
There’s nothing worse than a vacant goldfinch feeder. After all, they’re supposed to be a sure thing, right? Last year, when my family and I moved from Wisconsin to Missouri, one of the first things to go up in the new backyard, right outside the kitchen window, was a tube feeder filled with nyjer. I wanted those American goldfinches where I could see them. But weeks went by and the feeder was quiet. The nyjer remained untouched.
I knew a big part of the reason was the new habitat. Among yards with more lawn grass than native flowers and shrubs, the area wasn’t a natural fit for goldfinches, which prefer open, weedy fields with shrubby edges. It got me thinking: What if I could lure goldfinches with plants that would make them give my yard a chance?
The Goldfinch Appeal
These birds are like the gregarious neighbors at the block party, the ones everyone wants to talk to. The males’ bright yellow summer plumage, their cheery call and willingness to approach bird feeders—except mine—make them popular backyard guests. And they’re prevalent, too. Their range extends across the U.S. and southern Canada from east to west. In the 2014 Great Backyard Bird Count, the American goldfinch was the sixth-most reported bird.
The goldfinch diet consists almost entirely of seeds. So if you’re growing with goldfinches in mind, seed-producing plants are essential. Their penchant for thistle seeds is well known (more on that later), and they’ll seek out the seeds of plants in the massive Asteraceae (Compositae) family, including sunflower, black-eyed Susan, purple coneflower and aster. They also gravitate toward grasses and weedy plants. Some bird-watchers also swear that yellow flowers attract goldfinches. And while the ornithological jury is out on that assertion, adding goldenrod, yellow zinnias or blanket flowers to the mix can’t hurt, right? (Read more: How to Attract More Goldfinches to Your Backyard)

Marie Read Sunflowers are one of the best options to attract goldfinches.
How to Attract Goldfinches: Grow the Right Stuff
To identify a few other plant options, I talked with people who spend a lot of time watching birds—wildlife photographers. In her upstate New York yard, photographer Marie Read tends a native plant garden that’s just for the birds. There she plants towering cutleaf coneflowers (Rudbeckia laciniata) for goldfinches, and also sees the birds on her Joe Pye weed and cup plant (Silphium perfoliatum).
And of course, there’s that thistle. “Thistle is their No. 1 choice—that’s guaranteed,” says another photographer, Dave Maslowski. He and brother Steve have spent five decades shooting wildlife photos, mostly of birds. Not only are thistle seeds attractive to goldfinches, the birds famously use down from mature plants to line their nests. It’s one reason the American goldfinch nests so late in the season, usually between late June and early August. The problem with thistle is that many types are invasive. When planting, look for natives like field thistle (Cirsium discolor), Flogman’s thistle (C. flodmanii) and wavyleaf thistle (C. undulatum), while also checking to assure the variety isn’t a nuisance in your area. (The U.S. Department of Agriculture’s invasive and noxious plant listing at plants.usda.gov is a good resource.)
Thistle isn’t the only material female goldfinches use to line their nests. Milkweed, cattails and dandelion are other options, as are willow catkins and cottonwood fluff. But the birds will use whatever is available, says Robyn Bailey, project director of the Cornell Lab of Ornithology’s NestWatch. (Learn how you can get involved in the project at nestwatch.org.) It’s part of what makes the birds so fascinating: They are incredibly adaptable to their environment.
One plant to eliminate from a goldfinch habitat is burdock. While feeding on the seeds, goldfinches can become entangled in the multiple burrs of this plant and die.
Plant Nesting Sites

Marie Read Goldfinch nest
Given the goldfinch’s habitat, it should come as no surprise that shrubby is a fair description of their nesting sites. Although goldfinches will nest in taller trees, more typical placement is in a shaded location on a low, dense shrub or tree 3 to 10 feet from the ground, Robyn says. And the birds aren’t specialists. “They’ll use whatever is dominant in their habitats,” Robyn says. “In more swampy areas with tamarack, they’ll use tamarack. In an old field with hawthorn, they’ll use hawthorn.”
