When do finches leave Wisconsin?

The House Finch does not leave Wisconsin: it is reported all year, from 19% of checklists in the second week of June to 29% in mid February.

When is the best time to see finches in Wisconsin?

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

Which finches are in Wisconsin?

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

5 finch species in Wisconsin

When Do Finches Arrive in Wisconsin?

Photo: Daughter Dad, CC BY 4.0 via iNaturalist

House Finches, Redpolls, and Pine Siskins are the finches you are most likely to see in Wisconsin. The House Finch is in Wisconsin all year. It turns up on about 29% of checklists at its peak (mid February) and on 19% in its quietest week (the second week of June).

When to look

PresentAll year

Peak weekFeb 15-21mid February

Quietest weekJun 8-14the second week of June

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

Janpeak season
Febpeak season
Marpeak season
Aprpeak season
Maypeak season
Juncommon
Julpeak season
Augpeak season
Seppeak season
Octpeak season
Novpeak season
Decpeak season

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

Finches in Wisconsin, species by species

Species	First arrivals	Common by	Peak	Most gone by	Peak %
House Finch	all year	–	Feb 15-21	–	29%
Redpoll	Nov 1-7	Dec 22-31	Feb 8-14	Apr 1-7	8.3%
Pine Siskin	Sep 15-21	Oct 1-7	Feb 22-28	May 15-21	7.7%
Purple Finch	Oct 1-7	Oct 1-7	Oct 15-21	Nov 8-14	6.7%
Evening Grosbeak	Nov 1-7	Nov 1-7	Dec 1-7	Apr 15-21	1.2%

House Finch
Redpoll
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 Wisconsin 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 Wisconsin

Best counties for House Finch

Share of checklists at the peak

Langlade CountyBest late January · 86 checklists that week, 5,023 in all68%
Crawford CountyBest late January · 79 checklists that week, 4,271 in all68%
Outagamie CountyBest late November · 393 checklists that week, 24,461 in all51%
Winnebago CountyBest mid February · 604 checklists that week, 26,460 in all49%
Jefferson CountyBest mid February · 565 checklists that week, 31,378 in all49%
Washington CountyBest early August · 246 checklists that week, 15,206 in all46%

All finches in Wisconsin

8 species are reported regularly: 1 stay all year, 1 are summer visitors, 5 are winter visitors, and 1 mostly pass through.

#	Species	Pattern	First arrivals	Peak	Peak %
1	American Goldfinch	All year, most in summer	Jun 22-30	Aug 8-14	65%
2	House Finch	Year-round	all year	Feb 15-21	29%
3	Redpoll	Winter visitor	Nov 1-7	Feb 8-14	8.3%
4	Pine Siskin	Winter visitor	Sep 15-21	Feb 22-28	7.7%
5	Purple Finch	All year, most in fall	Oct 1-7	Oct 15-21	6.7%
6	Evening Grosbeak	Winter visitor	Nov 1-7	Dec 1-7	1.2%
7	White-winged Crossbill	Winter visitor	Oct 22-31	Nov 22-30	1.1%
8	Pine Grosbeak	Winter visitor	Nov 8-14	Dec 1-7	1.1%

Common questions

When do finches arrive in Wisconsin?: The House Finch is in Wisconsin all year. It turns up on about 29% of checklists at its peak (mid February) and on 19% in its quietest week (the second week of June).
When do finches leave Wisconsin?: The House Finch does not leave Wisconsin: it is reported all year, from 19% of checklists in the second week of June to 29% in mid February.
When is the best time to see finches in Wisconsin?: The House Finch is reported most often in mid February, on about 29% of Wisconsin checklists.
Which finches are in Wisconsin?: House Finch, Redpoll, Pine Siskin, Purple Finch, and Evening Grosbeak are reported regularly; the House Finch is the most common.