any one of several species of small northern finches of the genus acanthis (formerly aegiothus), native of europe and america. the adults have the crown red or rosy. the male of the most common species  (a. linarius) has also the breast and rump rosy. called also redpoll linnet. see illust. under linnet.-the common european linnet.-the american redpoll warbler (dendroica palmarum).