Lesser Goldfinches

Attract Goldfinches to Your Backyard

Lesser Goldfinches live in the western United States. Though goldfinches carry the reputation of being finicky eaters, you’ll have no problem finding a suitable offering that will please their palate. Goldfinches love to eat fresh Nyjer® (thistle) and sunflower seeds.

They are also easily attracted to fresh water sources. Due to their almost exclusive diet of seeds, the Lesser Goldfinch drinks frequently and will stay close to reliable sources of water, like a bird bath.

Unlike many birds, goldfinches molt their feathers twice a year. They do a partial molt of their feathers in the spring and a complete molt of their feathers in the fall. Unlike their cousin the American Goldfinch that sport vibrant, yellow coats in the spring and duller colors in the fall, the Lesser Goldfinches stay the same coloration year-round.

Like their cousin the American Goldfinch, Lesser Goldfinches will delay breeding until the greatest number of thistle, dandelion and other composite flowers are seeding. This assures a good food source for their nestlings. Additionally, the west coast populations will nest spring into early-summer while the more interior populations usually nest mid- to late-summer.

Here are a few items to remember when attracting finches:

  • Keep food fresh and dry inside the feeder. Shake the feeder periodically to make sure that the food is dry, and use a Weather Guard to help protect your food from the elements. Make sure the food does not stay in the feeder uneaten for more than three to four weeks.
  • Nyjer has a lot of protein and fat that is needed for growing their feathers. Be prepared for increased activity at your feeders in the spring and fall, when goldfinches are molting.
  • Once they've fledged, young goldfinches still depend on their parents for food. Watch for these juveniles at your feeders as they beg for food from their parents.
  • Use a bird bath and keep the water clean and fresh.

Visit the store or call us if you have any additional questions about attracting goldfinches to your yard.