WhenToBird

2 goldfinche species in Nevada

When Do Goldfinches Arrive in Nevada?

Adult male Lesser Goldfinch
Photo: Aitor, CC BY 4.0 via iNaturalist

Lesser Goldfinches and American Goldfinches are the goldfinches you are most likely to see in Nevada. The Lesser Goldfinch is in Nevada all year. It turns up on about 31% of checklists at its peak (the second week of May) and on 20% in its quietest week (the second week of January).

When to look

PresentAll year
Peak weekMay 8-14the second week of May
Quietest weekJan 8-14the second week of January

Best: the second week of May. Here all year. Peak: on about 31% of Nevada checklists.

  1. Jancommon
  2. Febcommon
  3. Marpeak season
  4. Aprpeak season
  5. Maypeak season
  6. Junpeak season
  7. Julcommon
  8. Augpeak season
  9. Seppeak season
  10. Octpeak season
  11. Novcommon
  12. Deccommon

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

Goldfinches in Nevada, species by species

SpeciesFirst arrivalsCommon byPeakMost gone byPeak %
Lesser Goldfinchall year–May 8-14–31%
American GoldfinchSep 1-7Oct 15-21Dec 1-7May 8-148.0%
0%10%20%30%40%Lesser GoldfinchAmerican GoldfinchJanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec
  • Lesser Goldfinch
  • 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 Nevada 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 Nevada

Best counties for Lesser Goldfinch

Share of checklists at the peak
  1. Storey CountyBest the second week of June · 59 checklists that week, 1,593 in all55%
  2. Carson CityBest late April · 221 checklists that week, 6,992 in all52%
  3. Esmeralda CountyBest mid April · 31 checklists that week, 2,275 in all51%
  4. Washoe CountyBest the second week of May · 1623 checklists that week, 53,497 in all48%
  5. Lincoln CountyBest late August · 90 checklists that week, 3,842 in all45%
  6. Douglas CountyBest early March · 127 checklists that week, 7,476 in all41%

Common questions

When do goldfinches arrive in Nevada?
The Lesser Goldfinch is in Nevada all year. It turns up on about 31% of checklists at its peak (the second week of May) and on 20% in its quietest week (the second week of January).
When do goldfinches leave Nevada?
The Lesser Goldfinch does not leave Nevada: it is reported all year, from 20% of checklists in the second week of January to 31% in the second week of May.
When is the best time to see goldfinches in Nevada?
The Lesser Goldfinch is reported most often in the second week of May, on about 31% of Nevada checklists.
Which goldfinches are in Nevada?
Lesser Goldfinch and American Goldfinch are reported regularly; the Lesser Goldfinch is the most common.