When do finches leave New York?

The House Finch does not leave New York: it is reported all year, from 15% of checklists in the second week of September to 21% in late November.

When is the best time to see finches in New York?

The House Finch is reported most often in late November, on about 21% of New York checklists.

Which finches are in New York?

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

5 finch species in New York

When Do Finches Arrive in New York?

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 New York. The House Finch is in New York all year. It turns up on about 21% of checklists at its peak (late November) and on 15% in its quietest week (the second week of September).

When to look

PresentAll year

Peak weekNov 22-30late November

Quietest weekSep 8-14the second week of September

Best: late November. Here all year. Peak: on about 21% of New York 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 New York, species by species

Species	First arrivals	Common by	Peak	Most gone by	Peak %
House Finch	all year	–	Nov 22-30	–	21%
Purple Finch	Jan 15-21	Mar 22-31	Oct 22-31	Nov 22-30	8.0%
Pine Siskin	Oct 1-7	Oct 1-7	Nov 1-7	May 8-14	4.4%
Redpoll	Nov 1-7	Nov 1-7	Feb 8-14	Mar 22-31	1.7%
Evening Grosbeak	Oct 15-21	Oct 15-21	Nov 8-14	May 8-14	1.2%

House Finch
Purple Finch
Pine Siskin
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 New York 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 New York

Best counties for House Finch

Share of checklists at the peak

Dutchess CountyBest early October · 1158 checklists that week, 76,123 in all38%
Rensselaer CountyBest early August · 428 checklists that week, 30,526 in all37%
Herkimer CountyBest the second week of December · 262 checklists that week, 20,872 in all36%
Columbia CountyBest early December · 362 checklists that week, 28,454 in all36%
Montgomery CountyBest the second week of September · 226 checklists that week, 17,048 in all34%
Schenectady CountyBest mid February · 362 checklists that week, 11,851 in all34%

All finches in New York

6 species are reported regularly: 1 stay all year, 1 are summer visitors, and 4 are winter visitors.

#	Species	Pattern	First arrivals	Peak	Peak %
1	American Goldfinch	All year, most in summer	Apr 15-21	Aug 1-7	56%
2	House Finch	Year-round	all year	Nov 22-30	21%
3	Purple Finch	Winter visitor	Jan 15-21	Oct 22-31	8.0%
4	Pine Siskin	Winter visitor	Oct 1-7	Nov 1-7	4.4%
5	Redpoll	Winter visitor	Nov 1-7	Feb 8-14	1.7%
6	Evening Grosbeak	Winter visitor	Oct 15-21	Nov 8-14	1.2%

Common questions

When do finches arrive in New York?: The House Finch is in New York all year. It turns up on about 21% of checklists at its peak (late November) and on 15% in its quietest week (the second week of September).
When do finches leave New York?: The House Finch does not leave New York: it is reported all year, from 15% of checklists in the second week of September to 21% in late November.
When is the best time to see finches in New York?: The House Finch is reported most often in late November, on about 21% of New York checklists.
Which finches are in New York?: House Finch, Purple Finch, Pine Siskin, Redpoll, and Evening Grosbeak are reported regularly; the House Finch is the most common.