Top 5 Tips for Feeding Common Redpolls

Trust me on this one: it's only a matter of time until Common Redpolls start arriving in our area.  Here's how to make sure they make a stop at your feeding station this winter:

1) Offer fresh niger seed

Make sure your niger seed (aka thistle or Nyjer) is fresh (less than 3 months old, whether it's in the feeder or in the bag).  Also make sure the seed is loose and dry in the feeder.

2) Hang multiple finch feeders

Redpolls are VERY gregarious.  Flocks can number over 100.  Having multiple finch feeders for them will allow you to host more redpolls.

3) Use a mesh finch feeder

Most finch tube-type feeders limit the number of birds on it at one time to the number of perches it has.  A mesh finch feeder allows more redpolls to cling on the feeder to eat and the sight it amazing - it looks like a busy beehive.

4) Keep your feeders and feeding area clean

Redpolls are susceptible to salmonellosis, and because of their flocking behavior, they could easily spread it to others in the flock.
Help them out by cleaning your feeders often with a weak bleach solution (1 part bleach to 9 parts water) and by cleaning the area beneath the feeders as well.

5) Watch for the rarer Hoary Redpoll

Within any sizeable redpoll flock, you might be able to pick out a Hoary Redpoll, a frostier-colored cousin of the Common Redpoll.  Read up on the Hoary Redpoll so you can be ready to look for one!

Related articles

• Top 5 Tips for Feeding the Pine Siskins
• Are We In for a Great Birdfeeding Season? I'm Thinkin' So!

Comments

[Susan Weaver]

I have never had luck with the stocking finch feeders. I do much better with the tube feeders. suan
backyardfeatheredfriends.com

[Sybil from Ohio]

I have bean feeding on porch as I said and enjoy watching from the kitchen. I sweep the seed and any droppings I can. Since they perch on the banisters, it seems that I will have to change the setup or pour the hot water and bleach on porch too.

[The Zen Birdfeeder]

Sybil, birds can become ill naturally and their droppings can pass along disease to other birds. Also, other birds feeding in close proximity to the ill bird can also become ill. Unfortunately, finches like redpolls and Siskins are particularly susceptible. Keep feeders clean and the feeding area clean to minimize the risk. Thanks for your question and stop by again soon.

[Sybil from Ohio]

Just moved to the country and began birdfeeding. Redpolls have just begun to come to my feeder that sits on my front porch banister. It has common songbird feed that I found in bulk at the hardware store. I had no idea they (and other like birds) were at risk for disease at feeder. Is this due to exposure to fecal matter? Or is it spread through the mouth by leftover seed? What a great site by the way.

[The Zen Birdfeeder]

Lenore, congratulations on your new yard bird!

[Lenore Brown]

Yes, over the past week, we have had a flock of turkeys, as well as a flock of about 50-100 red polls at our two feeders! This is the first time for the red polls ever appearing at our feeders.

[The Zen Birdfeeder]

Peggy, salmonella is seen fairly often amongst the big flocks of winter finches like siskins and redpolls. We recommend cleaning all your feeders and the feeding area and taking down the feeders for a short time to let the birds disperse. Here's a post I did awhile back on healthy birdfeeding: http://wildbirdsunlimited.typepad.com/the_zen_birdfeeder/2010/09/top-5-tips-for-a-clean-healthy-birdfeeding-station.html
Good luck!

[peggy]

We have a small patio but back onto a large forest and therefore have a large concentration of birds in a small yard. We have 7 feeders, all from WBU, and our yard is a very busy place year round. I have noticed that over the past month there always seem to be one or two sick birds at the feeders and found a dead pine siskin a few weeks ago. Today, I saw a fluffed up redpoll hanging around the nyger feeder most of the day and noticed that it had burrowed into a snowdrift after dark. I got rid of our bird bath a few weeks ago and our feeders are kept clean. I was hoping that the recent bout of cold weather and snow would stop the spread of disease, but I guess not. I'm at a loss as to what to do. I'd hate to remove the feeders as so many other species of seemingly unaffected birds use them, but I hate to see these sick birds on a regular basis. Do you have any suggestions?

[The Zen Birdfeeder]

SRB, it's not just you! In some areas, natural food supplies are very low so birds have been busy at feeders. Thanks for your question and for feeding the birds!

[SRB]

Not a comment but a question: Is it me or have the birds been really gorging themselves this week? Seems we can't refill the feeders fast enough!