By Sally Siko

The American Goldfinch is a year round resident of North Carolina although some folks may not recognize them in a few weeks.
This is because the Goldfinches will molt out their cheerful yellow feathers and into a toned down olive colored plumage making them almost unrecognizable to the casual observer.

Seasonal appearances aside, Goldfinches are a familiar sight to many here in the Tarheel state as they are a frequent visitor to our feeders.
If you don’t get these guys visiting your backyard often enough, here are a few tips to entice these beauties to stay a bit longer.

*Plant sunflowers, thistle and zinnias in your garden. This natural food source will attract all sorts of other bird species too!

*Fill your feeders with Nyjer & thistle seed which is the Goldfinch’s favorite food.

*Use a mesh tube or soft sock style feeder which allows the finches to cling to the feeder’s side.

*Place a bird bath in your yard so that they’ve got a clean water source from which to drink & bathe.

As the months roll on and the weather chills, your neighborhood Goldfinches will appreciate the buffet that you offer, rewarding you with close up looks at these beauties too!

Photos by @sally_siko of @bestlife_birding on my beloved full frame 50MP beast, the mighty @canonusa #5Ds