When do goldfinches leave Vermont?

American Goldfinches never fully leave Vermont: numbers fall back below half their usual rate by the second week of September, but some are still reported in every week, about 25% of checklists at the low.

When is the best time to see goldfinches in Vermont?

The American Goldfinch is reported most often in the second week of August, on about 63% of Vermont checklists.

American Goldfinch · Spinus tristis

When Do Goldfinches Arrive in Vermont?

Photo: Andy Wilson, CC0 1.0 via iNaturalist

American Goldfinches are in Vermont all year, but most are here in summer: numbers build from mid June, peak in the second week of August (63% of checklists), and fall back by the second week of September. In the quietest week (mid March) they are still on about 25% of checklists. They are the only regular goldfinches in Vermont.

When to look

Numbers buildJun 15-21mid June

PeakAug 8-14the second week of August

Fall back bySep 8-14the second week of September

FewestMar 15-21mid March

Best: the second week of August. Here all year; numbers build from mid June and fall back by the second week of September. Peak: on about 63% of Vermont checklists.

Jancommon
Febcommon
Marcommon
Aprcommon
Maypeak season
Juncommon
Julpeak season
Augpeak season
Seppeak season
Octcommon
Novcommon
Deccommon

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

Goldfinches in Vermont, species by species

Species	First arrivals	Common by	Peak	Most gone by	Peak %
American Goldfinch	Jun 15-21	Jun 15-21	Aug 8-14	Sep 8-14	63%

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 Vermont 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 Vermont

Best counties for American Goldfinch

Share of checklists at the peak

Windsor CountyBest the second week of August · 1162 checklists that week, 73,702 in all73%
Chittenden CountyBest early August · 1490 checklists that week, 109,477 in all70%
Orange CountyBest early August · 286 checklists that week, 16,964 in all68%
Washington CountyBest the second week of August · 619 checklists that week, 37,036 in all68%
Rutland CountyBest early August · 667 checklists that week, 46,909 in all67%
Bennington CountyBest the second week of August · 270 checklists that week, 21,621 in all66%

Common questions

When do goldfinches arrive in Vermont?: American Goldfinches are in Vermont all year, but most are here in summer: numbers build from mid June, peak in the second week of August (63% of checklists), and fall back by the second week of September. In the quietest week (mid March) they are still on about 25% of checklists. They are the only regular goldfinches in Vermont.
When do goldfinches leave Vermont?: American Goldfinches never fully leave Vermont: numbers fall back below half their usual rate by the second week of September, but some are still reported in every week, about 25% of checklists at the low.
When is the best time to see goldfinches in Vermont?: The American Goldfinch is reported most often in the second week of August, on about 63% of Vermont checklists.