Thistle sock feeders have become very popular. They are made of stretchy material covered with small perforations. The perforations allow the thistle seeds to slip through to the hungry birds while the material itself provides a textured surface for the finches to cling to while they feed. The bright yellow color is similar to seed heads they would feed from in the wild.

More traditional bird feeders come in dozens of charming styles. They can be as simple as a flat platform or as complex as a multi-layered feeder with demand-release chambers and squirrel guards. Some even come in designs simply meant to elicit a chuckle from people passing by. They may be shaped like a little log cabin, an old-time bathtub or even the yawing mouth of a cat.

These types of feeders can be kept full with store-variety wild birdseed and will attract a wide variety of birds. Chipping sparrows, waxwings, cardinals, juncos and jays will all feed at a traditional feeder. Black sunflower seeds can be mixed into standard birdseed to add a bit of high-quality protein and to attract nuthatches and chickadees.