Eurasian Siskin

Species: Eurasian Siskin
Latin name: Carduelis spinus
English name: Eurasian Siskin
Order: Passeriformes
Family: Fringillidae

Description:

Photo and Breeding: Jean-Michel EYTORFF

Size approximately 12 cm.
Male: Black crown with a distinct black-brown patch, contrasting sharply with the greenish-brown back streaked with black. Some individuals have a black bib beneath the beak, which may be more or less distinct. Over the years, this may become increasingly pronounced. The flight feathers are black with yellow wing mirrors. The tail feathers are black with yellowish patches on the sides of the tail. The rump is yellow. The throat and breast are greenish-yellow. The flanks are greenish-yellow streaked with brown.

Female: Plumage entirely streaked with greenish-brown, with a greyish tinge on the back and breast. The crown does not contrast with the bird’s neck and back, as it shares the same characteristics. Some females have a breast with greenish-yellow markings, whilst others, on the other hand, are much more whitish, giving a slightly silvery background colour (however, this is not a true silver factor; otherwise, there would also be a blue chaffinch strain in the wild). The flight feathers and tail feathers are the same as in the male, with much paler wing mirrors.

Galerie