Pine Siskin Habits

Moving around in response to available food supplies, the Pine Siskin may or may not be seen in the same spot. In the East and Midwest, you may have many of these birds at your feeder one year and quite possibly none the next.

Description

Similar to the goldfinch in appearance and song, these birds measure about is 4 1/2 to 5 1/2 inches in length. Brown-streaked above and lightly streaked underparts.

Wings and tail have yellow patches. Some are more heavily streaked with less yellow on the wings.

Mating Habits

The courtship of this bird begins in January and February. Still in winter flocks, the birds begin to seek mates.

One aspect of their courtship is mate-feeding. This behavior consist of the male taking food in his bill, flying to the female, and giving it to her.

Another mating habit is a flight display by the male.

Leaving his perch close to a female the male flies up in circles with tail spread and a rapid fluttering flight, singing non-stop.

When he stops circling he drops down to perch near the female. He may repeat this flight display several times.

Nesting Habits

The nesting habits of these birds as it pertains to locality are irregular.

Depending on whether there is an abundance of food supply. If food is plentiful they will remain and if food is scarce they will move on.

The nest is made of grasses, twigs, rootlets, bark strips, and lichens lined with feathers, fur, and rootlets. Placed in a tree branch (usually a conifer) 3 to 50 feet above the ground.

spiral finch feeder
Super Spiral Finch

The female lays 1 - 5 light green-blue with dark marks eggs, that are incubated by the female for 13 days.

The young will leave the nest about 15 days after hatching.

Feeding Habits - What Pine Siskin Eat

The natural diet of this bird consist primarily of seeds. Favorites include the seeds of conifers, birches, alders, and a wide variety of weed seeds.

Some other feeding habits of this bird include gleaning aphids off tree leaves, eating the leaves and flowers off young plants, and eating young vegetable shoots from backyard gardens.

At the feeder, Pine Siskins are attracted to hulled sunflower or nyjer seed. Hanging tube type feeders used for attracting finches and chickadees will attract these birds also.

Back to List of Birds