The Pine Siskin is a small, streaky brown finch with yellow wing and tail edges visible in flight, the only finch with such prominent yellow in the wing. It is highly irruptive, flooding into the lower 48 states in large numbers in some winters while nearly absent in others. Its wheezy, rising 'zreeee' calls overhead are a reliable way to detect flocks moving through.
Best time to see a Pine Siskin
The best time to see a Pine Siskin is January–June, when about 63% of U.S. sightings happen, based on 26,759 research-grade iNaturalist observations.
Not certain it is a Pine Siskin? What bird is this? walks through what to check first and the lookalikes that catch people out.
Recent Pine Siskin sightings near you
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