- Spinus pinus
Carduelis pinus
Identification
- Small - 5 ins (12.5 cms)
- Short, forked tail
- Long, pointed wings
- Long, slender bill
- Brown body with heavy streaking
- Yellow wing and tail patches
Male
Bright yellow wingbars
Distribution
Canada, Alaska and northern parts of the United States, occasionally travelling much further south in cold winters. They have been observed in Texas during the 2008-2009 winter.
Taxonomy
Formerly placed in genus Carduelis.
Subspecies[1]
- S. p. pinus:
- S. p. macroptera:
- Coniferous forests of northern Baja California, north-western and central Mexico
- S. p. perplexus:
Habitat
Coniferous and deciduous forests, woodlands, parks, shade trees near human habitation, alder thickets, and brushy pastures.
Behaviour
Diet
Includes seeds, plant parts and some insects.
Breeding
The female builds a large, shallow cup of twigs, grass, bark strips, rootlets, leaves, and lichen, lined with moss, plant down, hair, and feathers. 3 to 4 eggs are laid and incubated by the female for about 13 days. She is fed by the male. The young leave the nest after 13 to 17 days, and the parents continue to feed the young for about three more weeks.
References
- Clements, JF. 2008. The Clements Checklist of Birds of the World. 6th ed., with updates to December 2008. Ithaca: Cornell Univ. Press. ISBN 978-0801445019.
- Wikipedia
- Answers.com
Recommended Citation
- BirdForum Opus contributors. (2024) Pine Siskin. In: BirdForum, the forum for wild birds and birding. Retrieved 25 April 2024 from https://www.birdforum.net/opus/Pine_Siskin
External Links
