Wood Thrush Notes: All About Goldfinch

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.

Goldfinches and why you may not have success with them.

We have really been fielding a lot of questions about Goldfinches lately. Mostly the question is “why am I not getting Goldfinches”? There are a lot of possible answers to this question so let’s look at some things to be mindful of as it pertains to finches and your finch feeders.

Goldfinches are very different than the usual cast of songbirds visiting your feeders on a daily basis. Goldfinches (GF) travel in flocks from small to large, and I mean travel. GF’s may move several miles a day in search of good reliable food sources where, once found, may stay for a few days, or longer until they go in search of more.

• Make sure the seed in your finch feeder is in good condition.  If it’s wet and clumped they will keep moving.  A weather guard is a really good idea during wet winter and spring months.  Goldfinches are very happy to feed on natural food sources so the seed in your feeder better be in good condition to get and keep their attention.

• Because they move and feed in flocks your finch feeder should be topped off regularly to accommodate several birds at once.  They prefer to feed in groups.  Also, you will likely have better results if your finch feeders are grouped and not separated.

• Nyjer is not the only seed GF’s will feed on.  In fact, we are of the opinion GF’s prefer sunflower seed.  They show a strong preference for black oil sunflower in or out of the shell, or our Finch Blend and Fine Sunflower Chips.

• Keep in mind many GF’s are migratory.  Spring and fall migration tends to be a time when these birds are really on the move and disappear from feeding stations seemingly overnight.  Be patient and pay attention to the quality of your feeders and seed because they will return and reward you with their beautiful spring-summer plumage.

Spring Migration Notes

There is a lot going on right now in the bird world and in our backyards.  Rose-breasted Grosbeaks settled in this week at feeders as have Indigo Buntings.  Expect to see numerous RB Grosbeaks at feeders until around mid-May as they will eventually move along to their summer homes to breed, usually north of TN. East TN in higher elevations is also part of their breeding range.  RBG’s love most seeds offered at feeders and will compete with one another for a place at the table.  If you have a few more feeders stored away now is the time to put them out to accommodate as many as possible. They are really eager to feed during their long journey from Central and South America.   

View fullsize

Male Rose-breasted Grosbeak

View fullsize

Male & Female RBG’s

RBG’s are monogamous and both male and female build the nest.Males usually make the choice of nest site, however.The male Rose-breasted Grosbeak shares incubation duties with the female and is known to sing while doing so. For more info on the Rose-breasted Grosbeaks visit Cornell labs website.

Ruby-throated hummingbirds continue to arrive or pass through but don’t expect a lot of action at the feeders just yet. They prefer blossoms for their nectar source early in the season. Bluebirds, Chickadees, and Carolina wrens are either finishing, or somewhere in the middle stages, of their first nesting, and neo-tropical migrants are pouring through TN during these peak migration weeks of late April and early May. Birdwatching is at its peak during this time. You may want to join TOS birdwatchers at Radnor Lake Wed. mornings to learn a little more about this rapidly growing and rewarding hobby. Bring binoculars and be prepared to watch, listen and learn. Visit Tennessee Ornithological Society’s website at www.tnbirds.org.

Next to Bluebirds and Hummingbirds the American Goldfinch is perhaps the most discussed bird at The Wood Thrush Shop. We’ve been getting a lot of Goldfinch questions lately. This finch is a year round species here in TN and known for its bright yellow and black plumage in spring and summer while in winter dull and almost completely lacking in yellow.

Mostly what we hear from customers are questions like, “where have the Goldfinches gone” or “why can I not attract Goldfinches”? There are no simple answers nor is there much we can suggest to increase your chances of attracting more Goldfinches. When it comes to attracting Goldfinches patience and an understanding of their habits and seasonal movements is important. So, why are Goldfinches so different from the other backyard birds?

Goldfinches are exclusively seed eating birds which means they have a natural food supply everywhere they go and in almost every season of the year. This also means your feeders should be in tip top condition with a dry source of seed to entice them to visit. Goldfinches won’t visit your feeders if they are not providing something as good as they find in nature. In late summer when Coneflower, Zinnias, and Rudbeckia are in bloom and the seeds become ready I see great numbers of Goldfinch feeding there rather than on the feeders nearby. Sometimes they just prefer what nature has to offer. And really, shouldn’t it be that way?

To further complicate matters, unlike other backyard birds, Goldfinches are on the move much of the time, never staying in one area for very long. During the non-breeding seasons, winter, spring and fall, there are great movements by these birds which explain their inconsistent presence at feeders. Many of us see more at feeders in winter when northern populations have come here to escape harsh conditions.

Goldfinches love a variety of seeds, not just Nyjer, including sunflower and safflower, at feeders. I believe sunflower is their preferred seed. I use fine sunflower hearts in my finch feeder and do quite well attracting Goldfinches. Nyjer for finch feeders is not a seed native to this country. It is grown primarily in Africa, particularly Ethiopia and Kenya, as well as in India, Nepal, and Myanmar. This explains why it’s a little pricier. It is heat treated before entering this country so it will not germinate.

American Goldfinch feeding on sunflower chips.

Keeping your feeders topped off is always recommended as Goldfinches are social and prefer to feed as a group. Waiting for them to finish what’s in the feeder will backfire because if what’s remaining in the feeder accommodates only two birds they likely will move on. Many times customers will be fooled into thinking there’s’ something wrong with the remaining seed. Shake the feeder to see if the seed is dry and loose. If it is just top it off. Your results should be better.

Almost any kind of bird feeder may attract American Goldfinches, including hopper, platform, and hanging feeders, and these birds don’t mind feeders that sway in the wind

As mentioned, they like Zinnias, Coneflower, and Rudbeckia, so planting patches of them will likely bring Goldfinches.

Interesting Facts

• American Goldfinches breed later than most North American birds. They wait until June or July to nest when milkweed, thistle, and other plants have produced their fibrous seeds, which goldfinches incorporate into their nests and also feed their young.

• Goldfinches are among the strictest vegetarians in the bird world, selecting an entirely vegetable diet and only inadvertently swallowing an occasional insect.

• When Brown-headed Cowbirds lay eggs in an American Goldfinch nest, the cowbird egg may hatch but the nestling seldom survives longer than a few days. The cowbird chick simply can’t survive on the all-seed diet that goldfinches feed their young.

• Because of the nest material they use and how tightly it is woven a Goldfinch nest has been known to hold water which can obviously have dire consequences.

Managing your expectations when it comes to attracting Goldfinches is advisable. There are no guarantees when you consider their habits and preferences.

Keep the binoculars close and enjoy the birds.