Siskin
The Siskin is a small passerine bird in the finch family. It is known as the European Siskin, Common Siskin or just Siskin.
The Siskin is a small, short-tailed bird around 4.3 to 4.9 inches in length with a wingspan that ranges from 7.9 to 9.1 inches. The male has a greyish green back and yellow rump. The sides of the tail are yellow and the end is black, the wings are black with a distinctive yellow wing stripe and the breast is yellowish becoming whiter and striped. It has a black bib and a black cap. The amount of black on the bib is very variable between males and the size of the bib has been related to dominance within a flock. The female is more olive-coloured than the male, the cap is greenish, the bib is white and the rump is slightly striped and whitish yellow. The shape of the Siskin's beak is determined by its feeding habits. It is strong although it is also slender in order to pick up the seeds on which they feed. The legs and feet are dark brown and the eyes are black.
The Siskin has a rapid and bounding flight pattern that is similar to other finches. It is easy to recognise but it can be confused with other finches such as the Citril Finch, the Greenfinch or the European Serin.
The Siskin is a very active and restless bird. It is also very social and forms small cohesive flocks especially in autumn and winter. During the breeding season it is much more timid, solitary and difficult to observe.
The Siskin can be found across the greater part of Eurasia and the north of Africa. It can be found throughout the year in central Europe and some mountain ranges in the south of the continent. It is also present in the north of Scandinavia and in Russia as a summer visitor and over-winters in the Mediterranean basin and around the Black Sea. The Siskin does not remain for long in one area but varies the areas it uses for breeding, feeding and over-wintering from one year to the next. It breeds in coniferous and mixed forested areas at a particular altitude on a hillside or mountain side whilst in winter it prefers stubble and crops and areas containing trees with seeds.
The Siskin is mainly a seed eater although it varies its diet depending on the season. It feeds in trees and usually avoids eating on the ground. In autumn and winter its diet is based on the seeds of deciduous trees such as birch and alder. At this time it will also visit cultivated areas and pasture where it joins with other finches in eating the seeds of various plants. In spring and during the breeding season when it is found mainly in coniferous forests, it will eat the seeds of fir, spruce and larch trees. The Siskin will also readily visit garden bird feeding stations.
Date: 11th May 2019
Location: Cors Dyfi MWT reserve, Powys
The Siskin is a small, short-tailed bird around 4.3 to 4.9 inches in length with a wingspan that ranges from 7.9 to 9.1 inches. The male has a greyish green back and yellow rump. The sides of the tail are yellow and the end is black, the wings are black with a distinctive yellow wing stripe and the breast is yellowish becoming whiter and striped. It has a black bib and a black cap. The amount of black on the bib is very variable between males and the size of the bib has been related to dominance within a flock. The female is more olive-coloured than the male, the cap is greenish, the bib is white and the rump is slightly striped and whitish yellow. The shape of the Siskin's beak is determined by its feeding habits. It is strong although it is also slender in order to pick up the seeds on which they feed. The legs and feet are dark brown and the eyes are black.
The Siskin has a rapid and bounding flight pattern that is similar to other finches. It is easy to recognise but it can be confused with other finches such as the Citril Finch, the Greenfinch or the European Serin.
The Siskin is a very active and restless bird. It is also very social and forms small cohesive flocks especially in autumn and winter. During the breeding season it is much more timid, solitary and difficult to observe.
The Siskin can be found across the greater part of Eurasia and the north of Africa. It can be found throughout the year in central Europe and some mountain ranges in the south of the continent. It is also present in the north of Scandinavia and in Russia as a summer visitor and over-winters in the Mediterranean basin and around the Black Sea. The Siskin does not remain for long in one area but varies the areas it uses for breeding, feeding and over-wintering from one year to the next. It breeds in coniferous and mixed forested areas at a particular altitude on a hillside or mountain side whilst in winter it prefers stubble and crops and areas containing trees with seeds.
The Siskin is mainly a seed eater although it varies its diet depending on the season. It feeds in trees and usually avoids eating on the ground. In autumn and winter its diet is based on the seeds of deciduous trees such as birch and alder. At this time it will also visit cultivated areas and pasture where it joins with other finches in eating the seeds of various plants. In spring and during the breeding season when it is found mainly in coniferous forests, it will eat the seeds of fir, spruce and larch trees. The Siskin will also readily visit garden bird feeding stations.
Date: 11th May 2019
Location: Cors Dyfi MWT reserve, Powys
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Also in: Finches
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