When do goldfinches leave Ohio?

American Goldfinches never fully leave Ohio: numbers fall back below half their usual rate by late September, but some are still reported in every week, about 20% of checklists at the low.

When is the best time to see goldfinches in Ohio?

The American Goldfinch is reported most often in the second week of August, on about 65% of Ohio checklists.

American Goldfinch · Spinus tristis

When Do Goldfinches Arrive in Ohio?

Photo: Andy Wilson, CC0 1.0 via iNaturalist

American Goldfinches are in Ohio all year, but most are here in summer: numbers build from late May, peak in the second week of August (65% of checklists), and fall back by late September. In the quietest week (early March) they are still on about 20% of checklists. They are the only regular goldfinches in Ohio.

When to look

Numbers buildMay 22-31late May

PeakAug 8-14the second week of August

Fall back bySep 22-30late September

FewestMar 1-7early March

Best: the second week of August. Here all year; numbers build from late May and fall back by late September. Peak: on about 65% of Ohio checklists.

Jancommon
Febcommon
Marcommon
Aprpeak season
Maycommon
Junpeak season
Julpeak season
Augpeak season
Seppeak season
Octcommon
Novcommon
Deccommon

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

Goldfinches in Ohio, species by species

Species	First arrivals	Common by	Peak	Most gone by	Peak %
American Goldfinch	May 22-31	May 22-31	Aug 8-14	Sep 22-30	65%

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 Ohio 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 Ohio

Best counties for American Goldfinch

Share of checklists at the peak

Monroe CountyBest late January · 31 checklists that week, 1,141 in all87%
Mahoning CountyBest mid August · 244 checklists that week, 14,421 in all82%
Marion CountyBest mid August · 265 checklists that week, 14,246 in all80%
Medina CountyBest the second week of August · 324 checklists that week, 23,697 in all80%
Perry CountyBest early September · 178 checklists that week, 6,489 in all79%
Brown CountyBest mid August · 30 checklists that week, 1,793 in all78%

Common questions

When do goldfinches arrive in Ohio?: American Goldfinches are in Ohio all year, but most are here in summer: numbers build from late May, peak in the second week of August (65% of checklists), and fall back by late September. In the quietest week (early March) they are still on about 20% of checklists. They are the only regular goldfinches in Ohio.
When do goldfinches leave Ohio?: American Goldfinches never fully leave Ohio: numbers fall back below half their usual rate by late September, but some are still reported in every week, about 20% of checklists at the low.
When is the best time to see goldfinches in Ohio?: The American Goldfinch is reported most often in the second week of August, on about 65% of Ohio checklists.