FINCHES, SPARROWS 



(533) Spinus pinus 



{Wilson) (Lat., a siskin; pine). 



PINE SISKIN; PINE FINCH. 

 Sexes very similar. Plumage as 

 shown. Upper and under parts 

 buffy, streaked with black; wings 

 and tail dusky with buffy edging 

 of the feathers; bases of primaries 

 and bases of tail feathers yellow. 

 These yellow markings readily serve 

 to identify this species anywhere. 

 L., 4.75; W., 2.7s; T., 2.00; B., .40. 

 Nest — Of rootlets and grasses, lined 

 with pine needles and hair; at any 

 elevation in coniferous trees; three 

 to iive greenish-white eggs, specked 

 with reddish brown, .65 x .45. 



Range — Breeds in Canadian zone 

 from Ungava, Keewatin, and Alaska, 

 south to N. S., Minn., and in 

 mountains to Ga. and southern Cal. 



solely for the Goldfinches. They will come daily, during 

 late fall and winter, until every seed is gone. 



ARKANSAS GOLDFINCHES are very unfortunately 

 named, as it gives the impression that they are eastern birds, 

 whereas they only casually occur east of the Rocky IVIoun- 

 tains. The name was given this species because it was 

 first discovered on the Arkansas River in Colorado. The 

 upper parts are never yellow, and as the birds get older they 

 change from the greenish of the first year, finally to a jet 

 black after a period of several years. 



PINE SISKINS are, except during the breeding season, 

 almost as erratic wanderers as crossbills. During winter, 

 large flocks of them may appear anywhere in the United 

 States. They are always very restless, except when busy 

 feeding, and appear to wish they were anywhere except 

 where they are. They usually fly rather high and swiftly, 

 in compact flocks, alighting in the tops of trees to reconnoitre 

 before dropping down to the better feeding places below. 

 They feed quite extensively upon seeds of small cones and 



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