Good vs Bad: Nyjer vs Thistle

I often hear people tell me that, while they love goldfinches, they don't want a yard full of thistle weeds, so they refuse to purchase nyjer. Nyjer (also spelled Nyger or Niger) is often mistakenly called Thistle, but there is a difference between the two!

Years ago, when I first started feeding wild birds, I purchased my seed in inexpensive bags (from a big box store, sad to say) that would "attract a variety of colorful birds". I heard that goldfinches liked thistle, so I returned to the discount store and picked up the least expensive bag of thistle I could find. I spent the next decade trying to rid my lawn of thistle plants and was only able to successfully have a thistle-free lawn by moving to a new neighborhood. I know now that I can feel confident that feeding true Nyjer will not prevent me from enjoying a barefoot summer in my backyard.

Nyjer is an oilseed that is high in protein, fiber, and fat. This makes it highly desirable for feeding birds in the winter. Goldfinches aren't the only birds that flock to feeders filled with Nyjer. If you make the smart decision and choose to feed nyjer, you can also expect to get sparrows, pine siskins, house finches, redpoll, and purple finches at your bird feeder.

Nyjer was trademarked by the Wild Bird Feeding Agency. Nyjer is native to Ethiopia and does not grow in North America. This seed is commonly harvested in Africa, India, Indonesia, and other parts of Southeast Asia. It is an expensive seed since it must be picked by hand, sterilized by intense heat to prevent germination, and then imported.

Thistle, on the other hand, is a noxious weed. Birds love it since, like Nyjer, thistle seed has high protein and fat content. However, the prickly leaves, stems, and spiny areas beneath the flower, make it highly undesirable in residential lawns.

Avoid cheap seed – it is probably either thistle or expired

Purchase seed at a reputable feed store, such as Cockatoo Creations, rather than a big box discount store

Avoid discount seed mixes

Read the label to ensure that the origin of the seeds is listed. Most goldfinch food purchased at the local feed store comes from Myanmar (formerly Burma), Singapore, or Ethiopia.