Today, just as the heavy snow started falling, two Redpolls showed up at the feeder garden. They darted often back into the woodland edge for cover, but snatched many seeds from the tray alongside the Chickadees, Cardinals, and Juncos.
Redpolls breed worldwide in the far northern latitudes. But they come "south" when food is unpredictable in late January. Their winter range is extremely variable (as far south as Iowa or Missouri) when these little birds seek food from open woodlands, scrubby and weedy fields, or backyard feeders.
They can survive temperatures of 65F below zero degrees: they will add about 31 percent more plumage by weight, and tunnel into snow for shelter.
