When do goldfinches leave Arkansas?

American Goldfinches never fully leave Arkansas: numbers fall back below half their usual rate by early May, but some are still reported in every week, about 8.6% of checklists at the low.

When is the best time to see goldfinches in Arkansas?

The American Goldfinch is reported most often in the second week of February, on about 33% of Arkansas checklists.

American Goldfinch · Spinus tristis

When Do Goldfinches Arrive in Arkansas?

Photo: Andy Wilson, CC0 1.0 via iNaturalist

American Goldfinches are in Arkansas all year, but most are here in winter: numbers build from the second week of November, peak in the second week of February (33% of checklists), and fall back by early May. In the quietest week (the second week of October) they are still on about 8.6% of checklists. They are the only regular goldfinches in Arkansas.

When to look

Numbers buildNov 8-14the second week of November

PeakFeb 8-14the second week of February

Fall back byMay 1-7early May

FewestOct 8-14the second week of October

Best: the second week of February. Here all year; numbers build from the second week of November and fall back by early May. Peak: on about 33% of Arkansas checklists.

Janpeak season
Febpeak season
Marpeak season
Aprpeak season
Maycommon
Juncommon
Julcommon
Augcommon
Sepcommon
Octcommon
Novpeak season
Decpeak season

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

Goldfinches in Arkansas, species by species

Species	First arrivals	Common by	Peak	Most gone by	Peak %
American Goldfinch	Nov 8-14	Nov 8-14	Feb 8-14	May 1-7	33%

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 Arkansas 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 Arkansas

Best counties for American Goldfinch

Share of checklists at the peak

Van Buren CountyBest the second week of November · 12 checklists that week, 895 in all72%
Carroll CountyBest early February · 33 checklists that week, 3,417 in all71%
Grant CountyBest late January · 33 checklists that week, 1,258 in all71%
Howard CountyBest mid February · 15 checklists that week, 238 in all65%
Searcy CountyBest mid November · 11 checklists that week, 764 in all63%
Stone CountyBest late December · 37 checklists that week, 1,336 in all57%

Common questions

When do goldfinches arrive in Arkansas?: American Goldfinches are in Arkansas all year, but most are here in winter: numbers build from the second week of November, peak in the second week of February (33% of checklists), and fall back by early May. In the quietest week (the second week of October) they are still on about 8.6% of checklists. They are the only regular goldfinches in Arkansas.
When do goldfinches leave Arkansas?: American Goldfinches never fully leave Arkansas: numbers fall back below half their usual rate by early May, but some are still reported in every week, about 8.6% of checklists at the low.
When is the best time to see goldfinches in Arkansas?: The American Goldfinch is reported most often in the second week of February, on about 33% of Arkansas checklists.