: 655 W: 0 N: 1623] (5300)
  • [2008-01-15 19:48]

Allo Mario, qu'est-ce qui se passe sur TN, les photos sont tellement belles, une après l'autre! Je passerais deux jours pour tout regarder et admirer et j'aurais besoin d'un 10 roues de cookies ;-) Cette photo est un petit chef d'oeuvre de limpidité, de lumière, de clair-obscur, de netteté, vraiment, c'est de la maîtrise qui se décuple en art. Félicitations!

Francine

Bonsoir Mario,
Toujours très jolies tes photos et très bien captées, Magnifiques et superbes composition de ce cizerin flammé, ils vident les mangeoires c'est pas trop long mais c'est très agréable de les voir,,
Bravo pour celle-ci.
Michel

  • Great 
  • Juyona Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Note Writer [C: 2108 W: 6 N: 2116] (13589)
  • [2008-01-15 23:06]

Hola Mario,
hermoso trabajo,
bella captura y delicado pose y pov...
plumaje hermoso y bg,
saludos

hello mario,
fine capture of Common Redpoll , the dark bg makes the light colored bird standour so well in the composition, sharp image with good details of the plumage, good lighting,
well done,
tfs & regards
pankaj

  • Great 
  • fiyo Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Note Writer [C: 958 W: 5 N: 2373] (8876)
  • [2008-01-16 2:17]

Hello Mario,
Very good work ! impressive colors and composition ! Thanks for sharing
Regards.

  • Great 
  • joey Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 1888 W: 245 N: 6180] (22002)
  • [2008-01-16 2:22]

Seeing as this is a generally bright coloured bird, the black BG makes it stand out like a sore thumb!
Once again the image is crazily sharp with th most amazing clarity! You must used specialised lenses that have diamond instead of glass in them! ;)
The little splodge of red on this Repoll's crest is beautiful!
Excellent compo. and POV. Great pose with the beak slightly open.
Superb lighting and great use of flash.
Very well done Mario.
Thanks,
Joe

Hi Mario

Beautiful redpoll shot. Great sharpness, comopsition and DOF.

Chris

  • Great 
  • uleko Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 2585 W: 170 N: 7879] (24911)
  • [2008-01-16 3:58]

Hello Mario,
The fill flash has worked really well here and brought out the details and colours very well. I love its pose and this is a very fine composition.
Many thanks, Ulla

  • Great 
  • SelenE Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 2426 W: 63 N: 4002] (12926)
  • [2008-01-16 4:33]

Hi Mario,
Another lovely capture of this beauty. Dark background, details, composition and the lighting are very good. TFS
Best wishes,
Selen

  • Great 
  • pvs Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 1159 W: 255 N: 2639] (11925)
  • [2008-01-16 5:18]

Hi Mario,

A very nice capture of this redpoll which clearly stands out from the BG,well done and tfs

Paul

Bonjour Mario
Et voilà mes deux points quotidiens ! C'est toujours un moment sans surprise, que de noter vos photos. J'ai juste fait un ws pour celle-ci pour éliminer deux traits un peu gênant ( à mon goût) dans le bg.
Merci.
Antoine.

  • Great 
  • Mana Gold Star Critiquer/Silver Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 1812 W: 29 N: 5246] (17188)
  • [2008-01-16 8:07]

Hi Mario,
Outstanding shot of this cute Redpoll with such lovely colours and details on its plumage. Fantastic lighting, exposure and DOF with the darkish BG enhancing the beauty manifold. Excellent POV to portray it and very nicely composed. Kudos.
TFS.
Sumon

des détails renversants et un DOF merveilleux, il est presque possible de compter les filaments dans les plumes, un projectile véritablement merveilleux... et de grandes notes...

  • Great 
  • nglen Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Note Writer [C: 2130 W: 9 N: 5960] (22528)
  • [2008-01-16 10:21]
  • [2]

Hi Mario. I was just going to turn the computer of for the night and up pop your picture. and a beauty it is. thee dark BG helps to make the redpoll stand out so well. you have captured fine detail and colours. with a nice pOV. good notes as well/ TFS.
Nick..

  • Great 
  • rcrick Gold Star Critiquer/Silver Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 648 W: 42 N: 1198] (3860)
  • [2008-01-16 19:14]

Hi Mario
What a great shot of this Female Redpoll, stunning detail in the plumage, well composed, excellent lighting, very nice work all the best Cheers Rick :)

Bonjour Mario,
Comme il est magnifique, vraiment très bien réussi, les couleurs sont superbes, et les détails extras.
Merci
Marie

Bonjour Mario,

Belle photo de ce sizerin. La netteté est parfaite. Très bon contraste avec l'arrière-plan noir. Très belles couleurs.
Bonne journée
Mariki

Super Redpoll image Mario!.
Beautiful birds and this image captures it's beauty wonderfuly.
Fantastic color detail, POV/pose, exposure, and the dark BG contrast is excellent. Well done!
Richard

Bonjour Mario,

Belle photo avec un cadrage bien pensé, très bonne utilisation de flash, fond plaisant, point de vue classique, détails nets.

Eugène

  • Great 
  • Alex99 Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 3174 W: 154 N: 4796] (15481)
  • [2008-01-19 9:13]

Hi Mario.
I am impresses with great flash work. Wonderfulness of the pictured scene and superb detail reproduction. You managed to reflect every tine features of the beautiful bird and even twig. BG is wonderful too. Composition and POV are spot on. Bravo.
Alexei.

Bonjour Mario,

Ce sizerin flammé sur la branche semble figé sur place. La prise de vue permet de voir avec précision les détails et les couleurs des plumes de l'oiseau. Le sujet est bien cadré. Bonne journée.

Pierre

  • Great 
  • arfer Gold Star Critiquer [C: 2731 W: 0 N: 0] (0)
  • [2008-01-25 21:42]

Hello Mario

Awesome lighting!
The focus is your usual razor sharpness.
The contrast is excellent,and the colours are outstanding.
I love the snowflake whizzing by like a meteor.
TFS
Rob

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