American Goldfinch in September
Where goldfinches are in September, whether they are nesting, and the best foods to offer right now.
September in the American Goldfinch's year
September is the peak of fall migration. Huge numbers of birds move south on cold fronts, mixed flocks form, and summer residents slip away almost unnoticed. Young birds making their first migration appear in places the species rarely visits.
For the American Goldfinch specifically, September is a fall month inside the nesting season — one of the most active and demanding periods of this bird's year. Across the 58 states and provinces where goldfinches occur, what the bird is doing this month depends heavily on latitude — the details below break it down by band.
Where goldfinches are in September
- Southern states
- absent
- Mid-latitudes
- year-round resident
- Northern states & Canada
- absent
In September, goldfinches are absent in the South, year-round resident across the mid-latitudes, and absent in the northern states and Canada. That north–south split is the defining feature of this month: where you live changes which version of this bird you're looking at.
Nesting in September
September is inside the American Goldfinch nesting season — about a month earlier in the South and a month later in the North. Nest: tight cup in shrubs or saplings, lined with thistle or cattail down; nests late, in july–september. Clutch 2–7 eggs, incubation 12–14 days, 1–2 per season.
The southern nesting season has already wound down, but northern pairs are still raising young — the whole season shifts later as you go north. During the nesting months, adults switch to protein-rich foods for their young, become more secretive around the nest site, and often visit feeders in quick, purposeful trips rather than lingering.
What to feed in September
- Thistle, sunflower, coneflower and aster seeds
- Tree buds and maple sap in spring
Goldfinches travel in flocks and can empty a finch feeder quickly. Keep nyjer fresh — they abandon stale, moldy seed.
Migrants passing through may stop at feeders for a day and never return — September rewards watching closely. Natural seed and fruit crops are abundant, so feeder traffic can be uneven.
Full American Goldfinch diet guide → · Best feeder for goldfinches →
Watching goldfinches this month
In September, the best watching is around food rather than the nest — adults make repeated foraging trips and are most visible at dawn and dusk. Give nesting birds space: if a bird is carrying food or scolding you persistently, you're close to a nest and should back off.
The state guides below show exactly where in your region goldfinches are expected this month and which native plants hold them in a yard.
American Goldfinch month by month
American Goldfinch by state
Frequently asked
Where are goldfinches in September?
In September, goldfinches are absent in the South, year-round resident across mid-latitudes and absent in the North.
Do goldfinches nest in September?
Yes — September falls inside the American Goldfinch nesting season at mid-latitudes (a month earlier in the South).
What do goldfinches eat in September?
Thistle, sunflower, coneflower and aster seeds; Tree buds and maple sap in spring.
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
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.