Goldfinches are ‘seed-eating specialists’ which means they can eat foods that other birds can’t reach, including one seed that is their ‘favoured food’This article contains affiliate links, we will receive a commission on any sales we generate from it. Learn more
Goldfinches are instantly recognisable with their striking colours(Image: Moment RF/Getty Images)
One of the best things about having a garden is getting to share it with all the wildlife that comes to visit – and there are some easy ways to encourage particular visitors. If you have bird feeders in your garden, mixing up what you put in them could see some different feathered friends become regulars.
There are dozens of different species that you might see enjoying your bird feeders, from robins and sparrows to blue tits, blackbirds and dunnocks. One of the most beautiful is undoubtedly the goldfinch, which is instantly recognisable thanks to its bright red face and striking yellow patch on its wing.
Their small beak means that the goldfinch can eat foods that other birds can’t reach, with the Woodland Trust describing them as “seed-eating specialists”. This ability makes them particularly partial to nyjer seeds, tiny black seeds closely related to sunflower seeds that are full of health benefits for garden birds.
The Royal Horticultural Society (RHS) also singles out nyjer seeds as a “favoured food of goldfinches”, while Garden Wildlife Direct also recommends: “Birds love nyjer seed, it’s a firm favourite amongst many varieties of garden bird. If you aren’t already feeding it to your garden birds, we recommend giving it a try.”
The small size of nyjer seeds means that you may need a specialist feeder in order to add them to your garden, with an RSPB Nyjer Seed Feeder available on Amazon for £14.95 and a 5.5kg pack of RSPB Nyjer Seeds also on sale via the charity’s Amazon store for £24.20. Nyjer feeders and seeds are also widely available on the high street including from the likes of Pets At Home, B&Q, and Dobbies Garden Centres.
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Other types of bird food recommended by the Woodland Trust include suet balls, which are a favourite of robins and blue tits and are described as “perfect for during the winter” with the extra calories they provide. Meanwhile, sunflower hearts are rich in protein, peanuts are full of protein and fat, and mealworms are another top choice popular with blackbirds and starlings.
If you are putting out bird feeders, the RHS reminds gardeners that it’s important to keep them clean in order to help limit the spread of infections and diseases. The experts advise refilling feeders little and often and, if possible, changing their position in the garden to avoid fouling the ground underneath.
Alternatively, if you want to attract goldfinches to your garden with plants instead, there are a couple of varieties that these birds are especially fond of. Their fine beaks mean that they are adept at extracting seeds from the likes of thistle and teasle, so these are two top choices to add to your borders.
The Wildlife Trust writes: “The seeds of the teasel are very important for birds, such as the goldfinch, which can often be seen alighting on the old, brown flower heads in autumn to ‘tease’ the seeds from them.”
Teasel is also recommended by Garden Wildlife Health, who advises that providing natural sources of food is the most beneficial way to help garden birds. As well as mentioning teasle to attract goldfinches, the experts suggest planting native hawthorn shrubs so birds can feed off their berries.
Garden Wildlife Health adds: “Turning an area of your lawn into a wildflower meadow will help attract higher numbers of invertebrates, which will in turn attract insectivorous birds like robins and dunnocks.”