WhenToBird

American Goldfinch · Spinus tristis

When Do Goldfinches Arrive in Maine?

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

The American Goldfinch is in Maine all year. It turns up on about 58% of checklists at its peak (the second week of May) and on 25% in its quietest week (early March). They are the only regular goldfinches in Maine.

When to look

PresentAll year
Peak weekMay 8-14the second week of May
Quietest weekMar 1-7early March

Best: the second week of May. Here all year. Peak: on about 58% of Maine checklists.

  1. Jancommon
  2. Febcommon
  3. Marcommon
  4. Aprpeak season
  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 Maine, species by species

SpeciesFirst arrivalsCommon byPeakMost gone byPeak %
American Goldfinchall year–May 8-14–58%
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 Maine 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 Maine

Best counties for American Goldfinch

Share of checklists at the peak
  1. Lincoln CountyBest the second week of August · 1147 checklists that week, 59,429 in all74%
  2. Androscoggin CountyBest the second week of August · 211 checklists that week, 16,955 in all71%
  3. Kennebec CountyBest early August · 848 checklists that week, 48,185 in all70%
  4. Penobscot CountyBest the second week of August · 826 checklists that week, 56,895 in all68%
  5. Sagadahoc CountyBest the second week of May · 748 checklists that week, 21,736 in all66%
  6. Waldo CountyBest the second week of May · 1182 checklists that week, 33,433 in all66%

Common questions

When do goldfinches arrive in Maine?
The American Goldfinch is in Maine all year. It turns up on about 58% of checklists at its peak (the second week of May) and on 25% in its quietest week (early March). They are the only regular goldfinches in Maine.
When do goldfinches leave Maine?
The American Goldfinch does not leave Maine: it is reported all year, from 25% of checklists in early March to 58% in the second week of May.
When is the best time to see goldfinches in Maine?
The American Goldfinch is reported most often in the second week of May, on about 58% of Maine checklists.