A friendly Pine Siskin in our pine tree out back 20141115-1118-171
Pine Siskin on the finch seed feeder 20141115_1118-168
A peaking Pine Siskin eating finch seed 20141115_1118-169
Pine Siskin on our pine tree 20141115_1118-165
And on our feeders. These Northern forest dwellers, the Pine Siskins, had never stopped by our urban backyard feeders before two seasons ago when 2 of the cute little birds showed up. They’re about the same size as a large Goldfinch, so one of the smallest birds visiting our back yard feeders. They came in peeping up a storm and apparently very hungry because they didn’t fly off while I was outside filling things up. As soon as I went inside they went after the Nijer seed feeders with a vengeance. These little visitors also hit up our finch seed feeder. The sometimes seem to have a preference for one over the other unless a bigger flock comes. Then they spread out.