(_Spinus pinus_) Finch family
_Called also_: PINE FINCH; PINE LINNET
_Length_--4.75 to 5 inches. Over an inch smaller than the
English sparrow.
_Male and Female_--Olive-brown and gray above, much streaked
and striped with very dark brown everywhere. Darkest on head
and back. Lower back, base of tail, and wing feathers pale
sulphur-yellow. Under parts very light buff brown, heavily
streaked.
_Range_--North America generally. Most common in north
latitudes. Winters south to the Gulf of Mexico.
_Migrations_--Erratic winter visitor from October to April.
Uncommon in summer.
A small grayish-brown brindle bird, relieved with touches of yellow on
its back, wings, and tail, may be seen some winter morning roving on
the lawn from one evergreen tree to another, clinging to the pine
cones and peering attentively between the scales before extracting the
kernels. It utters a call-note so like the English sparrow's that you
are surprised when you look up into the tree to find it comes from a
stranger. The pine siskin is an erratic visitor, and there is always
the charm of the unexpected about its coming near our houses that
heightens our enjoyment of its brief stay.
As it flies downward from the top of the spruce tree to feed upon the
brown seeds still clinging to the pigweed and goldenrod stalks
sticking out above the snow by the roadside, it dips and floats
through the air like its charming little cousin, the goldfinch. They
have several characteristics in common besides their flight and their
fondness for thistles. Far at the north, where the pine siskin nests
in the top of the evergreens, his sweet-warbled love-song is said to
be like that of our "wild canary's," only with a suggestion of
fretfulness in the tone.
Occasionally some one living in an Adirondack or other mountain camp
reports finding the nest and hearing the siskin sing even in
midsummer; but it is, nevertheless, considered a northern species,
however its erratic habits may sometimes break through the
ornithologist's traditions.