The Siskin is a continental bird seen throughout North America, including non-boreal Canada, US and northern Mexico, but also tends to be a true snowbird, going south for the cold season and north during warmer months.

Frequents conifers and mixed woods where they feed on seeds from birch, fir and alder. The siskin also like thickets as well as weedy fields. In winter, siskin wander in flocks, flying in distinctive undulating pattern, bunching and separating.

During winter, the siskin can be seen at feeders, especially those with thistle or nyjer seed. They are gregarious and forage in tight flocks constantly twittering to each other.

A very small songbird, the siskin has a sharply pointed and slender bill, unlike the more conical bills of others in the finch family. Mostly brown and very streaky with subtle yellow edging on wings and tails. Some have a faint greenish back which suggests the female Eurasian siskin. In flight, look for their pointed wings and short notched tail.