| Group | Finches |
| Code | ABPBY06030 |
| Order | Passeriformes |
| Family | Fringillidae |
| Author | (Wilson, 1810) |
| Rank | G5 (definitions) |
| Occurrence | P (definitions) |
| Scale | N (definitions) |
| Western UP | all |
| Eastern UP | all |
| Northern LP | Benzie, Crawford, Iosco, Emmet, Grand Traverse, Charlevoix, Bay, Cheboygan, Alcona, Alpena, Antrim, Clare, Oceana, Osceola, Oscoda, Otsego, Wexford, Montmorency, Newaygo, Leelanau, Kalkaska, Mason, Mecosta, Missaukee, Manistee, Lake |
| Southern LP | Jackson, Huron, Allegan, Ingham, St. Joseph, Ottawa, Oakland, St. Clair, Sanilac, Tuscola, Van Buren, Wayne, Saginaw, Kent, Muskegon, Macomb, Montcalm, Kalamazoo |
Forested or Mixed Forested/Nonforested Landscapes
(Spruce/Fir (Pole or Sm Saw or Lg Saw or Uneven))
or (Jack Pine (Pole or Sm Saw or Lg Saw or Uneven))
or (Mixed Upland Conifer (Pole or Sm Saw or Lg Saw or Uneven))
or (Mixed Pine (Pole or Sm Saw or Lg Saw or Uneven))
or (Any Lowland Conifer (Pole or Sm Saw or Lg Saw or Uneven))
or (Mixed Lowland Conifer (Pole or Sm Saw or Lg Saw or Uneven))
containing:
Mast
view decision rule term definitions
| Habitats | Regen | Sap | Pole | Sm Saw | Lg Saw | Uneven |
| Aspen | no | no | no | no | no | - |
| Paper Birch | no | no | no | no | no | - |
| Oak | no | no | no | no | no | no |
| Assorted Hardwoods | no | no | no | no | no | no |
| Northern Hardwoods | no | no | no | no | no | no |
| Spruce/Fir | no | no | YES | YES | YES | YES |
| Hemlock | no | no | no | no | no | no |
| Jack Pine | no | no | YES | YES | YES | YES |
| Red Pine | no | no | no | no | no | no |
| White Pine | no | no | no | no | no | no |
| Conifer Plantations | no | no | no | no | no | - |
| Mixed Upland Hardwoods | no | no | no | no | no | no |
| Mixed Northern Hardwoods | no | no | no | no | no | no |
| Mixed Upland Conifer | no | no | YES | YES | YES | YES |
| Mixed Pine | no | no | YES | YES | YES | YES |
| Swamp Hardwoods | no | no | no | no | no | no |
| Balsam Poplar & Swamp Aspen & Swamp Birch | no | no | no | no | no | no |
| Bottomland Hardwoods | no | no | no | no | no | no |
| Tamarack | no | no | YES | YES | YES | YES |
| Northern White Cedar | no | no | YES | YES | YES | YES |
| Black Spruce | no | no | YES | YES | YES | YES |
| Mixed Lowland Hardwoods | no | no | no | no | no | no |
| Mixed Lowland Conifer | no | no | YES | YES | YES | YES |
| Non-Forested | none | |||||
| Special Features | Mast |
Habitat: Pine Siskins prefer conifers and mixed conifer-deciduous habitats, although they occasionally nest in entirely deciduous areas. These birds are primarily seed eaters, with a preference for the seeds of arborvitae, alder, tamarack, various species of pine and spruce, maple, elm and numerous species of grasses and weeds. Insects comprise a relatively small but significant portion of the bird's diet. Like the American Goldfinch, the Pine Siskin is a social bird, often found in large flocks. Even during the breeding season, birds often feed together away from the nesting territory.
Nests are often located in a conifer, usually about mid-height and well away from the trunk. Nests are constructed of twigs, rootlets, and grasses, and are often lined with moss, fur, hair, and feathers.
Brewer has suggested that such human influences as bird feeders and conifer plantings in the south have made it advantageous for siskins to migrate south in winter and stay there as long as possible.
Habitat: Breeding: Coniferous forests, natural conifer stands or evergreen plantations, alder thickets, weed patches adjacent to forests.
Special Habitat Requirements: Conifers.
Habitat: Conifers, mixed woods, alders, weedy areas. Breeds mostly in coniferous and mixed woods, often around edges or clearings; sometimes in deciduous woods, isolated conifer groves. In migration and winter, occurs in many kinds of semi-open areas, woodland edges, weedy fields.
Diet: Mostly seeds and other vegetable matter, some insects. Feeds on seeds of alder, birch, spruce, and many other trees, also those of weeds and grasses; eats buds, flower parts, nectar, young shoots. Also feeds on insects, including caterpillars and aphids. May be attracted to salt.
Nest: Site is well hidden in tree (usually conifer), on horizontal branch well out from trunk. Typically 10-40 feet above ground, can be lower or higher. Nest is a rather large but shallow open cup of twigs, grass, strips of bark, rootlets, lined with moss, animal hair, feathers.