When do finches leave Michigan?

The House Finch does not leave Michigan: it is reported all year, from 17% of checklists in late May to 28% in mid February.

When is the best time to see finches in Michigan?

The House Finch is reported most often in mid February, on about 28% of Michigan checklists.

Which finches are in Michigan?

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

5 finch species in Michigan

When Do Finches Arrive in Michigan?

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 Michigan. The House Finch is in Michigan all year. It turns up on about 28% of checklists at its peak (mid February) and on 17% in its quietest week (late May).

When to look

PresentAll year

Peak weekFeb 15-21mid February

Quietest weekMay 22-31late May

Best: mid February. Here all year. Peak: on about 28% of Michigan checklists.

Janpeak season
Febpeak season
Marpeak season
Aprpeak season
Maypeak season
Juncommon
Julpeak season
Augpeak season
Sepcommon
Octpeak season
Novpeak season
Decpeak season

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

Finches in Michigan, species by species

Species	First arrivals	Common by	Peak	Most gone by	Peak %
House Finch	all year	–	Feb 15-21	–	28%
Pine Siskin	Sep 15-21	Oct 1-7	Feb 15-21	May 22-31	6.2%
Purple Finch	Mar 22-31	Apr 1-7	Oct 15-21	Feb 1-7	5.3%
Redpoll	Nov 1-7	Nov 1-7	Feb 8-14	Apr 15-21	3.6%
Evening Grosbeak	Oct 15-21	Oct 15-21	Nov 1-7	Aug 8-14	1.5%

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 Michigan 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 Michigan

Best counties for House Finch

Share of checklists at the peak

Hillsdale CountyBest the second week of February · 144 checklists that week, 9,510 in all53%
Barry CountyBest late November · 475 checklists that week, 29,465 in all53%
Isabella CountyBest late November · 346 checklists that week, 23,321 in all45%
Livingston CountyBest mid February · 937 checklists that week, 31,033 in all45%
Ingham CountyBest mid December · 725 checklists that week, 51,223 in all44%
Genesee CountyBest the second week of July · 571 checklists that week, 29,698 in all44%

All finches in Michigan

7 species are reported regularly: 2 stay all year and 5 are winter visitors.

#	Species	Pattern	First arrivals	Peak	Peak %
1	American Goldfinch	Year-round	all year	Aug 8-14	56%
2	House Finch	Year-round	all year	Feb 15-21	28%
3	Pine Siskin	Winter visitor	Sep 15-21	Feb 15-21	6.2%
4	Purple Finch	Winter visitor	Mar 22-31	Oct 15-21	5.3%
5	Redpoll	Winter visitor	Nov 1-7	Feb 8-14	3.6%
6	Evening Grosbeak	Winter visitor	Oct 15-21	Nov 1-7	1.5%
7	Pine Grosbeak	Winter visitor	Nov 1-7	Jan 15-21	1.2%

Common questions

When do finches arrive in Michigan?: The House Finch is in Michigan all year. It turns up on about 28% of checklists at its peak (mid February) and on 17% in its quietest week (late May).
When do finches leave Michigan?: The House Finch does not leave Michigan: it is reported all year, from 17% of checklists in late May to 28% in mid February.
When is the best time to see finches in Michigan?: The House Finch is reported most often in mid February, on about 28% of Michigan checklists.
Which finches are in Michigan?: House Finch, Pine Siskin, Purple Finch, Redpoll, and Evening Grosbeak are reported regularly; the House Finch is the most common.