When do finches leave Illinois?

The House Finch does not leave Illinois: it is reported all year, from 21% of checklists in the second week of June to 31% in mid July.

When is the best time to see finches in Illinois?

The House Finch is reported most often in mid July, on about 31% of Illinois checklists.

Which finches are in Illinois?

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

4 finch species in Illinois

When Do Finches Arrive in Illinois?

Photo: Daughter Dad, CC BY 4.0 via iNaturalist

House Finches, Pine Siskins, and Purple Finches are the finches you are most likely to see in Illinois. The House Finch is in Illinois all year. It turns up on about 31% of checklists at its peak (mid July) and on 21% in its quietest week (the second week of June).

When to look

PresentAll year

Peak weekJul 15-21mid July

Quietest weekJun 8-14the second week of June

Best: mid July. Here all year. Peak: on about 31% of Illinois 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 Illinois, species by species

Species	First arrivals	Common by	Peak	Most gone by	Peak %
House Finch	all year	–	Jul 15-21	–	31%
Pine Siskin	Sep 22-30	Oct 1-7	Nov 1-7	May 1-7	6.6%
Purple Finch	Sep 15-21	Sep 15-21	Oct 22-31	May 8-14	4.9%
Redpoll	Dec 15-21	Dec 15-21	Feb 8-14	Mar 15-21	2.6%

House Finch
Pine Siskin
Purple Finch
Redpoll

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 Illinois 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 Illinois

Best counties for House Finch

Share of checklists at the peak

Mercer CountyBest late January · 12 checklists that week, 949 in all77%
Edwards CountyBest late November · 16 checklists that week, 797 in all75%
Monroe CountyBest the second week of January · 51 checklists that week, 2,547 in all73%
Knox CountyBest early April · 163 checklists that week, 6,781 in all66%
Bureau CountyBest early February · 131 checklists that week, 10,244 in all64%
St. Clair CountyBest late July · 253 checklists that week, 10,340 in all64%

All finches in Illinois

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

#	Species	Pattern	First arrivals	Peak	Peak %
1	American Goldfinch	All year, most in fall	Jun 15-21	Aug 8-14	63%
2	House Finch	Year-round	all year	Jul 15-21	31%
3	Pine Siskin	Winter visitor	Sep 22-30	Nov 1-7	6.6%
4	Purple Finch	Winter visitor	Sep 15-21	Oct 22-31	4.9%
5	Redpoll	Winter visitor	Dec 15-21	Feb 8-14	2.6%

Common questions

When do finches arrive in Illinois?: The House Finch is in Illinois all year. It turns up on about 31% of checklists at its peak (mid July) and on 21% in its quietest week (the second week of June).
When do finches leave Illinois?: The House Finch does not leave Illinois: it is reported all year, from 21% of checklists in the second week of June to 31% in mid July.
When is the best time to see finches in Illinois?: The House Finch is reported most often in mid July, on about 31% of Illinois checklists.
Which finches are in Illinois?: House Finch, Pine Siskin, Purple Finch, and Redpoll are reported regularly; the House Finch is the most common.