Meet the Finches
Finches have a particular preference for seed eating, and beaks especially adapted to break into seeds that many other birds can’t get at. They’re a large and diverse family, sometimes forming flocks of multiple species. The most likely to be seen in urban settings are chaffinch, goldfinch and greenfinch.
What they need
- Finches are particularly fond of, and adept at, eating seeds, but most species also need a diet of insects and other invertebrates in spring and summer when they’re rearing their young.
- Disease caused by the Trichomonisis parasite has affected greenfinches and chaffinches in particular. The safest way to feed these friendly birds is to grow the plants whose seeds they feed on as that removes the risk they spread disease on bird tables and feeders.
- Like many birds, they need a mid-story to feel comfortable in a space – planting like shrubs and hedges that creates a safe hiding space between trees and ground level.
What you can do to help
- Plant the seed-bearing plants they like to feed on, and leave them standing during the winter months when they’ll both look beautiful and provide much-needed sustenance. Finch-friendly plants include teasels and thistles which are great for pollinators too.
- Bird tables and bird feeders are a really helpful alternative too, and not just for finches, but remember it’s important to clean them regularly and fill them with fresh food to prevent disease spreading.
- Bird baths and other water features can be essential for thirsty finches, especially in the hot summer months.
- Create a bird-friendly environment: create bug-friendly habitat and avoid using pesticides and chemicals that could harm finches and the insects and invertebrates they catch to feed their young in spring and summer.
- Finches don’t use bird boxes, preferring to nest in shrubs, trees and hedges, so plant some of these if you can.
Fascinating facts
- There are over 100 species of finches, each with its own unique characteristics and behaviours.
- Finches have evolved a variety of beak shapes adapted to different diets, from the sturdy beak of seed-eating species to the slender, curved beak of nectar feeders.
- Some finch species are talented mimics, able to imitate the calls of other birds and even some human sounds.
- Charles Darwin’s study of finches on the Galapagos Islands played a crucial role in the development of his theory of evolution by natural selection.
