Hello all,

This a.m., I observed for the first time this season, a single Pine Siskin
at my thistle feeder - in company with my "resident" dozen or so
goldfinches. In and of itself this is not an unexpected observation - Gary
Cowell observed them at Wayne's Market yesterday, this place being only 2.5
air miles from me.

However what was unusual was the plumage of this individual. The plumage of
this bird was very crisp, clean and fresh-looking without a hint of yellow
anywhere (I observed it at less than 10 feet for several minutes with 7x
binoculars, albeit through a double pane picture window ). It was not at all
"dingy" with the accompanying dull yellows.

My question is: Does this reasonably close relative of the Am. Goldfinch
ever undergo a complete post-breeding molt, as its sister species, with the
complete or near complete loss of its yellow color. Or was this a late
season young-of-the-year that had yet to develop a "breeding plumage".
Comments or observations?

As to the abundance of siskins this year, we are overdue for a big year.
Current indications are that the pump is being primed for such a year for
our CBC record. This species (per the CBC record) undergoes an almost
predictable two year cycle (an up year followed by a down year followed by
an up year). The last high peak was 1989 when almost 1,800 birds were
recorded statewide. The average statewide count since 1992 (15 years ago) is
213 birds with peak year being 599 birds in 2001.

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