166 



NORTH AMERICAN FAUNA 73 



Spring migration begins in late March with a gradual exodus from the 

 southern wintering areas. Spring migration is usually more diffuse than fall 

 and the period of peak movement occurs 10 April to 15 May. Departure 

 from the southern areas occurs 20-30 May. 



Nesting Season Distribution: Uncommon nesting species in the Northern 

 Highland. Jackson (1943) reported that pine siskins were "not uncommon" 

 at Solon Springs (Douglas County) from 26 July to 6 August 1919. He does 

 not provide any evidence of nests or young. Larson (1970) reported pine 

 siskins at Taylor's Falls, Chisago County, through the summer of 1969 and 

 until 10 August 1970. No nests or young were reported. On 11 May 1978, I 

 banded a female pine siskin at Hudson, St. Croix County, that possessed a 

 well-defined brood patch. Although no nests or young were observed, pine 

 siskins remained in the area throughout the summer of 1978 and probably 

 nested. 



Winter: Fairly common resident in the Western Upland and Central Plain. 

 Uncommon to rare during midwinter in the Northern Highland except 

 during invasion years. Christmas Bird Count data (Table 4) suggest a rapid 

 decline in relative abundance of this species moving northward from the 

 lower St. Croix River Valley. Although not as predictably cycUc as the 

 common redpoll, the pine siskin follows a pattern of abundance 1 year, fol- 

 lowed by low numbers for 2-3 years afterward (Fig. 6). Highest daily counts 

 of individuals include 856 on 1 January 1974 (Afton CBC) and 793 on 2 Jan- 

 uary 1978 (Suburban St. Paul CBC). On 10 February 1961 S. D. Robbins ob- 

 served over 3,000 pine siskins at Clam Lake, Burnett County. 



Habitat: Restricted primarily to coniferous forest during the nesting season. 

 Wintering birds use a variety of coniferous and deciduous habitats. This 

 species makes extensive use of feeding stations in residential areas. 



American Goldfinch {Carduelis tristis) 



Status: Regular migrant, nesting species, and winter resident. 



Migration: Common migrant throughout the VaUey. Spring migrants arrive 

 in the Western Upland 15-30 March, reaching peak abundance 15-30 April. 

 Migrants arrive in the Northern Highland 10-15 April, reaching peak num- 

 bers about 1 May. Fall migration begins in mid- August and peak popu- 

 lations occur 15 September to 15 October. Departure from the northern 

 areas occurs by 15 November. 



Nesting Season Distribution: Fairly common and well-distributed nesting 

 species throughout the Valley. Jackson (1943) considered the American 

 goldfinch one of the most generally distributed nesting species in north- 

 western Wisconsin. Breeding Bird Survey data (Table 8) support Jackson's 

 statement. This bird was the fourth most abundant breeding species (33.2 

 pairs per 40 ha) in the Kinnickinnic River Valley, Pierce County (Goddard 

 1972). 



Winter: Fairly common to locally common winter resident in the Western 

 Upland and Central Plain. Rare and irregular winter resident of the North- 



