PHOTO LIBRARY

Pine Siskin (Carduelis pinus)

JAN FEB MAR APR MAY JUN JUL AUG SEP OCT NOV DEC

common   fairly common   uncommon   rare   occasional   no records

 

QUICK TIPS: 1) Look at the extent of yellow on the primaries - if it extends more than a few mm beyond the primary coverts the bird is likely AHY/ASY; if there is none or it extends only a couple of mm beyond the primary coverts, it is likely HY/SY; the extent of yellow also tends to be greater among males within each age class 2) Examine the outer rectrices - they are broad and relatively rounded on AHY/ASY birds and relatively narrow and pointed on HY/SY birds 3) Look at the outer primary coverts - they are typically broad and rounded with narrow yellow edging on AHY/ASY birds, and more narrow and pointed with grayish or absent edging on HY/SY birds Note that sexes are quite similar in plumage, and sex should be assigned only if it can be confirmed by brood patch/cloacal protuberance during the breeding season, or if plumage features are extreme within an age class

January - July:

ASY - M Extensive yellow patches on the primaries and tail; outer rectrices broad and rounded ASY - F Moderately extensive yellow patches on the primaries; occasionally some yellow on the tail; outer rectrices broad and rounded SY - M Small amount of yellow on the primaries; yellow generally lacking on the tail; outer rectrices narrow and pointed SY - F Yellow generally limited to small patches on the secondaries; outer rectrices narrow and pointed

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June - December:

AHY - M Extensive yellow patches on the primaries and tail; outer rectrices broad and rounded       AHY - F Moderately extensive yellow patches on the primaries; occasionally some yellow on the tail; outer rectrices broad and rounded       HY - M Small amount of yellow on the primaries; yellow generally lacking on the tail; outer rectrices narrow and pointed       HY - F Yellow generally limited to small patches on the secondaries; outer rectrices narrow and pointed

 

Ageing and sexing details:

After-second-year Pine Siskins typically show distinct yellow patches on the wings even when perched; those with particularly extensive yellow are generally males.

Photo by Marcel Gahbauer, February 2006  
 

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The uniformly broad, rounded, and dark primary coverts indicate this is an after-second-year siskin; the particularly extensive yellow patches on the primaries suggest that it is very likely a male.

Photo by Marcel Gahbauer, February 2006

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The relatively bround and rounded outer rectrices indicate that this is an after-second-year siskin; the particularly extensive yellow patches are usually present only on males.

Photo by Marcel Gahbauer, February 2006

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After-second-year Pine Siskins typically show distinct yellow patches on the wings even when perched.

Photo by Marcel Gahbauer, February 2006
 

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The uniformly broad, rounded, and dark primary coverts indicate this is an after-second-year siskin; the moderately extensive yellow patches on the primaries suggest that it is likely a female, but sex should be confirmed by brood patch if possible.

Photo by Marcel Gahbauer, February 2006
 

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The relatively bround and rounded outer rectrices indicate that this is an after-second-year siskin; the lack of yellow on most rectrices suggests that it is a female.

Photo by Marcel Gahbauer, February 2006

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second-year male

second-year female

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The photo below illustrates the relatively narrow and pointed outer primary coverts typical of a second-year siskin; note that the coverts also lack any edging.  Individuals with no yellow at all showing on the primaries beyond the primary coverts are likely to be females.

Photo by Marcel Gahbauer, February 2006
 

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The outer rectrices of second-year siskins are typically relatively narrow and pointed, but as the photo below illustrates, they can sometimes have a somewhat rounded appearance not terribly different from that of after-second-year birds; it is best to consider both tail and wing characteristics to determine age.

Photo by Marcel Gahbauer, February 2006

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after-hatch-year male

after-hatch-year female

 

 
 

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hatch-year male

hatch-year female