More important are the characteristics of the shrubs and trees. “Their nest is very much a cup shape, so if they can get access to a more supported structure they’ll use that,” Robyn says. Goldfinches often build nests in a vertical fork, where three or more branches meet to form the perfect spot for that cup shape. Plants like dogwood, elderberry, buttonbush and hawthorn are common, as are Monterey pine, willow and fruit trees. They’ll even nest in thistle plants that have the right structure, Robyn adds.
For cover before or after nesting season, goldfinches seek out many of those same types of plants, as well as low, dense evergreens, especially in winter.
As a wildlife photographer, Marie has an appreciation for birds that put on a bit of a show, and the American goldfinch fits that description. “They’re very acrobatic,” Marie says. “They won’t just perch on a flower. Goldfinches cling. They will feed upside down.”
Having added the proper plants that attract birds to my backyard, I’m looking forward to seeing some acrobatic shows again. In a fitting conclusion to my lonely-feeder saga, as I was working on this article, I looked out my kitchen window to see a group of goldfinches at the feeder. They were juveniles, or so I assumed from their dull coloring and slightly frenetic behavior. They fluttered around awkwardly, taking turns at the half-empty feeder. I smiled. Now the place felt like home.
Bridget says
This year a mass of Devil’s Beggars Ticks invaded my backyard and the goldfinches went crazy for it. I counted fourteen finches entangled in it at one point – and they were just the ones I could see. They chose it over the nyjer and sunflower seeds in nearby feeders!
Sheryl DeVore says
Goldfinches in the Midwest are particularly fond of native silphiums, black-eyed Susans and purple coneflowers. To give them natural food in fall and winter, leave your native prairie plants standing instead of cutting them back — then watch the goldfinches gorge on the seeds. Sheryl DeVore, Contributing Editor, Birds and Blooms
Debbie Adams says
My favorite for goldfinches is sunflowers. I initially planted many varieties- the finches sit on the flowers, eat the seeds and the sunflowers self sow for next year.
Sharon says
This is an excellent article & has given me a reason to try luring the finches back to my yard !! When we first moved here, I had so many & now, none!! I don’t know what happened!! We live in a beautiful wooded area with open fields surrounding . But one spring, they simply did not return ;-(. Hopefully some if these ideas will help!! Thanks!!!
Nancy says
I laugh when I read that goldfinches only eat seeds. By the time my sunflowers bloom their leaves are completely shredded with only the veins remaining. Goldfinches like their greens too.
Pat says
Two years ago, the goldfinches totally demolished all my beautiful zinnias.
Last year they didn’t show up at all! Now I’m seeing them again but I’m not planting zinnias ……. probably to their great dismay! I’m in Northern California.
Julia V says
Goldfinch love seed heads of New England aster in my midwest garden. Counted 8 in a small patch one October day a few years ago. Agree, leave seed heads up all winter. Some native plants also host beneficial insects until late spring. Birds will peck at the stems and seed heads for a bit of protein during winter months.
Janette says
Another plant here in my midwest garden that I see them on constantly is Liatris. They fly in, grab on and start pulling. I have plenty of liatris mixed in with all the Purple Coneflowers that they have spread around.
Colorado Leonis says
Under the edge of the protecting canopy of our plum tree, for three years running, the goldfinches sat on the stone edging of our raised bed and enthusiastically enjoyed eating escarole throughout its growing season – until it became mature.
Kirk says
I have never seen a goldfinch here in Kansas. I always have sunflowers around the edge of my yard plus i put out sunflower seeds and thistle (I have plenty of regular finches, mostly red and tan). I have a number of blackberry and raspberry bushes growing also. I do have a wide variety though. There are 4 Orioles, 4 Downy woodpeckers, 2 redhead woodpeckers, and 3 flickers. Then there are the more common birds, Jays, sparrows, Chickadees, and 2 robins that like suet and also the fruit/berries in the fruit and berry mix I use.
Twila Paradis says
Much to my surprise, I have found the goldfinches also love the lavender seeds. So I let most of the flowers go to seed.
