Specialists from Krasnoyarsk Pillars told how excess weight saves siskins in winter

Employees of the Krasnoyarsk Pillars National Park shared interesting facts about the habitat of siskins.

According to national park methodologists, 227 species of birds live on the Krasnoyarsk Pillars, of which about 60 remain in the winter, including siskins.

“This is one of our smallest birds, weighing only 10-18 g. This variation is associated not only with gender and intraspecific variability, but also with the fact that siskins, like other wintering birds, gain weight in winter. All in order to survive the long, cold nights, especially since this year the minimum temperature fell on the longest nights, when it is impossible to eat. Fat, an almost imperceptible couple of grams, literally saves birds from starvation. Not all siskins remain for the winter, but at the end of 2025 year and in the first month of the new year, one bird was noted at the Laletinskaya feeder and another 5-7 birds under the feeders at the Eastern entrance,” told in the national park.

These birds they live quite amicably. For example, They can start nesting in the same place. Males organize joint lekking flights, but only the female builds the nest. Pstart nesting siskins maybe very early, already in April. There are 3-5 eggs in a clutch, they are incubated by the female, withAmerican feeds her and the chicks, Bye They not operaare. Pin this case The female constantly warms the chicks.

Siskins feed primarily on alder seeds, conifers, various grasses, and only incidentally on insects, including small ones such as aphids, which are collected in the crop. Adult siskins feed exclusively on seeds and are heavily dependent on alder in winter. IN In the absence of competitors, the birds explore the feeders with great pleasure.

The name “siskin” is onomatopoeic. PSince then, the siskin’s song, consisting of fast, varied trills and boisterous chirps, usually ends with a drawn-out and somewhat nasal sound “zhii” or “chii”.

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