When do goldfinches leave Wisconsin?

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

When is the best time to see goldfinches in Wisconsin?

The American Goldfinch is reported most often in the second week of August, on about 65% of Wisconsin checklists.

American Goldfinch · Spinus tristis

When Do Goldfinches Arrive in Wisconsin?

Photo: Andy Wilson, CC0 1.0 via iNaturalist

American Goldfinches are in Wisconsin all year, but most are here in summer: numbers build from late June, peak in the second week of August (65% of checklists), and fall back by early October. In the quietest week (the second week of March) they are still on about 25% of checklists. They are the only regular goldfinches in Wisconsin.

When to look

Numbers buildJun 22-30late June

PeakAug 8-14the second week of August

Fall back byOct 1-7early October

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 early October. Peak: on about 65% of Wisconsin 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 Wisconsin, species by species

Species	First arrivals	Common by	Peak	Most gone by	Peak %
American Goldfinch	Jun 22-30	Jun 22-30	Aug 8-14	Oct 1-7	65%

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 Wisconsin 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 Wisconsin

Best counties for American Goldfinch

Share of checklists at the peak

Lafayette CountyBest late August · 33 checklists that week, 1,911 in all89%
Green CountyBest mid August · 41 checklists that week, 4,387 in all88%
Crawford CountyBest mid August · 46 checklists that week, 4,271 in all87%
Langlade CountyBest late January · 86 checklists that week, 5,023 in all83%
Ozaukee CountyBest the second week of August · 452 checklists that week, 38,294 in all81%
Waukesha CountyBest the second week of August · 520 checklists that week, 43,790 in all81%

Common questions

When do goldfinches arrive in Wisconsin?: American Goldfinches are in Wisconsin all year, but most are here in summer: numbers build from late June, peak in the second week of August (65% of checklists), and fall back by early October. In the quietest week (the second week of March) they are still on about 25% of checklists. They are the only regular goldfinches in Wisconsin.
When do goldfinches leave Wisconsin?: American Goldfinches never fully leave Wisconsin: numbers fall back below half their usual rate by early October, but some are still reported in every week, about 25% of checklists at the low.
When is the best time to see goldfinches in Wisconsin?: The American Goldfinch is reported most often in the second week of August, on about 65% of Wisconsin checklists.