Among the most beautiful of the larger “finches,” Pine Grosbeaks and other species prefer black-oil sunflowers and some fruiting trees (photo by Sparky Stensaas).

Winter finches are always a big hit with birders, and to take advantage of this winter’s promise of a big flight of northern finches, you want to be sure you have all the right stuff in your feeding station and yard. If the birds come through, species by species or in mixed flocks, you definitely want to be ready. Overall, we’re talking about such exciting birds as Pine Grosbeaks, Evening Grosbeaks, Red Crossbills, White-winged Crossbills, Purple Finches, Pine Siskins, Red-breasted Nuthatches, Hoary Redpolls and Common Redpolls.

For most of these birds, it’s relatively easy to stock your feeders with foods that will attract them like a magnet – if they make it to your neighborhood. But if one or more of these colorful species stops by, you don’t want to miss the opportunity to try to make them stay, by making your own little oasis with a gourmet table setting. Actually, it’s not gourmet at all, and you may already be providing all they right ingredients. But first of all, a bit of nomenclature discussion.

Birders have long referred to the above list of species collectively as “winter finches,” which is a bit of a misnomer considering it includes many birds that are clearly not finches. Surely, the nuthatches are not finches, nor are the redpolls although they fit into the mix pretty well. But like the true finches, they are forced south by a lack of food in the norther forest of Canada and Alaska – the boreal forest. When seed production fails during a given year among spruce, pine, birch, and mountain ash trees, it sends finches and their allies south. Whether finches by name or otherwise though, they are just as interesting to birders who wish to attract them to their feeding station and yard.

Already this season, Evening Grosbeaks, Pine Siskins, and Purple Finches have made it as far south as Tennessee and Alabama, as well as northern Texas and Oregon, so the potential of attracting birds there and points north are fairly good, and winter finches will continue to move throughout the winter. As you know, it’s hard to predict the movements of birds to a particular area or feeding station, but the key is to be ready – just in case – and you definitely don’t want to miss out if Evening Grosbeaks or White-winged Crossbills suddenly touch down. For the most part, you will have more luck attracting Pine Siskins, Purple Finches, and Red-breasted Nuthatches, that tend to be more abundant and widespread, but part of the fun of offering food and water is to attract new birds – and some of these birds are real beauties that will make this winter season a memorable one if they “magically” appear one day.

The Right Stuff

But it’s not magic, it’s a matter of providing “the right stuff” at your feeding station. And you may already have most of the right things to try to lure winter finches to your feeders. Primarily, offer black-oil sunflower seeds and nyjer thistle seeds – simple enough – basic foods at most feeding stations. For the most part, by providing these popular bird seeds, you are setting the table for potential visits by wintering grosbeaks, crossbills, siskins, and more. But there is one more option that might improve your chances: Water.

Providing winter water can be the icing on the cake for attracting and keeping winter finches coming. We saw where a birder with a well-stocked feeding station had 5 Red Crossbills drink and bathe at her birdbath, without trying a single seed, so that should be an incentive to keep ice-free water available. In more northern latitudes this may mean using a heated birdbath or adding a heater to an existing ceramic birdbath. Either of these options is great, even without the potential of attracting finches. Most birds will utilize a winter water source, including those that do not usually visit feeding stations. So a heated birdbath or water feature is a great addition if you don’t already offer this important and universal element.

In milder climates, you may be able to avoid an electric connection by employing a solar water heater or a solar water wiggler to ensure open water for birds. For a number of winter water options, see the products offered by BestNest at https://www.bestnest.com/bestnest/bird_baths_heated_standing.asp and at Duncraft see https://www.duncraft.com/index/page/search?FullText=bird+baths&x=0&y=0 and at Wild Birds Unlimited see https://www.wbu.com/products/bird-baths-misters-accessories/20-heated-bird-bath-stand/ and at Wild Bird Centers see https://www.wildbird.com/store/bird-baths/ especially if you’re interested in a Water Wiggler.

Of course, your landscaping efforts may attract some of these birds too, especially if you have a fruiting tree such as a mountain ash or crab apple tree that still has some fruit available. If you lack such a bird magnet, it might be an option to add to your yard during next year’s tree planting season. Then too, tis the season, so if you can find a mountain ash that needs a little pruning, you may be able to make a simple holiday wreath by weaving short ash branches with fruits together – or just make pile of fruited branches at an elevated spot. The same may work for crab apples too; try adding a few to your platform feeder and see if they become a hit with avian visitors.

For more information about the potential of attracting northern “finches” and to review the Winter Finch Forecast 2020-21, see https://finchnetwork.org/winter-finch-forecast-2020 and while you’re there, introduce yourself to the Finch Research Network on that same website. One update to the forecast is that Pine Grosbeaks are migrating more and farther south than originally predicted, so keep up your efforts to attract and benefit these interesting birds from the far north, and good luck throughout the winter season.