THE LESSER REDPOLE.frond with small flowersThisis the smallest of our Finches, measuring only about four and a half inches in length. Its crown is crimson-red, hind part of head and rest of upper parts dark brown, the feathers being edged with reddish-brown. Upper tail-coverts tinged with crimson. Wings and tail dusky, edged with pale reddish-brown, the latter forked. Chin black, throat and breast rose-pink to vermilion, rest of under parts light greyish, streaked on the sides with dull brown. The female is rather smaller, and lacks the red on her breast and upper tail-coverts.The Lesser Redpole has bred, somewhat erratically it is true, in nearly everycounty in England, but is most numerous in the northern counties and in Scotland. It also nests in Ireland, where it is scarcer in the south than the north. Its nest is a very pretty little structure made of a few slender, dead twigs (used as a foundation), dead grass stalks, moss, and rootlets beautifully lined with willow down and occasionally hair and feathers. It is built in willows, alders, firs, hawthorn, birch, hazel, and other trees and bushes. It has also been found in heather.The eggs, which number from four to six, are of a very pale bluish-green ground colour, spotted generally about the larger end with orange-red, and sometimes streaked with a darker tint.The song of this species is not of a high order in regard to quality, and has been variously described by different authorities. Professor Newton says, “Towards the end of winter the cocks break out in song, which, though not powerful, is lively and agreeable, and begin to indulge in the characteristic exultant flight during which it is generally uttered.” Mr. Henry Seebohm describes it as “a short, monotonous trill, clear and not unmusical”; whilst Bechstein’sjudgment is that “Its feeble warblings are only a low, continued twittering.”LESSER REDPOLE’S NEST AND EGGSLESSER REDPOLE’S NEST AND EGGSIn spite, however, of its shortcomings as a vocalist, it is a favourite cage pet, especially with children, because of its boldness, docility, and intelligence.It is called the Lesser Redpole, because it is rather smaller than its nearrelative, the Mealy Redpole, which breeds on the Continent and sometimes visits this country in winter. The breeding area of the Lesser Redpole seems to be almost restricted to the British Islands. This species flocks during the autumn, and although many remain with us throughout the winter, numbers migrate to the Continent.The call notes arepe-weetandkreek, kreek, hayid.landscape with rustic road
frond with small flowers
Thisis the smallest of our Finches, measuring only about four and a half inches in length. Its crown is crimson-red, hind part of head and rest of upper parts dark brown, the feathers being edged with reddish-brown. Upper tail-coverts tinged with crimson. Wings and tail dusky, edged with pale reddish-brown, the latter forked. Chin black, throat and breast rose-pink to vermilion, rest of under parts light greyish, streaked on the sides with dull brown. The female is rather smaller, and lacks the red on her breast and upper tail-coverts.
The Lesser Redpole has bred, somewhat erratically it is true, in nearly everycounty in England, but is most numerous in the northern counties and in Scotland. It also nests in Ireland, where it is scarcer in the south than the north. Its nest is a very pretty little structure made of a few slender, dead twigs (used as a foundation), dead grass stalks, moss, and rootlets beautifully lined with willow down and occasionally hair and feathers. It is built in willows, alders, firs, hawthorn, birch, hazel, and other trees and bushes. It has also been found in heather.
The eggs, which number from four to six, are of a very pale bluish-green ground colour, spotted generally about the larger end with orange-red, and sometimes streaked with a darker tint.
The song of this species is not of a high order in regard to quality, and has been variously described by different authorities. Professor Newton says, “Towards the end of winter the cocks break out in song, which, though not powerful, is lively and agreeable, and begin to indulge in the characteristic exultant flight during which it is generally uttered.” Mr. Henry Seebohm describes it as “a short, monotonous trill, clear and not unmusical”; whilst Bechstein’sjudgment is that “Its feeble warblings are only a low, continued twittering.”
LESSER REDPOLE’S NEST AND EGGSLESSER REDPOLE’S NEST AND EGGS
LESSER REDPOLE’S NEST AND EGGS
In spite, however, of its shortcomings as a vocalist, it is a favourite cage pet, especially with children, because of its boldness, docility, and intelligence.
It is called the Lesser Redpole, because it is rather smaller than its nearrelative, the Mealy Redpole, which breeds on the Continent and sometimes visits this country in winter. The breeding area of the Lesser Redpole seems to be almost restricted to the British Islands. This species flocks during the autumn, and although many remain with us throughout the winter, numbers migrate to the Continent.
The call notes arepe-weetandkreek, kreek, hayid.
landscape with rustic road