THE GOLD(FINCH) RUSH IS ON

American Goldfinch (winter)

Photo courtesy of Sharon Milligan

This article appeared in the Sun Herald in January 2005 – Although some information is outdated and has been marked with a * it may still apply to this week!

*Recently I've tried to estimate my wealth in American goldfinches and each day there are more and more. They are dominating every feeder in the yard, and although the feeders holding thistle seed are most popular, sunflowers, hulled sunflowers and even millet are getting a play. That is typical here in southern Mississippi.

These winter visitors respond to dropping temperatures and diminishing wild food supplies in the more northern counties by coming south. By the time that happens, the wild seed crop here has been lost to freezing or otherwise decimated, so the number of goldfinches at feeding stations is much greater.

That trend usually continues through February and into March. Hangers-on might even be seen in early June. Those who have been in the bird-feeding business for a long time soon become familiar with the goldfinch timetable. Proportionately, we see more of them in late winter. And it doesn't seem to matter if the winter is harsh or mild.

These are hardy little finches --- their winter range includes southeastern Canada and the New England states, to Mexico and southern Florida.

As long as food is available, they can ride out the weather in severely cold climates. Goldfinches eat the seeds of birch, alder, conifer and other trees.

They also eat the seeds of thistle, goldenrod, asters, dandelion, chicory, etc., and will eat the seeding heads of zinnias, coreopsis, cosmos, lettuce, and sunflowers. Count in insects and berries and it is difficult to imagine them going hungry.

But occasionally the food supply, or a major element of it, dwindles.

When there isn't enough food to go around, it tends to shift them further south. Judging from the peak numbers we are seeing, that is happening now. In my yard, they are dominating every feeder and though niger seed (an expensive import) is still their choice, they move between those feeders and others filled with black-oil sunflower seed and hulled sunflower. When there are not enough perches to hold them all, they resort to eating millet from the ground and a few go for suet.

Watching this frenzy, I've noticed niger seed placed in a mesh sock goes further than any other seed in any other feeder. In my yard, a sock full of niger will last 36 daylight hours; a tube feeder is good for about 24 hours.

Since niger (also called thistle seed) costs about twice as much as black-oil sunflower seed, it doesn't quite even out, but I will probably keep feeding it, if only for the pleasure a sock loaded with niger seed and clinging goldfinches provides. But if you are feeling the pinch, a switch to black-oil sunflower seed is unlikely to lead to a goldfinch boycott.

*As to the hoped-for invasion of other seed-eaters such as pine siskins and purple finches, that is happening on a small scale and certainly not at the majority of feeding stations. There is still time for a wholesale incursion (especially of siskins) to manifest itself.

Pine siskins have the same feeding-station seed preferences as goldfinches but they are more aggressive and a little less prone to skittishness. If they show up in numbers, it may mean putting out more feeders. My recollection of their first invasion of my yard was of them flying all about me as I was filling feeders. By standing still, I soon had them literally eating out of my hand.

Siskins are basically the same size and shape as goldfinches, but they are heavily streaked and they have a touch of yellow in the wings and at the base of the tail. Though there might be some superficial resemblance to female house finches, they are smaller. Anyone feeding quantities of goldfinches should be alert for siskins.

Isolating a purple finch might be a bit difficult, since both males and females bear close resemblance to the house finch, a common permanent resident and feeding-station regular. The male is easiest; it is raspberry colored, and the color is more extensive than on the house finch. Females are best identified by the broad light stripe behind the eye, a dark cheek, and a definitive dark jaw stripe. Purple finches prefer black-oil sunflower seed.

The eminently identifiable dark-eyed junco (a ground feeder) is another species that is present but uncooperative --- up to three of them are coming and going, but they certainly don't keep a schedule. Please pass on word of any of the above (excepting American goldfinches of course), or any red-breasted nuthatch, which is present but elusive.

If you would like to learn more about Judy, click on the blue title above which will take you to the blog where you can read previously posted articles.