Bird feeders provide a great way to enjoy wildlife right in your own backyard. Watching colorful songbirds visit your feeder can be a delightful hobby. However, you may find your bird feeder overrun by flocking birds like finches that scare away other species. While finches are beautiful birds, their abundance can create problems. Here’s what you need to know about deterring finches from your feeder.
Why Are Finches a Problem at Bird Feeders?
Finches are highly social birds that travel and forage in large flocks. A bird feeder that attracts one finch will quickly attract dozens more. Finches can be quite aggressive at feeders, scaring away timid species like chickadees, nuthatches and woodpeckers. A flock of finches can devour a feeder’s contents in minutes, not leaving enough for other birds. Their sharp claws and bills can also damage feeder perches and ports. An overabundance of finches may look pretty, but they throw off the balance at your feeder.
Start With the Right Feeder Design
To deter finches, first make sure you have the right type of bird feeder. Finches prefer feeders with large uncovered perches and wide seed ports. Tube-style feeders with small perches and ports are ideal, as finches have more difficulty perching and extracting seed. Avoid tray, hopper or house feeders that allow easy access. Also use feeders with weight-activated perches that close access when heavier birds like finches land. Position feeders in open areas away from trees or shrubs where finches can stage their approach.
Choose the Right Feeder Locations
Where you place feeders can make a difference in whether finches overwhelm them. Situate feeders closer to tree cover and within vegetation to make chickadees, titmice and other small birds feel secure. Finches prefer to approach feeders located in open areas. Distribute multiple small feeders throughout your yard to make it more difficult for finches to find and dominate them. Avoid placing feeders too close together.
Use Feeders with Restrictive Ports/Perches
Specialized tube feeders are available with smaller seed ports and perches that deter larger birds. Look for feeders labeled as “finch-proof” that are designed to allow access for small birds while restricting bigger species. Portals sized for chickadees and nutchatches will exclude finches. Weight-sensitive perches temporarily close access when heavier birds land. Any feeder that makes accessing seed more difficult can help.
Offer Less-Preferred Foods
Finches have favorite foods they seek out. Avoid offering their favorites to make your feeder less attractive. Finches prefer nyjer thistle seed above all others. They also readily eat oil sunflower, hulled sunflower, cracked corn and millet. Offer safflower and peanuts which finches don’t favor as much. Sparrows also dislike safflower. Mixes containing sunflower chips, fruit bits and formulated blends also deter finches.
Black Oil Sunflower Discourages Finches
Of the sunflower options, black oil sunflower is less favored by finches. The small seeds with high hull content are harder for them to crack open. Chickadees, nuthatches and cardinals will still readily eat black oil sunflower. Similarly, hulled sunflower kernels are disliked by finches. Birds like blue jays and woodpeckers that can process the hulls will still eat them.
Safflower Seed and Peanuts for Other Birds
While finches don’t care for safflower, cardinals, chickadees and titmice will feed on it. The same goes for whole peanuts attractive to woodpeckers, nuthatches and jays. Offering these foods instead of finch favorites can shift the mix of birds at your feeder. Just be sure to offer some sunflower or mixed seed to attract the greatest diversity of species.
Use Cages to Restrict Access
Wired cages around feeders can help restrict access by larger aggressive birds while allowing smaller ones to reach the seed. Cages prevent bigger species like finches, grackles, jays and doves from perching on feeder stations. But cages still allow small birds like chickadees, wrens and kinglets inside to eat. Look for cage designs sized to admit your desired species while excluding unwanted ones.
Mesh Size Matters
The mesh size of protective cages is key. A mesh with openings of 0.75 to 1 inch will admit most small birds while keeping out finches. Protective shrouds around feeder ports sized for chickadees also stop finches from extracting seed while allowing smaller birds to feed. Custom-designed exclusion cages are available, but you can build your own from cardboard, hardware cloth, aquarium netting or similar materials.
Where to Install Protective Cages
Place protective caging over seed ports or around the feeder to physically block finches. Enclose feeder poles and overhangs to prevent access. Set up overhead caging with openings on the sides so small birds can fly in from below while excluding finches swooping down from above. Baffles above feeders can also deter swooping birds. Just be sure cages don’t obstruct small bird flight paths.
Add Deterrent Devices
Various deterrent devices can help make your feeder less welcoming to finches. Installing a pinwheel or flapping ribbons will scare off flocking species. Reflective tape also deters birds. Motion-activated sprinklers, noisemakers or distress calls create uncomfortable conditions. Placing large stuffed animals, fake owls or rubber snakes around your feeder may also frighten finches away.
