Family Fringillidae - Chaffinches, grosbeaks House Finch Desert Finch Fringillids usually frequent well wooded areas or scrub, but some species can be found in cultivated areas and steppes, tundra and even in rocky deserts. Some extreme examples mention the bare stony desert of the Trumpeter Finch (Bucanetes githagineus) in the Middle East, and the alpine snowfielfds beyond the treeline of the Black Rosy-Finch (Leucosticte atrata) in the Great Basin of North America. Trumpeter Finch They often feed on the ground where they move by hopping. They are mainly granivorous, but the members of the genus “Euphonia” consume large amounts of insects and berries. On the other hand, the Hawaiian honeycreepers use numerous food items including nectar, thanks to the wide range of bill shapes and sizes. Violaceus Euphonia Blue Chaffinch At the beginning of the breeding season, the males perform some displays, first to establish the territory, and then to attract a female. They sing and fight between males. The courtship displays expose the bright coloured patches of each species.

The male moves in order to display these colours in front of the female. She begs food to the male with quavering wings. Courtship feeding is often performed in these species. Lesser Goldfinch The nest is typically cup-shaped and usually built by the female. It is made with grass, mosses and several plant materials, and placed in trees or sometimes in bushes, or between rocks. The three Fringillinae species are territorial, whereas the Carduelinae tend to nest in loose colonies. Clutch of 3-5 eggs are common. Incubation is mainly by the female and lasts about 12 to 14 days. Chicks are fed by both parents by regurgitation of insects in Fringillinae, and seeds and insects in Carduelinae. The nesting period may lasts between 11 and 17 days. They may produce several clutches per season. The Differences in Canary & Finch - Pets Pets The Differences in Canary & Finch by Jasey Kelly Canaries are closely related to finches like this goldfinch. Canaries and finches are similar in regard to their care and needs; one reason is that a canary is actually a true finch.

There are a few differences, however, that could help sway you toward choosing one over the other if you're considering a bird. Both make excellent apartment pets. Kind of the Same Canaries belong to the family Fringillidae, or true finches, along with goldfinches and siskins. Some differences exist between these types of finches and the species commonly found in the pet trade, though. Many of the pet finch species belong to the family Estrildidae. One of the most notable differences between these two families is the shape of their nests. In general, however, they share similar physical characteristics such as the shape of their beaks and their small size. Many of the differences come in the different types of canaries and species of pet finches. Types and Colors While you may think of a canary as the telltale canary yellow variety, several types and colors exist among birds in the two canary genera. Yellow, blue, white and fawn are examples of the many hues these little songsters sport. Bodies and feathers vary among species. Pet finches also come in a variety of colors. Gouldian finches have elaborate blocks of colors including orange, turquoise, yellow and purple.

The common zebra finch is gray with zebralike stripes on its chest; the male also sports bright orange circles on his cheeks. Singing Canaries are typically known for two things: their color and their song. Males are the singing sex; a single male will offer his glorious song throughout the day. Females don't sing like the males, who sing to attract mates and protect their territory. Finches are known not for songs but for chirps. While they are quieter than many other birds, many of these have an almost endless supply of conversation that some people find charming and others can't stand. Care Both canaries and pet finches love to fly and should have large large flight cages. A flight cage has a long horizontal stretch to allow birds to spread their wings and get in some air time. Both types of birds can live in smaller cages if need be; in fact, a few finches do better in these smaller quarters: zebra and Gouldian finches will take better to smaller cages than other species. Feeding finches and canaries isn't all too difficult, as their availability has encouraged many retailers to supply specially formulated seed mixes.

In addition to their specific seed mixes, offer a variety of dark greens, sprouts and millet sprays to keep them happy. Canary toys are good to help keep both finches and canaries entertained; these types of bird toys are on the smaller side and will help keep your feathered friend from getting bored. Canaries | My Canaries Online My Canaries Online Canaries for Lovers and others Menu Contact Canaries [tab:Breeding][print_gllr id=587] [tab:For Sale] [print_gllr id=382] [tab:Champions] [print_gllr id=330] [tab:Facilities][print_gllr id=412] [tab:Trophies Won][print_gllr id=451] [tab:Competitions][print_gllr id=630] [tab:END] The Scoop on Sprouts We all know that our feathered friends need a healthy and varied diet, and with spring in full force many bird owners are thinking about trying to grow their own natural bird food.

Sprouting seeds for your bird is an easy way of offering your pet variety and extra nutrition, but must be done with care to avoid cultivating a nasty "bacteria garden" along with your bird's tender treats. For some great insight into sprouting seeds for your own bird, check out this great article on Germination by ParrotChronicles.com. You'll be surprised at how easy it is to give your pet's nutrition a boost! Feeding Your Pet Canary A good quality seed mixture suitable for canaries can be the mainstay of their diet. Pelleted diets suitable for a canary can be offered as well - these are not as palatable as seeds but many owners keep a dish of pellets in the cage along with a dish of seeds. Fresh foods and greens should also be offered. Good choices include apples, oranges, bananas, green peppers, canned corn, fresh corn on the cob, cooked broccoli, raw spinach, raw dandelions, raw collard greens, raw Swiss chard, pears, peaches, strawberries, cucumbers, squash, etc. Bits of hard boiled egg can also be offered occasionally. Just sprouted seeds are an excellent treat for your canary.

For tips see "The Scoop on Sprouts." As seeds are eaten the hulls may be left in the dish, so at a quick glance the seed dish may look full when in fact it is just hulls. Blow the hulls off the seed dish at least daily and replenish the seeds as necessary. Serinus family The genus Serinus is a large genus of birds in the finch family Fringillidae found mostly in the Afrotropical region with some outlying species in Europe and Asia. The genus contains several species groups including canaries, seedeaters and the African siskins. The majority of species are small to medium sized birds with green and yellow, often streaky plumage though there are a few notable exceptions. Siskins General Notes about the Avian Systematics and Classification of the Genus Spinus (Siskins) Dieser Vortrag wurde gehalten wï¿½hrend des "First Triennial Finch And Seedeater Convention" im Juli 2002 in Brisbane, Australien.

