Just a few comments on the Garrett Redpolls - first its great to see that these guys are finally making an appearance in MD this year and Garrett is probably one of the more "expected" places to find them perhaps. Having lived in northeastern Maine for 8 years, I am somewhat familiar with them - as others suggested they are not common even in northern ME but we did get 0 - 3 each year at our feeders, average probably 1 or 2 every year in flocks of 100-200+ Common Redpolls and Siskins. I don't see anything in these photos that strongly suggest any of the birds as Hoary although in photo P1020101.JPG the upper left bird looks a little "frostier" than the others, none of the other critical features can be seen well here. I would go out on a limb and say we are not looking at 5 Hoarys (they mostly look like perfectly normal Commons). Also keep in mind beside individual variation there are multiple sub-species of both Common and Hoary that further complicate ID. The previously-mentioned link to the Sibley guide webpage is excellent and I also recommend it. The numbering scale Sibley developed (I think?) seems to be very good and I have seen it "correctly" ID possible Hoarys from good photos before. For me to call a bird visiting my old Maine feeders a Hoary, it would be in direct comparison with Commons, appearing slightly larger (but beware subspecies comparisons)and fluffier, and much frostier-looking overall, with a whiter rump, unmarked or almost completely unmarked undertail coverts, less bold and more limited streaking on the flanks, as well as an extremely stubby-looking bill, and a reduced amount of black on the face and red on the head (more towards the forecrown, less capped). Not sure if this is definitive but the Hoarys that I've seen also seemed to have more of a white-to-black ration on the back; the back had black streaks, but it seemed liked the amount of white between the streaks was slightly wider than that of Common Redpolls in direct comparison. If it had all these features, I would have no problem calling it a Hoary. I realize, however, that this is a conservative approach and may have resulted in missing some middle-of-the-road Hoarys for lack of a better term, but it would not result in mislabeling a Common.
Good Birding,
Frank Marenghi
Annapolis, MD
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