Chirps and Cheeps

A Photo Journal of My Birding Experiences & Observations

My birding blog site


  Green Morph Pine Siskin

Published: November 14, 2020
Tags: My Feeders, pine siskin, green morph

Pine Siskins have been coming regularly to my feeders these past few days.  One male looked rather striking to me and the "green morph" came to mind.  It was late in the day though, and rather dark and rainy to boot.  I got a few photos of him but thought I should wait until better lighting the next day to judge.

The next morning, I was glad to see he was still around - and is still coming, as a matter of fact.  I got some additional photos, albeit through my office window, and yes, the siskin is a green morph.  It's not an especially rare bird - I read that one in one hundred males are green morphs.  The brightness is caused by a deficiency of dark pigmentation.  It's an actual choice in eBird, which surprised me.  I mean, we don't give special labels to leucistic birds, so I find it a little perplexing why the special status of a "green morph" siskin - but then what do I know???  To date, no one has been able to give me a satisfactory answer.

With greater numbers of siskins and the other winter finches coming through the area, it's probably a good year to catch up to one of these bright siskins.  Keep an eye out!

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Green morph Pine Siskin

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Green morph Pine Siskin

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Green morph Pine Siskin

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Green morph Pine Siskin

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Green morph Pine Siskin

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This Dark-eyed Junco posed so nicely at Amherst SP, I just had to oblige and take its photo!

Reply from: The Nutty Birdwatcher on 5/19/2022 1:55 PM
 Your pictures are so beautiful. But I don't know that they are green morphs? It is so magical, and does that happen in females?



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