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Pine Siskin.


Pine Siskin.
Photo Information
Copyright: Luis Leal (Luis52) Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Note Writer [C: 1110 W: 5 N: 3457] (12761)
Genre: Animals
Medium: Color
Date Taken: 2009-03-08
Categories: Birds
Camera: Nikon D80, 80-200 f2.8D ED AF Nikkor+1.5X Kenko
Exposure: f/4.5, 1/250 seconds
Details: Tripod: Yes
Photo Version: Original Version
Date Submitted: 2009-04-04 9:35
Viewed: 595
Points: 24
[Note Guidelines] Photographer's Note
General Description.

North American RangePine Siskins are small, streaked, yellow-tinged finches. Their bills are slimmer than those of most finches. Males often have yellow wing-stripes and tails, although the yellow is highly variable. Like other finches, they have notched tails. Their wings are relatively long.

Habitat.
Throughout their range, Pine Siskins typically breed in coniferous forests, although they are often found in mixed forests in the Puget Trough. During migration and winter, they can be found in many types of semi-open areas, including forest edges and weedy fields.

Behavior.
Pine Siskins form flocks year round, and winter flocks may be quite large. They can be very common at bird feeders in urban areas. (Unfortunately, such dense concentrations may spread salmonella, especially when feeders are not properly cleaned.) Pine Siskins are active foragers and climb about nimbly when foraging in forest canopies and hedgerows, often hanging upside-down. They also occasionally forage on larger branches, much like a nuthatch. Like many finches, they have an undulating flight and often make aerial contact calls.

Diet.
Small seeds, especially thistle, red alder, birch, and spruce seeds, make up the majority of the Pine Siskin's diet. In summer, they will eat insects, especially aphids, which they feed to the young, but seeds dominate their diet.

Nesting.
Pine Siskins are monogamous, and pairs form within winter flocks. They may nest in loose colonies or in isolated pairs, and their breeding activity is more closely tied to the abundance of food than to season. Nests are well hidden, on a horizontal branch well out from the trunk of a conifer tree. The female builds a large, shallow cup of twigs, grass, bark strips, rootlets, leaves, and lichen, lined with moss, plant down, hair, and feathers. The female incubates 3 to 4 eggs for about 13 days. The male brings her food while she incubates, and while she broods the young for the first few days after they hatch. After that, both parents bring food. The young leave the nest after 13 to 17 days, and the parents continue to feed the young for about three more weeks.


Saludos
Luis52.
nglen, jaycee, siggi, CeltickRanger, matatur, Alex99 has marked this note useful
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Critiques [Translate]

  • Great 
  • nglen Gold Star Critiquer/Silver Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 2907 W: 34 N: 8619] (32124)
  • [2009-04-04 9:43]

Hi luis. This is some cute little bird with just the small amount of yellow to the wings. You have been able to take a fine picture with good detail and natural coours. I like the POV and Pain colourd BG. well done . TFS.
Nick..

  • Great 
  • jaycee Gold Star Critiquer/Silver Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 2493 W: 11 N: 6885] (21912)
  • [2009-04-04 10:14]

Hola Primo,

A lovely shot of this pretty Pine Siskin looking so dainty on the branch. A perfect capture with wonderful colors and fine details of the face, eye, wings, and plumage. The background and composition are marvelous.

Jane

  • Great 
  • zetu Gold Star Critiquer/Silver Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 645 W: 15 N: 1577] (6149)
  • [2009-04-04 10:44]

Hello Luis
great shot with excellent details.
Regards
Razvan

  • Great 
  • siggi Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 1370 W: 56 N: 4704] (16174)
  • [2009-04-04 10:58]

Hello Luis,
Excellent shot of this siskin, good composition and pov, excellent sharpness and depth of filed, wonderful details and beautiful colors.
Best regards Siggi

perfect pic, really delicate, tFS Ori

hello Luis
beautiful sharpness with good details and nice composition
greeting lou

hello Luis

another of your small bird beautiful photos,
with fine POV and framing, superb focus on the bird
and the branch with great sharpness and details,
wonderful colour toned blurred background,
and that little catch-light render the photo
always more beautiful, TFS

Asbed

A fine Siskin individual within a perfect rosy atmosphere Luis, you do have a magic touch with your camera mi amigo!
Cheers,
Mehmet

Hi Luis,
A nice capture of this beautiful pine siskin. Excellent sharp details and a lovely composition. Thanks a lot for sharing.

  • Great 
  • Alex99 Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 3584 W: 143 N: 5669] (18531)
  • [2009-04-05 9:13]

Hi Luis.
Every your bird picture is better each other. This one is as wonderful as pictures, which have been missed by me last time. Composition is simply great and details of the twig and bird are amazing as well as fine colours and so nice and pleasant for eyes BG. Bravo. Excellent work.
Alexei.

  • Great 
  • Marx44 Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 174 W: 95 N: 599] (2124)
  • [2009-04-05 10:29]

Hi Luis,
Wonderful shot of the Pine Siskin, really nicely presented with a great pose with excellent eye contact.
The details are lovely and sharp with superb colours.
TFS
Marx

  • Great 
  • lousat Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Note Writer [C: 1977 W: 6 N: 5525] (19661)
  • [2009-04-05 14:50]

Hi Luis,isn't easy every time to found differents words to comment fantastics pics like that...simply fantastic!! my best compliments,have a nice week,Luciano

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