# Pine Siskin (*Spinus pinus*) The Pine Siskin is a small, cheerful bird that loves to flit around trees. With its yellow-tipped wings and lively chirps, it brings joy to forests and backyards alike! - **Category:** [Birds](https://www.snappit.app/explore/categories/bird) - **Rarity:** Common - **Danger:** 1/5 · Very low - **Snaps:** 8 - **Habitat:** Forests ![Pine Siskin](https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?title=Special:Redirect/file/Carduelis_pinus_CT7.jpg&width=800) Photo: Cephas, CC BY-SA 3.0 · [Wikimedia Commons](https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Carduelis_pinus_CT7.jpg) ## Appearance The Pine Siskin is a small, streaky brown finch with a finely pointed beak. It has distinctive bright yellow patches on its wings and tail, especially visible when it flies. These yellow flashes help distinguish it from other small, brown streaky birds. ## Taxonomy - **Kingdom:** Animalia - **Phylum:** Chordata - **Class:** Aves - **Order:** Passeriformes - **Family:** Fringillidae - **Genus:** Spinus ## Interesting facts - A Pine Siskin's call sounds like a zippy, buzzing "zweeeeet"! - Pine Siskins will sometimes drink maple sap from tree wounds! - Their flocks can number in the thousands, swirling like smoke! - These tough birds can start nesting even in cold, snowy weather! ## Special abilities - **Cone Seed Specialist:** Pine Siskin can extract tiny seeds from pine cones because of its slender, pointed beak that pries open scales. - **Irruptive Traveler:** Pine Siskin can suddenly move long distances in search of food because their population follows cone crops across continents. - **Upside-Down Forager:** Pine Siskin can hang upside down on branches because their flexible feet help them reach tricky seeds other birds miss. ## Measurements & details - **Length:** 11-14 cm - **Wingspan:** 18-22 cm - **Weight:** 0.012-0.018 kg - **Lifespan:** 1-9 years - **Speed:** 50 km/h - **Clutch Size:** 3-5 - **Incubation:** 10-13 days - **Migration Distance:** 3000 km ## Diet & Feeding Tiny seeds from conifers and weeds are this bird's favorite snack, occasionally adding small insects for protein. - **Primary Foods:** Conifer seeds (pine, spruce, fir), Thistle seeds, Dandelion seeds, Birch seeds, Small insects, Tree buds - **Foraging Method:** Foraging ## Ecological connections - **Eats:** [White Spruce](https://www.snappit.app/explore/white-spruce) (*Picea glauca*) — Primary food source from its cones. - **Eats:** [Eastern White Pine](https://www.snappit.app/explore/eastern-white-pine) (*Pinus strobus*) — Reliable seed source, especially during winter. - **Eaten by:** [Sharp-shinned Hawk](https://www.snappit.app/explore/sharp-shinned-hawk) (*Accipiter striatus*) — A common avian predator of small songbirds. - **Eaten by:** [Domestic Cat](https://www.snappit.app/explore/domestic-cat) (*Felis catus*) — Outdoor cats are significant predators. ## 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. - [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 Pine 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 Pine Siskin? 11-14 cm ### What is Pine Siskin's wingspan? 18-22 cm ### How much does Pine Siskin weigh? 0.012-0.018 kg ### How long does Pine Siskin live? 1-9 years ### How fast can Pine Siskin move? 50 km/h ### What does Pine Siskin eat? Tiny seeds from conifers and weeds are this bird's favorite snack, occasionally adding small insects for protein. ### Where is Pine Siskin usually found? Forests ## Where to spot - [Barrio De Analco Historic District](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/barrio-de-analco-historic-district) — New Mexico, US · Historic District - [Cut Bank Ranger Station Historic District](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/cut-bank-ranger-station-historic-district) — Montana, US · Historic District - [Rim Village Historic District](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/rim-village-historic-district) — Oregon, US · Historic District - [Stratton's Independence Mine and Mill](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/strattons-independence-mine-and-mill) — Colorado, US · Historic Site - [Garibaldi Provincial Park](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/garibaldi-provincial-park) — British Columbia, CA · State Park - [Alaska Wildlife Conservation Center](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/alaska-wildlife-conservation-center) — Alaska, US · Zoo [View all places to see Pine Siskin](https://www.snappit.app/guides/where-to-see/pine-siskin) ## 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: [Pine Siskin: Facts & Places to See — Snappit](https://www.snappit.app/explore/pine-siskin)