A lovely little bird I've been fortunate to see quite a bit of recently.
In all plumages they show obvious green or yellow markings but can be told from the larger Greenfinches by the yellow bars across the mainly black wings. They have a distinctly forked tail and a long narrow bill. The male has a streaky yellow-green body and a black crown and bib.
The female does not have a black crown, or bib, and is more heavily streaked; whilst juveniles have browner upperparts, and are even more heavily streaked than the female.
42 comments:
i'm guessing they're the same as our pine siskins here? haven't seen my siskin crew come through yet this winter. they usually eat me out of thistle seed on a daily basis. :)
I think they are probably the same bird, in all but name, Theresa.
Lovely little birds to see.
What a great series. No wonder a dumb cluck like me gets confused.
It would be so much simpler if birds wore name badges Adrian. :-)
They confuse the hell out of me at times.
I especially like that first picture. It's not only a good photo of a bird I've never seen, but I love the way it's perching with a foot on each point of the forked branch.
Beautiful images Keith... Lovely little birds to see but I struggle io capture them with my kit... so thanks for sharing your fantastic close ups.
Some really nice shots Keith, I like the last one in particular as its just about the normal view you get.{:)
They are brilliant, pretty damn best of the Siskins photos.
Beautiful series of shots, great capture.
They are lovely little birds and can be quite tame. I usually get Siskins come to my garden for the niger seed during the winter and spring up to about August and then they disappear. They have not returned yet, hopefully they will soon, the garden is quiet without them.
Thought id leave a comment on your blog and say hello. Richard from an Amish settlement in Pennsylvania.
They're beautiful!! Boom & Gary of the Vermilon River, Canada.
I have the pine siskins sometimes in the winter if the seed crop isn't good up North in Canada..Michelle
Great series, wonderful feather detail in that last image.
I agree- a lovely little bird! Great close-up photos.
We sometimes get siskins on our bird table later in the winter and it's amazing how assertive they are - they may be smaller than greenfinches but have no trouble seing them off....
A lovely couple, they are pretty birds. Awesome photos.
...love these photos! Very similar to our Pine Siskins (a bird I always wish to see but never get to see). Every now and then there's an irruption, but haven't seen one in a long time...
Thanks Linda. They are here in the UK all the year round, apparently, but I only usually see them in my area, in the winter months. Lovely little birds.
Thanks Andrew. They have a couple of favourite trees round my local lake, so I sometimes get lucky and see them.
Roy, that's the view I've had too on the last couple of occasions lol
Not very co-operative sometimes, are they.
Thank you Bob. I was pleased with them. :-)
Thank you Gillian, glad you enjoyed them.
Thanks Linda. The odd occasions they have visited my garden, they've done the same; but only for a few days in the winter months, and then gone. Always good to see them.
Richard, thanks for stopping by, and leaving a comment.
Thank you Gary :-)
Michelle, thank you. I think they are a very similar bird.
And thanks joining the blog.
Thanks Martha :-)
Thanks Mick :-)
Phil, they can certainly stick up for themselves. :-)
Thank you Eileen :-)
Thanks Kelly. They certainly are very similar to your Pine Siskins.
Great set of images Keith...[;o)
Hi there - great set of pictures, and another blast from the past of a bird I don’t see anymore!
The Bush Stone Curlews are a remarkable bird - and one thing that the picture does not really show is how big they are - they stand well over knee high on a person and so people get a bit intimidated by them on places like golf courses!
Cheers - Stewart M
Thanks Trevor.
Thank you Stewart.
I'm surprised just how big the Bush Stone Curlew is. A big bird.
You have captured the little Siskins in a very thoughtful mood. They certainly are a delight to see.
Thanks Arija. :-)
Great images, Keith! I had to make several attempts to enter your site because of a Google malware warning linked to Chris Photo Nature, odd, because it's actually an inactive link.
Thanks Hilke.
I guess you're using Chrome browser the same as me. I had that alert a couple of days ago. Very annoying; I couldn't even access my own blog.
I switched of the malware/phishing alerts in the controls. My virus programme, Avast, is not highlighting anything. I think it's Google being over protective.
WOW!! Amazing captures & a great series. I haven't seen this little bird before.
Nice shots Keith! The second to last with the siskin doing the head scratch with the left foot while perched on a branch is awesome. Birds do, as a matter of course, what movie ninjas can only dream of! Cheers!
A great series of pictures! I love the close up detail you captured!
Thanks Liz :-)
Cheers Dave. :-)
Thank you Reena :-)
Delightful pictures! I love those streaks...lovely!
Nature Rambles, thank you :-)
Great pictures, Keith. I like especially the last one, it's particularly prominent.
Excellent series of a great bird Keith. I've not seen any Siskins for a couple of months now but am hoping that we get some coming to the feeders this winter like last.
Thank you Petra :-)
Thanks Adam. I'm hoping for some too, to the feeders.
It really is a beautiful little bird -- thank you!
I absolutely am in love with your header shot and quote too!
Fantastic captures. Pure visual delight.
Sallie, thank you. :-)
Indrani, thank you. :-)
They are so beautiful :)!
Only have been lucky once to see one in Germany :)
Thanks Nicole. I only usually see them this time of the year here. Lovely birds to watch.
Almost like a cross between our siskin and goldfinch. Very nice images, Milton.
Thanks Ken :-)
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