365 Urban species. #016: Common Redpoll

[urbpan]

Urban species #016: Common Redpoll Carduelis flammea

The common redpoll is a holarctic species of finch. Holarctic means that it is found in a ecological zone that circles the northern part of the northern hemisphere, just as red foxes, brown bears, and wolves are. Being a finch means that it feeds almost entirely on seeds. Together, this means that common redpolls are found visiting birdfeeders in Hokkaido, Moscow, Glasgow, Juneau, Toronto, as well as Boston. Their occasional winter visits south of their breeding range are related to fluctuations in the supplies of their favorite food supplies, such as birch catkins (pictured here, in Boston. photo by cottonmanifesto)

Comments

[http://users.livejournal.com/_bazilisk_/]

Something about this picture is GORGEOUS.

[cottonmanifesto.livejournal.com]

Thanks! :)

[drocera.livejournal.com]

I just wanted to let you know that I look forward to your animal posts everyday!

[urbpan.livejournal.com]

Thank you! That makes me happy. :)

[(Anonymous)]

I remember as a small kid growing up in Alaska finding a Redpoll w/ a damaged (but not broken) wing. I took it home, of course, where my dad swabbed it with peroxide and wrapped the wing in light gauze.

After two weeks, we took the gauze off (much easier than putting it on, as "Red" was used to us by now), but he was too weak to fly. So, we kept him about a month longer, strolling around the house with him on our shoulder, until he started flying around the basement. We perched him in a birch tree in the back yard, and as far as I know, he lived a happy, full life after that.

Quite amazing how a little bird can touch your heart like that.