I looked at the sharp beak, the heavy streaking and the wing stripes and went through all the finch-like birds in my field guides before landing on pine siskin, a bird that winters in TN, but that is unfamiliar to me.
I would have missed this new visitor altogether, had I not been sitting in the chair that looks out on the feeder while talking with a friend on the phone. When the chickadees and titmice cleared out, this bird sat quietly for a long time, picking up sunflower seeds, dropping them, picking up another. Swallowing a few. Maybe the ones he dropped were empty shells?
When I hung up the phone, I picked up the camera and shot these images through the glass knowing that if I opened the door the opportunity would be lost. As it was, he only lingered a few minutes longer.
I would have never seen the bit of yellow on his wing without the photos, nor had the opportunity to really look at his unique beak which is so sharply pointed.
And even though my Peterson's doesn't show white wing stripes, it was that bit of yellow on his wing that steered me toward the pine siskins. Would love to hear your comments.I sometimes wonder why its so much fun to see a new bird. But it is! I've just started a new feeder list!
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Yep, looks like a pine siskin to me! I love seeing new birds, too. How many species at your feeder so far?
ReplyDeleteHi Vickie, I think your i.d. is perfectly correct. From over here it looks like a cute little pine siskin too. They come and go to the feeder infrequently in small groups over here in coastal NW Washington State.
ReplyDeleteA beautiful Pine Siskin!
ReplyDeleteHow exciting to have a Pine siskin at your feeder!
ReplyDeleteThanks everyone for the ID confirmations!
ReplyDeleteMonika, I count six species, seven if I can count the slate-colored junco that was foraging in front of the holly today...:)
Oh, yes. Its eight with the mockingbird. See how easy it is to loose track?!
ReplyDeleteCongrats on the new bird Vickie! I haven't seen any pine siskins in my backyard either, but Ill be on the lookout now!
ReplyDeleteNice close ups on the pine siskin. I am waiting for mine. Great birdfreak submission.
ReplyDeleteNice catch, Vickie! No pine siskins down here on the Texas Coast -- pictures are as close as I've ever been to these. Thanks for sharing!
ReplyDeleteI do so wish I could see ONE Pine Siskin. Instead, they have flocked to our feeders in huge numbers, rudely taking over. I hope you don't have the same invasion.
ReplyDeleteYour blog is so much fun. I love seeing those sweet birds in photo and paint. I wish I could have a bird feeder again. I always loved it when my little customers would show up for a snack! (I had to stop feeding them since the feeders and dropped seeds were attracting mice galore).
ReplyDeleteSo lucky you were on the phone and saw him. It is fun identifying new birds. I only have some hope of doing so from the photo since my eyesight is nowhere near what it was.
ReplyDeleteHappy New Year Vickie!
Vickie, by now you know it is a pine siskin. The pine siskins arrived slowy like that here last year but before I knew it I had 8 to 10. In Maine I would get up to 40 at a time. They love thistle seed, just like goldfinches. I hope it visits you again. It's time to start eBirding! It's so simple and it will keep track of your life list, year list, site list, state list, etc. There's a link on my page or just put eBird into your search engine if you are interested. Good luck and good spotting. I often find new birds in just the same way, looking out my windows while I am busy about the house! Finding a new one always does give me joy.
ReplyDeleteHi Vickie, Looks like you got your bird ID.
ReplyDeleteSorry it has taken me so long to stop by here. I just now posted the meme tagging. Thank you for tagging me. See you on facebook :)
Vickie, you nailed it. We sometimes confuse Pine Siskins with House Finches unless we have a good eye and can see the flecks of green. I completely missed my first Pine Siskins at the feeder - alerted by another bird blogger :o)
ReplyDeleteHave fun and keep watching!
Mary