Pine Siskin

The pine siskin (Carduelis pinus) measures between 4½ and 5½ inches long. It is the smallest of the winter finches. It does not have a fixed migration pattern or permanent nesting territory, so it is considered to be the gypsy of the birding world. One distinguishing characteristic of the pine siskin is the yellow visible on the wings and base of the tail.

The measurements for the pattern and painting notes were taken from three pine siskins provided by a friend who lives about an hour north of Spokane, Washington.

The Pine siskin will be the Best of the Northwest bird at the 2015 Columbia Flyway Wildlife Show, which will take place September 12-13 in Vancouver, Washington.

Read the rest of this article in Wildfowl Carving Magazine’s Summer 2015 issue!