Thursday, 18th February 2021
The first Siskin of the winter season was spotted in Abington this week, on Andy M's garden feeders. Initially, one brightly-coloured male was seen on 18th, followed by three, all males, during the following week.
Siskin are small finches that breed in northern and eastern Europe, but during the winter can visit the UK, often in large numbers when food becomes short across the North Sea. Their small size (smaller than a Goldfinch), feisty behaviour on the feeders, and striking yellow and green plumage with a characteristic black cap and bib, makes the males easy to spot.
Male Siskin
Note the black cap, yellow-green head and back, and striking black and yellow wing pattern.
Also a strongly yellow rump most visible when flying away.
Male Siskin.
Note the small black bib too.
Male Siskin on the feeders with a flock of Greenfinch
(note Siskin is smaller, with more strikingly patterned plumage)
Siskin often travel around in winter in mixed flocks with Goldfinch and Greenfinch - all shown to approximately the same scale below:
Male Siskin (11-12 cm long)
Goldfinch (12-13 cm long)
Greenfinch (14-16 cm long)
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