Hoary Redpoll..... Greenland variety ?????

While I was out on my deck having a smoke break, I spotted this bird perched in a tree behind my neighbor's house. I did not want to risk losing the opportunity for the shot so did not take time to unpack my 500 and set up a tripod. I grabbed my 400 and camera which was sitting in my cabinet and scurried back out to the deck. I grabbed a few hand held shots at a long range before it flew off.

This shot also represents a very healthy crop so does not have the detail I would normally want before posting one. However, it's the first I have ever seen and I think it has enough for I.D. purposes. I'm certain it's a Hoary and after consulting my books I believe it could be of the Greenland variety which is not normally found this far south.

If one of you knowledgeable birders could jump in and comment, I would appreciate it.

Thanks.

It's hard to say, but i would guess that this is just a leucistic individual. Redpolls vary so much in their plumage that it's hard to get a proper ID without measuring them, which isnt exactly practical!

That's certainly a beautiful bird Harvey...

We don't get Redpols of any kind here so... no help from us on the ID I'm afraid. But I'd be very happy with this in any case.

Glad you you were able to capture him, and thanks for posting this.

Kenn

Can't help on the ID, Harvey, but congrats on catching him! And he sure looks pretty.

Whatever it turns out being...it sure is a beauty Harvey.

I think if anyone knew, it just might be you. I can say that this is another wonderful shot,, the white, the red and the black wings, simply beautiful. I think I will go have a smoke in your Honor, Sir.
Do you like a good cigar?

A beauty, Harv, well captured.

lovely bird Harvey.. nicely done

Restless legs man wrote in post #11974295
It's hard to say, but i would guess that this is just a leucistic individual. Redpolls vary so much in their plumage that it's hard to get a proper ID without measuring them, which isnt exactly practical!

kenn3d wrote in post #11974326
That's certainly a beautiful bird Harvey...

We don't get Redpols of any kind here so... no help from us on the ID I'm afraid. But I'd be very happy with this in any case.

Glad you you were able to capture him, and thanks for posting this.

Kenn

Levina de Ruijter wrote in post #11975435
Can't help on the ID, Harvey, but congrats on catching him! And he sure looks pretty.

Shar824 wrote in post #11975596
Whatever it turns out being...it sure is a beauty Harvey.

BGgraphy wrote in post #11976132
I think if anyone knew, it just might be you. I can say that this is another wonderful shot,, the white, the red and the black wings, simply beautiful. I think I will go have a smoke in your Honor, Sir.
Do you like a good cigar?

sparker1 wrote in post #11976360
A beauty, Harv, well captured.

kmunroe wrote in post #11978755
lovely bird Harvey.. nicely done

Thanks a lot, everyone.

At the moment, this image is being assessed by 4 well respected authorities in the ornithology community here in Ontario and the jury is still out on the I.D. Hopefully there will be some sort of consensus later today when the last contact responds.

Harvey_G wrote in post #11978803
Thanks a lot, everyone.

At the moment, this image is being assessed by 4 well respected authorities in the ornithology community here in Ontario and the jury is still out on the I.D. Hopefully there will be some sort of consensus later today when the last contact responds.

You'll need to get back to us as soon as you hear!

I photographed a redpoll about a year ago that was blue/grey and was hanging out with some goldfinches, but the bird recorders for the west of scotland just told me it was just a leucistic lesser redpoll. I was hoping it was going to be arctic/hoary, but it was not to be

I hope yours turns out to be a rarity.

Edit: Just had a quick look at some pictures of some greenland race Hoarys, and this is a mystery. The individual in your shot seems to have a lot more pure white, less distinct markings and its leg looks pinkish, which makes me think it's leucistic, which makes it pretty much impossible to ID. Hopefully my input helps.

Restless legs man wrote in post #11979061
You'll need to get back to us as soon as you hear!

I photographed a redpoll about a year ago that was blue/grey and was hanging out with some goldfinches, but the bird recorders for the west of scotland just told me it was just a leucistic lesser redpoll. I was hoping it was going to be arctic/hoary, but it was not to be

I hope yours turns out to be a rarity.

Edit: Just had a quick look at some pictures of some greenland race Hoarys, and this is a mystery. The individual in your shot seems to have a lot more pure white, less distinct markings and its leg looks pinkish, which makes me think it's leucistic, which makes it pretty much impossible to ID. Hopefully my input helps.

I will definitely do that. On a side note, I noticed that other images of leucistic redpolls I have seen don't have as distinct feather markings on the wings that this one does. I am far from an expert so will have to wait to hear back from those that are.

Very pretty bird, Harv. Good catch.

great capture, Harvey

Well folks, the jury has rendered it's verdict. Three prominent local authorities called for the opinion of another who they felt was even more of an authority. This is the conclusion.....

"Even though the bill seems small and short (perhaps the angle), the wide dark streaks on the undertail coverts suggest a Common Redpoll. Also, the extensive unmarked white areas on the scapulars and face are not typical of either redpoll. I prefer albinism as you suggested in this case and leucism for washed out birds, but now both conditions are termed leucism with albinism reserved for pure white birds lacking all pigments including in the bare parts. You may remember an article about these distinctions in Birding several years ago."

This bird is one of the whiter redpolls I have seen... your "expert" is undoubtably correct... never the less, it is a gorgeous little bird, worthy of conversation lovely capture Harvey.

db