Siskins are a very close related systematic group within the family Carduelidae according to the Phylogenetic Systematic from Hans Edmund Wolters (1975-1982). Some former Systematic Ornithologists (Peters, Moore) put as "lumbers" a lot of different species like Goldfinch, Greenfinches, Linnet and Redpoll into the same genus. Looking at that big genus we see that there is less homology, only the yellow wing marking. The differences are much more: shape of the Greenfinch as one of the biggest and Redpoll as one of the tallest. The form of the beak also varies from cone to sharply pointed. But the main differences are found in song patterns and courtship behaviour. That brought the leading Phylogenists to a "modern" group of different genera: Chloris, Linaria, Acanthis, Carduelis and Spinus. My presentation will deal with the genus Spinus sensu stricto like shown above. The genus Spinus belongs to the family of Carduelidae which is the closest family to Fringillidae.

Both were put together (see Peters Checklist) but again - there are some phenomena which can distinguish the two families: Species of the family Carduelidae have "pouches" where they store food for the nestlings during breeding season. But - I will not hold a lecture about Avian Systematics - I will show the results of European breeders with species of the genus Spinus. Siskins in Captivity Keeping Siskins (especially the Eurasian) has a long tradition and was formerly a fancy for the poor craftsmen like shoemakers or taylors. Some liked to keep a quartet: Linnet, Siskin, Greenfinch and Chaffinch. With begin twentieth century fancy turned to breeding. Also few foreign birds came to the 'normal' people. Birds like the Red Hooded Siskin were the most wanted species and some breeders were successful to breed them. During the last two decades there was an increasing interest for the different species of the family Carduelidae and within the genus Spinus. The initiative came from breeders of hybrids who were anxious to loose their partners for hybridisation.

In the seventies we had lots of imports from Middle and South America (with Siskins) and also from Africa (with Canaries and Serins). Asia with the Himalayan region followed in the nineties. The year of the foundation of the group "Mischlinge und Cardueliden" (= Hybrids and Carduelian Finches) was 1977 during World Show in Bocholt/Germany. The German Canary Breeders Association (DKB) gave a home for that group. Today we see nearly 80 different species, some in different subspecies at the German National. Among them there are also 11 species in different subspecies of the Siskins. That already shows that Siskins are easy to care for when you think about the essentials: food and housing. Food. Siskins are mostly birds which exist from a bit mote than "nothing". Recognising the mistakes we made in the beginning we had seed mixtures which were too fat and had too much energy. In the seventies we changed our formulas and added lots of grass seeds (especially Dactylis) and lots of small seeds like "A lot to husk but less to digest".

But diet does vary from species to species in a small amount. The best mixture I will tell within the monographies. Housing. Siskins can be kept and bred in cages from 70 or 80 cm on. In opposite to Rosefinches and Bullfinches they do not need big aviaries. Different perches in different diameters or natural twigs will complete the cages. Nesting takes place in simple canary nestpans or in "Sabelklï¿½tzen" (Foto). The nests are built with grass, sisal or hemp. A good addition is also small twigs, hair of dogs/cats and small roots. The inner nest is built with white sharpie and feathers. But now let us see the different species of Siskins. I will begin with the rarest species in captivity. Lawrence's Goldfinch Spinus lawrencei (Cassin, 1852) German: Maskenzeisig Distribution and Habitat The Lawrence's Goldfinch lives in the southwestern regions of North America, southern California, western Arizona and northwest Mexico. The breeding area is found in the dry grass areas or open pine and oak woods.

The movements make it to a bird of erratic occurence. In winter it wanders southwards. General notes The Lawrence's Siskin is monotypic. Sexual dimorphism is present. The length is about 11 cm. Avicultural notes Has been kept in a small number in Europe. Two breeders didn't give any informations except that this species is very difficult to keep. They seem to be extremely social and die very soon when kept single. American Goldfinch Spinus tristis (Linnï¿½, 1758) German: Trauerzeisig Distribution and Habitat The American Goldfinch lives in open woodlands and also along the roads in North America from southeastern Canada and New Foundland south to north Baja California, Colorado, north east Texas and south Carolina, if there grow thistles. Subspecies/Geographical Variations tristis, jewetti, salicamans, pallidus Today we have two different subspecies in Europe, salicamans from California is the smaller with brighter darker colours and tristis from the North is larger and paler. General notes There is no confusion to other species. The American Goldfinch has two moulting periods per year.

The summer plumage of the male is much brighter with brilliant yellow except for the black cap, tail and wings. The winter plumage is very similar to the plumage of the female. Then the male has a yellow throat and yellowish shoulder feathers. Sexual dimorphism is present. The length is about 11,5 - 14 cm. Avicultural notes First import to Europe was end of the nineteenth century but the bird was told to be difficult (Russ, 1892). It needs cages which are a bit longer than the cages for other species. Acclimatisation is a critical time especially for wild caught birds. Mostly they die with Coccidia. The same is for moulting time. It is a social bird which can live in bigger aviaries in company with other peaceful species. The song is like the European Goldfinch a sequence of melodious trillers with some metallic elements. Food Basic food shall be a mixture of small seeds of Conifers, seed mixture for Siskins and millet spray. Breeding Since 1985 the species is regularly bred. Bock (1974) describes the first complete breeding cycle.

Essential for the result is a lot of different half ripe plants like dandelion and Senecio with all known plants for food and a rearing food with animal content (like 'shrimps'). Larvae of Flies and Beetles and greenflies guarantee healthy youngsters. Lesser Goldfinch Spinus psaltria (Say, 1823) German: Mexikozeisig Distribution and Habitat The Lesser Goldfinch is distributed from western North America through Middle America to northwestern Peru and north Columbia. It lives in dry open countries, brush, woodlands, orchards and gardens from lowlands between 500 up to 3.100 meters. Subspecies/Geographical Variations There are two different groups of subspecies: Groupe 1 h e s p e r o p h i l u s , monotypic; is not black but green with striations at the back. In the last 5 years were few imports. Most other and earlier imports brought immature psaltria which changed their green to black during second moult.

