Siskins and Finches (4)

Pine Siskin
A very rare species in central Florida; our first record was from Haines City in 1974 and the last report, 3 birds. was from a bird feeder in the Garden Grove area of Winter Haven in late October, 2011. They have ben seen wintering there for the last four years. Siskins are normally found with Goldfinch flocks.

American Goldfinch
An uncommon winter visitor, October - March, found thinly throughout rural Polk County. Another species on the decline here. A dozen in a day is possible. The LCBC high count of 521was in 1972.

Purple Finch
A very rare winter visitor, last seen in 1974 near Bartow.

Photo C L Geanangel

House Finch *

A species that was first seen in Polk County in January of 1994 and is gradually expanding its range. By 2004, many more sightings have been recorded, including one pair that wintered at Haines City in 1998 and another that built a nest in Lakeland in June 1999. In December of 2001 14 were coming to a feeder in Winter Haven and 21 were counted in Lake Wales. Nesting occured in Winter Haven in April of 2005 and four were fledged in early May. The LWCC high count of 16 was in 2001; LCBC of 18 was in 2005 and 6 in 2004.

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