First of all, I advise readers to heed the premonitions of Roger
Troutman, the dean of Ohio CBC recorders. There will be more siskins,
and we will probably notice nesting next spring.
        As far as I know--not all that far--females can vary so much from males
as to show no yellow in the plumage at rest. Sibley shows the extreme of
this variation. I believe females retain reduced yellow in the spread
wings either way, though. And birds of the year closely resemble adults
at this time of year, as near as I can tell from references.*
        Folks who host siskins at their feeders may want to read the charming
accounts in A. C. Bent's account, where siskins are described accepting
invitations to eat and roost inside houses, etc.: see
http://www.birdzilla.com/omnibus.asp?strType=Bent&strTitle=Pine+Siskin&strURL=pine_siskin.html
Bill Whan
Columbus
* I attach an article on siskin molt, but probably only Roger will get
the hot link: it's elibrary.unm.edu/sora/JFO/v047n04/p0306-p0309.pdf


Roger Troutman wrote:

 > 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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