When do goldfinches leave West Virginia?

American Goldfinches never fully leave West Virginia: numbers fall back below half their usual rate by mid September, but some are still reported in every week, about 24% of checklists at the low.

When is the best time to see goldfinches in West Virginia?

The American Goldfinch is reported most often in the second week of August, on about 61% of West Virginia checklists.

American Goldfinch · Spinus tristis

When Do Goldfinches Arrive in West Virginia?

Photo: Andy Wilson, CC0 1.0 via iNaturalist

American Goldfinches are in West Virginia all year, but most are here in summer: numbers build from late June, peak in the second week of August (61% of checklists), and fall back by mid September. In the quietest week (the second week of March) they are still on about 24% of checklists. They are the only regular goldfinches in West Virginia.

When to look

Numbers buildJun 22-30late June

PeakAug 8-14the second week of August

Fall back bySep 15-21mid September

FewestMar 8-14the second week of March

Best: the second week of August. Here all year; numbers build from late June and fall back by mid September. Peak: on about 61% of West Virginia checklists.

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

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

Goldfinches in West Virginia, species by species

Species	First arrivals	Common by	Peak	Most gone by	Peak %
American Goldfinch	Jun 22-30	Jun 22-30	Aug 8-14	Sep 15-21	61%

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 West 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 West Virginia

Best counties for American Goldfinch

Share of checklists at the peak

Marshall CountyBest late November · 14 checklists that week, 895 in all91%
Ritchie CountyBest mid December · 61 checklists that week, 3,552 in all89%
Brooke CountyBest late July · 17 checklists that week, 594 in all88%
Putnam CountyBest early September · 98 checklists that week, 2,400 in all84%
Hardy CountyBest late July · 85 checklists that week, 4,765 in all78%
Barbour CountyBest the second week of August · 45 checklists that week, 1,534 in all78%

Common questions

When do goldfinches arrive in West Virginia?: American Goldfinches are in West Virginia all year, but most are here in summer: numbers build from late June, peak in the second week of August (61% of checklists), and fall back by mid September. In the quietest week (the second week of March) they are still on about 24% of checklists. They are the only regular goldfinches in West Virginia.
When do goldfinches leave West Virginia?: American Goldfinches never fully leave West Virginia: numbers fall back below half their usual rate by mid September, but some are still reported in every week, about 24% of checklists at the low.
When is the best time to see goldfinches in West Virginia?: The American Goldfinch is reported most often in the second week of August, on about 61% of West Virginia checklists.