When do goldfinches leave South Carolina?

American Goldfinches never fully leave South Carolina: numbers fall back below half their usual rate by late April, but some are still reported in every week, about 7.9% of checklists at the low.

When is the best time to see goldfinches in South Carolina?

The American Goldfinch is reported most often in the second week of February, on about 24% of South Carolina checklists.

American Goldfinch · Spinus tristis

When Do Goldfinches Arrive in South Carolina?

Photo: Andy Wilson, CC0 1.0 via iNaturalist

American Goldfinches are in South Carolina all year, but most are here in winter: numbers build from mid November, peak in the second week of February (24% of checklists), and fall back by late April. In the quietest week (the second week of October) they are still on about 7.9% of checklists. They are the only regular goldfinches in South Carolina.

When to look

Numbers buildNov 15-21mid November

PeakFeb 8-14the second week of February

Fall back byApr 22-30late April

FewestOct 8-14the second week of October

Best: the second week of February. Here all year; numbers build from mid November and fall back by late April. Peak: on about 24% of South Carolina checklists.

Janpeak season
Febpeak season
Marpeak season
Aprpeak season
Maycommon
Juncommon
Julcommon
Augcommon
Sepcommon
Octuncommon
Novcommon
Decpeak season

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

Goldfinches in South Carolina, species by species

Species	First arrivals	Common by	Peak	Most gone by	Peak %
American Goldfinch	Nov 15-21	Nov 15-21	Feb 8-14	Apr 22-30	24%

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 South 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 South Carolina

Best counties for American Goldfinch

Share of checklists at the peak

Greenville CountyBest the second week of August · 637 checklists that week, 53,159 in all60%
Cherokee CountyBest early August · 35 checklists that week, 2,823 in all58%
York CountyBest mid August · 177 checklists that week, 12,176 in all58%
Saluda CountyBest late May · 59 checklists that week, 1,965 in all55%
Laurens CountyBest early February · 50 checklists that week, 2,316 in all55%
Union CountyBest early July · 13 checklists that week, 851 in all53%

Common questions

When do goldfinches arrive in South Carolina?: American Goldfinches are in South Carolina all year, but most are here in winter: numbers build from mid November, peak in the second week of February (24% of checklists), and fall back by late April. In the quietest week (the second week of October) they are still on about 7.9% of checklists. They are the only regular goldfinches in South Carolina.
When do goldfinches leave South Carolina?: American Goldfinches never fully leave South Carolina: numbers fall back below half their usual rate by late April, but some are still reported in every week, about 7.9% of checklists at the low.
When is the best time to see goldfinches in South Carolina?: The American Goldfinch is reported most often in the second week of February, on about 24% of South Carolina checklists.