Pine Siskin (Carduelis pinus) Allen T. Chartier
© Jacob Gardner
(Click to view a comparison of Atlas I to II)
A rising, mechanical zzzhhheeeee call note Distribution In the Great Lakes, the Pine Siskin breeds often gives away the presence of the Pine regularly only in Minnesota, Wisconsin, Siskin. The observer may note a small, Michigan, and Ontario. In Wisconsin, 75% of nondescript brown-streaked bird with a pointed the probable and confirmed breeding records conical bill feeding in the treetops, with a bright came from the dozen or so northernmost flash of yellow on the wings and tail when it counties with scattered but not insignificant takes flight. Until recently the Pine Siskin, along numbers of records from southern portions of with the American Goldfinch, was classified in the state (Berner 2006). Common throughout the genus Carduelis, but the American the boreal forest of Ontario, the Pine Siskin is Ornithologists’ Union (Chesser et al. 2009) rare to the north in the Hudson Bay lowlands reassigned it back to the genus Spinus where it and uncommon and irregular in the had been prior to 1983. Breeding mainly in the southernmost regions of the province (Pittaway boreal forest, the Pine Siskin ranges from 2007). To our south, the Pine Siskin is a rare Alaska to Newfoundland, south to northern and sporadic breeder in Illinois, mainly from Wisconsin and northern Michigan in the east, counties in the northeastern part of the state and in western montane areas south to Arizona, adjacent to Lake Michigan (Kleen et al. 2004). with a disjunct resident subspecies in the It is also an extremely rare breeder in Indiana mountains of western and southern Mexico with only two blocks reporting the species in (Dawson 1997). They spend the winter within their atlas (Buskirk 1998). In Ohio, nesting Pine the breeding range in most years, with irregular Siskins were found in 10 counties during every irruptions in winter once every two or more year between 1978-1989, even after non- years as far south as the southernmost U.S. and irruption years, but always in very small northern Mexico, though substantial east-west numbers (Peterjohn and Rice 1991). movements have been documented with banding recoveries (Dawson 1997, Pittaway In the UP, the breeding distribution between the 2007). two atlas periods is very similar, with an
increase from 12% in MBBA I to nearly 14% in MBBA II, possibly due to increased effort. Increased observations in Schoolcraft, Delta,
© 2011 Kalamazoo Nature Center Pine Siskin (Carduelis pinus) Allen T. Chartier and Marquette Counties and fewer in Gogebic, included confirmations of breeding at 19 locales Ontonagon, and Luce Counties may be from 11 counties, probable breeding, in the form representative of this species’ nomadic nature. of territorial chases and/or singing groups of Significantly fewer blocks in the northern LP birds on multiple dates, from 14 locales in 11 recorded Pine Siskins, (3.5% in MBBA I to only counties, and possible breeding in the form of about 1.4% in MBBA II). The northern LP birds lingering into early May, singing birds, or received less coverage in MBBA II, which may possible pairs, from 50 locales in 18 counties. partly explain the reduced range there. But it may also have been due to the same factors that Breeding Biology may have affected the more notable change in Pine Siskins have a strong preference for distribution in the southern LP, which found far nesting in conifers. Their well-insulated, open more Pine Siskins in MBBA I (38 blocks with 6 cup nests are constructed from twigs, grasses, confirmations) than in MBBA II (5 blocks with leaves, and other vegetation and lined with hair, no confirmations). Although probably not the fur, feathers, grass, or woolly material. They are only explanation for southerly breeding records, placed six meters above the ground, on average, the Pine Siskin is also known to nest early in the and in loose colonies. Nesting is often season south of its normal breeding range after opportunistic and can begin as early as March in big winter irruptions (Dawson 1997). This may some areas, including Michigan (Granlund partly explain their increased presence in the 1994, Dawson 1997), which may reduce its southern LP during MBBA I, though Higgins detectability to observers who may begin (1991) did not specifically assign southern LP searching for nesting birds months later. The breeding records in MBBA I to any irruptive clutch size is typically three to four eggs, which