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This is an image of a female common redpoll, a member of the finch family, taken in the backyard. Most years, we get a small flock of these guys coming to the feeders in the winter. Thistle and sunflower seeds are their favorite foods at the feeders. They have been hammering the thistle socks this winter! They come from the far north, the boreal and taiga regions.

They are an extremely hardy bird. They can withstand very cold temperatures. I read a while back that scientists have put them in a freezer to see how much cold they can take before freezing to death. Sounds very cruel to me. Perhaps the scientists should be put in the freezer!