Groupe 2 p s a l t r i a : psaltria, witti, jouyi, columbianus, Subspecies columbianus is in Europe known as Columbian Siskin and can be distinguished with the extreme small white edges of the outer wings in both sexes. Subspecies psaltria shows more and broader white edges. The third form in Europe is jouyi with similar colouration like psaltria but jouyi is smaller with a well defined ring around the neck. General notes There is no confusion to another species because the Lesser Goldfinch is the only species with a total black upper side (except hesperophilus) and a total yellow under side. Sexual dimorphism is present. The length is about 9,5 - 11 cm. Avicultural notes The Lesser Goldfinch was first imported 1886 (Russ 1892). It should be housed in a larger cage or small aviary. Newly imported birds can cause problems. Bigger problems can occur during moulting times and other stress situations. Temperature shall be above 16 ï¿½C to avoid sudden deaths.

The melodious song is very variable and sounds like the Goldfinch. Food A well balanced seed mixture special for these Siskins shall also contain small seeds of Conifers, grass seed and poppy seed. Rape and spray millet is also favoured by the birds. All seeds are accepted dry and also soaked/sprouted. Animalic additives are necessary. Breeding Breeding results are recorded over years also in smaller breeding cages. Wacknitz (1989), a German breeder decorated his cages with fresh and cleaned twigs of pine. He stated that most difficulties are in different moulting times from male and female. Often they only moult partial which will work against breeding condition. Wacknitz gave also dandelion, chickweed and endivie. Nitschky-Germann (1992) used softfood, sprouted rape and Lettuce seed. During weaning period he fed cracked seed. All green plants known for birds can be added.

Yellow-rumped Siskin Spinus uropygialis (Sclater, 1862) German: Kordillerenzeisig Distribution and Habitat The Yellow-rumped Siskin is distributed in altitudes of 2.000 und 4.000 m of the Andes from south Peru and southwest Bolivia to middle Chile, western Argentinia and lives in open grassland with bushes. It often is seen in small flocks; feeding is in bushes or at the floor. The Yellow-rumped Siskin lives in the same geographical region as the Black Siskin but in different habitats and altitudes. Subspecies/Geographical Variations The Yellow-rumped Siskin is monotypic. There is no subspecies described. General notes Confusion can be with Yellow-bellied Siskin (S. xanthogaster) but it can be distinguished by its yellow rump. The sexes are very similar but all colours are much paler in the females. The length is about 12,5 - 13 cm. Avicultural notes There were only few imports to Europe during the eighties.

The Yellow Rumped Siskin needs a bit more place and should be housed in larger cages. The problem of keeping is the same as in the Black Siskin. Parasites like Coccidiae are very common and mostly they cause death. Food The German breeder Blattner (mdl.) fed his own seed mixture, now available under "Blattner Zeisig-I" with mostly small seeds. Sprouted seed and soft food complete the diet as also several green plants do. Breeding Since 1985 Blattner (mdl.) reported breeding success in two generations. During nesting period he mixed his soft food with sprouted seed. Black Siskin Spinus atratus (Lafresnaye & d'Orbigny, 1837) German: Schwarzzeisig Distribution and Habitat The Black Siskin lives in the Andes from southern Peru, west Bolivia to north Chile and west Argentinia in altitudes between 3.500 and 4.500 m. The habitat is Puna (Grassland) and also near villages. Normally they live in pairs and seldom you can see small flocks (families?).

Subspecies/Geographical Variations The Black Siskin is monotypic. There is no subspecies described. Although some imports show a lot of variations. General notes There can be no confusion to another species. It is the only Siskin totally black except the small wing pattern and the vent. The sexes differ slightly. The colour of the male is brighter, the yellow vent reaches the breast. The length is about 12 - 13 cm. Avicultural notes Acclimatisation must take place in larger cages from 1 meter and more. Grit during that time can kill them. Long term housing must take place in larger flight cages or aviaries. Deep temperatures are to avoid but in opposite the Black Siskin should kept not too warm. The Black Siskin was recognised for one of the most difficult birds for the fancy. But that made it more attractive. The fault was to feed a diet which had too much energy and too much fat. Former imports were fed to death when the breeders worked with Nigerseed only. Today we can report from positive results, birds aged 6 and more years and still breeding. One of the breeders now works with the 8th generation own breed. Some points are necessary.

That is a basic food with only small seeds and a permanent look for Coccidia. In total that means the Black Siskin is only for the experienced breeder. Blattner found it essential not to mix the old stock with freshly imported birds. The Black Siskin can be kept together with other birds. Aggression will only occur during breeding time against other Black Siskins. Food A well balanced diet is more essential as in other species. Basic mixture contains seeds of pine, perilla, poppy seed, seed of Oenothera, Cichorium, Lettuce, thistle, grass sesame, small amount of Niger and Canary seed. Half ripe seeds and plants of dandelion, thistle, Senecio, Chenopodium and Poa annua complete the diet. Breeding Breeding results of the Black Siskin are common since 1985. The Black Siskin needs a larger cage or better a small aviary. Twigs of pine are a good decoration. The Black Siskin nests in wire nests as in the "Sabel'sche Nistklotz" but needs an underground in sisal.

The nest is built of cocos, sharpie, small roots and twigs and hair of animals. The nestlings are fed with chickweed, dandelion and grass. Older nestlings get half ripe thistle. Animalic softfood was not given by Glanzner (1992), but some other breeders do it with positive results. Yellow-bellied Siskin Spinus xanthogaster (Du Bus, 1855) German: Gelbbauchzeisig Distribution and Habitat The Yellow-bellied Siskin lives in Costa Rica and west Panama, north Venezuela and Columbia, southwest Ecuador and north Bolivia at the edges of woodland and in open habitats with solitaire bushes and trees. These habitats are in altitudes between 1.500 and 2.500 m. The Yellow-bellied Siskin normally is found in small groups in trees. It prefers feeding in trees and only seldom at the floor. Subspecies/Geographical Variations There is one other subspecies stejnegeri described. That subspecies is larger ad has a more slender beak. General notes There can be a slight confusion with the Yellow-rumped Siskin (S.

uropygialis) but the yellow rump is not by the Yellow-bellied Siskin (S. xanthogaster) present. Sexual dimorphism is present. The length is about 10 - 11,5 cm. Avicultural notes In the mid eighties the Yellow-bellied Siskin was imported in larger numbers and mostly as birds out of breeds from Italy. Housing is best done in cages from 80 cm on. Keeping and breeding is as easy as in the Red Hooded Siskin (Spinus cucullatus). The Yellow-bellied Siskin still is extremely fertile. It is possible to accompany the Yellow-bellied Siskin with other finches. Food A seed mixture for Siskins as available under "Blattner Zeisig I A" is the basic food. In addition half ripe grasses, dandelion, chickweed and other green plants complete the diet. Breeding Soon after their appearance in Germany the first breeding results are recorded. Klages (1990) describes his results in a cage where the wooden nest with sisal underground was taken and filled only with sharpie.

