Common Redpoll

Acanthis flammea (Linnaeus, 1758)

		male female
2006-02-23 Ust-Kamenogorsk, Strelka 2005-12-17 Ust-Kamenogorsk	© Askar Isabekov © Askar Isabekov

Distribution

Breeds in Western Altai at Beloubinskiye lakes, at Markakol lake in Southern Altai and 14 August 1991 recorded in Saur. On migration and in winter occurs everywhere, including highlands of Zailiyskiy Alatau.

Biology

Rare breeding migrant in Altai, and common winter visitor in rest parts of Kazakhstan. Inhabits the alpine meadows with dwarf birch and larch or the cedar subalpine forests at altitudes 1850-2200 m. In winter prefers to be in the birch groves, riparian and deciduous forests, gardens, shrubs and thickets of tall weeds. No nests were found in Kazakhstan, two alarmed by the human emergence pairs observed in mid-June – end of July; the independent juveniles in broods observed in mid-July. In autumn in non-breeding areas arrives in end of September – end of October, in small flocks of 30-50, up to 100 birds. Spring migration begins in March, some spring flocks were counted up to 1000 birds. Latest migrants observed in early – mid-April.

Subspecies

	Acanthis flammea flammea (Linnaeus, 1758)
	Acanthis (flammea) hornemanni (Holboell, 1843) Distribution. Occasionally occurs in winter in middle current of Ural river, in foothills of Altai and as far south, as Semirechye (Almaty area). Observed with flocks of Redpoll.

References

Gavrilov E. I., Gavrilov A. E. "The Birds of Kazakhstan". Almaty, 2005. Э.И.Гаврилов. "Фауна и распространение птиц Казахстана". Алматы, 1999. В.К.Рябицев. "Птицы Урала, Приуралья и Западной Сибири". Екатеринбург. Издательство Уральского университета, 2000.