The Pine Siskin is a small, streaky-brown finch with bold yellow edging in the wings and tail that appears in Arizona mostly during the winter months. It is a nomadic species whose numbers in the state vary greatly from year to year depending on food availability in northern forests. In some winters, Pine Siskins arrive in large flocks, particularly at feeders stocked with nyjer (thistle) seed or in areas with abundant conifers and seed-bearing plants. At other times they may be nearly absent. They are most often seen in the higher elevations of Arizona’s mountains, such as the Mogollon Rim, the White Mountains, and the “Sky Island” ranges of the southeast, though they can also turn up in lower desert towns during irruption years. Social and energetic, they often mix with other finches such as American Goldfinches (Spinus tristis) and Lesser Goldfinches (Spinus psaltria). Their buzzy, rising calls and constant chatter give away their presence. While not a regular breeding bird in Arizona, there are a few records of nesting in higher montane conifer forests. Overall, the Pine Siskin is considered a widespread but highly unpredictable visitor to Arizona.
