Male
Description
Size: 5”
Plumage/Description: Pine Siskins are a small brown bird with heavy brown streaking over a white back ground on the breast, belly, and flanks. Males have a wash of yellow in their wings and tail, but the amount of yellow is highly variable. Forked tail is noticeable. Females are similar to males in appearance but have less yellow in the wings, and none in the tail.
Habitat: Residential, Oak/Chaparral, Pinyon/Juniper, Ponderosa/Coniferous, Riparian/Deciduous
Time of year: Found at lower elevations in winter and at higher elevations in summer
Relative Abundance: Common
Behavior: Pine Siskins are a common backyard bird preferring njyer/thistle seed feeders. Frequently occurs in mixed flocks with Lesser Goldfinches. Gregarious, occurring in flocks
Diet: Seeds, Insects
Similar species: Lesser Goldfinch, American Goldfinch
Best Sites: Granite Basin, Thumb Butte Trailhead parking lot, Lynx Lake, Goldwater Lake
