It is so unfortunate (but very common in the natural world) for species to be called 'Lesser' do differentiate from something that may be notionally 'Greater'.
Sometimes it may seem appropriate such as in Lesser and Great Black-backed Gull where one is so much greater than the other and is in fact the biggest of its type in the world.
However, the humble Lesser Whitethroat is only named because it is 1/4inch smaller than the 'normal' Whitethroat when in fact it is so much more enigmatic and ornithologically interesting. I apologise to all Common Whitethroat lovers at this point.....
The point in hand at Rainham at the moment is the presence of a couple of very cute Lesser Redpolls. Now this super-species is a headache at the best of times and causes birders everywhere untold headaches when trying to sort out a potential Mealy or Arctic Redpoll from its Lesser relatives...
But is it Lesser? No! It is a fabulous little gingery brown finch with a black bib and eye makeup, a vivid red skull cap, a saffron yellow bill and if you are lucky a pink flush to the chest.
How about calling it Buffy Redpoll?
Buffy Redpoll (David Howarth)
17-1-13
Howard Vaughan, Information Officer