WhenToBird

2 goldfinche species in Oregon

When Do Goldfinches Arrive in Oregon?

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

American Goldfinches and Lesser Goldfinches are the goldfinches you are most likely to see in Oregon. American Goldfinches are in Oregon all year, but most are here in summer: numbers build from late April, peak in the second week of May (25% of checklists), and fall back by mid October. In the quietest week (late January) they are still on about 5.1% of checklists.

When to look

Numbers buildApr 22-30late April
PeakMay 8-14the second week of May
Fall back byOct 15-21mid October
FewestJan 22-31late January

Best: the second week of May. Here all year; numbers build from late April and fall back by mid October. Peak: on about 25% of Oregon checklists.

  1. Januncommon
  2. Febuncommon
  3. Maruncommon
  4. Aprpeak season
  5. Maypeak season
  6. Junpeak season
  7. Julpeak season
  8. Augpeak season
  9. Seppeak season
  10. Octpeak season
  11. Novcommon
  12. Decuncommon

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

Goldfinches in Oregon, species by species

SpeciesFirst arrivalsCommon byPeakMost gone byPeak %
American GoldfinchApr 22-30Apr 22-30May 8-14Oct 15-2125%
Lesser Goldfinchall year–Apr 15-21–23%
0%10%20%30%American GoldfinchLesser GoldfinchJanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec
  • American Goldfinch
  • Lesser 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 Oregon 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 Oregon

Best counties for American Goldfinch

Share of checklists at the peak
  1. Columbia CountyBest the second week of July · 353 checklists that week, 27,750 in all56%
  2. Polk CountyBest early July · 493 checklists that week, 29,096 in all51%
  3. Yamhill CountyBest the second week of June · 267 checklists that week, 11,537 in all46%
  4. Marion CountyBest mid July · 883 checklists that week, 52,870 in all45%
  5. Linn CountyBest the second week of May · 722 checklists that week, 27,533 in all42%
  6. Washington CountyBest mid July · 1745 checklists that week, 110,376 in all42%

Common questions

When do goldfinches arrive in Oregon?
American Goldfinches are in Oregon all year, but most are here in summer: numbers build from late April, peak in the second week of May (25% of checklists), and fall back by mid October. In the quietest week (late January) they are still on about 5.1% of checklists.
When do goldfinches leave Oregon?
American Goldfinches never fully leave Oregon: numbers fall back below half their usual rate by mid October, but some are still reported in every week, about 5.1% of checklists at the low.
When is the best time to see goldfinches in Oregon?
The American Goldfinch is reported most often in the second week of May, on about 25% of Oregon checklists.
Which goldfinches are in Oregon?
American Goldfinch and Lesser Goldfinch are reported regularly; the American Goldfinch is the most common.