..The Siskin..
The Siskin is primarily a bird of the forest but in late winter some will follow other finch species like Goldfinches or Chaffinches in search of food. It is at this time of year that we may spot them at Corkagh or visiting bird feeders in nearby gardens.
The male and female are easy to tell apart. He has is a striking green/yellow colour while the female is has a much plainer colouring, as you can see from the image below her belly is almost white with brownish streaks. She could easily be mistaken for a female sparrow.
Siskins pair up early in the year and nest in tall spruce and pine trees in heavily forested locations and as a result it is unlikely that we would find them nesting at Corkagh.
Like other finches, the Siskin can have two broods in a season but almost half the young will not survive their first winter.
The Siskin is doing well in Ireland but like other finches bird feeders can pose a threat to them as they may be exposed to diseases like trichomoniasis (a fatal disease that is carried by pigeons).
