Pine Siskins in Wyoming
When pine siskins are present in Wyoming, when they nest, which native Wyoming plants feed them, and how to host them in a USDA 3a–5b yard.
- Status in Wyoming
- Year-round resident
- Nesting window
- May–June
- Broods
- 1–2 per season
- Hardiness zones
- USDA 3a–5b
When to expect pine siskins in Wyoming
Pine Siskins live in Wyoming all year. Cold, very windy winters. That makes the cold months the time your yard matters most to them: their winter diet shifts toward spruce, birch and alder seed.
Semi-arid high plains and basins with major mountain ranges; most towns lie above 5,000 ft.
Nesting in Wyoming
Across Wyoming, 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, warm summers with cool nights.
- Pine Siskins don't use nest boxes. Keep dense native shrubs and trees such as rocky mountain juniper, ponderosa pine for nest sites.
- Delay heavy pruning of shrubs until after June.
Native Wyoming plants that attract pine siskins
Of the regional native plants we track for Wyoming, these 8 provide food or cover pine siskins use:
Tubular flowers for hummingbirds and seed heads for finches.
Prolific seed heads for finches and sparrows.
Annual native sunflower — the original feeder seed.
Late nectar for insects and fall seed for sparrows.
Native bunchgrass; winter seed and ground cover for sparrows and juncos.
Insect-rich in fall and seed in winter.
Berry-like cones feed bluebirds, solitaires and waxwings in winter.
Seeds and bark insects; pygmy nuthatch and woodpecker habitat.
Feeding pine siskins through the Wyoming year
Siskins are prone to salmonella outbreaks at crowded feeders — clean tube feeders weekly during irruptions.
- Best foods: Nyjer, Hulled sunflower.
- In Wyoming's winter: Cold, very windy winters.
Full diet breakdown for pine siskins · Best feeder for pine siskins
Frequently asked
Are pine siskins in Wyoming year-round?
Yes. Pine Siskins are year-round residents in Wyoming.
When do pine siskins nest in Wyoming?
Nesting in Wyoming 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 Wyoming?
Wild bergamot, Black-eyed Susan, Common sunflower, New England aster, Little bluestem, Tall goldenrod, Rocky Mountain juniper, Ponderosa pine are native plants in Wyoming that provide food or cover for pine siskins.
Pine Siskins in other regions
Other backyard birds in Wyoming
Sources
- Pine Siskin — All About Birds, Cornell Lab of Ornithology
- Pine Siskin life history — Cornell Lab of Ornithology
- Pine Siskin — Audubon Guide to North American Birds
- eBird region overview and bar charts — Wyoming
- USDA Plant Hardiness Zone Map (2023)
- Audubon Native Plants Database
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.