When do finches leave Alaska?

Redpolls never fully leave Alaska: numbers fall back below half their usual rate by early April, but some are still reported in every week, about 5.9% of checklists at the low.

When is the best time to see finches in Alaska?

The Redpoll is reported most often in early March, on about 27% of Alaska checklists.

Which finches are in Alaska?

Redpoll, Pine Siskin, and Red Crossbill are reported regularly; the Redpoll is the most common.

3 finch species in Alaska

When Do Finches Arrive in Alaska?

Redpolls, Pine Siskins, and Red Crossbills are the finches you are most likely to see in Alaska. Redpolls are in Alaska all year, but most are here in winter: numbers build from mid December, peak in early March (27% of checklists), and fall back by early April. In the quietest week (the second week of September) they are still on about 5.9% of checklists.

When to look

Numbers buildDec 15-21mid December

PeakMar 1-7early March

Fall back byApr 1-7early April

FewestSep 8-14the second week of September

Best: early March. Here all year; numbers build from mid December and fall back by early April. Peak: on about 27% of Alaska checklists.

Janpeak season
Febpeak season
Marpeak season
Aprpeak season
Maycommon
Juncommon
Julcommon
Augcommon
Sepuncommon
Octcommon
Novcommon
Deccommon

Darker months: more checklists report it. Outlined: peak month.

Finches in Alaska, species by species

Species	First arrivals	Common by	Peak	Most gone by	Peak %
Redpoll	Dec 15-21	Dec 15-21	Mar 1-7	Apr 1-7	27%
Pine Siskin	Feb 1-7	Feb 1-7	Mar 22-31	May 15-21	12%
Red Crossbill	Jun 8-14	Jul 1-7	Mar 1-7	Apr 15-21	4.3%

Redpoll
Pine Siskin
Red Crossbill

Share of complete checklists reporting each species, by week (4 per month). Gaps: fewer than 10 checklists that week.

Frequency is the share of complete checklists in Alaska that listed the bird, 2016–2025. It is not a head count, and it follows where and when people go birding. How to read it.

Where in Alaska

Best counties for Redpoll

Share of checklists at the peak

Dillingham Census AreaBest late February · 17 checklists that week, 1,426 in all87%
Southeast Fairbanks Census AreaBest the second week of January · 12 checklists that week, 3,009 in all84%
Bethel Census AreaBest late April · 86 checklists that week, 2,783 in all77%
Fairbanks North Star BoroughBest mid February · 226 checklists that week, 23,771 in all65%
Northwest Arctic BoroughBest early July · 35 checklists that week, 1,386 in all64%
Denali BoroughBest late March · 22 checklists that week, 6,287 in all64%

All finches in Alaska

6 species are reported regularly: 6 are winter visitors.

#	Species	Pattern	First arrivals	Peak	Peak %
1	Redpoll	All year, most in winter	Dec 15-21	Mar 1-7	27%
2	Pine Grosbeak	Winter visitor	Sep 22-30	Jan 1-7	15%
3	Pine Siskin	All year, most in spring	Feb 1-7	Mar 22-31	12%
4	White-winged Crossbill	All year, most in winter	Oct 15-21	Mar 8-14	8.2%
5	Red Crossbill	Winter visitor	Jun 8-14	Mar 1-7	4.3%
6	Gray-crowned Rosy-Finch	Winter visitor	Nov 8-14	Dec 22-31	2.1%

Common questions

When do finches arrive in Alaska?: Redpolls are in Alaska all year, but most are here in winter: numbers build from mid December, peak in early March (27% of checklists), and fall back by early April. In the quietest week (the second week of September) they are still on about 5.9% of checklists.
When do finches leave Alaska?: Redpolls never fully leave Alaska: numbers fall back below half their usual rate by early April, but some are still reported in every week, about 5.9% of checklists at the low.
When is the best time to see finches in Alaska?: The Redpoll is reported most often in early March, on about 27% of Alaska checklists.
Which finches are in Alaska?: Redpoll, Pine Siskin, and Red Crossbill are reported regularly; the Redpoll is the most common.