Vermont · Year-round resident

Pine Siskins in Vermont

When pine siskins are present in Vermont, when they nest, which native Vermont plants feed them, and how to host them in a USDA 3b–5b yard.

Finches (Fringillidae)Pine SiskinSpinus pinus

Status in Vermont: Year-round resident
Nesting window: May–June
Broods: 1–2 per season
Hardiness zones: USDA 3b–5b

When to expect pine siskins in Vermont

Pine Siskins live in Vermont all year. Long, snowy winters. That makes the cold months the time your yard matters most to them: their winter diet shifts toward spruce, birch and alder seed.

Humid continental, with the Green Mountains and the Champlain Valley.

Nesting in Vermont

Across Vermont, pine siskins typically nest from May–June. Nest site: shallow cup far out on a conifer branch. Females lay 3–5 eggs, incubate for 13 days, and young leave the nest after 14–15 days.

Short, mild summers.

Pine Siskins don't use nest boxes. Keep dense native shrubs and trees such as eastern red cedar, eastern white pine, eastern hemlock for nest sites.
Delay heavy pruning of shrubs until after June.

Native Vermont plants that attract pine siskins

Of the regional native plants we track for Vermont, these 8 provide food or cover pine siskins use:

Eastern red cedar

Juniperus virginiana · Tree

Dense evergreen roost cover and bluish 'berries' eaten through winter.

Wild bergamot

Monarda fistulosa · Perennial

Tubular flowers for hummingbirds and seed heads for finches.

Black-eyed Susan

Rudbeckia hirta · Perennial

Prolific seed heads for finches and sparrows.

New England aster

Symphyotrichum novae-angliae · Perennial

Late nectar for insects and fall seed for sparrows.

Little bluestem

Schizachyrium scoparium · Perennial

Native bunchgrass; winter seed and ground cover for sparrows and juncos.

Tall goldenrod

Solidago altissima · Perennial

Insect-rich in fall and seed in winter.

Eastern white pine

Pinus strobus · Tree

Seed-rich cones and year-round shelter.

Eastern hemlock

Tsuga canadensis · Tree

Small cones for siskins and chickadees; dense winter roosting.

Feeding pine siskins through the Vermont year

Siskins are prone to salmonella outbreaks at crowded feeders — clean tube feeders weekly during irruptions.

Best foods: Nyjer, Hulled sunflower.
In Vermont's winter: Long, snowy winters.

Full diet breakdown for pine siskins · Best feeder for pine siskins

Frequently asked

Are pine siskins in Vermont year-round?

Yes. Pine Siskins are year-round residents in Vermont.

When do pine siskins nest in Vermont?

Nesting in Vermont typically runs May–June, with 1–2 per season. Clutches are 3–5 eggs, incubated for 13 days.

What native plants attract pine siskins in Vermont?

Eastern red cedar, Wild bergamot, Black-eyed Susan, New England aster, Little bluestem, Tall goldenrod, Eastern white pine, Eastern hemlock are native plants in Vermont that provide food or cover for pine siskins.

Sources

Timing reflects typical patterns for the region as a whole; local dates vary with elevation and year. Check the linked eBird bar charts for your county.