Eurasian Siskin

Spinus spinus

This vibrant yellow-and-green little finch brightens forests and gardens across Eurasia with its cheerful song and acrobatic feeding habits.

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Visual Identification

Appearance

The Eurasian Siskin is a small, lively finch with distinctive yellow-green plumage. Males feature bright yellow patches on their wings and tails, contrasting with a black cap and chin. Their bodies are streaked with dark markings on a greenish-yellow background.

Females are slightly smaller and more subdued, with an overall greener appearance and heavier streaking. They lack the black cap of males but retain the yellow wing bars. Juveniles resemble females but with even heavier streaking.

The Siskin is most often confused with the Greenfinch, which is about 50% larger.

Size

Length

11cm to 12.5cm

Wingspan

20cm to 23cm

Weight

10g to 18g

Colours

Male Female

Primary Colour

Yellow Green

Secondary Colour

Black White

Beak Colour

Grey

Leg Colour

Brown

Primary Colour (Female)

Green Yellow

Secondary Colour (Female)

Brown White

Beak Colour (Female)

Grey

Leg Colour (Female)

Brown

Habitat and Distribution

Habitats

Woodland

The Eurasian Siskin can be found in Woodland habitats.

Garden

The Eurasian Siskin can be found in Garden habitats.

Wetland

The Eurasian Siskin is not typically found in Wetland habitats.

Coastal

The Eurasian Siskin is not typically found in Coastal habitats.

Urban

The Eurasian Siskin is not typically found in Urban habitats.

Farmland

The Eurasian Siskin is not typically found in Farmland habitats.

Grassland

The Eurasian Siskin is not typically found in Grassland habitats.

Desert

The Eurasian Siskin is not typically found in Desert habitats.

Tundra

The Eurasian Siskin is not typically found in Tundra habitats.

Rainforest

The Eurasian Siskin is not typically found in Rainforest habitats.

Mountain

The Eurasian Siskin is not typically found in Mountain habitats.

Savanna

The Eurasian Siskin is not typically found in Savanna habitats.

Distribution

Eurasian Siskins inhabit coniferous and mixed forests across Europe and Asia, from the British Isles to Japan. They show a particular affinity for spruce, pine, fir woodlands, and areas with birch and alder trees.

During winter, many birds move southward or to lower elevations. In the UK, they become more widespread, frequenting gardens and parks in search of food. Some populations in southern Europe are largely sedentary.

Elevation Range

Up to 2,000 meters

Climate zones

Temperate, Subarctic

Distribution Map

This map gives you a rough idea of where you might spot a Eurasian Siskin. The coloured areas show countries where these birds have been seen.

A few things to keep in mind:

Birds might not be everywhere in the coloured areas, for example, they may be present around the coast of that country
Where birds live can change with seasons and available food
This map is quite simple - it doesn't show exact locations

We're working on making our maps even better! Soon, we hope to show you:

More detailed maps for bigger countries, including state and region
How birds move around during different seasons