Pine Siskin

Pine Siskin

If you're lucky, you may see Pine Siskins at your backyard feeder right now. These brown-streaked birds are members of the finch family. They have a hint of yellow on the edging on their wings and tails when they suddenly take off, giving them a slight resemblance to two other birds: the American Goldfinch and the Common Redpoll.

The difference is that the goldfinch, in its dull olive-brown winter plumage, lacks the heavy streaking found on the Pine Siskin's body. The goldfinch also is a little smaller. The yellow tinge on the Pine Siskin's wings and tail distinguish it from the redpoll.

The Pine Siskin is one of the most common of the irruptive "winter finches"—a designation meaning that the bird is more commonly seen in one year than another. Parts of the Lehigh Valley and vicinity have been treated to a surge of Pine Siskins this winter.

About 90 Pine Siskins were seen devouring seed at a bird feeder in Martins Creek in Northampton County on January 30. Peace Valley Park in Bucks County has seen several of these birds two weeks ago. A bird feeder in nearby Saylorsburg, in Monroe County, drew about 150 siskins on February 20. Other sites also report seeing Pine Siskins.

The numbers are from Dave DeReamus, who compiles bird sightings for the Eastern PA Birdline, which is sponsored by the Lehigh Valley Audubon Society.

Pine Siskins will visit bird feeders that offer Nyjer seed (the tiny black seed sometimes called "thistle") and black oil sunflower seed. Their natural diet includes the seeds of grasses, chickweed and ragweed, as well as tree seeds such as alder, birch, sweet gum and maples. They'll also eat insects, spiders, grubs and the buds of certain trees. During migration and in winter, they'll roost and shelter in conifers where you may see them hanging upside down on the tips of branches. In spring, migrating siskins feast on dandelion seeds and arborvitae seeds.

Following a large irruptive winter flight, some individuals may remain near a dependable food source and even breed far south of their normal breeding range, which includes the Canadian maritime provinces, westward to southern Ontario and then northwestward into southern Alaska. Siskins often flock together to forage.

The birds are gregarious. They form loose colonies, and pairs may visit one another's nests. However, during egg-laying and incubation, the visits end. Pine Siskins will defend their nest during this important time of year. The birds nest in open coniferous forests or mixed coniferous-deciduous forests. 

Heavily insulated nests help keep the eggs warm in cold climates. In addition, the female incubates the eggs almost constantly and is absent from the nest only for brief periods. Her mate feeds her while she sits on the nest. One to six eggs, pale greenish blue with brown speckles, are laid.

The nest is a shallow saucer of twigs, grasses, leaves, weed stems, rootlets, bark strips and lichens, and is lined with fur, feathers, moss or thistle down. A nest usually is concealed near the end of a horizontal tree branch.

Pine Siskins are almost tame. You may be able to walk up to them. 

Due to their irruptive nature, it is difficult to assess the birds' population trend. There may be some areas that are experiencing a decline, according to Cornell University of Ornithology.