When do goldfinches leave Michigan?

The American Goldfinch does not leave Michigan: it is reported all year, from 24% of checklists in the second week of March to 56% in the second week of August.

When is the best time to see goldfinches in Michigan?

The American Goldfinch is reported most often in the second week of August, on about 56% of Michigan checklists.

American Goldfinch · Spinus tristis

When Do Goldfinches Arrive in Michigan?

Photo: Andy Wilson, CC0 1.0 via iNaturalist

The American Goldfinch is in Michigan all year. It turns up on about 56% of checklists at its peak (the second week of August) and on 24% in its quietest week (the second week of March). They are the only regular goldfinches in Michigan.

When to look

PresentAll year

Peak weekAug 8-14the second week of August

Quietest weekMar 8-14the second week of March

Best: the second week of August. Here all year. Peak: on about 56% of Michigan 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 Michigan, species by species

Species	First arrivals	Common by	Peak	Most gone by	Peak %
American Goldfinch	all year	–	Aug 8-14	–	56%

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 Michigan 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 Michigan

Best counties for American Goldfinch

Share of checklists at the peak

Gratiot CountyBest late July · 181 checklists that week, 5,892 in all80%
Clinton CountyBest the second week of August · 126 checklists that week, 10,597 in all77%
Ingham CountyBest the second week of August · 661 checklists that week, 51,223 in all77%
Ogemaw CountyBest late July · 105 checklists that week, 4,675 in all76%
Osceola CountyBest the second week of December · 85 checklists that week, 5,623 in all75%
Ionia CountyBest early August · 50 checklists that week, 5,509 in all75%

Common questions

When do goldfinches arrive in Michigan?: The American Goldfinch is in Michigan all year. It turns up on about 56% of checklists at its peak (the second week of August) and on 24% in its quietest week (the second week of March). They are the only regular goldfinches in Michigan.
When do goldfinches leave Michigan?: The American Goldfinch does not leave Michigan: it is reported all year, from 24% of checklists in the second week of March to 56% in the second week of August.
When is the best time to see goldfinches in Michigan?: The American Goldfinch is reported most often in the second week of August, on about 56% of Michigan checklists.