How to Attract Finches to Your Yard: Planting Flowers and Choosing the Right Feeders

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How to Attract Finches to Your Yard: Planting Flowers and Choosing the Right Feeders

Finches bring vibrant color and cheerful song to any backyard. Luckily, attracting these delightful birds is relatively easy, combining the right landscaping with appropriate feeders and seed. This guide will walk you through the key steps to transform your yard into a finch magnet.

Why Attract Finches?

Beyond their beauty, finches play a role in controlling weed seeds and insects. Attracting them creates a more balanced and enjoyable backyard ecosystem. Plus, watching their antics at feeders is simply relaxing.

What Kind of Finches Can You Attract?

Knowing which finches are common in your area will help you tailor your efforts. Common North American finches include:

• American Goldfinch: Bright yellow males are unmistakable during breeding season. They love nyjer (thistle) seed and are often seen clinging to specialized feeders.
• House Finch: These adaptable birds are found across the continent. Males have reddish heads and breasts. They readily eat black-oil sunflower seed.
• Purple Finch: Similar to House Finches, but with a more raspberry-red coloration. They also enjoy black-oil sunflower seed.
• House Sparrow: While technically not a true finch, they are frequently found at feeders and compete with other finches.
• Pine Siskin: Small, streaky brown finches that often travel in flocks. They are attracted to nyjer seed.

Planting Flowers That Attract Finches

Finches are attracted to flowers that provide seeds. Planting a variety ensures a continuous food source throughout the seasons.

Best Flowers for Finch-Friendly Gardens

Here are some top choices:

• Coneflowers (Echinacea): These hardy perennials produce abundant seeds that finches love to pick from the dried flower heads. Leave the seed heads standing through the winter to provide a natural food source.
• Sunflowers (Helianthus): Plant giant sunflowers for a dramatic display and a massive seed crop. Once the heads dry, finches will flock to them.
• Zinnias: These annuals come in a wide array of colors and produce small seeds that finches enjoy.
• Cosmos: Similar to zinnias, cosmos provide a long bloom season and attract finches with their seeds.
• Asters: Late-blooming asters provide a valuable food source for finches as other flowers fade.
• Thistle (Cirsium): While often considered a weed, native thistle species are a favorite food source for goldfinches. Ensure you choose a non-invasive variety.
• Grasses: Ornamental grasses like switchgrass, little bluestem, and Indiangrass produce seeds that finches readily consume.

Create a Succession of Blooms

Planting a mix of early, mid-, and late-blooming flowers ensures a continuous supply of seeds for finches throughout the growing season. For example, plant zinnias for summer blooms, followed by asters for fall seed production.

Let Plants Go to Seed

Resist the urge to deadhead all your flowers. Allowing some plants to go to seed provides a natural food source for finches and other birds. The dried seed heads also add visual interest to your winter garden.

Choosing the Right Feeders

While flowers provide a natural food source, feeders offer a supplemental and reliable way to attract finches.

Nyjer Seed Feeders

Nyjer (thistle) seed is a favorite of American Goldfinches and Pine Siskins. These tiny seeds require specialized feeders with small feeding ports.

• Mesh Sock Feeders: These inexpensive feeders are easy to fill and clean, but they can be susceptible to damage from squirrels.
• Tube Feeders with Small Ports: Look for tube feeders with metal or plastic ports designed specifically for nyjer seed. These are more durable and squirrel-resistant than mesh socks.

Black-Oil Sunflower Seed Feeders

House Finches and Purple Finches are particularly fond of black-oil sunflower seed.

• Tube Feeders: Tube feeders with larger ports can accommodate sunflower seed.
• Hopper Feeders: Hopper feeders provide a larger seed capacity and are suitable for attracting a variety of birds, including finches.
• Platform Feeders: These open feeders offer easy access for birds and allow you to offer a variety of seeds. However, they are more susceptible to seed waste and squirrel raids.

Avoid Seed Mixes with Fillers

Many inexpensive seed mixes contain fillers like red millet, wheat, and cracked corn, which finches rarely eat. These fillers can attract unwanted birds like House Sparrows and contribute to seed waste. Opt for high-quality seed mixes or buy individual seed types to create your own blend. Black-Oil Sunflower Seed vs Safflower Seed — Which Attracts Better Birds?

Other Tips for Attracting Finches

Beyond flowers and feeders, consider these additional strategies:

Provide a Water Source

Finches need a reliable source of fresh water for drinking and bathing. A birdbath, small pond, or even a shallow dish filled with water will attract finches to your yard. Make sure to clean the water source regularly to prevent the spread of disease. Do Birdbaths Actually Attract More Birds? (And Which Type Works Best)

Offer Nesting Material

Finches use soft materials like cottonwood fluff, milkweed down, and animal hair to build their nests. Providing these materials in a mesh bag or suet feeder can encourage finches to nest in your yard.

Control Pesticide Use

Pesticides can harm birds directly and reduce the availability of insects that they feed on. Opt for natural pest control methods whenever possible.

Protect Birds from Window Collisions

Window collisions are a significant threat to birds. Reduce the risk by applying decals, screens, or netting to your windows.

Keep Feeders Clean

Regularly clean your bird feeders to prevent the spread of disease. Wash feeders with soap and water at least once a month, and more frequently during warm, wet weather. How to Keep Mold Out of Your Bird Feeder Without Harsh Chemicals

Be Patient

Attracting finches takes time. It may take several weeks or even months for birds to discover your yard and establish a regular feeding pattern. Be patient and persistent, and you will eventually be rewarded with the sight of these beautiful birds flitting about your yard.

By following these tips, you can create a welcoming habitat that will attract finches to your yard and provide you with hours of enjoyment. Consider adding a pair of Best Binoculars for Birding Under $200 — The Short List That Actually Holds to get a better view!