WhenToBird

3 finch species in District of Columbia

When Do Finches Arrive in District of Columbia?

Adult male House Finch
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 District of Columbia. House Finches are in District of Columbia all year, but most are here in spring: numbers build from late March, peak in early May (28% of checklists), and fall back by early July. In the quietest week (late August) they are still on about 9.8% of checklists.

When to look

Numbers buildMar 22-31late March
PeakMay 1-7early May
Fall back byJul 1-7early July
FewestAug 22-31late August

Best: early May. Here all year; numbers build from late March and fall back by early July. Peak: on about 28% of District of Columbia checklists.

  1. Jancommon
  2. Febcommon
  3. Marcommon
  4. Aprpeak season
  5. Maypeak season
  6. Junpeak season
  7. Julcommon
  8. Augcommon
  9. Sepcommon
  10. Octpeak season
  11. Novpeak season
  12. Deccommon

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

Finches in District of Columbia, species by species

SpeciesFirst arrivalsCommon byPeakMost gone byPeak %
House FinchMar 22-31Mar 22-31May 1-7Jul 1-728%
Purple FinchOct 1-7Oct 1-7Nov 1-7Feb 8-148.1%
Pine SiskinOct 8-14Oct 8-14Oct 22-31Nov 15-214.1%
0%10%20%30%40%House FinchPurple FinchPine SiskinJanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec
  • 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 District of Columbia 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 District of Columbia

Best counties for House Finch

Share of checklists at the peak
  1. District of Columbia CountyBest early May · 5408 checklists that week, 121,721 in all28%

All finches in District of Columbia

4 species are reported regularly: 1 are summer visitors, 1 are winter visitors, and 2 mostly pass through.

#SpeciesPatternThrough the yearFirst arrivalsPeakPeak %
1American GoldfinchAll year, most in springApr 1-7Apr 22-3047%
2House FinchAll year, most in springMar 22-31May 1-728%
3Purple FinchWinter visitorOct 1-7Nov 1-78.1%
4Pine SiskinPasses throughOct 8-14Oct 22-314.1%

Common questions

When do finches arrive in District of Columbia?
House Finches are in District of Columbia all year, but most are here in spring: numbers build from late March, peak in early May (28% of checklists), and fall back by early July. In the quietest week (late August) they are still on about 9.8% of checklists.
When do finches leave District of Columbia?
House Finches never fully leave District of Columbia: numbers fall back below half their usual rate by early July, but some are still reported in every week, about 9.8% of checklists at the low.
When is the best time to see finches in District of Columbia?
The House Finch is reported most often in early May, on about 28% of District of Columbia checklists.
Which finches are in District of Columbia?
House Finch, Purple Finch, and Pine Siskin are reported regularly; the House Finch is the most common.