Newsletter / Blog
2012-07-27 Great News – Eurasian Siskin population increase in the UK.
Eurasian
Siskin population has
increased by 77% since 2004 in the UK. They feed and nest in conifer
plantations and it is thought that the birds are benefitting from the extensive
areas of conifer plantation that are now reaching maturity and producing seed.
Eurasian
Siskin
The Eurasian
Siskin - Carduelis spinus -
is also called the European Siskin, Common Siskin or just Siskin.
It is very common throughout Europe and Asia
and is found in forested areas.
Description
The male has a
greyish green back, yellow rump, the sides of the tail are yellow and the end
is black. The wings are black with a distinctive yellow wing stripe, its breast
is yellowish becoming whiter and striped. The female is more olive-coloured
than the male. The cap and the auriculas are greenish with a white bib and a
rump that is a slightly striped whitish yellow. The legs and feet are dark
brown and the eyes are black. Young Siskin’s have similar to females.
Call
They have two of
calls - "tilu" and "tluih". Siskin’s also issue a harsh
rattling chirrup.
The song is
similar to the other finches, a smooth and rapid twitter and trill with a long
duration and which is occasionally interrupted by a stronger of shorter
syllable. Siskins sing throughout the year and often in groups.
Food
They feed in
trees and are mainly seed eaters. When feeding chicks they feed more on insects.
Breeding
They build the nest
in trees and the female lays between 2 and 6 white or light grey or light blue
eggs with small brown spots. The female incubates the eggs for about 14 days
and the chicks leave the nest about 15 days later.
Conservation Status – Least Concern
This species has
an extremely large range and there does not seem to be a major decline in
population numbers and for this reason the ICUN has listed their conservation
status as Least Concern.
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