On the breeding of the redpoll Carduelis flammea in NE Finland

The paper is based on 332 nest records made in Itaekaira, NE Finland, in 1970 - 80. The favourite nesting habitats were mountain birch and fresh mixed lowland forests, and the preferred nest sites were junipers and spruces. The commencement of egg-laying and the length of the laying season varied considerably from year to year. The eggs were laid at intervals of c. one day. Complete clutches contained 2 - 7 eggs, the most usual number in every summer being 5. The local clutch size decreased by an average of 0.02 eggs per day during the course of the breeding season. The incubation period was 10 - 12 days and the nestling period 9 - 13 days. The breeding strategy of the species is interpreted as an adaptation to the utilization of varying seed resources.