WhenToBird

American Goldfinch · Spinus tristis

When Do Goldfinches Arrive in Mississippi?

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

American Goldfinches are winter birds in Mississippi: the first arrive in early November, they are common by mid November, peak in the second week of February (28% of checklists), and most are gone by the second week of April. They are the only regular goldfinches in Mississippi.

When to look

First arrivalsNov 1-7early November
Common byNov 15-21mid November
PeakFeb 8-14the second week of February
Most gone byApr 8-14the second week of April

Best: the second week of February. First arrivals early November; most are gone by the second week of April. Peak: on about 28% of Mississippi checklists.

  1. Janpeak season
  2. Febpeak season
  3. Marcommon
  4. Aprcommon
  5. Mayuncommon
  6. Junrare
  7. Julrare
  8. Augrare
  9. Seprare
  10. Octrare
  11. Novcommon
  12. Deccommon

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

Goldfinches in Mississippi, species by species

SpeciesFirst arrivalsCommon byPeakMost gone byPeak %
American GoldfinchNov 1-7Nov 15-21Feb 8-14Apr 8-1428%
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 Mississippi 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 Mississippi

Best counties for American Goldfinch

Share of checklists at the peak
  1. Jefferson Davis CountyBest mid February · 16 checklists that week, 370 in all75%
  2. Simpson CountyBest early February · 15 checklists that week, 637 in all63%
  3. Lamar CountyBest the second week of February · 80 checklists that week, 4,140 in all60%
  4. George CountyBest mid February · 12 checklists that week, 490 in all58%
  5. Winston CountyBest mid November · 10 checklists that week, 382 in all58%
  6. Wilkinson CountyBest late January · 12 checklists that week, 213 in all56%

Common questions

When do goldfinches arrive in Mississippi?
American Goldfinches are winter birds in Mississippi: the first arrive in early November, they are common by mid November, peak in the second week of February (28% of checklists), and most are gone by the second week of April. They are the only regular goldfinches in Mississippi.
When do goldfinches leave Mississippi?
Most American Goldfinches have left Mississippi by the second week of April, when reports fall below half their usual rate. Stragglers are still reported until late May.
When is the best time to see goldfinches in Mississippi?
The American Goldfinch is reported most often in the second week of February, on about 28% of Mississippi checklists.