Which Redpoll do we have here in NZ?

General birdwatching discussion, help with bird identification, and all other things relating to wild birds and birding in NZ that don't fit in one of the other forums.
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kengeorge
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Which Redpoll do we have here in NZ?

Postby kengeorge » Tue Dec 25, 2018 8:43 am

On eBird, the default redpoll which comes up on the tick-box checklist is Lesser Redpoll. On the NZ Birds online website, the only redpoll listed for NZ is the Common Redpoll. To get the Common Redpoll on eBird, you have to bring up the 'Rarities' setting and you're asked to provide additional data to back-up your sighting of the Common Redpoll. As the redpolls are fairly common from about Hanmer Springs south, and particularly in the more mountainous areas......which redpoll is it we have here in NZ, or are both species present?
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Adam C
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Re: Which Redpoll do we have here in NZ?

Postby Adam C » Tue Dec 25, 2018 9:59 am

I remember reading in an issue of Nortonis that mainly common (flammea) were introduced to New Zealand but that Lesser Redpolls were also released. If this is the case it would almost stand that there is a case for a slightly hybrodized Redpoll here in NZ. It's an interesting case anyway :)
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sav
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Re: Which Redpoll do we have here in NZ?

Postby sav » Tue Dec 25, 2018 4:56 pm

Its all been discussed ad infinitum before:

See viewtopic.php?f=3&t=6453&start=10&hilit=lesser+redpoll

The real problem is that no-one has any clue about redpoll taxonomy in the first place. The birds here look most like cabaret from Britain.

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RussCannings
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Re: Which Redpoll do we have here in NZ?

Postby RussCannings » Tue Dec 25, 2018 5:56 pm

(Cabaret=Lesser)

In regards to ebird, "we're working in it". It's obviously a confusing and somewhat contraversial situation in NZ (read the linked thread in Savs reply for more), but put simply the majority of redpolls introduced to NZ were likely to have been Lessers though this was in the days before they were considered a different species from Common. Some commons appear to have also got into the mix so the stock isnt apparently genetically pure. Even so, some recent studies suggest that all redpolls interbreed significantly in various parts of their circumpolar range which could lead to a big "lump" (which would help and simplify our NZ conundrum!)

It may be that ebird will lump them all anyway, but moving forward ebird nz will probably stick with lesser (and will look at converting old common records) as that's probably closer to the mark than Common.

So ya um... hope that is somewhat clearish?

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