winter birds

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Pied-billed grebe

Cabin fever?

SPECIAL NOTE: Saturday, January 22, at 9 a.m.

I'll be teaching a class on the Winter Birds of Ijams—all the species that can only be found at the nature center at this time of the year.

The list includes such species as the hermit thrush, winter wren, pied-billed grebe, American coot, yellow-bellied sapsucker, white-throated sparrow, pine siskin, purple finch and those hyper, hard to ID, kinglets.

After our indoor review, we'll go outside for a walk to see what we can find. Bring binoculars if you have them, or if not, we have loaner pairs. FEE: Free for Ijams members, $10 for non-members. To sign up call Sheila at (865) 577-4717, ext. 10.

White-throated sparrow

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two finches

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The pine siskins continue to come to the thistle feeders at Ijams Nature Center. (See my January 18 posting.)

Generally, the siskins feed with the American goldfinches, but the former far outnumber the latter. Both are yellowish finches, but the siskins are covered with soft brown streaks.

Here's a good photo showing the two species side-by-side.

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chirpers

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The pine siskins that turned up at our feeders at the nature center before the holidays are still coming and going. Like the goldfinches, they are fond of Niger seeds.

They're chattery and gregarious; you really never see just one siskin for long. Once the first one arrives to feed, it seems to be quickly joined by several others. They are often with goldfinches. Siskins are yellowish, streaked finches that do not always make it this far south in winter. Their migration is highly variable, probably related to food supply. Large numbers may move south in some years; hardly any in others. It's been several years since I saw any in the Tennessee Valley.

Worldwide there are many species of siskin, the word itself is apparently derived from either the Danish word "sidsken" or the Swedish "siska." Both mean a "chirper," which indeed they are.

The photo taken at Ijams shows nine siskins feeding with one goldfinch.

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