Goldfinch caught on sunflower feeder.....

Clearly that should say "a sunflower seed feeder", I'd be more than surprised if anyone had the same issue with our one!

I don't use wire mesh feeders for sunflower hearts. I prefer the tube feeders with ports and perches and I think the finches are more comfortable with those. I have used a wire mesh feeder for peanuts and fat balls but only the tits and occasionally woodpeckers use it. I've not had a problem with anything getting trapped.

I have a "squirrelproof" fat ball feeder with an outer and inner cage, and earlier this year I found an unfortunate sparrow dead with its head trapped in the inner cage. I've had the feeder for years and it seems to have been a freak accident: as the lower fat balls are eaten the upper ones slip down, and this one had landed on the bird's head and trapped it. No sure what it actually died of, but it was upsetting to find.

Sorry to hear that :-(

I think we'll change to a tube type feeder, we've had this mesh one for ages without any problems and it isn't damaged but I would rather not risk this happening again when we're not here.

Cheers for your replies.

Yep, likewise, never seen any issues. I wonder if the bird was a juvenile and just got himself into a spot of trouble.....

I only use a mesh type feeder for peanuts: used by birds of all sizes from parakeets to coal tits and never any problems. Are goldfinches perhaps more of a perching bird - tits are really good at hanging feeders but robins and goldies prefer to stand rather than cling.