REDPOLL CROSSES

Redpols are very sociable and friendly and tame very quickly and are happy to breed in cage or aviary. There are two main types of Redpoll that we use to produce hybrids the Lesser (flammea cabaret) and the Mealy (flammea flammea), the Mealy is larger and paler than the Lesser. Mealies produce larger hybrids but the Lesser produces much richer coloured birds 

Eggs hatch 11 days after sitting occurs, young leave the nest at approx 13 days, young are self supporting at approx 24 days old

         

 TO SEE COLOUR VARIANT REDPOLLS  CLICK HERE

 

Races of Common Redpoll Carduelis flammeus                                                                                                           

Carduelis flammea flammea: ( the Mealy) This Holarctic race can be found in a broad band across                                                                    the Arctic, with pockets to the south in Newfoundland and central Russia. This race of redpoll is most frequently                                           found in North America during irruptions.                                                                                                                                                    sub species flammea holboelli is larger and longer with a longer bill and large bib                                                                                   

Carduelis flammea rostrata: This race, found in Greenland, is larger and browner                                                                                        than Carduelis flammea flammea                                                                                                                                                                sub species flammea Icelandica is smaller and greyer in colour. This race makes its home in Iceland.              

Carduelis flammea cabaret: ( Lesser ) Found in Europe, this is the smallest race of Common Redpoll.                                                           Much richer in colour than the rest 

Carduelis hornemanni hornemanni (artic or hoary) very pale in colour, large bird light grey with dark                                                          sparce penciling generally no streaking on the rump                                                                                                                                     sub species carduelis hornemanni exilipes is between the Arctic and Mealy in size and colour                                                                                                                                                                                                          

It is difficult to identify specific races of the Common Redpoll because of the extreme variability                                                                          in each birds plumage. It is also difficult to identify the less-common Hoary Redpoll (Carduelis hornemanni).                                                 Care and careful observations are a necessity.

 

BREEDING PAGES CLICK HERE

REDPOLL X BULLFINCH   

This cross is one of the most sought after and rarest of the Bullfinch hybrids, it is the smallest of the Bullfinch hybrids, at least until someone breeds the Siskin x Bullfinch. The picture on the left was bred by Mick Booth and photographed at Staffordshire B.B & M.C 2003  it is an unflighted bird with excellent potential      

 

REDPOLL X CANARY

Redpoll mules are quite drab in appearance but the breast colour and rich chestnut back makes them quite attractive when colour fed, depth of colour depends on the type of canary used, Red Factors produce the best colour, very perky and bold, easily settles in a show cage, can be bred in many colour forms due to the Redpoll being readily available in lots of colours, it is a very attractive popular mule that does very well because of its pleasing nature. The bird on the far right won best champion mule at the all british winsford in 2003 shown by J Morris

The bird above is a Cinnamon redpoll x Canary

REDPOLL X GREENFINCH

Although quite easy to breed not a popular hybrid because of its drab appearance, it resembles a large cumbersome Redpoll with greenfinchs wings, this bird shows traces of Redpolls bib but lacking the Redpolls attractive penciling or the rich colour of the Greenfinch, again this hybrid looks prettier in its many colour variant forms

 

 

The picture above Is a Greenfinch X Lesser Redpol Hybrid Hen Non Colour fed                  picture Mojmir Brazdil               Czech Republic

Picture supplied by John Ball

REDPOLL X LINNET

Again both being similar brown based birds there is little point in wasting birds in this pairing, other than the achievement of breeding  a hybrid, they are quite easy to breed, again may be enhanced in the many colour variant forms possible by using the Redpoll cock to produce colour variant hens

  Picture on the right supplied by Antonio Lorusso Italy
 

  

REDPOLL X TWITE 

Picture supplied by Aux Fringill'idees http://stephane.schlub.free.fr/"

Looks like the Redpoll x Linnet with a smaller beak nothing to recommend this cross other than colour variant hens and to gain experience

REDPOLL X SISKIN                                     

As the Redpoll x Linnet nothing to recommend this cross other than colour variant hens and to gain experience

The picture on the right Is a Siskin X Hoary Redpol Hybrid Cock Non Colour fed (thanks for the picture Mojmir Brazdil Czech Republic)

REDPOLL X CHAFFINCH                                                                             

This hybrid is rare, it was thought that this hybrid would be very colorful because of the colours in the chaffinch cock, but it seems that chaffinches paired to any brown based bird are quite drab. It was thought that all the hybrids that have been bred were hens because they were so drab, and a cock was still to be seen, but that doesn't seem to be the case, just that the cross doesn't work well, still this said it's worth  a try just because of its rarity.

NORTHERN REDPOLL X GOLDFINCH

This hybrid does well on the show bench, its rich bright well defined colours contrast beautifully with its shapely body. Defiantly a must  to try and not a hard hybrid to breed. The bird on the left is a Mealy cross, the Lesser pictured below can show more red down the chest and is smaller and darker.

 

 

          

 

REDPOLL X CROSSBILL COCK

 This Bird was exhibited at the all British show Winsford 2003 it is the first time I have ever seen this cross shown in the United Kingdom it was shown by M Steven, the bird was of excellent quality showing both parents well and of excellent colour size and condition I can only assume it is crossed with the Mealy Redpoll I feel the lesser would be to small to mate with a Crossbill
Redpol X Crossbill Cock Bred by Ron Phillips Won Best CYB Hybrid at Yorkshire 2004 same bird on the right at 23 days old

  LESSER REDPOLL X GOLDFINCH                                                          

 this is the most popular Redpoll cross to try and breed, it does well on the show bench, its rich bright well defined colours contrast beautifully with its shapely body, defiantly a must  to try and not a hard hybrid to breed, this photograph does not do this cross the justice it deserves  
  REDPOLL X BRAMBLEFINCH

Reg Trout bred the only example of this cross in the UK, unfortunately this hybrid was an Hen

  

REDPOLL FEEDING TECHNIQUES  

SEED: good British finch mix, including a very small amount of hemp, stripped sunflower, maw and perilla                                                        also a good multi vitamin with added probiotic.                                                                     

REARING: soaked seed, egg food, plentyful supply of  green food and small amounts of                                                                           mealworms, fresh water daily and mineralised grit with a small amount of charcoal added.