Black Siskin vs Yellow-bellied Siskin

Black Siskin

Spinus atratus

Small16 gGrassland

The black siskin is 12 to 13 cm (4.7 to 5.1 in) long and weighs about 15 to 17 g (0.53 to 0.60 oz). The species is sexually dimorphic but not dramatically so. Adult males are almost entirely glossy black. The sides of the bases of their tail feathers are bright yellow. Their wings' greater coverts have yellow tips and the flight feathers have wide yellow bands across their bases. Their vent and undertail coverts are bright yellow. Adult females have slightly browner upperparts than males. The yellow parts of their tail and wings are paler than those of males. Voice: The black siskin's song is not well known but appears to be similar to that of the yellow-rumped siskin (S. uropygialis). The species sings from a perch atop a bush or tree and also in flight. Its calls are mostly given in flight and include "a descending tew, chew, and a hew-li?".

ID text from Wikipedia, CC BY-SA 4.0

Photo: no rights reserved, uploaded by Hugo Hulsberg · cc0

Yellow-bellied Siskin

Spinus xanthogastrus

Tiny13 gForest

The yellow-bellied siskin is 10 to 11.5 cm (3.9 to 4.5 in) long and weighs about 11 to 14 g (0.39 to 0.49 oz). The species is sexually dimorphic. Adult males of the nominate subspecies have a glossy black head, chin, breast, and upperparts. Their tail is mostly glossy black with yellow bases to the outer feathers. Their wings are mostly glossy black with bright yellow bases on the primaries and secondaries. Their lower breast, belly, and undertail coverts are bright yellow with an olive tinge on the flanks. Voice: One description of the yellow-bellied siskin's song is "a fast, bubbly ser. of twitters, buzzy notes, and musical sputterings, almost as if randomly generated". It is "complex and usually with a few high, thin notes mixed with low nasal notes". Its calls include "thin or high-pitched pee or pyee and harsher bziee" notes.

ID text from Wikipedia, CC BY-SA 4.0

Photo: Emily Franzen · CC BY 4.0

Photos and recordings are credited to their authors under the licence shown. Full profiles: Black Siskin and Yellow-bellied Siskin.