When do finches leave South Carolina?

The House Finch does not leave South Carolina: it is reported all year, from 28% of checklists in mid December to 35% in late June.

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

The House Finch is reported most often in late June, on about 35% of South Carolina checklists.

Which finches are in South Carolina?

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

3 finch species in South Carolina

When Do Finches Arrive in South 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 South Carolina. The House Finch is in South Carolina all year. It turns up on about 35% of checklists at its peak (late June) and on 28% in its quietest week (mid December).

When to look

PresentAll year

Peak weekJun 22-30late June

Quietest weekDec 15-21mid December

Best: late June. Here all year. Peak: on about 35% of South 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 South Carolina, species by species

Species	First arrivals	Common by	Peak	Most gone by	Peak %
House Finch	all year	–	Jun 22-30	–	35%
Purple Finch	Oct 22-31	Nov 1-7	Feb 1-7	Mar 15-21	4.8%
Pine Siskin	Oct 22-31	Oct 22-31	Feb 15-21	Apr 22-30	4.3%

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 South 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 South Carolina

Best counties for House Finch

Share of checklists at the peak

Orangeburg CountyBest mid June · 144 checklists that week, 8,992 in all63%
York CountyBest early August · 155 checklists that week, 12,176 in all61%
Lexington CountyBest the second week of October · 587 checklists that week, 27,992 in all61%
Spartanburg CountyBest the second week of October · 168 checklists that week, 9,954 in all57%
Lancaster CountyBest mid October · 34 checklists that week, 2,265 in all56%
Horry CountyBest early July · 369 checklists that week, 27,518 in all54%

All finches in South Carolina

4 species are reported regularly: 1 stay all year and 3 are winter visitors.

#	Species	Pattern	First arrivals	Peak	Peak %
1	House Finch	Year-round	all year	Jun 22-30	35%
2	American Goldfinch	All year, most in winter	Nov 15-21	Feb 8-14	24%
3	Purple Finch	Winter visitor	Oct 22-31	Feb 1-7	4.8%
4	Pine Siskin	Winter visitor	Oct 22-31	Feb 15-21	4.3%

Common questions

When do finches arrive in South Carolina?: The House Finch is in South Carolina all year. It turns up on about 35% of checklists at its peak (late June) and on 28% in its quietest week (mid December).
When do finches leave South Carolina?: The House Finch does not leave South Carolina: it is reported all year, from 28% of checklists in mid December to 35% in late June.
When is the best time to see finches in South Carolina?: The House Finch is reported most often in late June, on about 35% of South Carolina checklists.
Which finches are in South Carolina?: House Finch, Purple Finch, and Pine Siskin are reported regularly; the House Finch is the most common.