WhenToBird

American Goldfinch · Spinus tristis

When Do Goldfinches Arrive in Louisiana?

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

American Goldfinches are winter birds in Louisiana: the first arrive in the second week of November, they are common by mid November, peak in late January (31% of checklists), and most are gone by mid March. They are the only regular goldfinches in Louisiana.

When to look

First arrivalsNov 8-14the second week of November
Common byNov 15-21mid November
PeakJan 22-31late January
Most gone byMar 15-21mid March

Best: late January. First arrivals the second week of November; most are gone by mid March. Peak: on about 31% of Louisiana checklists.

  1. Janpeak season
  2. Febpeak season
  3. Marcommon
  4. Apruncommon
  5. Maynot usually seen
  6. Junnot usually seen
  7. Julnot usually seen
  8. Augnot usually seen
  9. Sepnot usually seen
  10. Octnot usually seen
  11. Novcommon
  12. Decpeak season

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

Goldfinches in Louisiana, species by species

SpeciesFirst arrivalsCommon byPeakMost gone byPeak %
American GoldfinchNov 8-14Nov 15-21Jan 22-31Mar 15-2131%
0%10%20%30%40%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 Louisiana 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 Louisiana

Best counties for American Goldfinch

Share of checklists at the peak
  1. De Soto ParishBest mid January · 21 checklists that week, 1,023 in all72%
  2. La Salle ParishBest the second week of December · 10 checklists that week, 847 in all72%
  3. Assumption ParishBest early January · 33 checklists that week, 1,199 in all70%
  4. West Feliciana ParishBest early February · 39 checklists that week, 2,336 in all63%
  5. Grant ParishBest early December · 11 checklists that week, 998 in all61%
  6. Lafayette ParishBest early February · 326 checklists that week, 14,990 in all59%

Common questions

When do goldfinches arrive in Louisiana?
American Goldfinches are winter birds in Louisiana: the first arrive in the second week of November, they are common by mid November, peak in late January (31% of checklists), and most are gone by mid March. They are the only regular goldfinches in Louisiana.
When do goldfinches leave Louisiana?
Most American Goldfinches have left Louisiana by mid March, when reports fall below half their usual rate. Stragglers are still reported until mid April.
When is the best time to see goldfinches in Louisiana?
The American Goldfinch is reported most often in late January, on about 31% of Louisiana checklists.