Bird Calls Radio's Bird of the Day for Thursday, Sept. 1
Pine siskin by Chris Bosak (copyright, all rights reserved)
The Bird Calls Radio’s Bird of the Day for Thursday, Sept. 1, is the pine siskin.
Pine siskins are a treat for New England birders during certain winter seasons. Some winters the small birds will “irrupt” into the middle and southern New England, appearing in great numbers. Some winters, however, a birder will scarcely see even one siskin.
They often travel in flocks with gold finches. One winter I had a siskins and finches chowing through my bird seed budget — eating up the expensive Nyjer seed. The guy pictured above looked right at me for this mug shot.
Siskins are mostly brown and tan, but have a yellow edging on their wings.
Other species that irrupt on occasional winters are redpolls, grosbeaks and crossbills.
Be sure to check out Bird Calls every Saturday from 3 to 4 p.m. on WSTC/WNLK AM1400/1350 (in S. CT and nearby NY) or www.wstcwnlk.com from anywhere in the world (where there’s Internet access, that is.) Thanks for checking in.