When do finches leave Ohio?

The House Finch does not leave Ohio: it is reported all year, from 19% of checklists in the second week of May to 33% in the second week of February.

When is the best time to see finches in Ohio?

The House Finch is reported most often in the second week of February, on about 33% of Ohio checklists.

Which finches are in Ohio?

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

3 finch species in Ohio

When Do Finches Arrive in Ohio?

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 Ohio. The House Finch is in Ohio all year. It turns up on about 33% of checklists at its peak (the second week of February) and on 19% in its quietest week (the second week of May).

When to look

PresentAll year

Peak weekFeb 8-14the second week of February

Quietest weekMay 8-14the second week of May

Best: the second week of February. Here all year. Peak: on about 33% of Ohio checklists.

Janpeak season
Febpeak season
Marpeak season
Aprpeak season
Maycommon
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 Ohio, species by species

Species	First arrivals	Common by	Peak	Most gone by	Peak %
House Finch	all year	–	Feb 8-14	–	33%
Pine Siskin	Oct 1-7	Oct 1-7	Nov 1-7	May 8-14	2.9%
Purple Finch	Sep 15-21	Sep 15-21	Oct 22-31	May 15-21	2.4%

House Finch
Pine Siskin
Purple Finch

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 Ohio 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 Ohio

Best counties for House Finch

Share of checklists at the peak

Monroe CountyBest late January · 31 checklists that week, 1,141 in all84%
Marion CountyBest late November · 161 checklists that week, 14,246 in all71%
Meigs CountyBest the second week of January · 76 checklists that week, 1,139 in all68%
Ross CountyBest late November · 29 checklists that week, 3,213 in all65%
Miami CountyBest late January · 237 checklists that week, 12,280 in all60%
Hardin CountyBest early August · 77 checklists that week, 4,583 in all58%

All finches in Ohio

4 species are reported regularly: 1 stay all year, 1 are summer visitors, and 2 are winter visitors.

#	Species	Pattern	First arrivals	Peak	Peak %
1	American Goldfinch	All year, most in summer	May 22-31	Aug 8-14	65%
2	House Finch	Year-round	all year	Feb 8-14	33%
3	Pine Siskin	Winter visitor	Oct 1-7	Nov 1-7	2.9%
4	Purple Finch	Winter visitor	Sep 15-21	Oct 22-31	2.4%

Common questions

When do finches arrive in Ohio?: The House Finch is in Ohio all year. It turns up on about 33% of checklists at its peak (the second week of February) and on 19% in its quietest week (the second week of May).
When do finches leave Ohio?: The House Finch does not leave Ohio: it is reported all year, from 19% of checklists in the second week of May to 33% in the second week of February.
When is the best time to see finches in Ohio?: The House Finch is reported most often in the second week of February, on about 33% of Ohio checklists.
Which finches are in Ohio?: House Finch, Pine Siskin, and Purple Finch are reported regularly; the House Finch is the most common.