skip to main content

Wildlife Garden

Nectaring Goldfinches

19 years ago

Last year I spotted a lone goldfinch sitting on my monarda with his face in the flower. Has anyone ever heard of goldfinches nectaring? He was no where near the finch feeder so this year, I'm going to try to put a pot of monarda closer to the feeder and see if it happens again. I can't find anything on the Internet about a nectaring goldfinch so I was wondering if this is weird behavior or not.

Sort by:Oldest

Comments (3)

loris
19 years ago
I got curious enough that I looked for myself. I know nothing about this site, but it looks legitimate enough. If you do a google search are "goldfinch nectar" there are more hits, but the 6 or others I looked at didn't apply, and I stopped looking. Maybe you'll find more.

Here is a link that might be useful: Believe it's tied to University of New Mexico
clumsygrdner
Original Author
19 years ago
Very curious indeed! Well, I hope it happens again so that I can get a picture!
Related Professionals
Philadelphia Landscape Architects & Landscape Designers · Lawrenceburg Landscape Architects & Landscape Designers · Mankato Landscape Architects & Landscape Designers · Jamestown Landscape Architects & Landscape Designers · Middletown Landscape Architects & Landscape Designers · Flagstaff Landscape Architects & Landscape Designers · Brunswick Landscape Contractors · Mansfield Landscape Contractors · Madison Landscape Contractors · Phoenix Landscape Contractors · Bakersfield Landscape Contractors · Hilo Landscape Contractors · Gaithersburg General Contractors · Binghamton General Contractors · Saint George General Contractors
loomis
19 years ago
Great article! I just bought a nectar feeder and am hoping to attract orioles back into my yard again after many years' absence. I haven't seen the finches use it yet, but was intrigued by the number of birds, other than hummers, mentioned in the article that have been known to use these feeders.

Thanks for that great link!

Related Stories

GARDENING FOR BUTTERFLIES 7 Native Wildflowers to Make You an Awesome Butterfly Host

By Benjamin Vogt / Monarch Gardens

Offer the leaves of these and you’ll get more butterflies than with flower nectar alone

GARDENING FOR BIRDS Backyard Birds: How to Identify Two Common Woodpeckers

By Habitat Network

Downy and hairy woodpeckers have similar coloration and behavior. But there are two big differences that separate them

GARDENING GUIDES 6 Plants That Beat Butterfly Bush for the Wildlife Draw

By Benjamin Vogt / Monarch Gardens

It's invasive, a nonnative and a poor insect magnet. Check out these better alternatives to butterfly bush in the garden

FALL GARDENING Great Design Plant: Symphyotrichum Novae-Angliae Ushers in Fall

By Pollination Press LLC

With bold purple flowers easily accessible to pollinators, New England aster offers loads of interest in the autumn garden

EARTH DAY Create a Container Wildlife Habitat for Hummingbirds and Butterflies

By Noelle Johnson Landscape Consulting

Don’t let limited space prevent you from welcoming wildlife into your garden

GARDENING GUIDES Great Design Plant: Silphium Perfoliatum Pleases Wildlife

By Pollination Press LLC

Cup plant provides structure, cover, food and water to help attract and sustain wildlife in the eastern North American garden

GARDENING GUIDES Central Plains Gardener's September Checklist

By Benjamin Vogt / Monarch Gardens

This month, go easy on the deadheading, savor the beauty of sunflowers and look ahead to next year's garden

GARDENING GUIDES Backyard Birds: Invite Entertaining Hummingbirds Into Your Garden

By Habitat Network

Hummingbirds — unique to the Americas — zip through open landscapes seasonally or year-round. Here’s how to attract them

GARDENING FOR BUTTERFLIES A Quick-Start Guide to Bird-Watching for Fun and Learning

By Alison Hodgson

Set out some seed and grab your field guide. Bird-watching is an easy, entertaining and educational activity for the whole family

GARDENING GUIDES 13 North American Backyard Birds to Know

By Annie Thornton

Find out about these enchanting native species and learn how to attract them to your yard

Sponsored

Peabody Landscape Group

8 Reviews

Franklin County's Reliable Landscape Design & Contracting