WhenToBird

2 goldfinche species in California

When Do Goldfinches Arrive in California?

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

Lesser Goldfinches and American Goldfinches are the goldfinches you are most likely to see in California. The Lesser Goldfinch is in California all year. It turns up on about 39% of checklists at its peak (late April) and on 22% in its quietest week (the second week of January).

When to look

PresentAll year
Peak weekApr 22-30late April
Quietest weekJan 8-14the second week of January

Best: late April. Here all year. Peak: on about 39% of California checklists.

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

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

Goldfinches in California, species by species

SpeciesFirst arrivalsCommon byPeakMost gone byPeak %
Lesser Goldfinchall year–Apr 22-30–39%
American Goldfinchall year–Apr 15-21–9.2%
0%10%20%30%40%Lesser GoldfinchAmerican GoldfinchJanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec
  • Lesser Goldfinch
  • 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 California 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 California

Best counties for Lesser Goldfinch

Share of checklists at the peak
  1. Contra Costa CountyBest late May · 2939 checklists that week, 115,071 in all60%
  2. Placer CountyBest late April · 1279 checklists that week, 43,945 in all57%
  3. Orange CountyBest late April · 6687 checklists that week, 244,559 in all56%
  4. Santa Clara CountyBest late May · 5380 checklists that week, 201,483 in all55%
  5. Nevada CountyBest early March · 435 checklists that week, 25,896 in all53%
  6. Los Angeles CountyBest the second week of May · 9730 checklists that week, 410,235 in all52%

Common questions

When do goldfinches arrive in California?
The Lesser Goldfinch is in California all year. It turns up on about 39% of checklists at its peak (late April) and on 22% in its quietest week (the second week of January).
When do goldfinches leave California?
The Lesser Goldfinch does not leave California: it is reported all year, from 22% of checklists in the second week of January to 39% in late April.
When is the best time to see goldfinches in California?
The Lesser Goldfinch is reported most often in late April, on about 39% of California checklists.
Which goldfinches are in California?
Lesser Goldfinch and American Goldfinch are reported regularly; the Lesser Goldfinch is the most common.