The parents fed additionally to the sorts above sprouted seed and half ripe grass. Hooded Siskin Spinus magellanicus (Vieillot, 1805) German: Magellanzeisig Distribution and Habitat The Hooded Siskin lives in South America from south Columbia, south Venezuela and Guayana to north Chile, south Argentinia and Uruguay and is found in open habitats with single bushes and trees in altitudes up to 4.000 m. Also in orchards of towns the Hooded Siskin is mostly seen in smaller flocks. Subspecies/Geographical Variations capitalis, longirostris, paulus, peruanus, urubambensis, bolivianus, santaecrucis, tucumanus, alleni, ictericus . The great number of subspecies is hardly to distinguish. Most forms intermerge. Only the origin of the birds can give a correct answer. During the long period of breeding the species the different subspecies are mixed. Hooded Siskins in captivity have to be seen as not to determine. Only two subspecies could be saved: S. m.

santaecrucis is the largest and darkest form where the black front reaches the vent and divides in two stripes touching the flanks. The feathers of the back show central black and distal olive green. The smallest form is S. m. paulus with a more brighter yellow. The vent and undertail coverts lack any white. S. m. peruanus, capitalis, magellanicus and urubambensis are of different size. All females can be distinguished only by their size. General notes Confusion can cause the female of the Andean Siskin (S. spinescens) in colouration but the females of every subspecies of the Hooded Siskin (S. magellanicus) are much rounder. Sexual dimorphism is present. The length is about 11 - 13,5 cm. Avicultural notes The Hooded Siskin is known in Europe since 1877 (Russ, 1892). It can be housed in larger cages or in small aviaries. New imported birds are extremely sensitive and acclimatisation is work only for the experienced breeder.

Once acclimatized the Hooded Siskin is easy to keep and can be housed in outdoor aviaries the whole year (Kï¿½hnel, 1986; Wacknitz, 1988) if temperature is not too low for a long period. Food Some formulas are given in literature for the Hooded Siskin. The best result you can get using the standard Siskin mixture with seeds of conifers and few Canary seed. During the winter fresh twigs of conifers and deciduous wood is helpful. Breeding Russ (1892) writes: "Bred in birdroom" (originally 'Vogelstube' which describes a room for the birds with several species kept together). Today breeding results are no problem. Rearing food is apple, sprouted seed, endivie, chickweed and dandelion. Additionally animalic softfood has to be added in smaller amount.

Red Hooded Siskin Spinus cucullatus (Swainson, 1820) German: Kapuzenzeisig Distribution and Habitat The Red Hooded Siskin is distributed from northeast Columbia to north Venezuela along the edges of the semiwet forest in altitudes between 300 and 1.200 m. Mostly seen in small flocks moving outside the breeding period in open grassland with some trees. The Red Hooded Siskin is strictly protected by law and one of the vanishing species. In the natural habitat the number now is about 400 to 600 individuals. Subspecies/Geographical Variations The Red Hooded Siskin is monotypic. There is no subspecies described. General notes The Red Hooded Siskin (Spinus cucullatus) is the only species with red plumage and distinctive to the other species of the Spinus group. Sexual dimorphism is present. The length is about 10 cm. Avicultural notes The Red Hooded Siskin is another species mentioned by Russ (1892). He described the first breeding in captivity which was not completely successful.

A medium sized cage already is large enough to house and to breed the Red Hooded Siskin. The cage shall be decorated with fresh twigs of spruce and pine. The Red Hooded Siskin is social and can be housed with other birds. Temperature should not be deeper as 18 ï¿½C. The song is similar to the Siskin but much melodious and fuller in timbre. Food Basic food for the Red Hooded Siskin is again a siskin mixture with an amount of less than 30% niger. In Europe there is again a special "Blattner Zeisig" mixed seed available. Breeding The first breeding results are recorded early after the first imports. Today the Red Hooded Siskin is bred in cages. Temperature during breeding season shall be between 22 and 25 ï¿½C and a day length about 14 hours. Food for nestlings contains half ripe seed, sweet apple and animalic food like greenflies and pupae of ants.

Black-headed Siskin Spinus notatus (Du Bus, 1847) German: Schwarzbrustzeisig Distribution and Habitat The Black-headed Siskin lives from Mexico to north Nicaragua and inhabits the spruce-oak zone of higher altitudes. In Winter it migrates into deeper altitudes. Subspecies/Geographical Variations notatus, forreri, oleaceus. Subspecies notatus is the largest and has a shorter and slender beak; oleaceus is similar to notatus but slightly smaller with a slightly longer beak, colouration in total darker; forreri is smaller and has a longer beak. General notes Confusion often with Hooded Siskin (Spinus magellanicus) but best distinguished with the slender lead painted beak and the black shoulders of the Black-headed Siskin. Sexual dimorphism is present but seen at the range and intensity of the hood. The length is about 10 - 12 cm. Avicultural notes The Black-headed Siskin needs more space and cages of minimum 100 x 50 x 50 cm or better a small aviary.

An outdoor aviary is also possible when temperature is not lower than 18 ï¿½C and air dry. Decoration as in the other species with spruce and conifers. Acclimatisation of freshly imported birds is work only for the experienced breeder. The Black-headed Siskin is more restless than the other species. The song is melodious. Food A mixture of seed of lettuce, perilla, canary seed, thistle, grass, birch, poppy seed and small tree seeds is a good basic diet. Breeding Since the eighties we can record several breeding results. A cage like described gives place enough. A clean cage or aviary is necessary during breeding and also moulting time. Humidity of air shall between 60 and 70 %. Different methods bring success. For Wacknitz (1989) sprouted niger seed is essential, and Mï¿½rzhï¿½user (1980) lists dandelion, softfood ('Kanariengold'). Other plants are thistle, Senecio, Filipendula, Artemisia, and Chenopodium.

