When do goldfinches leave New Jersey?

American Goldfinches never fully leave New Jersey: numbers fall back below half their usual rate by the second week of September, but some are still reported in every week, about 16% of checklists at the low.

When is the best time to see goldfinches in New Jersey?

The American Goldfinch is reported most often in the second week of August, on about 50% of New Jersey checklists.

American Goldfinch · Spinus tristis

When Do Goldfinches Arrive in New Jersey?

Photo: Andy Wilson, CC0 1.0 via iNaturalist

American Goldfinches are in New Jersey all year, but most are here in summer: numbers build from early June, peak in the second week of August (50% of checklists), and fall back by the second week of September. In the quietest week (early March) they are still on about 16% of checklists. They are the only regular goldfinches in New Jersey.

When to look

Numbers buildJun 1-7early June

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 early June and fall back by the second week of September. Peak: on about 50% of New Jersey checklists.

Januncommon
Febuncommon
Marcommon
Aprpeak season
Maypeak season
Juncommon
Julpeak season
Augpeak season
Seppeak season
Octcommon
Novcommon
Deccommon

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

Goldfinches in New Jersey, species by species

Species	First arrivals	Common by	Peak	Most gone by	Peak %
American Goldfinch	Jun 1-7	Jun 1-7	Aug 8-14	Sep 8-14	50%

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 New Jersey 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 New Jersey

Best counties for American Goldfinch

Share of checklists at the peak

Hunterdon CountyBest early August · 854 checklists that week, 57,610 in all76%
Warren CountyBest the second week of August · 315 checklists that week, 20,077 in all74%
Sussex CountyBest the second week of August · 371 checklists that week, 30,305 in all71%
Morris CountyBest the second week of August · 757 checklists that week, 59,212 in all66%
Mercer CountyBest early August · 794 checklists that week, 56,614 in all65%
Somerset CountyBest the second week of August · 776 checklists that week, 58,057 in all62%

Common questions

When do goldfinches arrive in New Jersey?: American Goldfinches are in New Jersey all year, but most are here in summer: numbers build from early June, peak in the second week of August (50% of checklists), and fall back by the second week of September. In the quietest week (early March) they are still on about 16% of checklists. They are the only regular goldfinches in New Jersey.
When do goldfinches leave New Jersey?: American Goldfinches never fully leave New Jersey: numbers fall back below half their usual rate by the second week of September, but some are still reported in every week, about 16% of checklists at the low.
When is the best time to see goldfinches in New Jersey?: The American Goldfinch is reported most often in the second week of August, on about 50% of New Jersey checklists.