Do Goldfinches Migrate? (European Goldfinches)

If you’re a Goldfinch fan (Carduelis carduelis), you might be wondering where do these birds go in the winter? Are they immigrants, or do they stay in the UK for the winter, put on gloves, hats and scarves, and make do with it like the rest of us? Well, here’s a complete guide to goldfinches and their migratory habits.

British goldfinch can migrate to Spain in winter. However, not all goldfinches leave the UK during the colder months. So some are residents while others are immigrants.

We’ll learn that goldfinches have rather odd migration patterns compared to other bird species. Their migratory habits become more and more curious the more you learn about them.

The goldfinch is known as a partial immigrant. This means that while some goldfinches are sure to leave the UK for the winter, others are more than happy to stay here. Goldfinch, for example, left England for the warmer climates of France and Spain.

British goldfinch are both resident and migratory

Are the goldfinch migrating from the UK?

Yes, Goldfinches do migrate from England in winter, but not all of them. If the goldfinches do decide to leave the UK for the winter, they can go as far as France or Spain.

Interestingly, though, goldfinches do not have their usual wintering grounds. Other birds return to the same places every winter. However, the goldfinch just finds food and stays in that place. So if goldfinches find plenty of food in the UK, they stay here. If they can’t find food, they may look for it in France or Spain.

When Do Goldfinch Migrate?

Goldfinches will begin to leave the UK for warmer climates in mid-autumn and return in early spring.

Some goldfinches do stay until early winter, though. With fewer goldfinches around, they take advantage of this and eat all the seeds they can find. If goldfinches can find enough food in the UK’s early winter months, they will usually spend the entire winter here.

European Goldfinch eating plant seeds

Where do goldfinches migrate to?

If goldfinches decide to migrate in search of food, they can go as far as France or Spain. However, it is also possible that the goldfinch found food sources in the UK and stayed there. So a goldfinch might migrate a few miles along a road, or a few hundred miles to the south of France. They do not have wintering grounds like other birds. Instead, they migrate wherever food can be found.

How far do goldfinches migrate?

British goldfinches may only migrate a few miles in winter, but when they migrate to Spain, they can cover distances of up to 900 miles.

Goldfinches don’t have the places they always go to spend the winter. They will migrate until they find food. So they can migrate for miles or hundreds of miles; depending on when they find a good food source.

European Goldfinch (Carduelis carduelis) drinking from a pond in Huelva, Andalusia, Spain

Do all goldfinches migrate?

No, some Goldfinch will remain in the UK year-round, possibly even with other European Goldfinch from the colder parts of Europe. While many goldfinches remain in the UK throughout the winter, they may still migrate for miles along the road.

In winter, goldfinch are always looking for food. So, if local food dries up, the bird flies to another location. For some, that might be France or Spain, but for others, it might be hundreds of yards away. So, while not every Goldfinch leaves the UK to migrate to another country, you could argue that all Goldfinch do. Under these conditions, most people leave their usual homes to find food.

Goldfinch perched on a branch in winter

Why don’t some goldfinches migrate?

Whether goldfinches migrate depends on whether they can find food locally. Goldfinches will be happy to stay in that spot all winter if they have enough seeds to eat all winter. Many goldfinches know that bird feeders are an excellent winter food source. So, if you have bird feeders in your garden, be sure to keep them topped up for the goldfinches throughout the winter.

If natural food in one part of the UK is depleted for goldfinches, they will happily travel to another part of the UK to find food during the winter. Goldfinches are very food-focused year-round, but especially in winter. So, where there is food, there are goldfinches. If that was England, they would just stay here to feed.

European Goldfinch perched on a branch, facing forward

Where do goldfinch go in winter?

If you notice fewer goldfinches in your garden over the winter, they may have moved miles down the road, or may have traveled as far as Spain for the winter.

Where goldfinches go in winter depends largely on the location of their food sources. Unlike other birds, goldfinches have no place in warm countries to call home in winter. Instead, they go for food, and wherever they find it, they call home until it runs out.

Therefore, a goldfinch can stay in your garden all winter long if there is an adequate food supply. They can walk up to 10 miles to find food. Or finally head to France or Spain for some frog legs or tapas.

Goldfinch perched in winter

Where do goldfinch go in summer?

During the summer, goldfinches are trying to regain their strength after the breeding season. This means they are consuming a lot of food. So if you find that there are fewer goldfinches in your area than in the spring, it is likely that they are leaving the area in search of food.

Goldfinches may return to your area; they may even return for the winter. However, once their breeding season is over, they need to regain strength before fall and winter. Therefore, if the food supply is short, the goldfinch will have to move in search of more food. In summer, goldfinches don’t travel very far, maybe a few miles.