Thank you so much Rachel and Konrad. This has just been so wildly exciting for me. So I know I have had visits from at least two female Common Redpolls, since one is lighter than the other. What a gift! Konrad, your photo is just fabulous. It really helps me to see the difference. I have one that was lighter than the other, but not nearly as white as the one in your photo. Thanks so much for your help.

I hear you on the Redpolls, I was thrilled in February when they stopped and stayed at my place but now over a month later I am kinda ready for this 100+ flock to head north, I know it should be soon. They aren't aggressive but their sheer numbers are keeping the other birds away from the feeders. One morning I counted 114 of them out there! It is crazy! I only have one thistle feeder which they are all over but I also sprinkle sunflower chips on the deck which they love too. I am finally starting to see other birds coming back, saw the first Robins this morning followed by the first Grackle and first Redwing blackbird of the year too. I am in central WI. I am sure with the summer birds arriving these winter birds will be leaving. I am still glad they stopped and stayed though, they have provided hours of entertainment watching them swoop in in a flock and take off in a flock only to turn around and come back again. Funny little birds. Donna

I'm another raptor-watcher that agrees this is certainly an adult Sharp-shinned Hawk (Accipiter tail, grey nape, red iris, among other field marks). I have a brand new Crossley Raptor ID Guide (Crossley/Liguori/Sullivan) that indicates the most recent range map for Sharpies includes southern Saskatchewan for the winter and further north in Saskatchewan for the summer. Sharpies are rarely encountered during the summer so it would actually be more likely to see one during the cold season (based on their remote breeding locations). I checked eBird and found one Sharpie sighting reported this winter near Saskatoon. So I don't believe it's very common in your range to see one. On a side note, Merlins are not backyard feeder visitors. Very cool sighting on the Sharpie! Bummer about the Redpoll. This post was edited by TMFF on Thu, Mar 28, 13 at 9:49

Well, I live pretty close to the Montana border - I can see Chief Mountain - and it was a treat to have the redpolls around as well as some pine siskins and a white winged crossbill but this year all birds seem to be pretty much reduced in numbers. I feel your pain!!!!!