Carduelis pinus
Do not be confused by the dull, streaked plumage of the Pine Siskin; as its behavior truly shows, this is a goldfinch masquerading as a sparrow. Tight flocks of these gregarious birds are frequently heard before they are seen. Their characteristic call, zzweeeet, starts off slowly and then climbs to a high-pitched climax. Once you recognize this distinctive call, if you spot a flurry of activity in the treetops, showing occasional flashes of yellow, you can confirm the presence of these finches. After the first hard-won identification, Pine Siskins will be encountered frequently in coniferous woodlands, deciduous areas and even at backyard feeders. |
I.D.: Sexes similar: heavily streaked underparts; yellow at the base of the tail feathers and in the wings (easily seen in flight); dull wing bars; darker, heavily streaked upperparts; slightly forked tail; indistinct facial pattern. Size: L 41/2-51/4 in. (11-13 cm). Range: common to abundant migrant and summer breeder throughout the Rockies; common winter visitor in the southern U.S. Rockies; increasingly scarce winter visitor northward. Habitat: coniferous and aspen forests, forest edges, meadows, townsites, roadsides, agricultural areas and grasslands up to the subalpine. Nesting: occasionally loosely communal; often on an outer branch in a conifer; flat nest is woven with grass and small roots and lined with fur and feathers; female incubates 3-4 eggs for 13 days. Feeding: gleans the ground and vegetation for seeds, buds, thistle seeds and some insects; attracted to road salts, mineral licks and ashes; regularly visits feeding stations. Voice: song is a coarse but bubbling expression; call is a prolonged, accelerating, rising zzweeeet. Similar Species: Common Redpoll and Hoary Redpoll: red cap; no yellow in the wings. Purple, Cassin's and House finches: females have a thicker bill and no yellow in the wings or tail. |
