WhenToBird

American Goldfinch · Spinus tristis

When Do Goldfinches Arrive in Illinois?

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

American Goldfinches are in Illinois all year, but most are here in fall: numbers build from mid June, peak in the second week of August (63% of checklists), and fall back by the second week of November. In the quietest week (the second week of March) they are still on about 18% of checklists. They are the only regular goldfinches in Illinois.

When to look

Numbers buildJun 15-21mid June
PeakAug 8-14the second week of August
Fall back byNov 8-14the second week of November
FewestMar 8-14the second week of March

Best: the second week of August. Here all year; numbers build from mid June and fall back by the second week of November. Peak: on about 63% of Illinois checklists.

  1. Jancommon
  2. Febuncommon
  3. Maruncommon
  4. Aprcommon
  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 Illinois, species by species

SpeciesFirst arrivalsCommon byPeakMost gone byPeak %
American GoldfinchJun 15-21Jun 15-21Aug 8-14Nov 8-1463%
0%20%40%60%80%American GoldfinchJanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec
  • 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 Illinois 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 Illinois

Best counties for American Goldfinch

Share of checklists at the peak
  1. Monroe CountyBest the second week of November · 17 checklists that week, 2,547 in all83%
  2. Grundy CountyBest mid August · 69 checklists that week, 5,050 in all82%
  3. Wabash CountyBest the second week of September · 15 checklists that week, 602 in all80%
  4. Putnam CountyBest early August · 81 checklists that week, 3,333 in all80%
  5. Winnebago CountyBest mid August · 252 checklists that week, 18,333 in all79%
  6. Lee CountyBest the second week of August · 67 checklists that week, 6,175 in all79%

Common questions

When do goldfinches arrive in Illinois?
American Goldfinches are in Illinois all year, but most are here in fall: numbers build from mid June, peak in the second week of August (63% of checklists), and fall back by the second week of November. In the quietest week (the second week of March) they are still on about 18% of checklists. They are the only regular goldfinches in Illinois.
When do goldfinches leave Illinois?
American Goldfinches never fully leave Illinois: numbers fall back below half their usual rate by the second week of November, but some are still reported in every week, about 18% of checklists at the low.
When is the best time to see goldfinches in Illinois?
The American Goldfinch is reported most often in the second week of August, on about 63% of Illinois checklists.