If you watched the Hitler redpoll video (http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=jdTTxTGcFQs), you'll know that redpoll taxonomy is uncertain ;)
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But truly, if you look at Sibley's web page on redpolls, it's more of a cline. Birds on the extreme are obviously either Common or Hoary but the ones in the middle?
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http://www.sibleyguides.com/2008/01/a-character-index-for-redpoll-identification/
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Having seen Hoary Redpolls in North Dakota where even there they aren't common, they often�have a punched in appearance to the face due to denser, more extensive feathering in the lores. The photos aren't clear enough to really tell but they really do all appear to be Commons.
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If the numbers of redpolls continues to increase, obviously the chances of a Hoary arriving increase. I guess they go from zero to something slightly above zero.
Tyler Bell
<jtylerbell...>
California, Maryland
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From: jugbayjs <JugBayJS...>
To: <mdbirding...>
Sent: Thursday, January 17, 2013 2:39 PM
Subject: [MDBirding] redpolls in Garrett (was posted on clicker thread)
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Thanks for the post Joe!
I have never seen a hoary redpoll and assume most readers here have probably not also. From what I found there's only one County in the Yellow Book with an accepted record (Worcester), but at least 8 MD Counties have reports (incl Montgomery), and eBird has records for only Worcester and Montgomery. The eBird pics I looked at for the Montgomery bird (1994; up to 4 reported; observed with up to 250 common redpolls at a residential feeder) look very much like what I would expect to see for me to be confident about seeing a Hoary. From what I can tell in the pics from Joe's post I think the Garrett birds appear to be more like Commons, based on overall darkness and extent of pink on flanks. But I am certainly not familiar enough with them to know. I probably speak for all here that if these birds are still present and may indeed be Hoary's, and of course if Joe would allow birders to see them at his house, then I think a lot of us will be interested in
trying to see them!!
Any other thoughts?
Jeff Shenot
Croom MD
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