What do bullfinches eat ?

Their prime food in season is the buds on fruit trees which is why they were on the "vermin" list in fruit growing areas until recently.They will eat seeds from feeders as Alans photo shows but the 2 pairs we have never seem to go neat the feeders but have survived at least 2 winters but not sure what on.

as you can see on my rainbow thread my Bullfinches are taking sunflower seeds from a feeder with perch but no tray. The female was spotted in the currant bush. they are supposed to like nijer seed too but I have yet to see ANY bird take that in 4months!

I also have niger seed out but the bullfinches didnt touch it the only birds currently eating that is the goldfinches & a pesky pigeon.

Hi Lisa,  as Alan says their favourite (when there is no fruit tree buds to eat) are sunflower hearts and then they will next go for the black sunflower seeds.    We have two pairs in the garden here and they will eat from the hanging feeders, the ground feeder dish and also directly from the ground if you strew a few sunflower hearts/seeds down for them.      Good luck and hope you get some bully juniors soon :)

Good luck with Bully, I only see one very seldom in my garden and I pop out black sunflower seeds as Alan's picture shows. I think they are very shy birds but look stunning.

Jason d said:

I think they are very shy birds but look stunning.

Shy ? not the males in our garden,the will sit on the windowsill of the flat and look in,nearest I have ever got to these birds in many years of birding.

We sometimes have a pair visiting our table and feeders, and they'll take sunflower seeds, currants and suet treats, as well as peanuts.  Just put out a good variety - they'll find something they like, even nijer seed if it's loose on the tray.  I think their beaks might be a bit large for them to take seed from a feeder because they never try with ours - only the goldfinches will bother.  A greenfinch tried the nijer seed feeder today and couldn't seem to manage it either.  Anyway, best of luck with your pair - I hope they'll be back to your garden soon.  

Interesting about the beaks Dotty,never thought of them not being suitable for taking food out of the feeders but it does make sense.

Hey Folks, how come I can spell 'anthropomorphising' (see Birdsong) without any trouble, but can't spell 'nyger' (seed) even though I look at the packet every day!!  Oh well - it was late, that's my excuse...

Anyway, I've just left a femail blackbird stuffing itself on currants, a great spotted woodpecker on the fatballs and a pair of goldfinches on the nyger seed feeder, after putting out the mornings bird food - so all's well with the world!