Hobbies And Interests
Feeding Finches
Three kinds of finches are most commonly found at feeders, and they are attracted by the same feeds. American Goldfinches (sometimes called yellow finches) sport brilliant yellow plumage mixed with black, are found virtually throughout the United States and are the state bird of New Jersey, Washington and Iowa. House Finches, which look a bit like sparrows with a dollop of red on top, were introduced from Europe and are also found more or less nationwide. The Purple Finch--a pale raspberry-colored bird-- may visit your feeder if you are east of the Mississippi River or on the West coast; it is seen mostly during winter.
What you put in your feeder, the type of feeder and where you place it will determine your luck in attracting finches. Finches prefer black oil sunflower seeds and nyjer seeds, also known as thistle seeds. The nyjer is imported from Ethiopia to the United States and is cooked so that it will not germinate. Black oil sunflower seeds are thin-shelled, which is good for the finches and other small birds. Striped sunflower seeds have a harder shell that is more difficult for the small birds to open; so avoid them to attract finches. Sunflower seeds are very good for birds in winter because they contain a great deal of fat. The down side to sunflower seeds is that they result in a lot of shells left near the feeder. This may not be a problem if you have a yard, but it means some cleanup if placed over a sidewalk, for example. Feed mixtures often contain grains that many birds do not like and that simply rot on the ground. So they are not the best option. Do not use pre-shelled seeds because they maintain their nutrients for only a couple of days.
Other animals like sunflower seeds as well. Squirrels are a common bird feeder problem unless some kind of deterrent, such as screening, is placed around the feeder, and even then many "squirrel-proof" feeders do not prove resistant to the determined acrobatics of these little critters. Nyjer can be purchased in refillable mesh socks that provide less stability for small animals wanting to get at the finch food, and the finches eat the nyjer readily. If the feeder is constantly surrounded by squirrels or larger, aggressive birds, the finches will steer clear.