When do goldfinches leave Virginia?

The American Goldfinch does not leave Virginia: it is reported all year, from 24% of checklists in early March to 55% in the second week of August.

When is the best time to see goldfinches in Virginia?

The American Goldfinch is reported most often in the second week of August, on about 55% of Virginia checklists.

American Goldfinch · Spinus tristis

When Do Goldfinches Arrive in Virginia?

Photo: Andy Wilson, CC0 1.0 via iNaturalist

The American Goldfinch is in Virginia all year. It turns up on about 55% of checklists at its peak (the second week of August) and on 24% in its quietest week (early March). They are the only regular goldfinches in Virginia.

When to look

PresentAll year

Peak weekAug 8-14the second week of August

Quietest weekMar 1-7early March

Best: the second week of August. Here all year. Peak: on about 55% of Virginia 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 Virginia, species by species

Species	First arrivals	Common by	Peak	Most gone by	Peak %
American Goldfinch	all year	–	Aug 8-14	–	55%

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 Virginia 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 Virginia

Best counties for American Goldfinch

Share of checklists at the peak

Buchanan CountyBest early December · 13 checklists that week, 1,612 in all91%
Patrick CountyBest mid August · 41 checklists that week, 3,252 in all83%
Grayson CountyBest the second week of January · 63 checklists that week, 5,247 in all83%
Buena Vista CountyBest the second week of July · 11 checklists that week, 525 in all82%
Clarke CountyBest the second week of August · 65 checklists that week, 8,388 in all82%
Russell CountyBest late July · 19 checklists that week, 770 in all81%

Common questions

When do goldfinches arrive in Virginia?: The American Goldfinch is in Virginia all year. It turns up on about 55% of checklists at its peak (the second week of August) and on 24% in its quietest week (early March). They are the only regular goldfinches in Virginia.
When do goldfinches leave Virginia?: The American Goldfinch does not leave Virginia: it is reported all year, from 24% of checklists in early March to 55% in the second week of August.
When is the best time to see goldfinches in Virginia?: The American Goldfinch is reported most often in the second week of August, on about 55% of Virginia checklists.