Birds to See in Alberta in September
153 bird species on our list for Alberta are recorded regularly in September
Of these, the most often recorded are American Crow, American Robin, Canada Goose, Mallard and Common Raven. New this month: American Tree Sparrow, Snow Goose, Tundra Swan and Cackling Goose and 9 more.
On the move in September
GBIF · SepArriving
At their peak
Yellow-rumped WarblerBusiest month of the year · Apr–Oct
Greater YellowlegsBusiest month of the year · Apr–Nov
White-crowned SparrowBusiest month of the year · Apr–Oct
Orange-crowned WarblerBusiest month of the year · May–Oct
Ruby-crowned KingletBusiest month of the year · Apr–Oct
Pied-billed GrebeBusiest month of the year · May–Dec
From Alberta’s bird records, 2019–2024: arriving birds are regular this month but not last; leaving birds are regular this month but not next.
Other months
All 153 birds in September
153 birds
American CrowCorvus brachyrhynchosSummer visitorCommon41–53 cmRecorded all year · 3.54% in Sep
American RobinTurdus migratoriusSummer visitorCommon20–28 cmRecorded all year · 3.40% in Sep
Canada GooseBranta canadensisResidentCommon76–110 cmRecorded all year · 3.15% in Sep
MallardAnas platyrhynchosResidentCommon50–65 cmRecorded all year · 2.96% in Sep
Common RavenCorvus coraxWinter visitorCommon54–67 cmRecorded all year · 2.64% in Sep
Northern FlickerColaptes auratusResidentCommon28–31 cmRecorded all year · 2.53% in Sep- Yellow-rumped WarblerSetophaga coronataSummer visitorCommon12–15 cmRegularly Apr–Oct · 2.51% in Sep
Blue JayCyanocitta cristataWinter visitorCommon25–30 cmRecorded all year · 2.42% in Sep
Ring-billed GullLarus delawarensisSummer visitorCommon43–54 cmRegularly Mar–Nov · 2.33% in Sep
Downy WoodpeckerDryobates pubescensWinter visitorCommon14–18 cmRecorded all year · 2.09% in Sep
House SparrowPasser domesticusResidentCommon14–17 cmRecorded all year · 1.65% in Sep
White-breasted NuthatchSitta carolinensisWinter visitorCommon13–14 cmRecorded all year · 1.38% in Sep
Cedar WaxwingBombycilla cedrorumSummer visitorCommon15–18 cmRegularly May–Oct · 1.37% in Sep
Pine SiskinSpinus pinusResidentCommon11–14 cmRecorded all year · 1.37% in Sep
Common StarlingSturnus vulgarisSummer visitorCommon21–23 cmRecorded all year · 1.30% in Sep
House FinchHaemorhous mexicanusResidentCommon13–15 cmRecorded all year · 1.16% in Sep
Rock DoveColumba liviaWinter visitorCommon29–37 cmRecorded all year · 1.13% in Sep- Greater YellowlegsTringa melanoleucaSummer visitorCommon29–40 cmRegularly Apr–Nov · 1.08% in Sep
- White-crowned SparrowZonotrichia leucophrysSummer visitorCommon15–16 cmRegularly Apr–Oct · 0.96% in Sep
Red-tailed HawkButeo jamaicensisSummer visitorCommon45–65 cmRegularly Mar–Nov · 0.95% in Sep
Common MerganserMergus merganserResidentCommon58–68 cmRecorded all year · 0.86% in Sep
GoldeneyeBucephala clangulaResidentCommon40–51 cmRecorded all year · 0.85% in Sep
Hairy WoodpeckerLeuconotopicus villosusWinter visitorCommon18–26 cmRecorded all year · 0.84% in Sep
MerlinFalco columbariusResidentCommon24–33 cmRecorded all year · 0.79% in Sep
Franklin's GullLeucophaeus pipixcanSummer visitorCommon32–36 cmRegularly Apr–Oct · 0.78% in Sep
GadwallMareca streperaSummer visitorCommon46–56 cmRegularly Mar–Dec · 0.74% in Sep- Orange-crowned WarblerLeiothlypis celataSummer visitorCommon11–14 cmRegularly May–Oct · 0.72% in Sep
Northern ShovelerSpatula clypeataSummer visitorCommon44–51 cmRegularly Mar–Nov · 0.72% in Sep
Great Blue HeronArdea herodiasSummer visitorCommon91–137 cmRegularly Apr–Oct · 0.70% in Sep
