Common Redpolls are breeding

Male CORE

Today was a gloriously sunny and pleasant morning at the station. It was almost difficult to believe that three days ago a snow storm was raging.

We captured three Common Redpolls (CORE). Two were male recaptures that we originally banded Monday the 17th. Our newly banded bird was a female that had a well developed brood patch (a patch of highly vascularized and featherless skin on the abdomen that is used to keep eggs and young warm), suggesting an active breeding attempt.