Sunflower tube that comes apart
Droll Yankees Ring Pull Tube Bird Feeder A-6RP
Pull one ring to take it apart for cleaning; holds 1 lb.
Finch feeders
Goldfinches and house finches eat small seed at tube feeders: nyjer in a finch tube with tiny ports, such as the Droll Yankees Ring Pull Finch Feeder TH-3RP, or sunflower hearts in a standard tube such as the Ring Pull A-6RP.
Small and squirrel-resistant
Brome Squirrel Buster Mini
Four ports behind a shroud that closes under a squirrel.
Finches at the window
Droll Yankees Observer Window Bird Feeder OWF
Three suction cups; holds 2 cups of seed.
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2 more feeders
Brome · Seed feeder
Squirrel Buster Plus
- Holds 5.1 lb
- Squirrel-resistant
- Comes apart to clean
Keeps squirrels off and holds 5.1 lb of sunflower; the spring adjusts so heavier birds can still feed.
Keep in mind: Skip it if you cannot keep at least 18 inches clear around the feeder.
Nature Anywhere · Window feeder
Birds-I-View Window Bird Feeder
- Suction cups, no drilling
A clear window feeder on suction cups; the tray slides out to refill.
Keep in mind: Treat the glass to reduce collisions and keep the tray clean; mounting directly on a window does not remove collision risk.
What finches eat
American goldfinches and house finches eat small seed: nyjer, black-oil sunflower and hulled sunflower, and house finches also take safflower. Goldfinches stay year-round across much of the US; in winter they turn olive-brown but keep coming.
Nyjer needs small ports
Nyjer is tiny and spills from standard ports, so it goes in a finch tube with small ports or a mesh sock. Droll Yankees makes a nyjer version of the Ring Pull, the Ring Pull Tube Finch Feeder TH-3RP: it holds 1 lb and comes apart with the same pull ring. The tubes and window feeders listed on this page have standard ports, so fill them with sunflower hearts, not nyjer. Nyjer goes stale, and finches leave stale seed alone: buy small bags, keep them dry and refill little and often.
Keep eye disease away
House finch eye disease spreads where birds touch the same ports. If you see finches with swollen, crusty eyes, clean the feeders more often and disinfect them: after washing, soak the parts for 10 minutes in one part bleach to nine parts water, rinse well and let them dry completely before refilling, as Cornell’s Project FeederWatch advises. Check your state wildlife agency for local advice. Taking feeders down for a while can help where few neighbors feed birds.
References
| Source | Updated |
|---|---|
| Common Feeder Birds ↗ | |
| Feeder Types ↗ | |
| How To Clean Your Feeders ↗ |