siskin

American  

[sis-kin] / ˈsɪs kɪn /

noun

1. any of several small, cardueline finches, especially Carduelis spinus, of Europe.

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siskin British  

/ ˈsɪskɪn /

noun

1. a yellow-and-black Eurasian finch, Carduelis spinus

2. a North American finch, Spinus pinus, having a streaked yellowish-brown plumage

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Etymology

Origin of siskin

First recorded in 1555–65; from Middle Dutch sijsken, equivalent to sijs (from Middle Low German czītze, from Slavic; compare Sorbian cyž, Czech číž, Polish czyż “siskin,” ultimately imitative of the sound) + -ken diminutive suffix; -kin

Example Sentences

As of this writing, it’s logged 194 house finch visits, 83 California towhee drop-bys, 5 squirrel sorties and a lone pine siskin pop in.

From Los Angeles Times • Jul. 11, 2023

It is completely silent except for the shrieks of siskin in the canopy.

From The Guardian • Mar. 6, 2020

It should have shown a pine siskin and reported that a pine siskin blasted out a call over traffic sounds in the park.

From Washington Post

A pine siskin appears to react to the car noise by blasting out a call — see the thick red vertical smear about three-quarters of the way across the image — spanning many frequencies.

From Washington Post

The white fox, the snowy owl, the weasel, the jaeger, and the siskin had virtually disappeared.

From "Julie of the Wolves" by Jean Craighead George