Finches are known for their cheerful, warbling songs and twittering calls. Their song is a lively, melodic series of trills and warbles, often heard during the spring and summer months. These sounds are a joy to hear in any garden or backyard.
Goldfinches are small, vibrant birds known for their striking yellow plumage. Male Goldfinches are especially bright during the breeding season, with a vivid yellow body, black wings with white markings, and a black cap. Females are more subdued, with olive-yellow coloring. Both sexes have a short, conical beak perfect for eating seeds.
Goldfinches are known for their cheerful, melodic songs, consisting of a series of sweet, twinkling notes and their distinctive "per-chick-o-ree" call. They are often heard singing as they fly, adding a lively soundtrack to gardens and meadows.
To attract a variety of finches, offer their preferred foods, such as sunflower hearts, nyjer (thistle) seeds and fine sunflower hearts. Goldfinches are fond of tube feeders with small perches and mesh feeders specifically designed for fine sunflower hearts and nyjer seed. These feeders allow them to feed comfortably while clinging to the feeder. House finches and goldfinches will also happily feed at a hopper and platform feeders offering sunflower hearts.
Finches do not typically use birdhouses but prefer to nest in shrubs, trees, or dense foliage. You can encourage nesting by planting native plants that provide natural shelter and food sources, such as coneflowers, asters, and thistles. Additionally, leaving some areas of your yard a bit wild with tall grasses and seed-bearing plants can make it more appealing for finches to settle and raise their young.
