Goldfinch (Carduelis carduelis)Where and when to see it in the UK
Resident · reporting peaks March to August · Finches, Euphonias, and Allies · BOU category AF
Peak months
Contains OS data © Crown copyright and database right 2026 (grid squares, place names from OS Open Names). Northern Ireland place names: OSNI Open Data, OGL v3.0. County and country boundaries: Office for National Statistics, Open Government Licence v3.0. Coastline: Natural Earth. Bird records from the data partners listed here.
Goldfinch has been recorded in 2,743 of the 2,971 10 km squares covering UK land (92%) in records to 2026. Resident in the UK. Its strongest squares are in England, Scotland and Wales. Reporting peaks in March to August.
Conservation status: Least Concern (IUCN Red List, LC)
View on the IUCN Red List- Very high
- 55% or more of visits
- High
- 40% to 55%
- Moderate
- 25% to 40%
- Low
- under 25%
- Surveyed, not recorded
- at least 20 qualifying visits, no record
- Insufficient records
- too few visits to say
- Lighter fill
- Few visits, lower confidence
- Small dot
- Occasional: a single record, or out of season
Relative to this species' best squares (how classes are calculated)
Seasonality
| Month | Relative to peak | Share of visits | Typical class |
|---|---|---|---|
| January | 77% | 39% | Low |
| February | 83% | 42% | Very high |
| March | 92% | 47% | Very high |
| April | 100% | 51% | Very high |
| May | 93% | 47% | Very high |
| June | 92% | 47% | Very high |
| July | 99% | 50% | Very high |
| August | 87% | 44% | Very high |
| September | 75% | 38% | Low |
| October | 82% | 42% | Low |
| November | 87% | 44% | Very high |
| December | 81% | 41% | Very high |
Squares with the highest reporting rate in March
| Square | Where | Share of visits | Class |
|---|---|---|---|
| C40 | Derry City and Strabane, Northern Ireland | 100% | Very high |
| C83 | Causeway Coast and Glens, Northern Ireland | 100% | Very high |
| C92 | Causeway Coast and Glens, Northern Ireland | 100% | Very high |
| D22 | Causeway Coast and Glens, Northern Ireland | 100% | Very high |
| D23 | Causeway Coast and Glens, Northern Ireland | 100% | Very high |
| D30 | Mid and East Antrim, Northern Ireland | 100% | Very high |
| H96 | Armagh City, Banbridge and Craigavon, Northern Ireland | 100% | Very high |
| HY40 | Orkney Islands, Scotland | 100% | Very high |
| J04 | Armagh City, Banbridge and Craigavon, Northern Ireland | 100% | Very high |
| J05 | Armagh City, Banbridge and Craigavon, Northern Ireland | 100% | Very high |