American Goldfinchs in Maine
When goldfinches are present in Maine, when they nest, which native Maine plants feed them, and how to host them in a USDA 3b–6b yard.
- Status in Maine
- Year-round resident
- Nesting window
- August–September
- Broods
- 1–2 per season
- Hardiness zones
- USDA 3b–6b
When to expect goldfinches in Maine
American Goldfinchs live in Maine all year. Long, snowy winters; boreal finches and Pine Grosbeaks irrupt south in poor cone years. That makes the cold months the time your yard matters most to them: their winter diet shifts toward birch and alder seeds; nyjer and hulled sunflower at feeders.
Humid continental with a long, rocky Atlantic coast and extensive northern spruce-fir forest.
Nesting in Maine
Across Maine, goldfinches typically nest from August–September. Nest site: tight cup in shrubs or saplings, lined with thistle or cattail down; nests late, in July–September. Females lay 2–7 eggs, incubate for 12–14 days, and young leave the nest after 11–17 days.
Cool, short summers; many songbirds do not begin nesting until late May.
- American Goldfinchs don't use nest boxes. Keep dense native shrubs and trees such as paper birch, sugar maple, red maple for nest sites.
- Delay heavy pruning of shrubs until after September.
Native Maine plants that attract goldfinches
Of the regional native plants we track for Maine, these 8 provide food or cover goldfinches use:
Tubular flowers for hummingbirds and seed heads for finches.
Prolific seed heads for finches and sparrows.
Late nectar for insects and fall seed for sparrows.
Native bunchgrass; winter seed and ground cover for sparrows and juncos.
Insect-rich in fall and seed in winter.
Catkin seed feeds redpolls and siskins all winter.
Hosts hundreds of caterpillar species; spring flowers draw early insects.
Among the first spring bloomers; early insects for returning migrants.
Feeding goldfinches through the Maine year
Goldfinches travel in flocks and can empty a finch feeder quickly. Keep nyjer fresh — they abandon stale, moldy seed.
- Best foods: Nyjer (thistle), Hulled sunflower chips, Black-oil sunflower.
- In Maine's winter: Long, snowy winters; boreal finches and Pine Grosbeaks irrupt south in poor cone years.
Full diet breakdown for goldfinches · Best feeder for goldfinches
Frequently asked
Are goldfinches in Maine year-round?
Yes. American Goldfinchs are year-round residents in Maine.
When do goldfinches nest in Maine?
Nesting in Maine typically runs August–September, with 1–2 per season. Clutches are 2–7 eggs, incubated for 12–14 days.
What native plants attract goldfinches in Maine?
Wild bergamot, Black-eyed Susan, New England aster, Little bluestem, Tall goldenrod, Paper birch, Sugar maple, Red maple are native plants in Maine that provide food or cover for goldfinches.
American Goldfinchs in other regions
Other backyard birds in Maine
Sources
- American Goldfinch — All About Birds, Cornell Lab of Ornithology
- American Goldfinch life history — Cornell Lab of Ornithology
- American Goldfinch — Audubon Guide to North American Birds
- eBird region overview and bar charts — Maine
- USDA Plant Hardiness Zone Map (2023)
- Audubon Native Plants Database
Timing reflects typical patterns for the region as a whole; local dates vary with elevation and year. Check the linked eBird bar charts for your county.