Goldfinches are small birds commonly seen during the spring and summer. You may have heard about their migratory habits and would like to learn more. Do these tiny birds migrate? How far do goldfinches migrate, and where do they go each year? Keep reading as we provide answers to your burning questions.
What You'll Learn Today
Do Goldfinches Migrate?
Like many other types of birds, many goldfinches migrate in search of warmer climates during the winter. This isn’t a strict rule for all goldfinches, however; some of them stay in their breeding ranges all year long.
American goldfinches can be found throughout much of North America, from parts of Canada down into Mexico, depending on the time of year. Those in the northern reaches of their range may begin their migration during September or October, often not returning until May of the following year.
That said, goldfinches living further south, throughout the central reaches of the U.S., commonly stay in their breeding ranges year-round or may wait until much later to migrate south.
How Far Do Goldfinches Migrate?
Goldfinch migration is fairly erratic and unpredictable. They don’t have set timelines or patterns for their migration, and even those that have the longest routes don’t typically travel as far as other migratory birds.
Goldfinch migration routes are rarely longer than 500 to 1,000 miles. Those traveling from the far northern borders of their range usually have the farthest to travel, while those further south may only travel a couple hundred miles or less.
Goldfinches that live in the south year-round don’t technically migrate, but they may still move from one place to another during winter. They sometimes have breeding grounds in one region and move to another region with a similar or slightly warmer climate when they are not breeding.
These winter movements are insignificant compared to the distances their migrational relatives travel. They may travel only a hundred miles or less.
Where Do Goldfinches Migrate To?
There are different species of goldfinch that have different migrational patterns. American goldfinches are the most widespread; lesser goldfinches, Lawrence goldfinches, and European goldfinches also migrate.
American goldfinches often travel from their northern ranges in southern and central Canada to parts of the central and southern U.S. Some of them even make it down into parts of Mexico.
Lawrence and lesser goldfinches are both native to parts of the southwestern U.S. and northwest Mexico. Lawrence goldfinches migrate from central and northern reaches of California to warmer regions of Arizona, New Mexico, and Mexico, while lesser goldfinches breed throughout the Rocky Mountains region before moving south to Mexico and west to U.S. coastal areas during the winter.
European goldfinches are year-round residents throughout much of Europe and northern Africa. They sometimes migrate eastward into parts of Russia to breed in the summer, and some populations find their way to Eurasia and the Mediterranean regions for the winter.
Do Goldfinches Migrate in the Winter?
Goldfinches that migrate typically do so before and after winter arrives. They rarely travel during the coldest season of the year.
Goldfinches typically migrate in search of food; therefore, they will begin their migration during autumn as their usual plant-based food sources become more scarce but before they have disappeared completely. If they traveled during the heart of winter, they would likely be unable to find enough food to support such a journey.
What’s more, due to their small size, goldfinches rely on the milder climates they find in the south to help them survive the winter. They migrate not only in search of food but to keep from freezing; if they traveled in the winter, they would likely freeze to death before reaching their destinations.
Check out this video to learn more about American goldfinches, including how to attract them to your backyard when they are passing through your region:
Conclusion
Goldfinches are migratory birds, but not all of them choose to migrate; those already living in mild southern regions of their breeding range may choose to remain year-round. Among the goldfinches that do migrate, they don’t usually travel as far as other migratory birds; at most, their journeys usually only take them 500 to 1,000 miles.