Bald EagleHaliaeetus leucocephalusWinter visitorCommon70–102 cmRecorded all year · 0.70% in Sep- Ruby-crowned KingletCorthylio calendulaSummer visitorCommon9–11 cmRegularly Apr–Oct · 0.69% in Sep
Lincoln's SparrowMelospiza lincolniiSummer visitorCommon13–15 cmRegularly Apr–Oct · 0.64% in Sep
Ruddy DuckOxyura jamaicensisSummer visitorCommon35–43 cmRecorded all year · 0.62% in Sep
Common GrackleQuiscalus quisculaSummer visitorCommon28–34 cmRegularly Apr–Dec · 0.62% in Sep
Lesser YellowlegsTringa flavipesSummer visitorCommon23–27 cmRegularly Apr–Oct · 0.60% in Sep- Pied-billed GrebePodilymbus podicepsSummer visitorCommon31–38 cmRegularly May–Dec · 0.59% in Sep
OspreyPandion haliaetusSummer visitorCommon54–58 cmRegularly Apr–Oct · 0.58% in Sep
Greater White-fronted GooseAnser albifronsPassage migrantCommon64–81 cmRegularly Apr–Nov · 0.55% in Sep
Eurasian TealAnas creccaSummer visitorCommon34–38 cmRegularly Mar–Jan · 0.54% in Sep
Clay-colored SparrowSpizella pallidaSummer visitorCommon13–15 cmRegularly May–Sep · 0.42% in Sep
Red-necked GrebePodiceps grisegenaSummer visitorCommon40–50 cmRegularly Apr–Nov · 0.42% in Sep
Pileated WoodpeckerDryocopus pileatusWinter visitorCommon40–49 cmRecorded all year · 0.40% in Sep
Sharp-shinned HawkAccipiter striatusWinter visitorUncommon24–34 cmRecorded all year · 0.40% in Sep
Song SparrowMelospiza melodiaSummer visitorCommon12–17 cmRegularly Mar–Oct · 0.40% in Sep
Black-necked GrebePodiceps nigricollisSummer visitorUncommon28–34 cmRegularly Apr–Nov · 0.36% in Sep
Northern PintailAnas acutaSummer visitorCommon59–76 cmRegularly Mar–Jan · 0.36% in Sep
Gray CatbirdDumetella carolinensisSummer visitorCommon20–24 cmRegularly May–Sep · 0.35% in Sep
Tennessee WarblerLeiothlypis peregrinaSummer visitorCommon10–13 cmRegularly May–Sep · 0.33% in Sep
Common YellowthroatGeothlypis trichasSummer visitorCommon11–13 cmRegularly May–Sep · 0.31% in Sep
Wood DuckAix sponsaResidentUncommon47–54 cmRecorded all year · 0.31% in Sep
Hooded MerganserLophodytes cucullatusWinter visitorCommon40–49 cmRecorded all year · 0.31% in Sep
Horned GrebePodiceps auritusSummer visitorUncommon31–38 cmRegularly Apr–Dec · 0.31% in Sep
Long-billed DowitcherLimnodromus scolopaceusPassage migrantUncommon27–30 cmRegularly May–Oct · 0.31% in Sep
Chipping SparrowSpizella passerinaSummer visitorCommon12–15 cmRegularly May–Sep · 0.30% in Sep
Mourning DoveZenaida macrouraSummer visitorCommon23–34 cmRegularly Apr–Oct · 0.30% in Sep
Sandhill CraneAntigone canadensisSummer visitorUncommon80–122 cmRegularly Apr–Oct · 0.29% in Sep
Northern Yellow WarblerSetophaga aestivaSummer visitorCommon12–13 cmRegularly May–Sep · 0.29% in Sep
American Herring GullLarus smithsonianusSummer visitorCommon53–65 cmRegularly Mar–Nov · 0.26% in Sep
Barn SwallowHirundo rusticaSummer visitorCommon17–19 cmRegularly May–Sep · 0.26% in Sep
Bonaparte's GullChroicocephalus philadelphiaSummer visitorUncommon28–38 cmRegularly Apr–Nov · 0.25% in Sep
Western MeadowlarkSturnella neglectaSummer visitorCommon16–26 cmRegularly Mar–Oct · 0.25% in Sep
Snow GooseAnser caerulescensPassage migrantCommon69–84 cmRegularly Sep–May · 0.22% in Sep
Great Horned OwlBubo virginianusWinter visitorCommon46–63 cmRecorded all year · 0.21% in Sep
Lapland LongspurCalcarius lapponicusPassage migrantUncommon15–16 cmRegularly Sep–May · 0.20% in Sep
American AvocetRecurvirostra americanaSummer visitorCommon43–51 cmRegularly Apr–Oct · 0.19% in Sep
Palm WarblerSetophaga palmarumPassage migrantUncommon12–14 cmRegularly May–Oct · 0.19% in Sep
Common LoonGavia immerSummer visitorUncommon66–91 cmRegularly Apr–Nov · 0.19% in Sep
American RedstartSetophaga ruticillaSummer visitorCommon11–14 cmRegularly May–Sep · 0.19% in Sep
