A Coues’s Arctic Redpoll is staying in Arnhem, the Netherlands for a few weeks (February 2018). The bird joints a group of approximately 30 Mealy Redpolls…
Like all redpolls, this group was very tame and approachable. In my opinion this Coues’s Arctic Redpoll is not a ‘classic’ Hoary Redpoll. The bill of this adult male is quite large for a Coues’s Arctic Redpoll. Beside this, the bird has a too much pink on his face. Last but not least there is a lack of a pale edge above his bill and his red forehead. Despite of this, I believe this bird is still a Coues’s Arctic Redpoll, but not a ‘classic’ one. Mealy Redpolls and Coues’s Arctic Redpolls are close related to each other and perhaps there are individuals with intermediate features…
More info about redpolls? See my redpoll overview.
One narrow (grey) dark shaft on longest undertail-coverts
Adult male Mealy Redpoll