When do goldfinches leave Indiana?

American Goldfinches never fully leave Indiana: numbers fall back below half their usual rate by the second week of November, but some are still reported in every week, about 22% of checklists at the low.

When is the best time to see goldfinches in Indiana?

The American Goldfinch is reported most often in the second week of August, on about 60% of Indiana checklists.

American Goldfinch · Spinus tristis

When Do Goldfinches Arrive in Indiana?

Photo: Andy Wilson, CC0 1.0 via iNaturalist

American Goldfinches are in Indiana all year, but most are here in fall: numbers build from mid June, peak in the second week of August (60% of checklists), and fall back by the second week of November. In the quietest week (early March) they are still on about 22% of checklists. They are the only regular goldfinches in Indiana.

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 1-7early 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 60% of Indiana checklists.

Jancommon
Febcommon
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 Indiana, species by species

Species	First arrivals	Common by	Peak	Most gone by	Peak %
American Goldfinch	Jun 15-21	Jun 15-21	Aug 8-14	Nov 8-14	60%

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 Indiana 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 Indiana

Best counties for American Goldfinch

Share of checklists at the peak

Warren CountyBest late July · 21 checklists that week, 458 in all82%
Blackford CountyBest the second week of February · 26 checklists that week, 962 in all81%
Wabash CountyBest late July · 50 checklists that week, 2,218 in all80%
Grant CountyBest the second week of August · 57 checklists that week, 5,262 in all80%
Warrick CountyBest the second week of August · 86 checklists that week, 10,073 in all78%
Wells CountyBest the second week of August · 57 checklists that week, 3,465 in all78%

Common questions

When do goldfinches arrive in Indiana?: American Goldfinches are in Indiana all year, but most are here in fall: numbers build from mid June, peak in the second week of August (60% of checklists), and fall back by the second week of November. In the quietest week (early March) they are still on about 22% of checklists. They are the only regular goldfinches in Indiana.
When do goldfinches leave Indiana?: American Goldfinches never fully leave Indiana: numbers fall back below half their usual rate by the second week of November, but some are still reported in every week, about 22% of checklists at the low.
When is the best time to see goldfinches in Indiana?: The American Goldfinch is reported most often in the second week of August, on about 60% of Indiana checklists.