Hungry Goldfinches on a Snowy Day
We’ve had lots of Goldfinches this winter, more than in recent years. They’re all over our two nyjer seed feeders.
They are wearing their dull winter plumage, but they’re still pretty cute. I love to watch them when they turn bright yellow in spring.
Monday was a holiday, but Judy had to leave for a business trip. It was an overcast, snowy day. I consoled myself by sitting on the back porch, watching the Goldfinches. They are busy little birds.
Sometimes tempers flared around the feeder. I wanted to tell them there was plenty of nyjer for everyone.
I could get a closer look when they visited the heated birdbath (aka the Bird Jacuzzi).
He looks rather perky considering the temperature.
Are you seeing Goldfinches around your winter garden?
gardeninacity 
Those are those nasty little birdies that came into my dining room to eat a bouquet of sunflowers, and leave their feathers and poop everywhere!
On behalf of Goldfinches everywhere, I apologize.
Thank you. I am over it. It is funny now. Besides, they had a good time while it lasted. At least they did not invite any seagulls over! I will write about it eventually.
We do see Gold finches here, not so much in the garden but in the lane that leads to the house.
I don’t see goldfinches on a routine basis, but occasionally, and I love them. Two weeks ago we had snow that hung around for a few days, and I had quite a few of them then.
Snow and cold weather really drives them to the feeders.
We don’t have as many as you have at your feeder but we do have 3 regulars. They show up and fight with the house sparrows for their goodies.
The house sparrows are thugs. They intimidate most birds, though not the woodpeckers or bluejays.
I have seen very few birds this winter. Then again, I rely on dead flowers and berries for food. The squirrels seem to be enjoying the viburnum berries.
I leave seed heads up over the winter also. That’s really more important than bird feeders.
There are many different birds here, though not goldfinches as much. You had plenty of company on Monday!
We usually see more Cardinals. There are others around – chickadees, juncos, nuthatches, etc.
I haven’t noticed many goldfinches this winter, but then I have trouble distinguishing them from all the other brown birds when they aren’t wearing their bright yellow summer plumage. I’m seeing many other birds, though, including quite a few bluejays.
We have a pair of Bluejays who visit now and then, mostly to steal peanuts in the shell.
Lots of goldfinches at our house. I, too, love seeing the males gradually turn to bright yellow. They are rather fractious birds, but their chittering always makes me smile. And no one ever seems to get hurt, which leads me to believe they are mostly chitter and not much peck. 😉
Yes, the Goldfinches trash talk each other and strike menacing poses, but they don’t commit real violence. The House Sparrows are another story – a bunch of thugs.
😉
Congrats on two counts: you got the holiday, and time to watch your goldfinches. I love to hear their whiny, questioning little calls when they start showing up in the yard. Things have been going gangbusters with fresh niger and new socks.
To me they sound a little plaintive.
Then there’s the Latin name, spinus tristus. Sounds sad.
We’ve had lots of birds visiting our feeder this winter, but just a few goldfinches so far. I love watching them eat seeds in the front garden in fall!
Yes, especially the Agastache and Coneflowers.
We see goldfinches here (love those sweet little birds) but not as many since I took down all the feeders a few years ago because of rodents. American Goldfinch is the state bird of Washington.
I love watching them too – we get an abundance of both goldfinches and dark-eyed juncos at the feeders during the winter. Question – how do you keep the water in your birdbath unfrozen? I would love to get a solar heater of some kind but they are rather pricey.
I’ve seen a few recently and I usually don’t see them until later in the winter.
I haven’t seen any but the seeds are disapearing so I know they’re here.
I haven’t set up a birdfeeder or heated birdbath yet at the new house and need to find a good spot. I miss them bird watching out the window. I’m back to blogging!
Come to think of it I’ve seen next to no goldfinches. Plenty of purple finches and sparrows but the goldfinches are awol, I don’t think I’ve seen a single one since last autumn on the sunflowers.
Yes! It’s been extremely cold in my neck of the woods this year, and I have seen MANY goldfinches (as well finches, chickadees, cardinals, titmouses (titmice?), nuthatches, flickers, sparrows, and even woodpeckers) on and around my oversized black oil sunflower seed feeder. It’s like an assembly line out there from dawn to dusk, each bird taking a turn.
Wow, you do have a lot of goldfinches! I haven’t seen many, but we’ve had some birds of prey around this winter. The chickadees and the juncos are plentiful, but they are excellent fliers and can escape the owls’ and hawks’ clutches more easily, I’m thinking. I have seen a few house finches and goldfinches, though, as well as woodpeckers, cardinals, and nuthatches. They’re all great entertainment. 🙂
Goldfinches have always been one of my favorite birds. I was quite the bird enthusiast when I was a little girl and a goldfinch was the first to visit my new feeder!
I have honestly never thought about feeding goldfinches in the winter. I falsely assumed they migrated south?! I have had house finches hanging around this year. I’ve been keeping the sunflower seeds available for the feathered friends that hang about my house. A heated bird feeder looks like a good investment!
Hello Jason, those are lovely birds and some very good close-ups. I’m terrible at recognising birds but I don’t think we have goldfinches – not that I’ve seen. We do have robins though, one or two are guaranteed to show up if I’m outside as they’re waiting to grab the worms and insects I inevitably expose when I’m gardening. They will come close and start singing (loudly) a few feet away, darting in to grab the odd grub before darting back again, they make wonderful gardening companions at this time of year!
They’re adorable. Haven’t noticed any lately but now I’m curious and will be on the lookout.
Would be kind of surprised if they weren’t in NC.
We have many tits and sparrows at our seed feeder.
I’m only a few hours south of you, in St. Louis, but I am 99% sure that I only see goldfinches in the late spring. I love hearing the first squeaky song from them. Our backyard is a hot mess right now, with a new garage being put in, so I’ll wait to put out more nyjer seed for them. On the other hand, it is not unusual to see a bald eagle at this time of year.
Yes those tiny black seeds pull in a veritable crowd of goldfinches in my garden
I used to hang a niger seed feeder when we lived in Pennsylvania. The goldfinches and pine siskins would come in droves and I loved to watch them.
I see them all of the time here in NC too. They love the seeds in the garden. They really do sound like little canaries when they sing!
What a treat for you! I did enjoy these pictures, such wonderful little birds. We have lots here too, for some strange reason we had a run of chicks last year in the rescue.xxx
We have many robins about the farm as of this time. The finches came through earlier.