Black-chinned Siskin Spinus barbatus (Molina, 1782) German: Bartzeisig Distribution and Habitat The Black-chinned Siskin lives on the South American Subcontinent from north Chile and Neuquen in west Argentinia to Fireland and the Falkland islands in altitudes up to 1.500 m. The habitat is edge of woodlands and grasslands with single trees. It is also seen close to settlements. In winter the Black-chinned Siskin is found in larger flocks and takes food regularly from the floor. Subspecies/Geographical Variations The Black-chinned Siskin is monotypic. There is no subspecies described. General notes Confusion can occur between the males of Black-chinned Siskin (S. barbatus) and the Eurasian Siskin (S. spinus) but the Black-chinned Siskin is larger and the type is more rounder. Females can be confused with the females of the Hooded Siskin (S. magellanicus) but the crown of the Black-skinned Siskin is darker. Sexual dimorphism is present.

The length is about 12 - 13 cm. Avicultural notes Russ (1892) mentioned the Black-chinned Siskin but without any breeding record. It needs a larger cage or better aviary. Outdoor aviaries are also good for housing. Best decoration for an aviary is a lot of twigs of conifers. Before wintering they must be prepared. Acclimatization is essential because the Black-chinned Siskin is when freshly imported very weak. Today we don't need any imports in Europe because the Black-chinned Siskin is widespread and bred regularly. The song is similar to the other Siskins. Food The basic seed mixture for Siskins as already described can be completed with poppy seed. Fresh twigs of conifers are welcome. Breeding There are many breeding records. The best chance is in outdoor aviaries decorated with conifers. Engelhardt (mdl.) and also Kï¿½hnel (1985) tell that the Black-chinned Siskin begins already in February (for Europe: mid winter). Food during nestling time is the complete range of green food as known.

Also berries from Liguster-, Feuerdorn- and Ebereschen and greenflies are necessary. (see Kï¿½hnel, 1985). Yellow-faced Siskin Spinus yarrellii (Audubon, 1839) German: Yarrellzeisig Distribution and Habitat The Yellow-faced Siskin lives in northeast Venezuela and east Brazil and inhabits the edges of the woodlands. Subspecies/Geographical Variations The Yellow-faced Siskin is monotypic. There is no subspecies described. General notes Confusion can be between the female of the Black-capped Siskin (S. atriceps), the Andean Siskin (S. spinescens) and the Yellow-faced Siskin (S. yarrellii). But the legs of the Yellow-faced Siskin are lighter. Also the males are of similar pattern, but the back of the Black-capped Siskin (S. atriceps) is green, the back of the Andean Siskin (S. spinescens) is yellowgreen and the back of the Yellow-faced Siskin is bright yellow. Sexual dimorphism is present.

The length is about 10 -11 cm. Avicultural notes The Yellow Faced Siskin belongs to the endangered species and is listed in the IUCN Red Data Book. That prevents imports of wild caught birds. Only few birds could be saved in Europe with help of breeders. Begin eighties the number could increase, especially in Netherlands and Italy. After hard work we now have hundreds of young Yellow-faced Siskins every year (a friend bred 28 in 2001). Housing is possible in cages and in aviaries. Food The basic food is again the well known "Blattner Zeisig I A" mixture. Sprouted seed and green food complete the diet. Breeding Breeding results are not as easy to get as in for example Red Hooded Siskin. The Yellow-faced Siskin has smaller clutches, mostly only two rounds and hatches not more than 3 young. An unbalanced diet will cause gout and liver damages. The breeder should avoid feeding a softfood which contents too much proteine. Also feeding the small soybean or feeding greenfood during the first week after hatching will kill the young.

Andean Siskin Spinus spinescens (Bonaparte, 1850) German: Andenzeisig Distribution and Habitat The Andean Siskin lives in the mountain regions of Columbia and northwest Venezuela in altitudes between 1.800 and 3.700 m. It inhabits the edges of woodlands, open regions with single trees and is seen in fields. Mostly seen in small flocks. They look for their food on the floor. Subspecies/Geographical Variations spinescens, nigricauda, capitaneus. The difference between the three subspecies is very small: Only the length of the beak decides. Subspecies nigricauda has darker upper side and less yellow in the wings. General notes Confusion can be between the female of the Black-capped Siskin (S. atriceps), the Andean Siskin (S. spinescens) and the Yellow-faced Siskin (S. yarrellii). But the legs of the Andean Siskin are darker and nearly black. Also the males are of similar pattern, but the back of the Black-capped Siskin (S.

atriceps) is green, the back of the Andean Siskin (S. spinescens) is yellowgreen and the back of the Yellow-faced Siskin is bright yellow. Sexual dimorphism is present. The Length is about 10 cm. Avicultural notes There were only few imports of the Andean Siskin the last decade. Mostly they were hidden between other species. Housing is possible in larger cages or in indoor aviaries, again decorated with conifers. In winter they shall have temperatures above 0 ï¿½C. Food The basic food is again the well known "Blattner Zeisig I A" mixture which contains additionally seeds of Cichorium, poppy seed, thistle and grass. Sprouted seed and green food complete the diet. The Andean Siskin accepts all greenfood which is known for the birds. Breeding There are only few breeding records. Rennhack (mdl.) told that the first time their birds tried late in the summer. Rennhack seems to have the first record 1991. The nest was built in a small bush 2 m from the ground with cocos and grass with an inlay of feathers.

Another record was from Mr. Lauck (mdl.). He tried also softfood but it was not accepted. Sprouted seed was often frequented. Black-capped Siskin Spinus atriceps (Salvin, 1863) German: Guatemalazeisig Distribution and Habitat The Black-capped Siskin is distributed in southwest Guatemala and southwest Mexico. There it inhabits oak and alder forests in altitudes between 2.300 and 3.000 m. Subspecies/Geographical Variations The Black-capped Siskin is monotypic. There is no subspecies described. General notes The Black-capped Siskin is similar in its pattern to the Andean Siskin (S. spinescens), but the back is more greenish. Sexual dimorphism is present. The Length is about 11 - 13 cm. Avicultural notes The first import to Germany came from Italy during 1987 but declared as "Andean Siskins". Grimm (mdl.) kept his birds in larger cages from 160 cm.

