Do goldfinches use birdhouses?
A tight cup of plant down in a shrub fork, built late in summer when thistle seed is available.
What should you provide instead of a birdhouse?
Grow native thistles, coneflower and sunflower and leave seed heads standing. Goldfinches never use boxes.
| Instead of a box | Why it works |
|---|---|
| Dense shrubs and small trees | Open-cup nests need cover from predators and weather |
| Natural nesting material in spring | Short natural fibres and plant down, never dryer lint or long string |
| A reliable feeder | Keeps adults in the area through the nesting season |
| A shallow bird bath | Water within sight of cover is a year-round draw |
Feeders for goldfinches
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Nest box dimensions for other species
Eastern Bluebird · Western Bluebird · Mountain Bluebird · Tree Swallow · Violet-green Swallow · Purple Martin · House Wren · Carolina Wren · Bewick's Wren · Black-capped Chickadee · Carolina Chickadee · Tufted Titmouse · White-breasted Nuthatch · Red-breasted Nuthatch · Downy Woodpecker · Hairy Woodpecker · Red-bellied Woodpecker · Red-headed Woodpecker · Northern Flicker · Prothonotary Warbler · Great Crested Flycatcher · Ash-throated Flycatcher · Eastern Screech-Owl · American Kestrel · Barn Owl · Wood Duck · American Robin · Barn Swallow · Eastern Phoebe
Birds that do not use boxes: Cardinals · Blue Jays · Mourning Doves · Hummingbirds · Orioles · House Finches
Get the nest box season checklist
When to put boxes up, when to clean them out, and the hole sizes for every common species, on one page.
Used only to send the checklist.Frequently asked questions
Will goldfinches use a birdhouse?
No. A tight cup of plant down in a shrub fork, built late in summer when thistle seed is available. Enclosed boxes sold as "goldfinches houses" are decorative. If one is occupied, it is usually by a wren, chickadee or house sparrow. Grow native thistles, coneflower and sunflower and leave seed heads standing. Goldfinches never use boxes.
Where do goldfinches nest?
A tight cup of plant down in a shrub fork, built late in summer when thistle seed is available. Nests are built by the birds themselves, usually in spring and summer, and are rarely reused. Leaving dense shrubs untrimmed during the nesting season protects them.
How can I help goldfinches nest in my yard?
Grow native thistles, coneflower and sunflower and leave seed heads standing. Goldfinches never use boxes. Avoid pruning shrubs during the nesting season, keep cats indoors, and keep a feeder and a shallow bird bath going so adults stay in the area. Native plants that carry insects are what the young are actually fed.
What do goldfinches eat at feeders?
Nyjer goes stale. Buy small bags and shake out clumped seed; goldfinches abandon feeders full of old nyjer. Small and agile, happy on tiny ports and clinging to mesh. Upside-down nyjer feeders favour them over house finches.
Which birds do use birdhouses?
Cavity nesters: bluebirds, tree swallows, chickadees, titmice, nuthatches, house and Carolina wrens, purple martins, some woodpeckers, great crested flycatchers, screech-owls, kestrels and wood ducks. Each needs a specific hole size and box depth, listed in the birdhouse dimensions chart. Robins and phoebes use open shelves instead of boxes.