A widespread and conspicuous small finch from the coniferous forests of Canada and Alaska that invades Wisconsin's forests and feeders during the winter months. The Pine Siskin makes irregular and variable journeys to our parts, depending on the food supply of seeds. Often seen in large flocks mixed with Common Redpolls, American Goldfinches and American Tree Sparrows.
Identifying them is rather easy, especially if you know what you're looking for. Pine Siskins are are smaller than the goldfinches. Brown they are, with a heavily streaked belly and two white wing bars. The most identifiable characteristic are the yellow tips of their wings
The top picture was taken at the feeder behind the visitor center at Richard Bong State Recreational Area where I have seen dozens at a time feeding there. I like this picture because it shows the yellow wing tips quite well. The pictures below was taken by Tender Heart at my folk's place up in Pickeral recently. I really like how she captured the essence of the birds with the snow on their beaks.
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8 comments:
I had no idea that there are so many birds around in the winter. Thanks, drew.
I really love your pics and postings....I was an avid birdwatcher from my own woods in back. My fav was the indigo buntings and pileated wood peckers.
I have some big owls back there , which I have never seen, but talk to. They hear me drive in late and screech at me....and I screech back
with a mimicking sound...they come closer, do it again, and so do I.
What a beautiful bird. Thanks Drew.
The bottom picture I just could not resist to take that picture it was so cute. At the time I was just taking pictures for Drew and then I seen this bird with the snow on him.
Orbs, I had no idea either, till I headed out there. Many think going south for the winter is in Florida or in the the tropics someplace, that is not the case. To many species of birds, Wisconsin is paradise! Especially, the waterfowl, in which I'll get to real soon....
The Pileated Woodpeckers are so cool, Basketcase! I saw one recently in my folk's feeder the same weekend as these Pine Siskin pictures were taken.
You're welcome, Mary!
Tender Heart, as always, thank you...
Blb has mastered the hoot owls language.
The conversation between BLB and the owl goes like this:
WHO!.......WhO?.......wHo!.....whO?
who!...... WHo?......well I think you get the drift of the conversation.
Thanks for the great pics.
Thanks for commenting Drew and Legal...I never really told the
"usual end" of the story....
The owl would keep coming in closer
and closer as we would exchange conversation....I was thinking he thought I wanted to mate with him
or something.....ahhhhh NO!
It was always the middle of the night,like 3 am, I was always all alone returning from an ambulance call. (I always wondered if the neighbors heard me and knew my secret of being a crazy lady.)
I'd rather talk to an owl than a lot of people I know.
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