WhenToBird

American Goldfinch · Spinus tristis

When Do Goldfinches Arrive in North Dakota?

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

American Goldfinches are in North Dakota all year, but most are here in summer: numbers build from the second week of May, peak in mid August (53% of checklists), and fall back by mid September. In the quietest week (mid March) they are still on about 5.9% of checklists. They are the only regular goldfinches in North Dakota.

When to look

Numbers buildMay 8-14the second week of May
PeakAug 15-21mid August
Fall back bySep 15-21mid September
FewestMar 15-21mid March

Best: mid August. Here all year; numbers build from the second week of May and fall back by mid September. Peak: on about 53% of North Dakota checklists.

  1. Januncommon
  2. Febuncommon
  3. Marrare
  4. Apruncommon
  5. Maypeak season
  6. Junpeak season
  7. Julpeak season
  8. Augpeak season
  9. Seppeak season
  10. Octuncommon
  11. Novrare
  12. Decuncommon

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

Goldfinches in North Dakota, species by species

SpeciesFirst arrivalsCommon byPeakMost gone byPeak %
American GoldfinchMay 8-14May 8-14Aug 15-21Sep 15-2153%
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 Dakota 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 Dakota

Best counties for American Goldfinch

Share of checklists at the peak
  1. Steele CountyBest late July · 136 checklists that week, 6,291 in all87%
  2. Bottineau CountyBest late August · 96 checklists that week, 1,949 in all81%
  3. Pembina CountyBest late July · 11 checklists that week, 585 in all75%
  4. Traill CountyBest early January · 10 checklists that week, 764 in all74%
  5. Oliver CountyBest mid August · 16 checklists that week, 776 in all73%
  6. Emmons CountyBest early July · 34 checklists that week, 687 in all73%

Common questions

When do goldfinches arrive in North Dakota?
American Goldfinches are in North Dakota all year, but most are here in summer: numbers build from the second week of May, peak in mid August (53% of checklists), and fall back by mid September. In the quietest week (mid March) they are still on about 5.9% of checklists. They are the only regular goldfinches in North Dakota.
When do goldfinches leave North Dakota?
American Goldfinches never fully leave North Dakota: 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 North Dakota?
The American Goldfinch is reported most often in mid August, on about 53% of North Dakota checklists.