If you merely glanced at this feeder from afar, you might assume all the birds are goldfinches.
They’re all the same size, but the two birds at the top are common redpolls, the latest arrivals in a massive irruption of winter birds.
In western Pennsylvania they’ve joined purple finches, red and white-winged crossbills, pine siskins, evening grosbeaks, and red-breasted nuthatches, all of whom came south because of the drought up north.
I’ve chronicled other irruptions (see list below) but I don’t remember a year in which so many species visited at the same time. This year the only thing we seem to be missing are snowy owls.
- Common redpolls, winter 2007-08
- Pine siskins, winter 2008-09
- White-winged crossbills, winter 2008-09
- Snowy Owls, winter 2011-12
- Evening grosbeaks, this winter 2012-13
Look closely at your feeders. You might have some exciting visitors.
(photo by Marcy Cunkelman)
My husband noticed a common redpoll at our feeder in South Park a few days ago. Yesterday we were happy to see him back! No female yet.
About an hour ago,I saw 4 common redpolls and a white-winged crossbill, at home in Jefferson Hills.Earlier this winter,I had several evening grossbeaks,so i have been a fortunate recipient of this season’s major irruption.
Kate, are the golden crowned kinglet’s a part of this? I have a pair here in Carrollton Ohio, and finally photographed one, at the suet feeder. (They do Not sit still! lol!)
Also, at the one park, there are many flocks of crossbills feasting on the white pine cones that are in abundance.
Here is the pic of the kinglet on photobucket if you would like to see it:
http://i1251.photobucket.com/albums/hh544/Matrix20101/040.jpg
Golden-crowned kinglets do migrate but they aren’t numerous in winter in Pittsburgh. However, lots PA birders are reporting kinglets in just the last few days. There must have been a new surge of them. What a strange winter!
We have the GCrownKinglets here most of the winter into late April and May…cool you got a photo of it on the suet…you never know what you might see out the windows…I love surprises and learning something new…BTW, had 6 or more Redpolls here today…Still waiting for the Pine Siskins to make an appearance for 2013..(up to 36 species for the yard list.)
I read about the red polls on your blog yesterday, and today about a hundred of them showed up at my feeders. This year I decided to put up thistle socks, and the birds are so thick on them I can’t see the socks! Also. right after you blogged about the evening grosbeaks, about a dozen showed up at my feeders, and are still here! I live in Tionesta, and this has been an amazing time for bird watching starting in May of 2012 whrn cedar wax wings found my holly bushes!!
This afternoon we had our own personal “irruption” twice! First the lawn was covered with so many grackles that I couldn’t see grass! When they moved on–very quickly–about 20 robins showed up.
Just had a common redpoll at our feeders in Scott Township! Still waiting for those grosbeaks…
I’ve had a male & female common redpolls at my feeder for over a month now…North Versailles, PA. Their beautiful!