WhenToBird

American Goldfinch · Spinus tristis

When Do Goldfinches Arrive in Alabama?

Adult American Goldfinch
Photo: Andy Wilson, CC0 1.0 via iNaturalist

American Goldfinches are in Alabama all year, but most are here in winter: numbers build from late November, peak in the second week of February (31% of checklists), and fall back by early April. In the quietest week (the second week of October) they are still on about 6.2% of checklists. They are the only regular goldfinches in Alabama.

When to look

Numbers buildNov 22-30late November
PeakFeb 8-14the second week of February
Fall back byApr 1-7early April
FewestOct 8-14the second week of October

Best: the second week of February. Here all year; numbers build from late November and fall back by early April. Peak: on about 31% of Alabama checklists.

  1. Janpeak season
  2. Febpeak season
  3. Marcommon
  4. Aprcommon
  5. Maycommon
  6. Jununcommon
  7. Julcommon
  8. Augcommon
  9. Sepcommon
  10. Octuncommon
  11. Novcommon
  12. Deccommon

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

Goldfinches in Alabama, species by species

SpeciesFirst arrivalsCommon byPeakMost gone byPeak %
American GoldfinchNov 22-30Nov 22-30Feb 8-14Apr 1-731%
0%10%20%30%40%American GoldfinchJanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec
  • American Goldfinch
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 Alabama 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 Alabama

Best counties for American Goldfinch

Share of checklists at the peak
  1. Marengo CountyBest late January · 73 checklists that week, 2,453 in all75%
  2. Geneva CountyBest early February · 60 checklists that week, 3,203 in all69%
  3. Cullman CountyBest the second week of February · 23 checklists that week, 1,354 in all61%
  4. Macon CountyBest late January · 130 checklists that week, 4,809 in all61%
  5. Houston CountyBest the second week of February · 164 checklists that week, 6,424 in all61%
  6. Bullock CountyBest early December · 20 checklists that week, 1,737 in all57%

Common questions

When do goldfinches arrive in Alabama?
American Goldfinches are in Alabama all year, but most are here in winter: numbers build from late November, peak in the second week of February (31% of checklists), and fall back by early April. In the quietest week (the second week of October) they are still on about 6.2% of checklists. They are the only regular goldfinches in Alabama.
When do goldfinches leave Alabama?
American Goldfinches never fully leave Alabama: numbers fall back below half their usual rate by early April, but some are still reported in every week, about 6.2% of checklists at the low.
When is the best time to see goldfinches in Alabama?
The American Goldfinch is reported most often in the second week of February, on about 31% of Alabama checklists.