Rare Bird Report #: 100-B-07

IDAHO BIRD RECORDS COMMITTEE
RARE BIRD REPORT FORM

SPECIES:

Hoary Redpoll

HOW MANY:

one, first year bird

REPORTER:

Terry Gray
890 Stefany Ln.
Moscow, ID 83843-9635
208-882-1585

REPORTER EMAIL:

clgtlg@moscow.com

OTHER OBSERVERS:

Charles Swift found this individual bird. I also found an adult bird that I will be filing a separate report for later.

DATE REPORT PREPARED:

12/16/2007

DATE SIGHTING OCCURRED:

12/16/2007

LOCALITY OF OBSERVATION:

University of Idaho Parker Farm approximately 1/2 mile east of Moscow, Idaho.

HABITAT:

Field with mixed tree windbreak

CONDITIONS:

40 minutes. Cool mid afternoon with light wind and broken cloud cover in the west. Temperature approximately 32 degrees. At times I was within 10 feet of this bird while using a 15 x camera as a way to observe the bird up close while also taking photos of this bird.

DID YOU TAKE NOTES?:

No, not at all

DID YOU CONSULT FIELD GUIDE OR OTHER REFERENCES?:

Yes, during the observation

WHAT GUIDE(S) OR REFERENCE(S) DID YOU CONSULT?:

The Sibley Guide to Birds.

DESCRIPTION:

This bird appeared to be a first year bird. Bill was very short in appearance. Bill was stubby with straight culmen. Breast was somewhat buffy. Rump area was totally white with no streaking. Flanks had fine streaking. Red cap was small a quite low and forward on crown of bird.

BEHAVIOR:

At the time of the observation this bird was alone and not up in the trees with the Common Redpolls. It was feeding on Birch catkins that had blown off the tree. It was NOT AFRAID of us like the Common Redpolls were earlier in the day and was able to get within approximately 5 feet from this bird a couple of time without disturbing this bird.

HOW AND WHEN DID YOU POSITIVELY IDENTIFY THE BIRD, AND WHAT CLINCHED THE IDENTIFICATION FOR YOU?

Charles and pointed this bird out to me from pictures he had taken the day before and he was observing the bird when I arrived. Again this bird was not afraid of people and had very thin faint streaking on flanks with no streaking on undertail coverts.

HOW DID YOU ELIMINATE SIMILAR SPECIES, AND WHAT WERE THEY?

This bird was obviously much lighter in color on the underside of the bird and being a loner and not afraid of people and with fine streaking along the flank with a short stubby bil with astraight culmen. The Common Redpolls observed in the trees had much heavier streaked flanks and all had quite a bit of streaking in the undertail coverts.

EXPERIENCE WITH THIS SPECIES (AND SIMILAR SPECIES):

Observed this species in my feeder about 9 years ago and at that time had two coming to my feeder. They would stay on the feeder while I added bird seed to the feeders while the Common Redpolls would always fly away. I was able to get good looks at those birds and one of those birds was also a first year bird.

GENERAL BIRDING EXPERIENCE:

Been an active birder for the pas 9 years.

WERE PHOTO(S), VIDEO, AND/OR AUDIO OBTAINED BY YOU?:

Photos