How to Attract Golden Finches to Your Sack Feeder

The American Goldfinch, also known as a golden finch, is beloved for its brilliant color and beautiful song. It's quite simple to attract these friendly backyard songbirds to your sack feeder, and it's even easier if you invest in multiple feeders. Enjoy these lovely feathered friends all year round, watching as they exchange their bright summer coat for more subdued, grayish-yellow feathers in the fall.

Things You'll Need

  • Nyjer seed
  • Sack feeders
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Instructions

    • 1

      Give the finches plenty of room -- and their own feeders. Because the birds are social with one another, you might see as many as 10 on one sack feeder. But they don't like to compete with other species, so set out multiple feeders for the finches. Since the sacks are inexpensive, it's easy to fill and hang several if you have the room.

    • 2

      Fill your sack feeders with nyjer seed -- also spelled niger or nyger, and sometimes called nyjer thistle. Goldfinches love to munch on these small black seeds that look a bit like grains of wild rice. The seeds originated in India and Ethiopia and are now cultivated in the United States. Mix the nyjer with chopped sunflower kernals, if you wish.

    • 3

      Don't mow below or around your sack feeders. Instead, allow dandelions, marigolds and zinnias to grow there. Finches love these flowers.