When do finches leave California?

The House Finch does not leave California: it is reported all year, from 43% of checklists in the second week of January to 58% in the second week of May.

When is the best time to see finches in California?

The House Finch is reported most often in the second week of May, on about 58% of California checklists.

Which finches are in California?

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

3 finch species in California

When Do Finches Arrive in California?

Photo: Daughter Dad, CC BY 4.0 via iNaturalist

House Finches, Purple Finches, and Pine Siskins are the finches you are most likely to see in California. The House Finch is in California all year. It turns up on about 58% of checklists at its peak (the second week of May) and on 43% in its quietest week (the second week of January).

When to look

PresentAll year

Peak weekMay 8-14the second week of May

Quietest weekJan 8-14the second week of January

Best: the second week of May. Here all year. Peak: on about 58% of California 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 California, species by species

Species	First arrivals	Common by	Peak	Most gone by	Peak %
House Finch	all year	–	May 8-14	–	58%
Purple Finch	Sep 15-21	Oct 8-14	Jun 1-7	Aug 1-7	8.3%
Pine Siskin	Sep 22-30	Oct 15-21	Mar 15-21	May 1-7	5.1%

House Finch
Purple Finch
Pine Siskin

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 California 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 California

Best counties for House Finch

Share of checklists at the peak

Orange CountyBest late May · 6017 checklists that week, 244,559 in all78%
Stanislaus CountyBest mid June · 453 checklists that week, 30,240 in all75%
Los Angeles CountyBest the second week of May · 9730 checklists that week, 410,235 in all73%
San Diego CountyBest late May · 9593 checklists that week, 405,465 in all73%
Santa Clara CountyBest the second week of June · 3343 checklists that week, 201,483 in all71%
Ventura CountyBest late June · 1628 checklists that week, 94,391 in all71%

All finches in California

7 species are reported regularly: 3 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	May 8-14	58%
2	Lesser Goldfinch	Year-round	all year	Apr 22-30	39%
3	American Goldfinch	Year-round	all year	Apr 15-21	9.2%
4	Purple Finch	Summer visitor	Sep 15-21	Jun 1-7	8.3%
5	Pine Siskin	Winter visitor	Sep 22-30	Mar 15-21	5.1%
6	Cassin's Finch	Summer visitor	May 1-7	Jun 15-21	3.0%
7	Lawrence's Goldfinch	Summer visitor	Feb 15-21	Apr 22-30	2.9%

Common questions

When do finches arrive in California?: The House Finch is in California all year. It turns up on about 58% of checklists at its peak (the second week of May) and on 43% in its quietest week (the second week of January).
When do finches leave California?: The House Finch does not leave California: it is reported all year, from 43% of checklists in the second week of January to 58% in the second week of May.
When is the best time to see finches in California?: The House Finch is reported most often in the second week of May, on about 58% of California checklists.
Which finches are in California?: House Finch, Purple Finch, and Pine Siskin are reported regularly; the House Finch is the most common.