Female Finches of the Vermilon River. A Post to World Bird Wednesday.

American Goldfinch



American Goldfinch




Rear view indicates she is a Common RedPoll



Lack of red bib indicates a female.

Shows red head patch and black around beak.

I really don't know if the goldfinch are females or males in winter plumage, but the RedPolls are females as they lack the red bib, and are not Hoary RedPolls as they lack the white back area. So perhaps it is a girl's night out at the Vermilon River. The RedPolls are finches also, but subarctic birds normally found in the tundra, which would be north of me. Every second year there is an irruption, and they migrate south along with the Hoary RedPolls and travel south even crossing the border into the US. They tend to mix with other finches, and in my area with Chickadees who know where the food is.

I have one problem with the naming of these gals. The word "common" has changed from just the opposite of rare to have connotations of cheap. The error is further compounded because the other RedPolls are known as Hoary RedPolls, not Rare Redpolls. These little gals are anything, but common in the cheap sense; so, henceforth in the Vermilon River District they will be known as "Northern RedPolls" and Hoary Redpolls.

BREAKING NEWS..... The partially right honourable Stephen Harper, the minority P.M. of Canada has announced that he will begin his Law and Order crackdown with the Redpolls who are illegally crossing the border. In this endeavour he will be aided by none other than his Minister of State, that poor flawed ex-cop, Julian Fantino, who has been followed by scandal and corruption where ever he goes. With Fantino it's hard to tell the good guys from the bad guys.We're just hoping to pick up a new uniform for Fantino from a deposed middle East dictator, so let us know if there is one available cheap.

To all US citizens, Stevie wanted you to know that he will compensate for out of pocket bird seed expenses. Just send your invoices to the nearest Canadian Legation, Embassy or directly to the Office of the partially right honourable, Stephen Harper, Ottawa, Canada.

A post to WBW @ http://pineriverreview.blogspot.com/