Pine Siskins

I mentioned the other day that I was surprised to see Pine Siskins still coming to the feeders with Goldfinches and Purple Finches. Seems that is not so unusual for these birds which are normally only occasional (irruptive) visitors.

From Birds of North America (Subscription) I learn...

"Reproductive schedule and attachment to a particular breeding area appear to be less rigidly fixed in the Pine Siskin than in many other songbirds. In some cases, members of an irruptive population may linger on a favorable wintering ground long enough to breed."

Pine Siskin on April 2nd and still hanging around for the freebies.

So, if they like the neighborhood, they might stay around and do some reproducing.

I find the whole thing curious because even through the Christmas Bird Count this was one of the species everyone was asking about as in, "Have you seen any Pine Siskins?"