# Eurasian Siskin (*Spinus spinus*) The Eurasian Siskin is a small, cheerful bird with bright yellow feathers and a sweet song. They love to flit around trees and can often be seen in flocks, making them a joyful sight in nature. - **Category:** [Birds](https://www.snappit.app/explore/categories/bird) - **Rarity:** Common - **Danger:** 1/5 · Very low - **Habitat:** Forests ![Eurasian Siskin](https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?title=Special:Redirect/file/Carduelis_spinus_male.jpg&width=800) Photo: Sławek Staszczuk (photoss \[AT\] hotmail.co.uk), CC BY-SA 3.0 · [Wikimedia Commons](https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Carduelis_spinus_male.jpg) ## Appearance The Eurasian Siskin is a small, vibrant finch with a striking green and yellow plumage. Males have a black cap and chin, while females are duller with more streaking. Both sexes feature prominent yellow wing bars and tail sides, making them visually distinct. ## Taxonomy - **Kingdom:** Animalia - **Phylum:** Chordata - **Class:** Aves - **Order:** Passeriformes - **Family:** Fringillidae - **Genus:** Spinus ## Interesting facts - A siskin's nest is so cleverly hidden it's almost impossible to find! - These tiny birds help forests grow by spreading conifer seeds! - They are super social, often feeding in flocks of over 100 birds! - They love taking baths and will splash happily in small puddles! ## Special abilities - **Cone Seed Extractor:** Eurasian Siskin has a pointed beak that helps them expertly extract tiny seeds from conifer cones. - **Acrobatic Feeder:** Eurasian Siskin can hang upside down because of their strong claws, helping them reach hidden seeds. - **Irruptive Voyager:** Eurasian Siskin can undertake unpredictable movements because of food availability, helping them find new feeding grounds. - **Camouflage Creator:** Eurasian Siskin has dappled green and yellow feathers that help them hide amongst leafy branches. ## Measurements & details - **Length:** 11-13 cm - **Wingspan:** 20-23 cm - **Weight:** 0.01-0.018 kg - **Lifespan:** 2-5 years - **Speed:** 35 km/h - **Clutch Size:** 3-6 - **Incubation:** 11-14 days ## Diet & Feeding They mostly eat tiny seeds from trees like conifers, but also snack on insects and buds. - **Primary Foods:** Conifer seeds, Birch seeds, Alder seeds, Thistle seeds, Aphids, Small caterpillars - **Foraging Method:** Foraging ## Ecological connections - **Eaten by:** [Eurasian Sparrowhawk](https://www.snappit.app/explore/eurasian-sparrowhawk) (*Accipiter nisus*) — A common predator of small birds in its habitat. - **Eats:** [Norway Spruce](https://www.snappit.app/explore/norway-spruce) (*Picea abies*) — Feeds on seeds from its cones, especially in winter. - **Eats:** [Scots Pine](https://www.snappit.app/explore/scots-pine) (*Pinus sylvestris*) — Extracts tiny seeds from pine cones using its specialized beak. - **Eats:** [Silver Birch](https://www.snappit.app/explore/silver-birch) (*Betula pendula*) — Enjoys eating the small seeds produced by birch trees. - **Eats:** Black Bean Aphid (*Aphis fabae*) — Consumes these small insects, especially when feeding young. ## Traits - [Feathered](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/feathered): Feathered describes animals, primarily birds, possessing a covering of feathers. - [Social](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/social): Social animals live in organized groups, cooperating for survival benefits such as foraging, defense, and raising offspring. - [Singing](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/singing): Singing animals produce complex vocalizations, often for purposes of attracting mates, defending territory, or communicating within their species. - [Colorful](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/colorful): Colorful describes organisms or objects displaying a wide range of bright and distinct colors. - [Herbivorous](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/herbivorous): This trait characterizes organisms whose diet consists entirely or primarily of plant material. - [Forest](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/forest): Forest habitats are terrestrial environments dominated by dense tree cover, supporting a high diversity of plant and animal life. - [Diurnal](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/diurnal): Diurnal animals are primarily active during daylight hours, typically resting or sleeping at night. - [Migratory](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/migratory): Migratory animals undertake seasonal movements from one region to another, typically in response to changes in climate or food availability. ## Collections - [Birds](https://www.snappit.app/explore/collections/birds) ## Safety **Danger:** 1/5 · Very low Enjoy watching birds from a distance, and don't try to touch them. ## Frequently Asked Questions ### How to identify Eurasian Siskin? Compare the silhouette, bill shape, tail length, wing bars and markings around the eyes. The same small brown bird at your feeder can look quite different in breeding plumage, winter plumage or its first year. Bird Identifier: upload a photo and compare the visible details. ### How long is Eurasian Siskin? 11-13 cm ### What is Eurasian Siskin's wingspan? 20-23 cm ### How much does Eurasian Siskin weigh? 0.01-0.018 kg ### How long does Eurasian Siskin live? 2-5 years ### How fast can Eurasian Siskin move? 35 km/h ### What does Eurasian Siskin eat? They mostly eat tiny seeds from trees like conifers, but also snack on insects and buds. ### Where is Eurasian Siskin usually found? Forests ## Where to spot - [Clara-Zetkin-Park (Leipzig)](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/clara-zetkin-park-leipzig) — Sachsen, DE · Park ## More Birds - [Black-crowned Night Heron](https://www.snappit.app/explore/black-crowned-night-heron) (*Nycticorax nycticorax*) - [Anna's Hummingbird](https://www.snappit.app/explore/annas-hummingbird) (*Calypte anna*) - [Great Egret](https://www.snappit.app/explore/great-egret) (*Ardea alba*) - [Blue Jay](https://www.snappit.app/explore/blue-jay) (*Cyanocitta cristata*) --- Source: [Eurasian Siskin: Facts & Places to See — Snappit](https://www.snappit.app/explore/eurasian-siskin)