Tag Archives: eats at thistle feeder

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Shirley Mitchell saw a charming sight. She called these Pine Siskins "whale riders."

Pine Siskins arrive on the Mendonoma Coast about the same time the beautiful male Goldfinches. They both love to eat at thistle feeders filled with niger seed. Below is a photo taken by Dean Schuler of male American Goldfinches at one such feeder.

Siegfried Matull took this lovely photo of three Goldfinches on a branch and a Pine Siskin in the air.

Thanks to Shirley, Dean, and Siegfried for allowing me to share their photos with you here.

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Pine Siskins are named for their love of seeds of Pine trees. They also are attracted to thistle feeders. Richard Kuehn recently photographed one near his home on The Sea Ranch coming for some water.

Pine Siskins are slightly smaller than American Goldfinches. They are year round residents of the Coast.
I love seeing these little birds at my thistle feeder. They seem to get along well with the Goldfinches that also feed there. And one enterprising Acorn Woodpecker has discovered the feeder as well, to the displeasure of the Siskins and Goldfinches.

To hear their call, here's the link to the Cornell Lab of Ornithology: http://www.allaboutbirds.org/guide/pine_siskin/sounds

Thanks to Rich for allowing me to share his photo. To see a photo of a Pine Siskin that landed on George Anderson's finger, here is the link: http://www.mendonomasightings.com/2012/11/09/a-pine-siskin-lands-on-george-andersons-finger/