How to Attract Goldfinches for Backyard Birdwatching : One simple method for luring goldfinches into your yard is to hang a bird feeder filled with the proper seeds. However, there are a few more things you may do to attract these lovely songbirds. You may attract goldfinches by selecting the best kinds of feeders, seeds, plants, water sources, and nesting materials with the assistance of these professional advice.
How to Attract Goldfinches for Backyard Birdwatching
What Are Goldfinches?
Goldfinches are a species of bird belonging to the genus Carduelis, which is part of the songbird family. The American, lesser, and Lawrence’s goldfinches are the three species of goldfinches found in the United States out of the four species found worldwide. The most prevalent of these and the one you’re most likely to see in your backyard are American goldfinches.
Being songbirds, American goldfinches are distinguished by their vivid colours and melodies. Naturalist and conservation expert Dr. Charles van Rees states, “During the spring and summer, they become more brightly coloured, with orange bills and males sporting canary-yellow and black plumage.” Their plumage is not the only thing that makes them unique. Unlike other birds, goldfinches are voracious eaters of seeds rather than worms or other invertebrates.
Attracting Goldfinches with Feeders
Goldfinches are relatively simple to entice to a bird feeder, regardless of how long you’ve been drawing birds to your backyard. According to van Rees, “American goldfinches will readily come to bird feeders all year round.” “Nearly all of their needs can be met by a quality bird feeder.” This is because their diet consists primarily of seeds, which they adore eating. According to Chris Earley, a biologist and professor at the University of Guelph, “their favourite foods are nyjer seeds in a tube feeder and black oil sunflower seeds—both in the shell and without the shell—in either a tube feeder or a hopper feeder.”
Nyjer seeds are little, black, extremely nutritious seeds that give goldfinches lots of energy. Although nyjer seeds are sometimes confused with thistle seeds, they actually originate from the African yellow daisy, or Guizotia abyssinica, not the thistle plant. Goldfinches consume a lot of thistle or nyjer seeds during the winter. According to van Rees, “thistle seeds will draw them in great numbers, especially during the winter.”
For a variety of reasons, goldfinches may refuse to feed from a feeder on occasion. Avoid setting up a feeder in a public place as birds want to feel secure and shielded from predators like cats or hawks. The best location is next to tiny shrubs or trees so they can quickly hide if necessary.
Another crucial factor in seeds is their freshness. Goldfinches may avoid a seed if it has been in the feeder for an extended period of time, according to van Rees. “They prefer fresh thistle seeds, so a great way to make sure you attract them is to replace these at least once a week.” It’s also important to maintain the feeder tidy.
Which Plants Draw Goldfinches?
Goldfinches are attracted to feeders and plants, so try cultivating their favourite flowers. “Sunflowers and other large-flowered asters like black-eyed Susans attract goldfinches,” explains van Rees. “Flowers like coneflowers, thistles, and cosmos may provide a reliable food source that will keep them.”
Earley also likes the cup plant (Silphium perfoliatum), a tall native species with yellow, sunflower-like blooms and many seeds. In addition, cup plant leaves form a little cup around the stem to hold rainwater for thirsty birds.
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Water Sources
Water sources for goldfinches to drink and wash are also important. Earley says goldfinches use a variety of containers for drinking and bathing, but they should only be one to two inches deep.
Before putting out a water basin or bird bath, check sure cats and other bird-eating animals can’t reach it. Elevating them and not overfilling them makes them safer, says van Rees. “Make them shallow so birds can bathe without getting stuck in too much water,” explains van Rees.
If you want many bird species to use the bird bath, create different heights. Because birds are varying sizes, Earley suggests placing flat stones to a bird bath with different depths to allow many species to bathe. “Winter goldfinches use a heated bird bath.”
Nesting supplies and habitat
Goldfinches don’t nest in nest boxes or birdhouses, but other birds do. DIY nesting is preferred by goldfinches.
“Goldfinches nest in tall shrubs and small trees,” adds van Rees. “In my wild experiences, I have often found their nests at 6 to 9 or 10 feet tall, surrounded by thorny plants and brambles.”
Which substance do goldfinches nest with? Earley says goldfinch nests are made of thistledown because it is robust and soft. Other materials are used to create their nests. “Like many other songbirds, they like to use plant fibres, like grass, to line the nest cup and moss, animal hair, and plant rootlets for finer detail,” explains Van Rees. “If you want goldfinches to nest on your property, you’ll need open spaces with almost meadow-like cover and shrubs.”
Goldfinches have their young later in the year because to food availability. “Many of their food sources, including thistles, do not produce seeds until later in the season, and seeds are very important for raising baby goldfinches,” adds Earley. Young American goldfinches can survive without insects, but they nest in late summer when their favourite seeds are most productive.
