When do goldfinches leave Massachusetts?

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

When is the best time to see goldfinches in Massachusetts?

The American Goldfinch is reported most often in the second week of August, on about 61% of Massachusetts checklists.

American Goldfinch · Spinus tristis

When Do Goldfinches Arrive in Massachusetts?

Photo: Andy Wilson, CC0 1.0 via iNaturalist

American Goldfinches are in Massachusetts all year, but most are here in summer: numbers build from the second week of April, peak in the second week of August (61% of checklists), and fall back by the second week of September. In the quietest week (early March) they are still on about 22% of checklists. They are the only regular goldfinches in Massachusetts.

When to look

Numbers buildApr 8-14the second week of April

PeakAug 8-14the second week of August

Fall back bySep 8-14the second week of September

FewestMar 1-7early March

Best: the second week of August. Here all year; numbers build from the second week of April and fall back by the second week of September. Peak: on about 61% of Massachusetts 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 Massachusetts, species by species

Species	First arrivals	Common by	Peak	Most gone by	Peak %
American Goldfinch	Apr 8-14	Apr 8-14	Aug 8-14	Sep 8-14	61%

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 Massachusetts 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 Massachusetts

Best counties for American Goldfinch

Share of checklists at the peak

Hampshire CountyBest the second week of August · 2299 checklists that week, 162,423 in all73%
Franklin CountyBest the second week of August · 469 checklists that week, 41,382 in all72%
Worcester CountyBest the second week of August · 1765 checklists that week, 128,594 in all71%
Middlesex CountyBest the second week of August · 3964 checklists that week, 307,511 in all69%
Norfolk CountyBest early August · 1840 checklists that week, 114,756 in all68%
Berkshire CountyBest the second week of August · 1507 checklists that week, 92,890 in all68%

Common questions

When do goldfinches arrive in Massachusetts?: American Goldfinches are in Massachusetts all year, but most are here in summer: numbers build from the second week of April, peak in the second week of August (61% of checklists), and fall back by the second week of September. In the quietest week (early March) they are still on about 22% of checklists. They are the only regular goldfinches in Massachusetts.
When do goldfinches leave Massachusetts?: American Goldfinches never fully leave Massachusetts: numbers fall back below half their usual rate by the second week of September, but some are still reported in every week, about 22% of checklists at the low.
When is the best time to see goldfinches in Massachusetts?: The American Goldfinch is reported most often in the second week of August, on about 61% of Massachusetts checklists.