WhenToBird

American Goldfinch · Spinus tristis

When Do Goldfinches Arrive in North Carolina?

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

The American Goldfinch is in North Carolina all year. It turns up on about 42% of checklists at its peak (mid August) and on 22% in its quietest week (mid October). They are the only regular goldfinches in North Carolina.

When to look

PresentAll year
Peak weekAug 15-21mid August
Quietest weekOct 15-21mid October

Best: mid August. Here all year. Peak: on about 42% of North Carolina checklists.

  1. Jancommon
  2. Febcommon
  3. Marpeak season
  4. Aprpeak season
  5. Maypeak season
  6. Juncommon
  7. Julpeak season
  8. Augpeak season
  9. Seppeak season
  10. Octcommon
  11. Novcommon
  12. Deccommon

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

Goldfinches in North Carolina, species by species

SpeciesFirst arrivalsCommon byPeakMost gone byPeak %
American Goldfinchall year–Aug 15-21–42%
0%20%40%60%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 North Carolina 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 North Carolina

Best counties for American Goldfinch

Share of checklists at the peak
  1. Gates CountyBest late January · 80 checklists that week, 4,066 in all81%
  2. Alleghany CountyBest the second week of August · 35 checklists that week, 2,311 in all79%
  3. Madison CountyBest mid August · 57 checklists that week, 6,254 in all76%
  4. Granville CountyBest mid August · 73 checklists that week, 4,892 in all69%
  5. Buncombe CountyBest mid August · 1165 checklists that week, 84,321 in all69%
  6. Stokes CountyBest the second week of August · 49 checklists that week, 5,660 in all69%

Common questions

When do goldfinches arrive in North Carolina?
The American Goldfinch is in North Carolina all year. It turns up on about 42% of checklists at its peak (mid August) and on 22% in its quietest week (mid October). They are the only regular goldfinches in North Carolina.
When do goldfinches leave North Carolina?
The American Goldfinch does not leave North Carolina: it is reported all year, from 22% of checklists in mid October to 42% in mid August.
When is the best time to see goldfinches in North Carolina?
The American Goldfinch is reported most often in mid August, on about 42% of North Carolina checklists.