When:

Who:

Where:

County:

Location:

Exact Site:
Hatch Run Rd. and Conewango Ave.

Details: (To view more text, grab the lower-right corner of a field to widen or lengthen the box)

For older records, view original documentation here.

How Many:

Habitat:
weedy, snow-covered field

Distance from bird:
approx. 30 ft

Viewing Conditions:
hazy afternoon sunlight

Optics Used:
Bushnell Legend binoculars, Nikon D500 w/ 300mm f/4 telephoto

Description:
Small finch with red cap, very little streaking on flanks, undertail coverts almost completely bare, bright white rump. Steely, frosty color compared to surrounding Common Redpolls.

Behavior:
Frenetically feeding in weeds with Common Redpolls. The flock would repeatedly come into the weeds and feed from a few seconds to about a minute, and then take off and circle around, sometimes landing in the same place they just were, and sometimes going elsewhere. Periodically they would roost in some tall trees across the street before returning to the field.

Separation from similar species:
The bird was surrounded by Common Redpolls and easily stood out from them due to overall frostiness and steely color, compared to the brownish Commons.

Discussion:
I am submitting a record for an individual bird seen on the date listed, but I also observed a Hoary Redpoll at the same spot on 2/12, and others have gone there and seen Hoaries there, too. Travis Suckow, who originally found the bird, believes there are at least two at this location.

How positive are you about the identification:
Yes, I am positive- bird has the field marks for Hoary and was confirmed by multiple people online

References:

After the observation:
Finch Research Network

Media:

Photos and Drawings