When do goldfinches leave South Dakota?

American Goldfinches never fully leave South Dakota: numbers fall back below half their usual rate by early September, but some are still reported in every week, about 9.2% of checklists at the low.

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

The American Goldfinch is reported most often in the second week of August, on about 35% of South Dakota checklists.

American Goldfinch · Spinus tristis

When Do Goldfinches Arrive in South Dakota?

Photo: Andy Wilson, CC0 1.0 via iNaturalist

American Goldfinches are in South Dakota all year, but most are here in summer: numbers build from early May, peak in the second week of August (35% of checklists), and fall back by early September. In the quietest week (the second week of October) they are still on about 9.2% of checklists. They are the only regular goldfinches in South Dakota.

When to look

Numbers buildMay 1-7early May

PeakAug 8-14the second week of August

Fall back bySep 1-7early September

FewestOct 8-14the second week of October

Best: the second week of August. Here all year; numbers build from early May and fall back by early September. Peak: on about 35% of South Dakota checklists.

Jancommon
Febcommon
Marcommon
Aprcommon
Maypeak season
Junpeak season
Julpeak season
Augpeak season
Seppeak season
Octuncommon
Novcommon
Deccommon

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

Goldfinches in South Dakota, species by species

Species	First arrivals	Common by	Peak	Most gone by	Peak %
American Goldfinch	May 1-7	May 1-7	Aug 8-14	Sep 1-7	35%

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 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 South Dakota

Best counties for American Goldfinch

Share of checklists at the peak

Beadle CountyBest mid January · 15 checklists that week, 1,402 in all82%
Sanborn CountyBest mid December · 15 checklists that week, 748 in all81%
Roberts CountyBest the second week of December · 37 checklists that week, 3,523 in all75%
Lincoln CountyBest mid August · 41 checklists that week, 2,721 in all71%
Clay CountyBest the second week of December · 10 checklists that week, 2,633 in all70%
Gregory CountyBest the second week of July · 11 checklists that week, 472 in all70%

Common questions

When do goldfinches arrive in South Dakota?: American Goldfinches are in South Dakota all year, but most are here in summer: numbers build from early May, peak in the second week of August (35% of checklists), and fall back by early September. In the quietest week (the second week of October) they are still on about 9.2% of checklists. They are the only regular goldfinches in South Dakota.
When do goldfinches leave South Dakota?: American Goldfinches never fully leave South Dakota: numbers fall back below half their usual rate by early September, but some are still reported in every week, about 9.2% of checklists at the low.
When is the best time to see goldfinches in South Dakota?: The American Goldfinch is reported most often in the second week of August, on about 35% of South Dakota checklists.