During acclimatization he fed ï¿½ "Zeisig I A" and a normal mixture for seedeaters with a higher percentage of white and black seed of lettuce. Food The basis is again "Zeisig-I-" from Blattner (Grimm, mdl.). In addition Grimm feeds sprouted seeds. The mixture for sprouting seeds he uses is 1/3 niger, 1/3 Mixture for seedeaters and 1/3 sesame, rape and thistle. Greenfood was added in small amounts. Breeding For breeding results the bird needs a cage more than 80 cm. Nest is built in a 'normal' Canary nestpan with sharpie, cocos and flax. The basic food is also given during breeding season. Greenfood shall not be given before the birds are 8 days old. Also feeding of a softfood with a higher percentage of protein will kill the nestlings. Older birds will get liver damage and gout.

Pine-Siskin Spinus pinus (Wilson, 1810) German: Fichtenzeisig Distribution and Habitat The Pine-Siskin lives in north and west Northamerica from south Alaska, Canada to south Labrador and Newfoundland, southwest in the mountains to north Baja California and through Mexico to southwest Guatemala, East southwards local to Cansas, north Wisconsin, north Michigan, north Pennsylvania and Connecticut. It inhabits mixed forests, alder thickets and gardens of human settlements in higher altitudes. It winters down up to 1000 m. Subspecies/Geographical Variations pinus, macropterus, perplexus Differences between the three subspecies are mostly within the size; wing and tail measurements of S. p. macropterus are longer and striations are of less contrast. The form we keep in Europe must belong to perplexus. General notes Confusion can take place between both sexes of the Pine Siskin (Spinus pinus) and the female of the Eurasian Siskin (Spinus spinus) but the Pine Siskin is more heavily streaked. Sexual dimorphism is slightly present, the intensity of the wing pattern is the best difference.

The length is about 11 - 13 cm. Avicultural notes Russ (1892) already knew the Pine-Siskin when he wrote about an import in the year 1877. Unfortunately the first imports were only males. During the last 15 years the Pine-Siskin is sporadic seen in imports. There are no difficulties keeping the Pine-Siskin as Nitschky-Germann (1991) published. Feeding should be adapted to the moving of the birds. That means they are best housed in large cages or aviaries decorated (again) with conifers. The Pine-Siskin is gregarious (gesellig) and can be kept in small groups. The song remains to the song from the Eurasian Siskin. Food The basic seed mixture for Siskins with a higher amount of grass and conifer seeds is demanded. Hulled sunflowers in small quantities can be added. Green plants - half ripe - complete the diet. Nitschky-Germann recorded that the cones of fir, spruce and pine were accepted. Also sprouted seed was highly welcome. Breeding Breeding results are recorded since 1986 from several breeders.

Van den Elzen (mdl.) told that the results were abandoned from large offers of greenflies and meadow plancton. Nitschky-Germann told that animalic food is essential. (Eurasian) Siskin Spinus spinus (Linnï¿½, 1758) German: Erlenzeisig Distribution and Habitat The Eurasian Siskin is the only species of the genus (sensu stricto) which has a Palaearctic distribution. It breeds in conifers and is also found in orchards of the Taiga zones (including mountain regions). It winters in deeper zones and south of the breeding range. Subspecies/Geographical Variations The distribution of the Siskin is discontunuous and monotypic. There is no geographical variation. A former described form dybowskii is not restricted to a geographical region and must be seen as a variation without the black throat. General notes Only the male of the Black Chinned Siskin (Spinus barbatus) can cause confusion but the Black Chinned is much larger. The Eurasian shows striations at the flancs. Sexual dimorphism is present.

The length is about 11- 12 cm. Avicultural notes The Siskin was one of the most popular seedeaters in former times as already Russ (1892) describes. Housing is possible in larger cages or aviaries, also outdoor aviaries. The Siskin accepts temperatures to minus 15 ï¿½C. A decoration with conifers is comfortable. The Siskin can be accompanied with most other European birds. Siskins will become tame also in aviaries. The song remains at the song of the Goldfinch and is a continuous twitter ending with a long 'squeeze'. Food The basic mixture has to have a large amount of seeds of trees like alder (Erle), birch (Birke) and small seeds of conifers. Animalic food is demanded during breeding season. Breeding Breeding of the Eurasian Siskin is one of the easiest ones. Russ (1892) already recorded breeding in second generation. A cage of 60 cm or few more is a good basis. In addition to the basic food the Eurasian Siskin needs half ripe seeds. Dandelion and animalic additions are necessary.

Tibetan Siskin Chionomitris thibetana (Hume, 1872) German: Himalayazeisig Distribution and Habitat The Tibetan Siskin is distributed in the Eastern Himalaya from Nepal, Arunachal Pradesh, Bhutan and Sikkim to souteast Tibet and soutwest Sikang and inhabits open hillsides with coniferous and birch forest between 2.800 und 4.000 m altitude, with an understorey of rhododendron. They winter in central and western Nepal, Assam, Bhutan, Arunachal Pradesh, west and northeastern Burma and north Yunnan in altitudes between 600 and 3.000 m. They are found in flocks between 10 and 50, seldom up to few hundreds. Subspecies/Geographical Variations The Tibetan Siskin is monotypic, no subspecies is described. The former described bieti is a synonym. General notes The systematics of the Tibetan Siskin are not certain.

Few authors set it into the (too large) group of Serinus (genus Serinus; see Peters, 1937 - 1987), others (genus Carduelis; Ali & Ripley, 1974) to the (also too large) group of Siskins. Few like Wolters (1975 - 1982) see the close relation to the Siskins but put it into a monotypic genus like I do here. That genus is settled between Spinus (Siskin sensu stricto) and Acanthis (Redpoll). Form of movement, form and shape of the beak and the green plumage remain at the Eurasian Siskin (Spinus spinus) but the Tibetan Siskin can be identified by lacking the striations at the back in both sexes. Additional the Tibetan Siskin is smaller. Sexual dimorphism is present. The length is about 12 cm. Avicultural notes The first import to Europe was in 1994. Before there were many publications about the "Himalayan Finch" but all dealed with the Himalayan Greenfinch (Chloris spinoides).

