A - Z Garden Bird Identification Index
(Acanthis cabaret)
The Lesser Redpoll may be small, but it brings a quiet charm to the treetops and feeders alike. With its flickering song and ruby-tinted forehead, it’s a delight to spot in winter gardens and woodland edges. This guide will help you identify Lesser Redpolls with confidence, understand their nesting and feeding habits, and even encourage them to visit your garden.
Identification
What does a Lesser Redpoll look like?
Length 13cm.
The Lesser Redpoll is the smallest and darkest of the redpoll group, measuring around 13 cm in length. These energetic little finches are most easily recognised by the striking red patch on their foreheads and their small black chins. Both sexes have pale brown bodies with fine dark streaks, but in summer, the male sports a blush of pink across the breast and forehead, whereas the female shows only a faint wash of pale red.
What does a female Lesser Redpoll look like?
Females lack the brighter pink of the male’s plumage and appear more subdued overall. Their red forehead is still visible, but their breast remains largely pale, helping distinguish them from their more vibrant counterparts.
What does a baby Lesser Redpoll look like?
Juvenile Redpolls are streaky brown and lack the red foreheads of the adults. Their plumage is duller and more camouflaged to offer protection while still in the nest or early in fledging.
How big is a Lesser Redpoll?
At approximately 13 cm, the Lesser Redpoll is a compact and agile finch — smaller than a House Sparrow and noticeably lightweight in flight.
Lesser Redpoll call/song – What does a Lesser Redpoll sound like?
In flight, Lesser Redpolls call with a distinctive high-pitched “church-uch” or soft “chit-chit”. Their song is a rapid, twittering stream of notes, often including brief trills and variations of their call note. When alarmed, they give a sharp, anxious “tsweet”.
How long do Lesser Redpolls live for?
On average, Lesser Redpolls live for around 2 years in the wild, though some individuals can live longer in favourable conditions.
Diet & Food
What does a Lesser Redpoll eat in the wild?
In the summer months, Lesser Redpolls primarily feed on insects, with caterpillars forming the bulk of food for growing chicks. For the rest of the year, their diet shifts to tiny seeds — especially birch, alder, and conifer seeds.
What should you feed Lesser Redpolls in the garden?
These birds are particularly fond of:
- Niger seed (their favourite)
- Sunflower hearts
- Ark Hearty™ Seed Mixes (specially designed to attract finches)
When is the best time to see Lesser Redpolls in the garden?
Lesser Redpolls are most likely to visit garden feeders in late autumn and winter, particularly when their natural food sources are scarce. Cold spells and snowy conditions often increase sightings as they join flocks of Goldfinches and Siskins in search of easy food.
Where should you feed Redpolls?
They will happily feed in a variety of places:
- Feeder: Hanging feeders filled with niger seed
- Table: Open or covered bird tables
- Ground: Seeds scattered on the ground will also be accepted
How to attract Lesser Redpolls to your garden?
To encourage these charming finches, place niger seed feeders in quiet, sheltered areas of the garden. Having birch or alder trees nearby can also help as they mirror their natural foraging habitat. During cold snaps, Redpolls are more likely to visit even urban gardens.
Habitat
Where do Lesser Redpolls live?
Lesser Redpolls are found widely across the UK, favouring woodland, scrubland, heath, and parks. They are particularly associated with birch and alder trees, where they forage among catkins and branches.
Do Lesser Redpolls migrate?
Although many UK birds remain resident, Lesser Redpolls are partial migrants. Some birds, particularly from northern populations, head south to milder areas — including continental Europe — during winter. Others remain in the UK year-round, moving locally in response to food availability.
Where do Lesser Redpolls nest?
Nesting begins in late April. They build their nests in trees or bushes, often in loose colonies. Nests are untidy cups of twigs, grass, and plant material, lined with feathers and hair for warmth and insulation.
Do Lesser Redpolls return to the same nest?
They do not typically reuse old nests but may nest in the same general area if conditions remain favourable.
What colour are Lesser Redpoll eggs?
Eggs are pale blue with light pink speckles. A typical clutch contains 5 to 6 eggs.
How rare or common are Lesser Redpolls in the UK?
While still relatively common, Lesser Redpoll populations have declined in recent years, and they are now on the UK’s Red List for Birds of Conservation Concern. However, they remain locally numerous in suitable habitats, and are increasingly seen at garden feeders in winter.
Where do Lesser Redpolls go in the winter?
In colder months, birds from northern Britain often move to southern England or across the North Sea. In the UK, they’re most commonly seen in eastern regions of Scotland and England during winter.
Where do Lesser Redpolls sleep?
At night, Redpolls roost in dense vegetation, often among birch scrub or conifers. Their small size means they favour sheltered spots for warmth and protection from predators.
Explore more in our A-Z Bird Identification Guide for detailed profiles of all your garden favourites.
Looking to spot a new visitor on your feeder? Our comprehensive species pages help you recognise and care for every bird that drops in.
