When do goldfinches leave Connecticut?

American Goldfinches never fully leave Connecticut: numbers fall back below half their usual rate by mid September, but some are still reported in every week, about 19% of checklists at the low.

When is the best time to see goldfinches in Connecticut?

The American Goldfinch is reported most often in the second week of August, on about 61% of Connecticut checklists.

American Goldfinch · Spinus tristis

When Do Goldfinches Arrive in Connecticut?

Photo: Andy Wilson, CC0 1.0 via iNaturalist

American Goldfinches are in Connecticut all year, but most are here in summer: numbers build from mid April, peak in the second week of August (61% of checklists), and fall back by mid September. In the quietest week (mid January) they are still on about 19% of checklists. They are the only regular goldfinches in Connecticut.

When to look

Numbers buildApr 15-21mid April

PeakAug 8-14the second week of August

Fall back bySep 15-21mid September

FewestJan 15-21mid January

Best: the second week of August. Here all year; numbers build from mid April and fall back by mid September. Peak: on about 61% of Connecticut checklists.

Januncommon
Febuncommon
Marcommon
Aprpeak season
Maypeak season
Junpeak season
Julpeak season
Augpeak season
Seppeak season
Octcommon
Novcommon
Deccommon

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

Goldfinches in Connecticut, species by species

Species	First arrivals	Common by	Peak	Most gone by	Peak %
American Goldfinch	Apr 15-21	Apr 15-21	Aug 8-14	Sep 15-21	61%

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 Connecticut 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 Connecticut

Best counties for American Goldfinch

Share of checklists at the peak

Litchfield CountyBest the second week of August · 1107 checklists that week, 69,766 in all79%
Windham CountyBest the second week of August · 287 checklists that week, 19,034 in all73%
Tolland CountyBest late July · 624 checklists that week, 39,004 in all70%
New London CountyBest early August · 871 checklists that week, 65,205 in all66%
Hartford CountyBest mid August · 1407 checklists that week, 105,735 in all62%
Middlesex CountyBest the second week of August · 513 checklists that week, 39,919 in all61%

Common questions

When do goldfinches arrive in Connecticut?: American Goldfinches are in Connecticut all year, but most are here in summer: numbers build from mid April, peak in the second week of August (61% of checklists), and fall back by mid September. In the quietest week (mid January) they are still on about 19% of checklists. They are the only regular goldfinches in Connecticut.
When do goldfinches leave Connecticut?: American Goldfinches never fully leave Connecticut: numbers fall back below half their usual rate by mid September, but some are still reported in every week, about 19% of checklists at the low.
When is the best time to see goldfinches in Connecticut?: The American Goldfinch is reported most often in the second week of August, on about 61% of Connecticut checklists.