Redpoll

I had just told my neighbor Anita that I hadn't seen redpolls the last few years.  Anita agreed and wondered what had happened to them.  Doug told us they don't always come this far south (we're south?)  in winter from their Canadian breeding grounds.   I was watching the goldfinches come in to feed this morning and, wouldn't you know it, there was a redpoll w/ them.  When I see this little bird it is often flocking w/ the resident goldfinch community.   They are remarkable little birds capable of holding food in a throat pouch so they can eat it later and may tunnel into the snow to keep warm.   They survive in -65 degree weather so I guess wintering here is to them like us vacationing in the Bahamas.