Siskin
The siskin is most commonly mistaken for a greenfinch and visits gardens during winter and early spring. It is one of the smallest birds in the finch family and is even dwarfed by a goldfinch. It has a narrower bill than most finches and its tail splays outwards in two directions creating a fork.
Common resident in the UK with around 400,000 breeding pairs. In summer it breeds most commonly in conifer woods. During the winter months the numbers increase in gardens as food becomes more scarce. These birds are seen in all different types of habitats including woodlands, parks, gardens, farmland and town and cities.
The adult male siskin has a bright yellow face with olive cheeks and a black cap; its wings are predominantly black with a bright yellow wing-band which stands out amongst the black. The tips of its tail are black which fade to an olive colour before becoming a bright yellow on the male's back.
Female siskins are greener in colour and don't have the black cap exhibited by the male. They have a more mottled appearance with streaks on their tops and bottoms. Juvenile siskins have the same general appearance as that of the females but are brown in colour and look even more mottled.
Feeding Habits
Siskins are seed eaters, extracting seed from pine cones, birch and alder, only usually visiting Gardens for Niger Seed or Sunflower Hearts when natural food is scarce