Stephen says
We don’t need to attract Gold Finches. We have a flock here all year long. They love the Thistle and Nyjer seed and they also love black oil sunflower seeds. I know spring is here when the males turn yellow and I know winter will be here soon when they turn brownish and green. In winter we can even get them to eat out of our hands sticking out the window.
Kb says
Great article! I adore these birds and am delighted that my front yard by my dining room window is filled with them. They cannot get enough of the river birch tree I planted. 8 or 9 of them come together, multiple times throughout the day to eat the seed. The tree pops with their bright yellow. It’s such a treat.
Kenn Driedger says
This spring I had my feeder set and the gold finches came…then they were gone. I have a lot of Grackles, Starlings, and some crows. Would any of these have chases them away. If you know, please e-mail me.
Kenn
Rose says
Kenn, I think that maybe your goldfinches have deserted your feeder because the native plants (with their fresh seeds) have reached their growth/maturity. They will return if you have any kind of ‘ray’ flowers in your garden such as brown-eyed susans, sunflowers, and coneflowers. But, I agree, thos other bully birds will run them off, but only temporarily, we hope.
tana allen says
I feed them out of my second storey bedroom window. We are advised against summer feeding dude to bears but this is well out of bear reach. I too have had a sudden disappearance of these visitors but after a few weeks they are back(or a new group I guess) it gives my wallet a rest. Nyger seed is costly here.
Milissa says
they also love catnip when it goes to seed – I have 6-10 one year coming right up onto my porch to eat the seeds where it had grown out of control. They also love the seeds of the blue chicory. I let it grow up my driveway and in the mornings its a beautiful site with the blue chicory flowers, white Queen’s Ann’s lace and the bright yellow goldfinches all growing wild. The chicory isn’t pretty later in the day after the sun hits it, but to me its worth it to let it grow for the show it puts on every morning and the enjoyment the goldfinches get out of it too.
Tami says
My goldfinches in CT love Tithonia Mexican sunflowers, they go crazy over them.
Evelyn says
We live in a woodsy area and this year we had a lot of goldfinches–so many, in fact, that they consumed 3 lbs of Niger seeds in 2 days! They were driving all the other birds away, that had been coming to the other feeders filled with a mix of sunflower, safflower feeders and other seeds–so now, we don’t see any chickadees, only an occasional cardinal, intimidated grosbeaks, nuthatches, titmice, indigo bunting and others. I moved the niger seed feeder to the opposite side of the house, but that just brought even more gold finches– I once counted over 20 birds on the two sock feeders. My question–
do I have to make a choice between feeding goldfinches and other woodland birds? Is there a way to feed them all? I appreciate any suggestion you might have. Thank you!!
MW says
They love the Brazilian Verbena plant.https://garden.org/plants/view/79403/Brazilian-Verbena-Verbena-bonariensis/
Ursus arctos says
I really enjoy goldfinches. I have planted a lot of echinacea purpurea, purple coneflower, eutrochium purpurea, joe pye weed, monarda fistulosa, bee balm and rudebeckia subtomentosa, black eyed susan. these little birds love all these plants. Fortunately bees, humingbirds and butterflies love these plants too. I live in Missouri in a small town outside of St.Louis and have a very small yard. there are several trees too. River birch, pink dogwood, bald cypress, and some smaller viburnums. A bubbler water feature will also help create habitat for these little birds. Its a good show all summer long in my small yard.
Shawn Voils says
Here in Lexington, KY goldfinches love spent coneflower blossoms, especially the purple ones! That’s why I never cut them back until Spring!
PMH says
I have black oiled sunflower seeds on my feeding station as well as Thistle seed, but they don’t seem to go for the thistle seed as much as they used to a few years ago. and I just purchased this from Orscheln. I refresh it ever so often too. I do have lots of shrubs and trees in my yard.
chris says
I grow several yellow centauria plants and the goldfinches love the seeds of this bushy plant. I live in Mid-Atlantic Pennsylvania and I can hardly wait for the show to begin with these beautiful, acrobatic birds and their lovely singing.