Taxonomic status of the redpoll in N.Z.

The redpolls introduced to New Zealand and now found commonly over most of the country, belong to the British subspecies, the lesser redpoll, Carduelis flammea cabaret. Thirty-six specimens from various parts of the Dominion have been examined. The names formerly used, Acanthis cabaret and Carduelis cabaret are not in accordance with the internationally accepted ornithological nomenclature and should be displaced by Carduelis flammea, or when subspecific determination is desired, by Carduelis flammea cabaret (P.L.S. Mull).