When do goldfinches leave Tennessee?

The American Goldfinch does not leave Tennessee: it is reported all year, from 19% of checklists in mid October to 45% in early August.

When is the best time to see goldfinches in Tennessee?

The American Goldfinch is reported most often in early August, on about 45% of Tennessee checklists.

American Goldfinch · Spinus tristis

When Do Goldfinches Arrive in Tennessee?

Photo: Andy Wilson, CC0 1.0 via iNaturalist

The American Goldfinch is in Tennessee all year. It turns up on about 45% of checklists at its peak (early August) and on 19% in its quietest week (mid October). They are the only regular goldfinches in Tennessee.

When to look

PresentAll year

Peak weekAug 1-7early August

Quietest weekOct 15-21mid October

Best: early August. Here all year. Peak: on about 45% of Tennessee checklists.

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

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

Goldfinches in Tennessee, species by species

Species	First arrivals	Common by	Peak	Most gone by	Peak %
American Goldfinch	all year	–	Aug 1-7	–	45%

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 Tennessee 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 Tennessee

Best counties for American Goldfinch

Share of checklists at the peak

Houston CountyBest mid July · 15 checklists that week, 1,234 in all85%
Tipton CountyBest early December · 24 checklists that week, 1,603 in all78%
Grainger CountyBest the second week of August · 83 checklists that week, 3,030 in all77%
Weakley CountyBest early February · 53 checklists that week, 2,092 in all75%
Carter CountyBest the second week of August · 92 checklists that week, 8,175 in all75%
Hawkins CountyBest the second week of August · 181 checklists that week, 11,261 in all74%

Common questions

When do goldfinches arrive in Tennessee?: The American Goldfinch is in Tennessee all year. It turns up on about 45% of checklists at its peak (early August) and on 19% in its quietest week (mid October). They are the only regular goldfinches in Tennessee.
When do goldfinches leave Tennessee?: The American Goldfinch does not leave Tennessee: it is reported all year, from 19% of checklists in mid October to 45% in early August.
When is the best time to see goldfinches in Tennessee?: The American Goldfinch is reported most often in early August, on about 45% of Tennessee checklists.