How to Select Flowers for Goldfinches

Attracting birds to your flower garden is easy to do as long as you tempt them with the right kinds of flowers and plants. Goldfinches are no exception and to have these lovely yellow birds flitting around your yard, plant some of their favorite food sources, such as sunflowers and thistle, as a delectable attraction. By providing a variety of seed bearing flowers, you'll be creating a smorgasbord of tempting choices.

Things You'll Need

• Sunflowers
• Thistle plants
• Mulberry
• Serviceberry tree
• Flower seeds
• Bird feeder
• Bird bath

Instructions

1. Inhabiting several regions throughout the year, there are three species of goldfinch: American, Lesser and Lawrence, found in the United States. The American goldfinch spends several months in the northern states during mating season, which lasts from June to late August or early September. During the colder months, the American goldfinch moves to the warmer southern regions of the United States. Both the Lawrence and the Lesser goldfinches reside primarily in areas of the southwest. Goldfinches tend to mate later in the season than most other species due to the type of food sources they prefer and that are available during this time of year.

2. Goldfinches feed on flower seeds as well as weed seeds with one of their favorite foods being thistle (Niger) seeds, which are available during the months the goldfinches are mating. They also use thistle as nesting material.You'll find goldfinches in fields with lots of weeds that supply tasty seeds, in wooded areas and in grassy areas along roadsides and fences where the birds find patches of weedy food sources.

3. Attracting goldfinches to your garden requires planting the types of seed bearing flowers they find most attractive. One of the most popular varieties is sunflowers. These brilliant flowers are fast growing and can grow to 12 feet in height. Not only can they provide a beautiful natural privacy fence, but the heads are chocked full of delectable seeds. The black-oil sunflower has the capability of producing dozens of seed-filled flower heads providing plenty of food for birds and squirrels. The Mexican sunflower also produces seeds birds find attractive and is a smaller version of the black-oil variety.

4. Planting additional varieties of seed bearing flowers in flower beds throughout your garden will attract goldfinches along with other species such as cardinals and woodpeckers. Suggested flowers for planting include purple coneflowers, zinnias, cosmos, asters, goldenrod and coreopsis. Mulberry and serviceberry trees are also excellent food sources for goldfinches as they both produce berries the birds are attracted to. They also eat seeds provided by birch, alder and elm trees. Supplying additional flower seeds by using a bird feeder will also keep the birds coming back for more. Additionally, if dandelions sprout in your garden, leave them for the birds.

5. Provide plenty of water in your garden for goldfinches. The water not only provides the birds with fresh drinking water, it also provides a refreshing place for a bird bath and goldfinches love to bathe. Adding a mister will make their time in the bird bath even more enjoyable and will keep them coming back to your bountiful garden.

Tips & Warnings

• Harvest seeds from flowers and thistle plants and place in containers with a good soil/compost mixture until they sprout. Then transplant to your garden ensuring new plants and a continual bird food supply.