When do finches leave North Carolina?

The House Finch does not leave North Carolina: it is reported all year, from 25% of checklists in the second week of September to 36% in late February.

When is the best time to see finches in North Carolina?

The House Finch is reported most often in late February, on about 36% of North Carolina checklists.

Which finches are in North Carolina?

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

3 finch species in North Carolina

When Do Finches Arrive in North Carolina?

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 North Carolina. The House Finch is in North Carolina all year. It turns up on about 36% of checklists at its peak (late February) and on 25% in its quietest week (the second week of September).

When to look

PresentAll year

Peak weekFeb 22-28late February

Quietest weekSep 8-14the second week of September

Best: late February. Here all year. Peak: on about 36% of North Carolina 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 North Carolina, species by species

Species	First arrivals	Common by	Peak	Most gone by	Peak %
House Finch	all year	–	Feb 22-28	–	36%
Purple Finch	Oct 15-21	Oct 22-31	Dec 8-14	Apr 1-7	6.2%
Pine Siskin	Oct 8-14	Oct 15-21	Feb 15-21	May 1-7	5.4%

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 North Carolina 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 North Carolina

Best counties for House Finch

Share of checklists at the peak

Cleveland CountyBest late September · 112 checklists that week, 6,121 in all72%
Camden CountyBest late March · 45 checklists that week, 1,667 in all71%
Hertford CountyBest mid April · 20 checklists that week, 1,343 in all67%
Scotland CountyBest early January · 43 checklists that week, 3,267 in all66%
Stokes CountyBest the second week of July · 68 checklists that week, 5,660 in all62%
Johnston CountyBest mid January · 179 checklists that week, 10,271 in all59%

All finches in North Carolina

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

#	Species	Pattern	First arrivals	Peak	Peak %
1	American Goldfinch	Year-round	all year	Aug 15-21	42%
2	House Finch	Year-round	all year	Feb 22-28	36%
3	Purple Finch	Winter visitor	Oct 15-21	Dec 8-14	6.2%
4	Pine Siskin	Winter visitor	Oct 8-14	Feb 15-21	5.4%

Common questions

When do finches arrive in North Carolina?: The House Finch is in North Carolina all year. It turns up on about 36% of checklists at its peak (late February) and on 25% in its quietest week (the second week of September).
When do finches leave North Carolina?: The House Finch does not leave North Carolina: it is reported all year, from 25% of checklists in the second week of September to 36% in late February.
When is the best time to see finches in North Carolina?: The House Finch is reported most often in late February, on about 36% of North Carolina checklists.
Which finches are in North Carolina?: House Finch, Purple Finch, and Pine Siskin are reported regularly; the House Finch is the most common.