Goldfinches

I wonder if the goldfinches are as tired of the rain as I am.

Two male American goldfinches (Carduelis tristis), enjoying thistle seeds. Please excuse the state of the feeder - the wet hulls stick to it.

No, it's not the same kind of thistle that comes up in your yard. It's not really thistle at all, but it used to be called that, before they started calling it Niger. They later changed the spelling to Nyger. (The story I heard involved political correctness and poor spelling skills.) The botanical name is Guizotia abyssinica.

Finches (gold, purple, house, what have you) love these seeds. Pine siskins do too. Don't put them in a regular feeder - you'll need a special one (with smaller holes). We love Droll Yankee feeders. They last a lot longer.