Scarecrow Sprinklers
Motion-activated sprinkler systems effectively startle and deter finches and other problem birds whenever they approach your feeder. Set to emit a quick startling burst of water when birds land, sprinklers soon discourage them from visiting. Look for specially-designed scarecrow bird sprinklers with adjustable sensors and coverage. Be sure to check that the sprinkler won’t deter desirable feeder birds as well.
Auditory Bird Deterrents
For a non-wet option, sonic bird deterrents use alarm calls, predator cries or other distress recordings to frighten finches from feeders. Ultrasonic devices emit high-pitched sounds only birds can hear that irritate them without bothering people or pets. Just be cautious that noise makers don’t deter all bird species from your yard.
Use Visual Scares and Repellents
Visual devices that startle finches can provide an effective deterrent. Imitation predators like fake owls or rubber snakes around your feeder look enough like the real thing to frighten flocking birds. Reflective ribbons, old CDs or foil strips that flutter in the breeze also help deter finches.
Scary Predator Models
Lifelike plastic owls are a traditional way to scare pest birds from your yard. For a fresh approach, try using fake hawks, falcons, coyotes or snakes. Change locations regularly so birds don’t become accustomed. You can also purchase realistic imitation eggs modeled after finch or cowbird species. Placing them in nests tricks finches into abandoning a site.
Reflective Deterrents
Shiny ribbons, reflective tape, old CDs or strips of foil wired around feeders create flashes of light and motion that startle finches. Hanging aluminum pie pans that clatter can have a similar effect. Anything that creates glints, sparkles or strange movements helps discourage flocking at feeders.
Use Repellent Chemicals Cautiously
Non-toxic chemical bird repellents applied around your yard can deter finches and other species. However, great care must be used with any chemical bird deterrent. Only apply legal, non-harmful products per label directions, avoiding contact with food. Inform neighbors prior to spraying repellents that could affect songbirds visiting their yards.
Methyl Anthranilate-based Repellents
Repellents made from methyl anthranilate, a non-toxic grape flavoring, are one option for discouraging finches. Birds dislike both the scent and taste, but it’s harmless to them at legal dosages. Brands like Bird Shield, Bird Stop and Go Away repel through scent discomfort. However, rain dilutes effectiveness.
Take Care With Chemical Use
Never use dangerous products for repelling finches. Avoid bird poisons, sticky pastes, insecticides or petroleum-based products. Improper use harms birds, wildlife and the environment. Only apply legal repellents designed specifically for use on birds following all label safety directions.
Eliminate Outside Food Sources
To make your feeder less attractive, eliminate alternative food sources finches may be using. Remove any uneaten fallen seed debris from the ground under feeders. Install catch trays beneath pole and hanging feeders. Discard unused bird seed in gardens or compost rather than letting spillage accumulate.
Clean Up Under Feeders
Clear away any accumulated shell fragments, seed husks and uneaten seeds dropped under feeders where finches and other birds can forage. Rake, sweep or vacuum debris daily don’t let seeds germinate and sprout. Catch trays under feeder poles also deter ground feeding. Promptly remove discarded apple cores, citrus fruits or other backyard foods finches might eat.
Avoid Overfeeding
Don’t provide more seed than small birds can consume before finches take over feeders. Clean feeders often to remove stale or wet seed. Offer small amounts initially and gradually increase only as much as birds eat within a couple hours each day. This minimizes excess feed accumulation finches can exploit.
Try Using Feeder Poles
Hanging bird feeders from long poles makes it harder for flocking birds to access them. Finches prefer to approach feeders concealed near trees and shrubs. poles place feeders out in the open. Raising feeders on poles also lets you install baffles and cages to exclude bigger birds.
Use Slip-on Feeder Poles
Look for long specialty poles designed to slip down over deck railings, fence posts or shepherd’s hooks. These allow quick feeder installation in optimal locations isolated from protective cover. Use at least 5-foot poles, or up to 10 feet for the greatest finch deterrence. Adjustable-length telescoping poles offer added flexibility.
Hang Feeders from High Points
Where permanent specialty poles aren’t practical, look for high tie-off points like roofs, gutters, tree limbs, basketball hoops or swing sets at least 5 feet above ground. Hang feeders from fishing line, cable or chain for protection from finches. Just ensure you can safely reach the feeder for refilling, cleaning and service.
Conclusion
Deterring finches from your feeder takes some trial and error to find the right techniques for your situation. Start with feeder placement and design, avoid finch favorite foods, and use feeder cages. Scare devices, repellents and eliminating exterior food sources can help. Stay persistent, and you’ll soon discourage those pesky finches and enjoy a greater variety of feeder birds. With some innovative solutions, you can outsmart those clever finches!
