Redpoll facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Redpolls
Common redpoll in Oulu, Finland
Scientific classification
Kingdom:	Animalia
Phylum:	Chordata
Class:	Aves
Order:	Passeriformes
Family:	Fringillidae
Subfamily:	Carduelinae
Genus:	Acanthis Borkhausen, 1797
Type species
Acanthis flammea
Species
Acanthis flammea Acanthis cabaret Acanthis hornemanni
Synonyms
Carduelis

Redpolls are small birds known for the red patch on their heads. They are part of the finch family, called Fringillidae. Their scientific name is Acanthis. This name comes from an old Greek word for a small bird.

These birds live in northern forests, especially near birch trees. You can also find them in New Zealand and other subantarctic islands. They are small, with brown or grey-brown feathers on their backs. They all have a red spot on their forehead. Male redpolls have a red chest. Females and young birds have a streaky brown chest and a white belly. Their beaks are small and yellow.

Redpolls mainly eat seeds. They are very agile when they feed, often hanging upside down like a tit. In summer, they might also eat some insects. They make a dry, rolling song and a metallic call. They build their nests in trees or large bushes, laying four to seven eggs. Outside the breeding season, redpolls often gather in large groups. Sometimes, they even join flocks of other finches.

Different Kinds of Redpolls

Scientists are still trying to figure out how many different types of redpolls there are. They are all very similar. Some studies suggest there are three main types. Other lists say there are only two, or even just one species. Recent studies show that these birds are very closely related. This means their different looks might have appeared recently within the same group.

Redpoll Species

Here are the main types of redpolls:

Male	Female	Common Name	Scientific Name	Where They Live
		Arctic Redpoll (also called Hoary Redpoll)	Acanthis hornemanni	Greenland and nearby parts of Canada
		Common Redpoll	Acanthis flammea	North America and parts of Europe and Asia
		Lesser Redpoll	Acanthis cabaret	Originally from Ireland, Great Britain, and the Alps. Now found across central and northern Europe.

See also

In Spanish: Acanthis para niños