Finch Event...or Alternatively Not a Finch

This IS a goldfinch

Went out to fill the feeders after morning chores today. As usual there was a noisy cluster of goldfinches hanging around the apple tree and honey locust awaiting that event.

As I neared the tube feeders a small, gold-finchy bird sat on the clothesline between them fending off any regular goldfinches that got impatient and landed nearby.

I couldn't make it look quite right. Although it was close to the color of a female goldfinch, it appeared to have stripes on its breast. When I got really close I saw that it was a pine siskin. We do get them pretty much every winter, but this one is really late.

It also must have been really hungry because I walked over and held the yellow scoop up next to it and it jumped right in and started eating seeds.

I couldn't believe it. Over the years I have hand trained chickadees many times and have a pair that greet me every day when I go outdoors. (And let me know in no uncertain terms when they are hungry.)

However, never have any other birds come in to eat like that, and certainly not wild arctic birds like a siskin. I don't think he was sick because he lit right into other birds like he owned the feeder.

It was pretty cool. I hope he gets all fueled up and gets to where he is going.