American Gold Finch: Attracting Backyard Birds

I've had several American Gold Finch visit my feeder this winter.  I watched them eat sunflower seeds from my garden last summer and became fascinated by their beauty.  The males sport feathers that are a beautiful shade of yellow and black.  They are unmistakable. They have a unique flying pattern, which consists of an up and down motion.  I was amazed that their bright yellow feathers dull during the winter.  I have learned that they "color up" in the spring and summer months, but lose their bright plumage in the fall and winter.  


American Gold Finch are small birds that love sunflower and thistle seeds.  My feeder contains black oil sunflower seed, so I see them regularly.  This little fellow just grabbed a sunflower seed. I plan to plant wild flowers in my garden this year in hopes that they will be attracted.  My sunflowers attracted them last season, so they will definitely have a place in the backyard.  They cleaned off every sunflower in my backyard.     

I can't wait until breeding season when the males molt and regain their beautiful yellow and black plumage.  If you want to attract these beauties to your backyard here are a few tips:

• Place a feeder in a location where you can watch the birds feed.  Finches will eat from platform, hanging or tube feeders.
• Fill it with black oil sunflower seeds or plant sunflowers in your yard.
• Hang a thistle sock, they love thistle.
• Fill a bird batch with shallow water.

I purchased a new camera with a zoom lens, so I'm hoping to get some great shots of them in my garden. Stay tuned for my spring and summer photos of the American Gold Finch.  Bird watching is a great activity to do with kids and get them involved in nature.