WhenToBird

Lesser Goldfinch · Spinus psaltria

When Do Goldfinches Arrive in Arizona?

Adult male Lesser Goldfinch
Photo: Aitor, CC BY 4.0 via iNaturalist

The Lesser Goldfinch is in Arizona all year. It turns up on about 48% of checklists at its peak (late August) and on 25% in its quietest week (early January). They are the only regular goldfinches in Arizona.

When to look

PresentAll year
Peak weekAug 22-31late August
Quietest weekJan 1-7early January

Best: late August. Here all year. Peak: on about 48% of Arizona checklists.

  1. Jancommon
  2. Febpeak season
  3. Marpeak season
  4. Aprpeak season
  5. Maypeak season
  6. Juncommon
  7. Julpeak season
  8. Augpeak season
  9. Seppeak season
  10. Octcommon
  11. Novcommon
  12. Deccommon

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

Goldfinches in Arizona, species by species

SpeciesFirst arrivalsCommon byPeakMost gone byPeak %
Lesser Goldfinchall year–Aug 22-31–48%
0%20%40%60%Lesser GoldfinchJanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec
  • Lesser 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 Arizona 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 Arizona

Best counties for Lesser Goldfinch

Share of checklists at the peak
  1. Yavapai CountyBest early September · 1112 checklists that week, 83,606 in all67%
  2. Santa Cruz CountyBest the second week of September · 1780 checklists that week, 162,726 in all66%
  3. Pima CountyBest late August · 8694 checklists that week, 437,722 in all58%
  4. Navajo CountyBest mid August · 493 checklists that week, 18,838 in all56%
  5. Cochise CountyBest mid August · 5070 checklists that week, 190,093 in all46%
  6. Coconino CountyBest mid August · 1933 checklists that week, 90,870 in all42%

Common questions

When do goldfinches arrive in Arizona?
The Lesser Goldfinch is in Arizona all year. It turns up on about 48% of checklists at its peak (late August) and on 25% in its quietest week (early January). They are the only regular goldfinches in Arizona.
When do goldfinches leave Arizona?
The Lesser Goldfinch does not leave Arizona: it is reported all year, from 25% of checklists in early January to 48% in late August.
When is the best time to see goldfinches in Arizona?
The Lesser Goldfinch is reported most often in late August, on about 48% of Arizona checklists.