Fresh imported Tibetan Siskins are less complicated than other Siskins. They should be housed in large cages or in aviaries which are decorated with conifers. Their behaviour is very similar to the different Siskins. Within a short time they are very tame. They can be kept in small groups except breeding time. During breeding season they shall be kept only in pairs. The song remains at the Eurasian Siskin. Food The basic food is a mixture of several small tree seeds like alder and birch. Additional it contains perilla, poppy seed and thistle. Seeds of different conifers and niger are taken in smaller amounts. The mixture should not be too "fat" and with too much energy. It is to avoid to feed too much oily seeds. The coniferous twigs for decoration were regularly chewed to pieces. From the different greenfood offered the Tibetan Siskin only accepted chickweed. Breeding Only few breeding records are known. No one of the breeders did publish the results. In aviaries they use the same nest material as the other finches: cocos, small twigs and roots and sharpie. They begin breeding in summer according to their breeding time in natural habitat.

In its natural habitat is breeding time between May und June. Form and material of the nest there is not recorded. Hooded Siskin - Pictures and facts - Birds @ thewebsiteofeverything.com Fish Hooded Siskin The Hooded Siskin is a small passerine bird in the finch family , native to South America. It belongs to the putative clade of Neotropical siskins in the genus Carduelis sensu stricto. Picture of the Hooded Siskin has been licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-Share Alike . Original source: originally posted to Flickr as PINTASSILGO ( Carduelis magellanica ) Author: Dario SanchesPermission(Reusing this file)This image, which was originally posted to Flickr.com, was uploaded to Commons using Flickr upload bot on 23:51, 2 November 2008 (UTC) by Ltshears (talk). On that date it was licensed under the license below. This file is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution-Share Alike 2.0 Generic license.You are free:to share – to copy, distribute and transmit the work The Hooded Siskin is classified as Least Concern.

Does not qualify for a more at risk category. Widespread and abundant taxa are included in this category. Red Hooded Siskins barely top 4 inches in length, but make up in color what they lack in size. Males, clad in vermillion, red and black, are simply spectacular. They are native only to northeastern Columbia, northern Venezuela and Trinidad, where they favor dry scrubland and semi-wooded savannahs. More The Hooded Siskin (Carduelis magellanica) is a small passerine bird in the finch family (Fringillidae), native to South America. It belongs to the putative clade of Neotropical siskins in the genus Carduelis sensu stricto. There are 11 subspecies including the Santa Cruz Siskin C. m. santaecrucis of central and eastern Bolivia. This is sometimes considered to be a separate species.

More * Hooded Siskin, Carduelis magellanica * Olivaceous Siskin, Carduelis olivacea * Pine Siskin, Carduelis pinus * Red Siskin, Carduelis cucullata * Saffron Siskin, Carduelis siemiradzkii * Thick-billed Siskin, Carduelis crassirostris * Yellow-bellied Siskin, Carduelis xanthogastra * Yellow-faced Siskin, Carduelis yarrellii * Yellow-rumped Siskin, Carduelis uropygialis Serinus More morphologically this bird is similar to the Black Hooded Siskin of South America. I have not been able to locate anyone who bred/breeds these birds in captivity. In its Native land it is known as "Canario". I have seen them only once in a bird shop while taking photos of some birds, thinking they were probably one of the African Weaver finches. Although the shop assistant kept insisting they were Spinus dominicanus I unfortunately wasn't convinced and didn't take a photo. Photo by: R.

More Red Siskin, Hooded Siskin and Venezuelan Black-hooded Red Siskin and comes from South America. Red Siskin cock bird In its native county the red siskin is classified as endangered due to a very rapid population decline as a result of trapping for the cage-bird trade. This web site has been created to share information about the interesting and amusing characteristics of this fascinating finch. More like the Red Hooded Siskin were the most wanted species and some breeders were successful to breed them. During the last two decades there was an increasing interest for the different species of the family Carduelidae and within the genus Spinus. The initiative came from breeders of hybrids who were anxious to loose their partners for hybridisation. In the seventies we had lots of imports from Middle and South America (with Siskins) and also from Africa (with Canaries and Serins).

More Hooded Siskin - Carduelis magellanica Chardonneret de Magellan = Chardonneret de Magellan Gallery : © Philippe Wolfer Site web : Oiseaux d'Argentine Order : Passériformes Family : Fringillidae Species : Hooded Siskin Sex : Male Age : Adult Reference: phvo77277 Other pictures Date taken : 2009 Dec Geographic data Country : Argentina (ar) More The Hooded Siskin (Carduelis magellanica), is a small passerine bird in the finch family Fringillidae. It is native to South America. It inhabits woodland, savannas, scrubland, farmland, parks and gardens. It occurs from sea-level up to 5000 m. In eastern South America it is found from central Argentina north to central Brazil. In the Andean region it occurs from north-west Argentina and northern Chile north to central Colombia. There is an isolated population in south-east Venezuela, Guyana and the Brazilian state of Roraima.

More Black-hooded Red Siskin, Hooded Siskin, Red Siskin and Venezuelan Black-hooded Red Siskin Origin South America Size - Red Siskin Cock Approx. 110mm or 4 inches Red Siskin Hen Approx. More 1000+ images about BIRDS: FRINGILLIDAE - finches, canaries, redpolls, brushfinches, ... on Pinterest | Linnet, Greenfinch and Hawfinch Pinterest • The world’s catalog of ideas BIRDS: FRINGILLIDAE - finches, canaries, redpolls, brushfinches, ... Finch types fall into four major categories: fringillidae, estrildidae, ploceidae and passeridae. Caged & aviary finches which are popular and common belong to the FRINGILLIDAE are known as “TRUE FINCHES". They are predominantly seed-eating songbirds... Also includes rose finches, hawfinches, siskins, euphonia, bull finches, Hawaiian honeycreepers, & some waxbills, sparrows, grosbeaks...

1.68k Pins457 Followers Pine Siskin, Identification, All About Birds - Cornell Lab of Ornithology Typical Voice Size & Shape Pine Siskins are very small songbirds with sharp, pointed bills and short, notched tails. Their uniquely shaped bill is more slender than that of most finches. In flight, look for their forked tails and pointed wingtips. Color Pattern Pine siskins are brown and very streaky birds with subtle yellow edgings on wings and tails. Flashes of yellow can erupt as they take flight, flutter at branch tips, or display during mating. Behavior Pine Siskins often visit feeders in winter (particularly for thistle or nyjer seed) or cling to branch tips of pines and other conifers, sometimes hanging upside down to pick at seeds below them. They are gregarious, foraging in tight flocks and twittering incessantly to each other, even during their undulating flight. Habitat Although Pine Siskins prefer coniferous or mixed coniferous and deciduous forests with open canopies, they are opportunistic and adaptable in their search for seeds. They'll forage in weedy fields, scrubby thickets, or backyards and gardens.

