The last several days I have had a flock of 10-30 Pine Siskins at my feeders. Makes this colder weather worth it. Manon VanSchoyck Ohio Nature Education www.ohionature.org Licking County ----- Original Message ----- From: "Bill Whan" <[log in to unmask]> To: <[log in to unmask]> Sent: Sunday, November 09, 2008 3:35 PM Subject: Re: [Ohio-birds] Pine Siskins Richland County > 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. > > > ______________________________________________________________________ > > Ohio-birds mailing list, a service of the Ohio Ornithological Society. > Our thanks to Miami University for hosting this mailing list. > Additional discussions can be found in our forums, at > www.ohiobirds.org/forum/. > > You can join or leave the list, or change your options, at: > http://listserv.muohio.edu/scripts/wa.exe?LIST=OHIO-BIRDS > Send questions or comments about the list to: [log in to unmask] > > ______________________________________________________________________ Ohio-birds mailing list, a service of the Ohio Ornithological Society. Our thanks to Miami University for hosting this mailing list. Additional discussions can be found in our forums, at www.ohiobirds.org/forum/. You can join or leave the list, or change your options, at: http://listserv.muohio.edu/scripts/wa.exe?LIST=OHIO-BIRDS Send questions or comments about the list to: [log in to unmask]