Why You May Not Have Success Attracting Goldfinches
Next to Bluebirds and Hummingbirds the American Goldfinch is perhaps the most discussed bird at The Wood Thrush Shop. Goldfinches (GF’s) are a year round species here in TN. Males, in their spring-summer breeding plumage, are bright yellow with a black forehead, black wings with white wingbars, and white patches above and below the tail. Adult females are duller yellow beneath, olive above. In winter both males and females are a drab olive, with hints of yellow, and the ever present black wings with pale wingbars.
Non breeding male Goldfinch.
Breeding male and female Goldfinch.
Customers ask, “Where have the GF’s gone” or “why can I not attract GF’s” and “why are they not eating my nyjer-thistle”?
Understanding the Goldfinches habits is important. GF’s are exclusively seed eaters and they search for food as a flock. This fact is most important. It explains their preference for fields and meadows where there are lots of native seed producing plants, and why feeding stations with multiple seed feeders and choices of seed options tend to be more appealing and productive than a feeding station with one seed feeder and one finch feeder. Their desire to feed as a flock is the most important factor.
Because of their unique food requirements Goldfinches are on the move much of the time. During the non-breeding seasons, winter, spring and fall, there are great movements by these birds which may explain their inconsistent presence at feeders. Many of us tend to see more at the feeders in the winter when northern populations have come here to winter.
Goldfinches feed on a variety of seeds including sunflower, safflower, nyjer and millet. I believe sunflower is their preferred seed at feeders, whether in or out of the shell. I use the fine sunflower hearts in my finch feeders and always attract Goldfinches.
Nyjer for finch feeders is not a seed native to this country and is grown primarily in Africa, particularly Ethiopia and Kenya, as well as in India, Nepal, and Myanmar. This explains why Nyjer is a little pricier and perhaps why it may not be as appealing to Goldfinches as we once thought.
GF’s will go to any type of seed feeder including platforms. They will feed on the ground, too. During wintry weather I have spread sunflower and millet on my driveway and been treated to a flock of 50 or more Goldfinches.
Here are a few things to keep in mind to have more success with GF’s
Keep your finch feeders topped off. Waiting for GF’s to finish what’s in the feeder will backfire because if what’s remaining in the feeder accommodates only two birds they will move on. Often customers will think there’s something wrong with the remaining seed but probably not. Shake the feeder to see if the seed is dry and loose. If it is just top it off. If it has gotten wet and is now clumped remove it and refill.
• Employing other seed feeders is helpful in three ways. It provides more feeding opportunities and a variety of seed choices. As GF’s search for available seed sources they will notice other seed eating feeder birds and investigate what they are feeding on.
• If you have multiple finch feeders keep them fairly close to one another promoting the “flock feeding” preference.
• Keep your feeders clean and the seed in good condition. I can assure you GF’s have plenty of food choices in nature so your feeders need to be at their best to compete.
Understanding the habits of GF’s and following some of the suggested tips should help you attract this beautiful bird with more consistency.