Pine Siskin

Spinus pinus

✨ Shiny — winter rarity
Winter only — roughly November through March✨ Shiny — winter rarity

The take

Some winters none, some winters a swarm — the streaky finch with the zipper call.

How to ID it

  • Brown and heavily streaked overall with subtle yellow wing and tail edgings
  • Sharp, unusually pointed bill for a finch; short notched tail
  • Forages in twittering flocks, often clinging upside down at conifer branch tips

Field marks at a glance

Size
small
Head
streaky brown
Call
rising buzzy zreeeee

Where & when

Winter only — roughly November through March

Learn more

Sources