And they'll flock around feeders, especially thistle feeders, in woodlands and suburbs The RSPB: Siskin Conservation status: Green The siskin is a small, lively finch, which is smaller than a greenfinch. It has a distinctly forked tail and a long narrow bill. The male has a streaky yellow-green body and a black crown and bib. There are yellow patches in the wings and tail. It is mainly a resident breeder from southern England to northern Scotland, but is most numerous in Scotland and Wales. Many breeding birds are residents; in winter birds arrive here also from Europe. Illustrations Common Redpoll, Life History, All About Birds - Cornell Lab of Ornithology About the size of an American Goldfinch. Other Names Pardillo sizerín (Spanish) Cool Facts Common Redpolls can survive temperatures of –65 degrees Fahrenheit. A study in Alaska found Redpolls put on about 31 percent more plumage by weight in November than they did in July. During winter, some Common Redpolls tunnel into the snow to stay warm during the night. Tunnels may be more than a foot long and 4 inches under the insulating snow.

Next time you have access to a globe, take a look at it from the top. Common Redpolls breed around the world in the lands that ring the Arctic Ocean. There’s a lot of land up there! Though many of us struggle to see a few redpolls each winter, worldwide their numbers are estimated in the tens of millions. Animal behaviorists commonly test an animal’s intelligence by seeing if it can pull in a string to get at a hanging piece of food. Common Redpolls pass this test with no trouble. They’ve also been seen shaking the seeds out of birch catkins, then dropping to the ground to pick them up from the flat snow surface. Redpolls have throat pouches for temporarily storing seeds. They may fill their pouches with seeds quickly then fly away to swallow the seeds in a more protected, warmer spot. Some studies show that in winter redpolls subsist almost entirely on a diet of birch seeds. They eat up to 42 percent of their body mass every day. They can store up to about 2 grams (0.07 oz.) of seeds in a stretchy part of their esophagus, enough for about a quarter of their daily energy requirement.

A few banding records have shown that some Common Redpolls are incredibly wide ranging. Among them, a bird banded in Michigan was recovered in Siberia; others in Alaska have been recovered in the eastern U.S., and a redpoll banded in Belgium was found 2 years later in China. The oldest known Common Redpoll was at least 7 years, 10 months old. It lived in Alaska and was injured when caught by a cat. Happily, it survived its injuries. Habitat Open Woodland Common Redpolls breed worldwide in the far northern latitudes, in open woods of pine, spruce, alder, birch, and willow up to about 5,000 feet elevation. In the essentially treeless tundra they find hollows and shelters where deciduous shrubs or conifers can gain a foothold. They also live around towns. Most people get to see them in winter, when redpolls move south. In their winter range, which can be extremely variable as the birds seek unpredictable food sources, redpolls occur in open woodlands, scrubby and weedy fields, and backyard feeders.

Food Seeds Common Redpolls eat mainly small seeds, typically of trees such as birch, willow, alder, spruces, and pines, but also of grasses, sedges, and wildflowers such as buttercups and mustards, and occasional berries. During summer they also eat considerable numbers of spiders and insects. Winter diet is largely birch and alder seeds or, at feeders, millet and thistle or nyjer seed. Behavior Foliage Gleaner Common Redpolls are energetic little birds that forage in flocks, gleaning, fluttering, or hanging upside down in the farthest tips of tree branches. Like many finches, they have an undulating, up-and-down pattern when they fly. To keep order in flocks, redpolls have several ways of indicating their intentions. When quarreling with flockmates, a redpoll fluffs its plumage, faces its adversary, and opens its bill, sometimes jutting its chin to display the black face patch. Males court females but flying in slow circles while calling and singing. Males may feed females during courtship.

You may see small flocks of this social species even during the breeding season; during migration they may group into the thousands. In winter, some redpolls roost in tunnels under the snow, where the snowpack provides insulation and stays much warmer than the night air. status via IUCN Least Concern Common Redpolls are numerous. Partners in Flight estimates a global breeding population of 160 million, with 17% spending some part of the year in Canada, and 22% wintering in the U.S. They rate a 7 out of 20 on the Continental Concern Score and they are not on the 2014 State of the Birds Watch List . These birds breed in the far north, away from large numbers of humans and many of their environmental impacts. When they come south to visit more densely populated areas, they can succumb to salmonella infections at feeders. In Europe, they have been trapped for food and to keep as cage birds, although this is less common today. It remains to be seen what changes climate change may cause for their boreal and tundra habitat. Back to Top Credits Knox, A. G., and P. E. Lowther. 2000.

Common Redpoll (Carduelis flammea) . In The Birds of North America, No. 543 (A. Poole and F. Gill, eds.). The Birds of North America Online, Ithaca, New York. North American Bird Conservation Initiative, U.S. Committee. 2014. State of the Birds 2014 Report . U.S. Department of Interior, Washington, DC. View dynamic map of eBird sightings Migration Irruptive migrant. Common Redpolls move south irregularly in winter following patterns in food supply. Along with Pine Siskins they are among the best known finches to do this. On a roughly 2-year cycle, redpolls come far south in winter and occasionally reach the central or southern United States. The movements generally correspond to the availability of seeds. Backyard Tips Common Redpolls eat seeds of a size to match their small bills. They’re particularly likely to come to thistle or nyjer feeders, though they may also take black oil sunflower or scavenge opened seeds left behind by larger-billed birds.

Find out more about what this bird likes to eat and what feeder is best by using the Project FeederWatch Common Feeder Birds bird list . Find This Bird Most people in North America get to see Common Redpolls only in the winter, when the birds come to feeders or forage on small seeds in trees or in weedy fields. Listen for their sharp, buzzy call notes and energetic trills and chatters. Keep in mind that they often form fairly large flocks that seem constantly in motion. You Might Also Like

Question: To which family of birds do canaries and siskins belong?
Answer: Finch