When do finches leave West Virginia?

The House Finch does not leave West Virginia: it is reported all year, from 17% of checklists in the second week of September to 29% in mid February.

When is the best time to see finches in West Virginia?

The House Finch is reported most often in mid February, on about 29% of West Virginia checklists.

Which finches are in West Virginia?

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

4 finch species in West Virginia

When Do Finches Arrive in West Virginia?

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 West Virginia. The House Finch is in West Virginia all year. It turns up on about 29% of checklists at its peak (mid February) and on 17% in its quietest week (the second week of September).

When to look

PresentAll year

Peak weekFeb 15-21mid February

Quietest weekSep 8-14the second week of September

Best: mid February. Here all year. Peak: on about 29% of West Virginia checklists.

Janpeak season
Febpeak season
Marpeak season
Aprpeak season
Maypeak season
Junpeak season
Julpeak season
Augcommon
Sepcommon
Octpeak season
Novpeak season
Decpeak season

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

Finches in West Virginia, species by species

Species	First arrivals	Common by	Peak	Most gone by	Peak %
House Finch	all year	–	Feb 15-21	–	29%
Purple Finch	Sep 15-21	Sep 22-30	Nov 1-7	Jun 22-30	6.9%
Pine Siskin	Oct 8-14	Oct 8-14	Nov 1-7	May 15-21	3.9%
Red Crossbill	Apr 15-21	Apr 15-21	Jul 22-31	Jan 1-7	1.0%

House Finch
Purple Finch
Pine Siskin
Red Crossbill

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 West Virginia 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 West Virginia

Best counties for House Finch

Share of checklists at the peak

Marshall CountyBest late November · 14 checklists that week, 895 in all88%
Putnam CountyBest early September · 98 checklists that week, 2,400 in all66%
Mineral CountyBest late October · 40 checklists that week, 2,389 in all60%
Kanawha CountyBest early July · 157 checklists that week, 12,108 in all56%
Jefferson CountyBest late March · 574 checklists that week, 18,557 in all53%
Summers CountyBest late June · 105 checklists that week, 5,370 in all51%

All finches in West Virginia

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

#	Species	Pattern	First arrivals	Peak	Peak %
1	American Goldfinch	All year, most in summer	Jun 22-30	Aug 8-14	61%
2	House Finch	Year-round	all year	Feb 15-21	29%
3	Purple Finch	Winter visitor	Sep 15-21	Nov 1-7	6.9%
4	Pine Siskin	Winter visitor	Oct 8-14	Nov 1-7	3.9%
5	Red Crossbill	Summer visitor	Apr 15-21	Jul 22-31	1.0%

Common questions

When do finches arrive in West Virginia?: The House Finch is in West Virginia all year. It turns up on about 29% of checklists at its peak (mid February) and on 17% in its quietest week (the second week of September).
When do finches leave West Virginia?: The House Finch does not leave West Virginia: it is reported all year, from 17% of checklists in the second week of September to 29% in mid February.
When is the best time to see finches in West Virginia?: The House Finch is reported most often in mid February, on about 29% of West Virginia checklists.
Which finches are in West Virginia?: House Finch, Purple Finch, Pine Siskin, and Red Crossbill are reported regularly; the House Finch is the most common.