Goldfinches Enjoy Hummingbird Nectar Too

Q: I have not seen goldfinches in my yard for the last few years. This weekend, a beautiful one flew to my hummingbird feeder, landed on the perch, and tried to drink out of the feeder hole. Have you ever seen goldfinches at a sugar water feeder before? 

A: I’ve never seen a goldfinch drinking from a hummingbird feeder, but apparently it’s common. Since their body size is similar to a hummingbird’s they can perch on most hummingbird perches, and their beaks are small enough to fit through the holes. Goldfinches enjoy hummingbird nectar, and when they see other small birds feeding there, they’re attracted to it.

If, for some reason, you don’t want the goldfinches to drink the hummingbird nectar, you can discourage them with a hummingbird feeder with small perches, or you can try a saucer feeder. If these don’t work, put a cage around the hummingbird feeder that the goldfinches can’t get through.