WhenToBird

2 goldfinche species in Idaho

When Do Goldfinches Arrive in Idaho?

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

American Goldfinches and Lesser Goldfinches are the goldfinches you are most likely to see in Idaho. The American Goldfinch is in Idaho all year. It turns up on about 27% of checklists at its peak (early August) and on 14% in its quietest week (mid March).

When to look

PresentAll year
Peak weekAug 1-7early August
Quietest weekMar 15-21mid March

Best: early August. Here all year. Peak: on about 27% of Idaho checklists.

  1. Jancommon
  2. Febcommon
  3. Marcommon
  4. Aprpeak season
  5. Maypeak season
  6. Junpeak season
  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 Idaho, species by species

SpeciesFirst arrivalsCommon byPeakMost gone byPeak %
American Goldfinchall year–Aug 1-7–27%
Lesser Goldfinchall year–Dec 1-7–19%
0%10%20%30%40%American GoldfinchLesser GoldfinchJanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec
  • American Goldfinch
  • 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 Idaho 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 Idaho

Best counties for American Goldfinch

Share of checklists at the peak
  1. Adams CountyBest early March · 94 checklists that week, 5,826 in all75%
  2. Bingham CountyBest late July · 34 checklists that week, 1,427 in all58%
  3. Madison CountyBest the second week of August · 28 checklists that week, 3,887 in all56%
  4. Gem CountyBest early August · 127 checklists that week, 8,320 in all55%
  5. Bear Lake CountyBest mid January · 12 checklists that week, 1,581 in all54%
  6. Power CountyBest early August · 56 checklists that week, 2,278 in all49%

Common questions

When do goldfinches arrive in Idaho?
The American Goldfinch is in Idaho all year. It turns up on about 27% of checklists at its peak (early August) and on 14% in its quietest week (mid March).
When do goldfinches leave Idaho?
The American Goldfinch does not leave Idaho: it is reported all year, from 14% of checklists in mid March to 27% in early August.
When is the best time to see goldfinches in Idaho?
The American Goldfinch is reported most often in early August, on about 27% of Idaho checklists.
Which goldfinches are in Idaho?
American Goldfinch and Lesser Goldfinch are reported regularly; the American Goldfinch is the most common.