Fairly common resident and passage migrant.

Goldfinches are attracted to thistle seeds, after a series of wet and difficult years for farming from around 1870 there was a decline in weed control on farms and the amount of thistles increased, there then followed a marked increase in Goldfinch numbers. Marlborough H. Pryor reported that they were, “common in the neighbourhood of Stevenage during the winter of 1898/99”, and in 1908 Mr S. Maples said they were, “numerous” in the area. Foster (1914) stated that they were, “common in Stevenage district”. As was to be expected with the development of the town, Sage (1959) stated that they had, “noticeably decreased at Stevenage.” They can however still be found, and are particularly attracted to gardens where Niger seeds are provided for them.

They were confirmed as breeding from nine of Stevenage’s tetrads in the 1973 Breeding Atlas, seven in the 1992 Atlas and, five in the 2012 Atlas. 

The 2012 Winter Atlas confirmed their presence from all 11 of the tetrads covering Stevenage.

At Watery Grove, where they can often be seen in the clearing between the wood and Cannocks Wood, the Common Bird Census recorded one pair holding a breeding territory in 1974, and their presence in the 1996 and 1999 breeding seasons.

Norton Green Tip is also a stronghold for them, with flocks (or “charms”) of 100 seen on 7 October 1984, 50 on 14 March 1990, 30 to 45 September and October 2005, 40 on 12 September 2006, 150 on 4 October 2015, 130 on 2 September 2017 and, 50 on 7 June 2019.

A flock (or, “charm”) of over 40 were seen in the Pryors Wood area on 17 December 2008, 100 were seen at Aston End on 30 August 2021 and 60+ were seen at Fairlands Valley Lakes on 4 December 2023.