goldfinches on peanuts?

[Surreybirder]

We've had goldfinches feeding on our seed feeders from time to time but, as far as I can remember, today was the first time I'd seen one on the peanut-feeder (metal mesh type). In others' experience, do goldfinches often feed on peanuts?

[Bluetail]

I used to see them on my peanuts once in a blue moon. They never looked very enthusiastic about them, though, and invariably moved on to better nosh elsewhere (or so I assume).


Since I changed from peanuts to sunflower hearts I've been inundated with them (though their numbers have steadily dropped since autumn).

Jason

[IanF]

We occasionally get them on the metal mesh peanut feeder, even when ports on the niger and sunflower hearts are free. More often though it's only when the other feeders are full an several birds are around perched waiting for a bite to eat.

[Surreybirder]

Thanks, Jason and Ian.
So it's obviously uncommon but not rare behaviour.