Siskin
Scientific Name: Carduelis spinusMaltese Name: Ekru
Family: Finches (Fringillidae)
Occurence: Regular
Breeds in Malta: No
Overview:
It is very common throughout Europe and Asia. It is found in forested areas, both coniferous and mixed woodland where it feeds on seeds of all kinds, especially of alder and conifers. It can be distinguished from other similar finches by the color of the plumage. The upper parts are greyish green and the under parts grey-streaked white. Its wings are black with a conspicuous yellow wing bar, and the tail is black with yellow sides. The male has a mainly yellow face and breast, with a neat black cap. Female and young birds have a greyish green head and no cap. It is a trusting, sociable and active bird. The song of this bird is a pleasant mix of twitters and trills. For these reasons it is often raised in captivity. It feeds mainly on seeds.
Status:
Regular migrant. Numbers vary from year to year, with influxes occuring from time to time.
When to See:
Mostly seen in Autumn; mid-October till December. Sometimes its also seen in March. Some spend the summer at Buskett and probabbly also breed.
Where to See:
Prefers open woodland and vallleys. Buskett is a good place to see this bird. Otherwise, fields with a plentiful supply of seeds are also good spots to see this bird.
Photographs:
 |
Male Siskin, Ghadira Nature Reserve |
 |
Male Siskin, Ghadira Nature Reserve |
Back to Bird Species List