Does american gold finches eat sunflower seeds? I have several
gold finches at my feeders and they are ignoring my thistle feed
and eating at my other feeder which mostly has sunflower seeds.
It doesn't matter what they eat I am just glad they are here.
I'm now getting ready for my martins!!!!!!!
Dallas
gold finch
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James Strickland FL
- Posts: 2249
- Joined: Thu Nov 13, 2003 8:04 pm
- Location: Reidsville NC
- Martin Colony History: 2017 Had a lot visitors no Matins nesting, hoping 2018 will be different.
2018 Had 1 pair
2019 had 30 pair
I know that they love thistle.
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Emil Pampell-Tx
- Posts: 6743
- Joined: Tue Nov 11, 2003 1:26 pm
- Location: Tx, Richmond (SW of Houston)
- Martin Colony History: First started in Gretna, La in 1969 with a small homemade house, have had martins ever since at 2 different homes in Texas
While thistle or nyjer is their favorite, goldfinches also enjoy black oil sunflower seeds, millet, canary seeds and nutmeats
PMCA Member, 250 gourds, 6 poles, 2traps
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MingjoMartins
- Posts: 312
- Joined: Tue Dec 09, 2008 3:28 pm
- Location: Pataskala, OH
I never thought that they ate oiler sunflower seeds, but this year I was a little lacks at filling my thistle feeder and they easily switched to the main feeder until I got my act together.
Interestingly, although they ate the sunflower, preference was always thistle and as soon as feeder was filled they switched back over almost immediately.
John
Interestingly, although they ate the sunflower, preference was always thistle and as soon as feeder was filled they switched back over almost immediately.
John
2013 - 37 pair-179 eggs,142 hatched,139 fledged
2012 - 32 pair-163 eggs,141 hatched,134 fledged
2011 - 19 pairs - 78 fledged successfully!
2010 3 pairs - 9 eggs - 8 fledged!
2009 - 1 Sub Adult Male (only) - LOTS visitors
2008 - 58 Visitors by year end
2007 - 13 Visitors by year end
2012 - 32 pair-163 eggs,141 hatched,134 fledged
2011 - 19 pairs - 78 fledged successfully!
2010 3 pairs - 9 eggs - 8 fledged!
2009 - 1 Sub Adult Male (only) - LOTS visitors
2008 - 58 Visitors by year end
2007 - 13 Visitors by year end
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Dave Reynolds
- Posts: 2441
- Joined: Mon Jan 31, 2011 4:35 pm
- Location: Little Hocking, Oh.
- Martin Colony History: Satellite Site “Oxbow Golf Course”..
2018 - 15 Pair, 36 Fledged
2019 - 26 Pair, 97 Fledged
2020 - 30 Pair, 137 Fledged
2021 - 30 Pair, 144 Fledged
2022 - 27 Pair, 125 Fledged
2023 - 31 Pair, 130 Fledged
2024 - 41 Pair, 198 Fledged
2025 - 44 Pair, 168 Fledged
Home Site "Little Hocking, Ohio".
2019 - 1 Pair, 5 Fledged
2020 - 1 Pair, 4 Fledged
2021 - 8 Pair, 36 Fledged
2022 - 13 Pair, 46 Fledged
2023 - 16 Pair, 84 Fledged
2024 - 22 Pair, 104 Fledged
2025 - 28 Pair, 83 Fledged
MingjoMartins
Your right as for over here. If the thistle seed feeder runs empty, then I have seen them go to the sunflowers seed on the other feeders.
But as soon as I fill the Thistle seed feeder they are on it again..
Dave -- in Little Hocking, Ohio
Your right as for over here. If the thistle seed feeder runs empty, then I have seen them go to the sunflowers seed on the other feeders.
But as soon as I fill the Thistle seed feeder they are on it again..
Dave -- in Little Hocking, Ohio
PMCA Member
Little Hocking, Ohio
Little Hocking, Ohio
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Wendell Hansen-IA
- Posts: 83
- Joined: Mon Apr 11, 2005 12:06 am
- Location: Iowa / Spirit Lake
Up here in northwest Iowa were we have a lot of snow and cold temps I have found that the finch will switch from nyjer. also known as thistle to sunflower chips, black oil sunflower has a higher fat and sugar content. I have a mix I call 50-50 it is a mix of 50% nyjer and 50% black oil sunflower hearts fine chips.
The higher fat and sugar content is what the goldfinch needs to make it through are cold winters.
The higher fat and sugar content is what the goldfinch needs to make it through are cold winters.
PM Fanatic and proud Landlord. My goal is 100 pairs and 100 landlords.
I have probably over 100 goldfinches show up each year. I have many tube feeders and lots of sock feeders. They love thistle and black oil. I did want to mention that they will not eat old thistle. If you have some left over from the year before and freeze it, that should be ok. I'm mentioning this because when you buy from some of the stores, they just put the seed out to sell from the prior year. Most of the time, there is an expiration date. I bought and put out old seed one year and they would not eat it. I figured out about the expiration date, got new seed and they were back eating it. They are such beautiful birds!
Elizabeth Witte