The best bird feeder and seed for goldfinches
Small and agile, happy on tiny ports and clinging to mesh. Upside-down nyjer feeders favour them over house finches. Nyjer goes stale. Buy small bags and shake out clumped seed; goldfinches abandon feeders full of old nyjer.
Which feeder types do goldfinches use?
| Feeder | Holds | Squirrels | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Nyjer (finch) tube | Nyjer, fine chips | Squirrels ignore nyjer | Tiny slit ports release one seed at a time. |
| Nyjer sock | Nyjer | Squirrels ignore nyjer | Cheap and effective for a season; finches cling all over it. |
| Tube feeder | Sunflower, hearts, mixes | Poor unless caged or weight-activated | The workhorse for small clinging birds. Metal ports resist squirrel chewing. |
Feeders goldfinches use, budget to premium
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What seed do goldfinches like best?
| Food | Why | Storage |
|---|---|---|
| Nyjer (thistle) | Not related to thistle despite the name. Imported nyjer is heat-treated so it does not sprout. Needs a feeder with tiny ports or mesh or it pours out. | Goes stale in weeks; buy small bags |
| Sunflower hearts and chips | Costs more per pound but nothing is wasted as shell weight, and nothing sprouts under the feeder. The best choice over a patio or deck. | Spoils faster; buy what you use in a few weeks |
| Black oil sunflower | High oil content and a thin shell make it the widest-appeal seed there is. Most feeder birds in most of North America eat it. | Keeps well for months in a sealed metal can |
Food to buy for goldfinches
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Where and when should you feed goldfinches?
- Height and spot: 5 feet or higher, in the open.
- When: Flocks in winter; bright yellow breeding plumage in spring and summer.
- Range: Most of the US for at least part of the year.
- Feeding style: Feeds at hanging feeders; a pole with a baffle keeps squirrels off without bothering them.
The same setup also brings house finches, chickadees, titmice, nuthatches and pine siskins, which use the same feeder types.
Nesting: A tight cup of plant down in a shrub fork, built late in summer when thistle seed is available. Do goldfinches use birdhouses?
Feeders for other birds
Cardinals · Blue Jays · House Finches · Chickadees · Titmice · Nuthatches · Woodpeckers · Bluebirds · Wrens · Orioles · Hummingbirds · Mourning Doves · Juncos · Native Sparrows · Towhees · Grosbeaks · Robins · Mockingbirds · Pine Siskins · Purple Finches · Redpolls · Keeping starlings and grackles away · Red-bellied Woodpeckers · Downy Woodpeckers · Cedar Waxwings · Quail
Get the goldfinches feeding checklist
Feeder, seed, height and cleaning schedule for goldfinches on one printable page.
Used only to send the checklist.Frequently asked questions
What is the best bird feeder for goldfinches?
A nyjer (finch) tube is the most reliable choice for goldfinches. Small and agile, happy on tiny ports and clinging to mesh. Upside-down nyjer feeders favour them over house finches. Pair it with nyjer (thistle), place it 5 feet or higher, in the open, and keep it clean every two weeks. A second feeder type such as a nyjer sock widens the appeal without adding much work.
What do goldfinches eat at feeders?
In order of preference: nyjer (thistle), sunflower hearts and chips and black oil sunflower. Not related to thistle despite the name. Imported nyjer is heat-treated so it does not sprout. Needs a feeder with tiny ports or mesh or it pours out. Offer one food per feeder rather than a mix, so birds are not flicking unwanted grains onto the ground to get at the one they want.
Where should I put a feeder for goldfinches?
5 feet or higher, in the open. Keep it within 3 feet of a window or beyond 30 feet to avoid collisions, at least 10 feet from anything a squirrel can jump from, and 10 to 12 feet from dense shrubs so goldfinches can reach cover without cats being able to ambush them.
When do goldfinches come to feeders?
Flocks in winter; bright yellow breeding plumage in spring and summer. Range: Most of the US for at least part of the year. Keep feeders stocked and clean through the season goldfinches are present in your area, since a feeder that is empty for several days is often abandoned for a neighbour's.
Do goldfinches use birdhouses?
No. A tight cup of plant down in a shrub fork, built late in summer when thistle seed is available. Grow native thistles, coneflower and sunflower and leave seed heads standing. Goldfinches never use boxes.