When do goldfinches leave Montana?

American Goldfinches never fully leave Montana: numbers fall back below half their usual rate by mid September, but some are still reported in every week, about 5.9% of checklists at the low.

When is the best time to see goldfinches in Montana?

The American Goldfinch is reported most often in the second week of August, on about 26% of Montana checklists.

American Goldfinch · Spinus tristis

When Do Goldfinches Arrive in Montana?

Photo: Andy Wilson, CC0 1.0 via iNaturalist

American Goldfinches are in Montana all year, but most are here in summer: numbers build from mid May, peak in the second week of August (26% of checklists), and fall back by mid September. In the quietest week (the second week of March) they are still on about 5.9% of checklists. They are the only regular goldfinches in Montana.

When to look

Numbers buildMay 15-21mid May

PeakAug 8-14the second week of August

Fall back bySep 15-21mid September

FewestMar 8-14the second week of March

Best: the second week of August. Here all year; numbers build from mid May and fall back by mid September. Peak: on about 26% of Montana checklists.

Januncommon
Febuncommon
Maruncommon
Apruncommon
Maypeak season
Junpeak season
Julpeak season
Augpeak season
Seppeak season
Octcommon
Novcommon
Deccommon

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

Goldfinches in Montana, species by species

Species	First arrivals	Common by	Peak	Most gone by	Peak %
American Goldfinch	May 15-21	May 15-21	Aug 8-14	Sep 15-21	26%

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 Montana 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 Montana

Best counties for American Goldfinch

Share of checklists at the peak

Richland CountyBest late July · 19 checklists that week, 673 in all71%
Sheridan CountyBest the second week of September · 108 checklists that week, 2,316 in all56%
Treasure CountyBest mid July · 14 checklists that week, 265 in all56%
Broadwater CountyBest mid August · 84 checklists that week, 2,470 in all52%
Daniels CountyBest early June · 29 checklists that week, 481 in all51%
Dawson CountyBest the second week of August · 17 checklists that week, 743 in all50%

Common questions

When do goldfinches arrive in Montana?: American Goldfinches are in Montana all year, but most are here in summer: numbers build from mid May, peak in the second week of August (26% of checklists), and fall back by mid September. In the quietest week (the second week of March) they are still on about 5.9% of checklists. They are the only regular goldfinches in Montana.
When do goldfinches leave Montana?: American Goldfinches never fully leave Montana: numbers fall back below half their usual rate by mid September, but some are still reported in every week, about 5.9% of checklists at the low.
When is the best time to see goldfinches in Montana?: The American Goldfinch is reported most often in the second week of August, on about 26% of Montana checklists.