Green morph Pine Siskin or female Eurasian Siskin? (Maine, US, North America) (1 Viewer)

J

jillmcm

Member

• Dec 26, 2008

• #1

This bird seems to match what I have been able to find out about the relatively rare "green morph" of the Pine Siskin, which is apparently very similar to the female Eurasian Siskin. It was strikingly olive/green when compared to the remainder of the Pine Siskins feeding (there is one photo of these for comparison).

Any hints on telling the two apart, and which you think this is? The bird was photographed this morning, December 26 on a niger feeder in Benton, Maine.

 

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JANJ

Well-known member

• Dec 26, 2008

• #2

Hello jillmcm.

Have a look at this:

http://fog.ccsf.cc.ca.us/~jmorlan/siskin_scan.pdf

JanJ

 

J

jillmcm

Member

• Dec 26, 2008

• #3

I found that article and have read it, but confess that I am still very uncertain (the scan is also hard to see detail on). My skills don't extend to this type of identification! :eek!: I guess I am leaning towards green morph at this point.

Here's another photo, that shows some of the bird's underparts.

 

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Last edited: Dec 26, 2008

Gentoo

Guest

• Dec 26, 2008

• #4

jillmcm said:

I found that article and have read it, but confess that I am still very uncertain (the scan is also hard to see detail on). My skills don't extend to this type of identification! :eek!: I guess I am leaning towards green morph at this point.

Here's another photo, that shows some of the bird's underparts.

Click to expand...

The link doesn't even open for me.

You are in the range of vagrant Eurasian Siskins. Sibley says that green/yellow morph is most common in the southwest but of course it does occur elsewhere. Even voice wouldn't help too much as the quality of both species voices is the same. One would have to listen for calls characteristic to each one.

I would probably guess a green morph Pine Siskin for now as well.

 

R

rstoff

Member

• Dec 26, 2008

• #5

Are the first 3 pictures of a different bird to the last pic or is it the exposure.

 

J

jillmcm

Member

• Dec 26, 2008

• #6

The last picture in the first set I posted is of a "normal" Pine Siskin for comparison.

 

J

jillmcm

Member

• Dec 28, 2008

• #7

More to consider -

http://www.martinreid.com/Main website/siskin3.html

The pattern of primary projection on my bird seems to match EUSI more closely than PISI, but I do not know if this character is actually a valid way to distinguish the two. Confusion still continues to reign!

 

J

jillmcm

Member

• Dec 29, 2008

• #8

Posted for help on the Frontiers of ID listserv and consensus is a green morph Pine Siskin.

 

N

Nick Tanner

Rabilargo

• Dec 29, 2008

• #9

does green morph Pine show a strong supercillium? also looks not so heavily streaked on underparts, if i saw it in UK I would call it Eurasian, Pine is on our radar as it's punted as a possible vagrant

Nick