When do goldfinches leave New Mexico?

Lesser Goldfinches never fully leave New Mexico: numbers fall back below half their usual rate by the second week of October, but some are still reported in every week, about 13% of checklists at the low.

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

The Lesser Goldfinch is reported most often in late August, on about 43% of New Mexico checklists.

Which goldfinches are in New Mexico?

Lesser Goldfinch and American Goldfinch are reported regularly; the Lesser Goldfinch is the most common.

2 goldfinche species in New Mexico

When Do Goldfinches Arrive in New Mexico?

Photo: Aitor, CC BY 4.0 via iNaturalist

Lesser Goldfinches and American Goldfinches are the goldfinches you are most likely to see in New Mexico. Lesser Goldfinches are in New Mexico all year, but most are here in summer: numbers build from the second week of June, peak in late August (43% of checklists), and fall back by the second week of October. In the quietest week (mid January) they are still on about 13% of checklists.

When to look

Numbers buildJun 8-14the second week of June

PeakAug 22-31late August

Fall back byOct 8-14the second week of October

FewestJan 15-21mid January

Best: late August. Here all year; numbers build from the second week of June and fall back by the second week of October. Peak: on about 43% of New Mexico checklists.

Januncommon
Febcommon
Marcommon
Aprcommon
Maycommon
Junpeak season
Julpeak season
Augpeak season
Seppeak season
Octcommon
Novcommon
Decuncommon

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

Goldfinches in New Mexico, species by species

Species	First arrivals	Common by	Peak	Most gone by	Peak %
Lesser Goldfinch	Jun 8-14	Jun 8-14	Aug 22-31	Oct 8-14	43%
American Goldfinch	Jul 22-31	Oct 1-7	Nov 22-30	May 15-21	7.6%

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 New Mexico 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 Mexico

Best counties for Lesser Goldfinch

Share of checklists at the peak

Los Alamos CountyBest late July · 1028 checklists that week, 50,554 in all62%
Bernalillo CountyBest late August · 3358 checklists that week, 135,737 in all56%
Santa Fe CountyBest the second week of August · 1225 checklists that week, 66,241 in all55%
Grant CountyBest early September · 258 checklists that week, 16,662 in all50%
Valencia CountyBest the second week of September · 153 checklists that week, 8,351 in all47%
McKinley CountyBest the second week of August · 32 checklists that week, 2,545 in all46%

Common questions

When do goldfinches arrive in New Mexico?: Lesser Goldfinches are in New Mexico all year, but most are here in summer: numbers build from the second week of June, peak in late August (43% of checklists), and fall back by the second week of October. In the quietest week (mid January) they are still on about 13% of checklists.
When do goldfinches leave New Mexico?: Lesser Goldfinches never fully leave New Mexico: numbers fall back below half their usual rate by the second week of October, but some are still reported in every week, about 13% of checklists at the low.
When is the best time to see goldfinches in New Mexico?: The Lesser Goldfinch is reported most often in late August, on about 43% of New Mexico checklists.
Which goldfinches are in New Mexico?: Lesser Goldfinch and American Goldfinch are reported regularly; the Lesser Goldfinch is the most common.