No more Hoary Redpoll?

[Rotarran]

I read this article which was emailed to me by the Cornell Lab of Ornithology about how new scientific research into the DNA of Redpolls has revealed some surprising findings.  Apparently Common and Hoary Redpolls are virtually the same species and should be branded as such.

http://blog.allaboutbirds.org/2015/03/3 ... -303081269

I do have to say that of all the species I have seen so far, I have always felt uneasy and doubtful of the Hoary Redpoll.  And I'm saying that not to deny the existence of the Hoary-type of Redpoll, but to confirm that there are so many variations in between the Common and Hoary. A really dark Common and a really white Hoary are merely the most extreme variations of the same species.  But this approach almost seems to ignore everything in between...all that did was bring confusion and frustration to many birders (myself included).  

White Hoaries, even as a subspecies or a variation, are still very beautiful and no doubt real bird afficionados would always flock to see it, but is it a separate species?  May not be for much longer.

[Dinusaur]

Darn - Not so long ago I spent several hours in JC Saddington park looking for one, without any luck of course. They are still beautiful in their own right and I will still be glad to find one.

[Rotarran]

Darn - Not so long ago I spent several hours in JC Saddington park looking for one, without any luck of course. They are still beautiful in their own right and I will still be glad to find one.

Well it's not official yet.  But who knows maybe you did see one but they're sometimes so hard to tell apart that you didn't know.  I mean consider the following challenges:

1. small size of Redpolls
2. constant movements
3. angles and lighting
4. aforementioned variations in features
5. and yet despite all these challenges, somehow you're supposed to lock onto 5 or 6 features of the SAME BIRD to confirm you saw one?  often without the aid of photography?...ha!

I have been both very confident and completely not confident on the same bird often within minutes or seconds of seeing it.  In my mind, if they do put 'em together, I'll actually be a bit relieved because I'm tired of trying to look for things that are almost imaginary and wasn't sure ever really even existed.

[Dinusaur]

.......I'll actually be a bit relieved because I'm tired of trying to look for things that are almost imaginary and wasn't sure ever really even existed.

Six years went by since you said those sentences Elias and they still kept all three subspecies separate. From a recent post of yours I conclude that you are still looking for a Hoary and so am I. Every time I see a large flock I hope to see one; alas no luck so far. These guys don't sit still to provide a view from all different angles to conclude anything definitively. I am still with the commoners.

[Shortsighted]

Hoary Redpolls may indeed remain elusive subjects and do not appear with frequency in posts on this modest forum but I have noticed more elegantly worded posts with thoughful description and compelling presentation. This may evolve into the most sophisticated and respected forum in cyberspace.