 Breeding evidence |
 Relative abundance |
 Probability of observation |
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Click on plot to view table of mean abundance
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Number of squares
Long-term BBS trends
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-2.11 (-4.19 - -0.107)|
Mean abundance (number of birds detected per 5 min. point count) and percentage of squares occupied by region Bird Conservation Regions [abund. plot]
[%squares plot]
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Atlas Results
Pine Siskins were found scattered across the province in 380 atlas squares. While never particularly abundant, the mapping analysis highlights the Boreal Transition ecoregion and the southern boreal forest as being at the core of their range in the province. South of the boreal forest, Pine Siskins make use of wooded areas and, in areas populated by humans, plantations and yards, especially those with bird feeders. Breeding was confirmed in only seven squares, with the first signs of nest-building reported as early as 10 March 2019 in Saskatoon. In the same year, a fully feathered nestling was found on a road in a different part of Saskatoon and taken to Living Sky Wildlife Rehabilitation on 14 April.
Excerpts Adapted from the Birds of Saskatchewan:
The gregarious, tame nature of the Pine Siskin almost ensures an appearance at our bird feeders. Siskins breed across the southern portions of the boreal forest and in the western mountains from Alaska to Guatemala. In winter they withdraw to southern Alaska and Canada. They also appear irregularly in the eastern US, where a few may remain behind to breed (Dawson 1997).
Pine Siskins prefer open coniferous forests in the north and ornamental conifers in parks, cemeteries, and residential areas in the south. Although their name suggests a preference for pine forests, they nest in a variety of forest types (Smith 2008b) and in trees, shrubs, and weedy areas (Dawson 1997).
Siskin is a fairly common summer resident. In the parklands it varies from rare transient in some years to common transient, summer visitant, or breeding species in others. On the grasslands it is chiefly a rare to uncommon transient and sparse breeder. Formerly a rare winter visitor, it is becoming more frequent with the increasing prevalence of bird feeders (Smith 1996).
Original text by Orval Beland. Text adapted by Daniel J. Sawatzky
Read more about the Pine Siskin in the Birds of Saskatchewan here.
Recommended citation: Latremouille, L. M. 2025. Pine Siskin in Latremouille, L. M., S. L. Van Wilgenburg, C. B. Jardine, D. Lepage, A. R. Couturier, D. Evans, D. Iles, and K. L. Drake (eds.). 2025. The Atlas of the Breeding Birds of Saskatchewan, 2017-2021. Birds Canada. Saskatoon, Saskatchewan https://sk.birdatlas.ca/accounts/speciesaccount.jsp?sp=PISI&lang=en [09 Nov 2025]
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