When do finches leave Arizona?

The House Finch does not leave Arizona: it is reported all year, from 42% of checklists in the second week of August to 55% in the second week of October.

When is the best time to see finches in Arizona?

The House Finch is reported most often in the second week of October, on about 55% of Arizona checklists.

Which finches are in Arizona?

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

3 finch species in Arizona

When Do Finches Arrive in Arizona?

Photo: Daughter Dad, CC BY 4.0 via iNaturalist

House Finches, Pine Siskins, and Red Crossbills are the finches you are most likely to see in Arizona. The House Finch is in Arizona all year. It turns up on about 55% of checklists at its peak (the second week of October) and on 42% in its quietest week (the second week of August).

When to look

PresentAll year

Peak weekOct 8-14the second week of October

Quietest weekAug 8-14the second week of August

Best: the second week of October. Here all year. Peak: on about 55% of Arizona checklists.

Janpeak season
Febpeak season
Marpeak season
Aprpeak season
Maypeak season
Junpeak season
Julpeak season
Augpeak season
Seppeak season
Octpeak season
Novpeak season
Decpeak season

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

Finches in Arizona, species by species

Species	First arrivals	Common by	Peak	Most gone by	Peak %
House Finch	all year	–	Oct 8-14	–	55%
Pine Siskin	Sep 22-30	Oct 15-21	Apr 8-14	Jun 1-7	11%
Red Crossbill	Jan 22-31	Feb 22-28	Aug 1-7	Dec 22-31	1.3%

House Finch
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 Arizona 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 Arizona

Best counties for House Finch

Share of checklists at the peak

Maricopa CountyBest the second week of May · 5935 checklists that week, 269,896 in all69%
Yavapai CountyBest the second week of July · 1053 checklists that week, 83,606 in all68%
Greenlee CountyBest mid January · 18 checklists that week, 2,745 in all67%
Pima CountyBest mid October · 6485 checklists that week, 437,722 in all64%
Pinal CountyBest early June · 434 checklists that week, 40,036 in all63%
Santa Cruz CountyBest mid June · 1883 checklists that week, 162,726 in all61%

All finches in Arizona

6 species are reported regularly: 2 stay all year, 3 are summer visitors, and 1 are winter visitors.

#	Species	Pattern	First arrivals	Peak	Peak %
1	House Finch	Year-round	all year	Oct 8-14	55%
2	Lesser Goldfinch	Year-round	all year	Aug 22-31	48%
3	Pine Siskin	Summer visitor	Sep 22-30	Apr 8-14	11%
4	Cassin's Finch	Summer visitor	Oct 1-7	Apr 8-14	2.5%
5	Lawrence's Goldfinch	Winter visitor	Oct 1-7	Oct 15-21	2.4%
6	Red Crossbill	Summer visitor	Jan 22-31	Aug 1-7	1.3%

Common questions

When do finches arrive in Arizona?: The House Finch is in Arizona all year. It turns up on about 55% of checklists at its peak (the second week of October) and on 42% in its quietest week (the second week of August).
When do finches leave Arizona?: The House Finch does not leave Arizona: it is reported all year, from 42% of checklists in the second week of August to 55% in the second week of October.
When is the best time to see finches in Arizona?: The House Finch is reported most often in the second week of October, on about 55% of Arizona checklists.
Which finches are in Arizona?: House Finch, Pine Siskin, and Red Crossbill are reported regularly; the House Finch is the most common.