Fun Facts About Goldfinches
• Goldfinches are found across North America. They include the American and Lesser Goldfinches.
• Goldfinches are sometimes referred to as wild canaries. They are actually in the finch family as their name suggests.
• They have an interesting flight call with four syllables that can be likened to “potato-chip”.
• They are common feeder visitors that prefer thistle (nyjer) and sunflowers. They are rather acrobatic often dipping upside down feeding on weed seeds like coneflowers and sunflowers.
• Goldfinches usually lay 5 pale-blue or greenish-blue eggs that will hatch in about 12 days. Babies will fledge about 12 days after that. An interesting side note is that the next cleaning is ceased about a week after the babies hatch.
• Goldfinches prefer to nest in habitats with trees and shrubs usually placing the next 4-10 feet high, often near a water source. They will sometimes next in a loose colony.
• The oldest banded American Goldfinch recaptured in the wild had lived 11 years and 7 months.
• The oldest banded Lesser Goldfinch recaptured in the wild had lived 5 years and 8 months.
• The genus name, Caruelis, is from the Latin word carduus, which means “thistle”. Goldfinches are very dependent on thistles for food and even use thistledown to line their nests.
• The Goldfinch is one of the latest breeding songbirds, waiting until mid-to-late summer when thistle seeds and down are readily available. They usually have only one brood.
• The Goldfinch is the state bird of New Jersey, Iowa, and Washington.
• They weave their net so tightly that it will temporarily hold water.
• Goldfinches will hang upside down to eat, but experiments with specially designed feeders have shown that they prefer to dine upright if possible.
• Goldfinches are known to prefer feeders hung above head height in trees, but if there is not choice available, they will accept just about any feeder design, at any height.
• Getting through the winter involves Goldfinches keeping warm at night. Occasionally, they will sleep in cavities under the snow. Goldfinches don winter clothes: the dull-green coat of feathers grown each fall has an especially dense layer of soft, plumaceous feathers to provide extra insulation.
HOW DO WE ATTRACT MORE FINCHES?
Feeding Finches
Goldfinches move around a lot. It is reported that 25 to 100 different Goldfinches can visit a feeder in one day.
In most areas throughout North America, they increase their feeding activities at feeders during the spring and will feed all summer long. The southern states are their typical wintering ground, and they fly farther north to spend the spring and summer.
Because Goldfinches are known to be picky eaters, there are several important things to remember:
• Keep seed fresh and dry inside the tube. Shake the tube periodically to make sure that the seed inside the tube feeder is dry. Make sure the seed does not stay in the feeder uneaten for more than a month (two-four weeks in wet climates). Transfer the seed (as long as it is not moldy) into another feeder if it goes uneaten in your tube feeder.
• Place your tube feeder away from the feeders where larger birds are feeding. This allows the smaller birds access to the finch feeder without being harassed by larger birds.
• It is not recommended to put a tray on the finch feeder, unless placing it over a porch, deck or flower area. A tray allows larger birds easier access to the feeder and can intimidate the smaller birds.
• New feeders sometimes take a while to attract Goldfinches. It may take birds a while to get used to a new feeder, even if you have previously fed the birds.
• Use a separate perch if you notice that birds are waiting to get on the feeder. It is fun to watch them “line up” to wait their turn at the feeder.
• Because Goldfinches move around often, there may be quiet times at the finch feeders. Be patient.
Watch for Goldfinches on your flowers and plants that are seeding later in the year. Goldfinches are known for hanging upside down to eat the seeds from plants and flowers. At these times you may notice less activity on your feeders, which is perfectly natural.
• Goldfinches are found across North America. They include the American and Lesser Goldfinches.
• Goldfinches are sometimes referred to as wild canaries. They are actually in the finch family as their name suggests.
• They have an interesting flight call with four syllables that can be likened to “potato-chip”.
• They are common feeder visitors that prefer thistle (nyjer) and sunflowers. They are rather acrobatic often dipping upside down feeding on weed seeds like coneflowers and sunflowers.
• Goldfinches usually lay 5 pale-blue or greenish-blue eggs that will hatch in about 12 days. Babies will fledge about 12 days after that. An interesting side note is that the next cleaning is ceased about a week after the babies hatch.
• Goldfinches prefer to nest in habitats with trees and shrubs usually placing the next 4-10 feet high, often near a water source. They will sometimes next in a loose colony.
• The oldest banded American Goldfinch recaptured in the wild had lived 11 years and 7 months.
• The oldest banded Lesser Goldfinch recaptured in the wild had lived 5 years and 8 months.
• The genus name, Caruelis, is from the Latin word carduus, which means “thistle”. Goldfinches are very dependent on thistles for food and even use thistledown to line their nests.
• The Goldfinch is one of the latest breeding songbirds, waiting until mid-to-late summer when thistle seeds and down are readily available. They usually have only one brood.
• The Goldfinch is the state bird of New Jersey, Iowa, and Washington.
• They weave their net so tightly that it will temporarily hold water.
• Goldfinches will hang upside down to eat, but experiments with specially designed feeders have shown that they prefer to dine upright if possible.
• Goldfinches are known to prefer feeders hung above head height in trees, but if there is not choice available, they will accept just about any feeder design, at any height.
• Getting through the winter involves Goldfinches keeping warm at night. Occasionally, they will sleep in cavities under the snow. Goldfinches don winter clothes: the dull-green coat of feathers grown each fall has an especially dense layer of soft, plumaceous feathers to provide extra insulation.
HOW DO WE ATTRACT MORE FINCHES?
Feeding Finches
Goldfinches move around a lot. It is reported that 25 to 100 different Goldfinches can visit a feeder in one day.
In most areas throughout North America, they increase their feeding activities at feeders during the spring and will feed all summer long. The southern states are their typical wintering ground, and they fly farther north to spend the spring and summer.
Because Goldfinches are known to be picky eaters, there are several important things to remember:
• Keep seed fresh and dry inside the tube. Shake the tube periodically to make sure that the seed inside the tube feeder is dry. Make sure the seed does not stay in the feeder uneaten for more than a month (two-four weeks in wet climates). Transfer the seed (as long as it is not moldy) into another feeder if it goes uneaten in your tube feeder.
• Place your tube feeder away from the feeders where larger birds are feeding. This allows the smaller birds access to the finch feeder without being harassed by larger birds.
• It is not recommended to put a tray on the finch feeder, unless placing it over a porch, deck or flower area. A tray allows larger birds easier access to the feeder and can intimidate the smaller birds.
• New feeders sometimes take a while to attract Goldfinches. It may take birds a while to get used to a new feeder, even if you have previously fed the birds.
• Use a separate perch if you notice that birds are waiting to get on the feeder. It is fun to watch them “line up” to wait their turn at the feeder.
• Because Goldfinches move around often, there may be quiet times at the finch feeders. Be patient.
Watch for Goldfinches on your flowers and plants that are seeding later in the year. Goldfinches are known for hanging upside down to eat the seeds from plants and flowers. At these times you may notice less activity on your feeders, which is perfectly natural.
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