events. No significant winter irruptions of Pine are incubated only by the female for about 13 Siskins occurred into the LP during the MBBA days before they hatch. The altricial young take II period. about 15 days to reach the fledging stage, and the young are typically fed by adults for three The winter of 2008-2009 (post-data collection weeks after fledging, though they often will for MBBA II) brought a significant irruption of depart the breeding area in family groups soon Pine Siskins to the southern LP, with numbers after the young fledge. Although breeding has found as far south as Florida in early December been recorded between February and August in (pers. obs.). In February, large numbers were various areas in North America, it is not clear observed singing and chasing in the southern how often the Pine Siskin is double brooded, but LP. By early March, siskins were seen carrying it may do so on occasion at areas north of where nesting materials, and by late March and early the first brood was raised (Dawson 1997). April nesting was further confirmed with birds sitting on nests (G. Norwood, pers. comm.), and Abundance and Population Trends physiological evidence of breeding (visible (Click to view trends from the BBS) eggs, brood patches, etc.) found on banded birds The irruptive and nomadic nature of this species (D. Miller pers. comm., A. Chartier unpubl. makes population estimates difficult. Christmas data). By late April into early May adults were Bird Count data vary significantly in how many seen feeding fledglings at feeders and by late individuals are counted in Michigan each winter May few birds remained in the southern LP. (Granlund 1994), and breeding populations are Breeding evidence in 2009 from the southern not well censused. Higgins (1991) suggested LP was obtained from 83 locales in 24 counties that breeding populations in Michigan were (A. Chartier, unpubl. data at stable up to the MBBA I period. Only about 10 www.amazilia.net/Siskins.htm). This evidence BBS routes in Michigan detect this species
© 2011 Kalamazoo Nature Center Pine Siskin (Carduelis pinus) Allen T. Chartier annually (Sauer et al. 2008), so these data are Higgins, M.J. 1991. In Brewer, R., G.A. not very useful for determining populations or McPeek, and R.J. Adams Jr. 1991. The trends. Breeding often occurs before routes are Atlas of Breeding Birds of Michigan. run, and breeding areas shift somewhat Michigan State University Press. East geographically from year to year. Lansing, MI. Kleen, V.M., L. Cordle, and R.A. Montgomery. 2004. The Illinois Breeding Bird Atlas. Conservation Needs Illinois Natural History Survey. Special The Pine Siskin is listed as a species of special Publication No. 26. concern in Wisconsin (Berner 2006). Loss of Peterjohn, B.G, and D.L. Rice. 1991. The Ohio habitat, including mixed and coniferous forest, Breeding Bird Atlas. Ohio Department of due to logging and development, will likely Natural Resources. Columbus, OH. result in population declines. The increase in Pittaway, R. 2007. In Cadman, M.D., D.A. bird feeding may enhance winter survival, but it Sutherland, G.G. Beck, D. Lepage, and A.R. has also been a means for transmission of Couturier (eds.). 2007. Atlas of the Salmonellosis and other diseases (Dawson Breeding Birds of Ontario, 2001-2005. Bird 1997). Studies Canada, Environment Canada, Ontario Field Ornithologists, Ontario Literature Cited Ministry of Natural Resources, and Ontario Nature. Toronto, Ontario. Berner, M. 2006. In Cutright, N.J., B.R. Sauer, J.R., J.E. Hines, and J. Fallon. 2008. Harriman, and R.W. Howe. 2006. Atlas of The North American Breeding Bird Survey, the Breeding Birds of Wisconsin. Wisconsin results and analysis 1966-2007. Version Society for Ornithology. Waukesha, WI. 5.15.2008. USGS Patuxent Wildlife Buskirk, W.H. 1998. In Castrale, J.S., E.M. Research Center. Laurel, MD. Hopkins, and C.E. Keller. 1998. Atlas of Breeding Birds of Indiana. Indiana Suggested Citation Department of Natural Resources, Division of Fish and Wildlife, Nongame and Chartier, A.T. 2011. Pine Siskin (Carduelis Endangered Wildlife Program. Indianapolis, pinus). In Chartier, A.T., J.J. Baldy, and IN. J.M. Brenneman (eds.). 2010-2011. The Chesser, R.T., R.C. Banks, F.K. Barker, C. Second Michigan Breeding Bird Atlas. Cicero, J.L. Dunn, A.W. Kratter, I.J. Kalamazoo Nature Center. Kalamazoo, MI. Lovette, P.C. Rasmussen, J.V. Remsen Jr., Accessed online at:
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