Redpoll (Acanthis flammea) is in the Finches, Euphonias, and Allies family (Fringillidae). Across the U.S., iNaturalist users have logged 5,549 research-grade observations of it in our sample, peaking in February.
Seasonal pattern in the national data: winter visitor. Counts also reflect when people are out photographing, so compare months within a state rather than across states.
When to photograph Redpoll: observations by month (U.S.)
About Redpoll
The common redpoll (Acanthis flammea) is a species of bird in the finch family. It breeds somewhat further south than the Arctic redpoll, also in habitats with thickets or shrubs.From Wikipedia via iNaturalist — article, CC BY-SA.
Redpoll by state
| State | Observations | Peak month | Main season |
|---|---|---|---|
| Alaska | 1,185 | June | Jan–Jul |
| Minnesota | 1,147 | February | Jan–Feb |
| Vermont | 494 | January | Nov–Mar |
| Illinois | 454 | February | Nov–Mar |
| Michigan | 365 | February | Nov–Apr |
| New York | 340 | February | Jan–Mar |
| Massachusetts | 193 | January | Dec–Mar |
| Wisconsin | 180 | February | Dec–Mar |
| Maine | 174 | March | Dec–Mar |
| Ohio | 123 | November | Nov–Feb |
| Washington | 117 | January | Jan–Jan |
| New Hampshire | 90 | February | Jan–Mar |
| Pennsylvania | 84 | January | Jan–Feb |
| Montana | 76 | November | Nov–Feb |
| Idaho | 58 | January | Nov–Feb |
| Oregon | 51 | January | Dec–Jan |
| North Dakota | 50 | January | Nov–Mar |
| Colorado | 47 | January | Jan–Jan |
| Missouri | 37 | February | Jan–Feb |
| Utah | 34 | February | Nov–Feb |
| Maryland | 32 | January | Jan–Feb |
| New Jersey | 28 | January | Dec–Mar |
| South Dakota | 28 | March | Mar–Mar |
| Connecticut | 27 | March | Jan–Mar |
| Indiana | 24 | January | Nov–Mar |
| Iowa | 22 | January | Jan–Mar |
| California | 18 | February | Feb–Feb |
| Wyoming | 14 | February | Jan–Mar |
| Nebraska | 11 | November | Nov–Dec |
| New Mexico | 8 | October | Oct–Oct |
| North Carolina | 8 | February | Jan–Feb |
| Rhode Island | 8 | January | Dec–Jan |
| Tennessee | 5 | February | Feb–Feb |
Main season = months with at least 30% of the state's peak-month count.
Related birds (Finches, Euphonias, and Allies)
House Finch
American Goldfinch
Lesser Goldfinch
Pine Siskin
Purple Finch
Evening Grosbeak
Red Crossbill
Cassin's Finch
Photography tips
- Use a fast shutter (1/2000 s or faster) for birds in flight.
- Focus on the eye and shoot at the bird's eye level.
- Approach slowly and stop if the bird changes behavior; never bait or flush birds.
- Morning activity peaks in the first two hours after sunrise.
FAQ
When is the best time to photograph Redpoll?
Nationally, February has the most observations, with the main season from December to March.
Where is Redpoll most often seen?
The most observations come from Alaska, Minnesota, Vermont.