BIRD 6
We finish with the closest we get to a ‘trick question’ in ID Challenge, as this bird is a bird which is currently regarded as a species by the BOU, but rumour has it that in the future it may lose its full species status. But we make no apologies for what may or may not happen in the future! The shape of this bird looks typically finchy: rounded and thick-necked with a short triangular bill for picking at fine seeds. The plumage is cold and frosty, with a whitish background quite heavily streaked on the flanks and more finely streaked on the back. The wings are dark with white (not buff) transverse wing-bars. The face is black, with the black bib and red forecrown of a redpoll. The streaked, frosty plumage and medium bill identify it as Mealy Redpoll.
Key features
Typical small finch shape Black face and bib Red ‘poll’ Frosty, streaked plumage and mid-length bill