Red-winged BlackbirdAgelaius phoeniceusSummer visitorCommon17–23 cmRegularly Apr–Oct · 0.18% in Sep
Eurasian Collared DoveStreptopelia decaoctoResidentCommon30–32 cmRecorded all year · 0.18% in Sep
Swainson's ThrushCatharus ustulatusSummer visitorCommon16–20 cmRegularly May–Sep · 0.18% in Sep
Pectoral SandpiperCalidris melanotosPassage migrantUncommon19–23 cmRegularly May–Oct · 0.17% in Sep
Least FlycatcherEmpidonax minimusSummer visitorCommon12–14 cmRegularly May–Sep · 0.17% in Sep
Marsh WrenCistothorus palustrisSummer visitorUncommon10–14 cmRegularly Apr–Oct · 0.16% in Sep
Ruffed GrouseBonasa umbellusResidentUncommon41–50 cmRecorded all year · 0.16% in Sep
Baird's SandpiperCalidris bairdiiPassage migrantUncommon14–17 cmRegularly May–Oct · 0.16% in Sep
Vesper SparrowPooecetes gramineusSummer visitorCommon13–17 cmRegularly Apr–Sep · 0.16% in Sep
Solitary SandpiperTringa solitariaSummer visitorCommon19–23 cmRegularly Apr–Sep · 0.15% in Sep
Turkey VultureCathartes auraSummer visitorUncommon62–81 cmRegularly Apr–Sep · 0.14% in Sep
Grey PloverPluvialis squatarolaSummer visitorUncommon27–30 cmRegularly May–Oct · 0.14% in Sep
Black-crowned Night-heronNycticorax nycticoraxSummer visitorUncommon58–65 cmRegularly Apr–Oct · 0.13% in Sep
Common PheasantPhasianus colchicusResidentUncommon50–90 cmRecorded all year · 0.12% in Sep
Swamp SparrowMelospiza georgianaSummer visitorUncommon12–15 cmRegularly May–Oct · 0.12% in Sep
Grey PartridgePerdix perdixWinter visitorCommon28–32 cmRecorded all year · 0.12% in Sep
Blackpoll WarblerSetophaga striataSummer visitorUncommon13–15 cmRegularly May–Sep · 0.11% in Sep
Stilt SandpiperCalidris himantopusPassage migrantUncommon18–23 cmRegularly May–Oct · 0.11% in Sep
Yellow-bellied SapsuckerSphyrapicus variusSummer visitorUncommon19–22 cmRegularly Apr–Sep · 0.11% in Sep
Mountain BluebirdSialia currucoidesSummer visitorUncommon15–18 cmRegularly Mar–Oct · 0.11% in Sep
Evening GrosbeakHesperiphona vespertinaResidentUncommon16–22 cmRecorded all year · 0.10% in Sep
Broad-winged HawkButeo platypterusSummer visitorUncommon34–44 cmRegularly Apr–Oct · 0.10% in Sep
Horned LarkEremophila alpestrisResidentUncommon16–20 cmRecorded all year · 0.10% in Sep
Trumpeter SwanCygnus buccinatorWinter visitorCommon139–157 cmRecorded all year · 0.10% in Sep
American Tree SparrowSpizelloides arboreaWinter visitorCommon14–17 cmRegularly Sep–Apr · 0.09% in Sep
Least SandpiperCalidris minutillaPassage migrantUncommon13–15 cmRegularly May–Sep · 0.09% in Sep
Peregrine FalconFalco peregrinusSummer visitorUncommon34–58 cmRegularly Mar–Oct · 0.08% in Sep
Hermit ThrushCatharus guttatusSummer visitorUncommon14–18 cmRegularly Apr–Oct · 0.08% in Sep
Magnolia WarblerSetophaga magnoliaSummer visitorUncommon11–13 cmRegularly May–Sep · 0.08% in Sep
Northern WaterthrushParkesia noveboracensisSummer visitorUncommon12–15 cmRegularly May–Sep · 0.07% in Sep
Red CrossbillLoxia curvirostraResidentUncommon15–17 cmRecorded all year · 0.07% in Sep
Wilson's PhalaropePhalaropus tricolorSummer visitorUncommon22–24 cmRegularly May–Sep · 0.07% in Sep
Red-necked PhalaropePhalaropus lobatusSummer visitorUncommon18–19 cmRegularly May–Sep · 0.07% in Sep
American Three-toed WoodpeckerPicoides dorsalisResidentUncommon21–24 cmRecorded all year · 0.06% in Sep
Cackling GooseBranta hutchinsiiWinter visitorUncommon53–76 cmRegularly Sep–Apr · 0.06% in Sep
Semipalmated PloverCharadrius semipalmatusPassage migrantUncommon17–19 cmRegularly May–Sep · 0.06% in Sep
OvenbirdSeiurus aurocapillaSummer visitorUncommon12–15 cmRegularly May–Sep · 0.06% in Sep
Blue-headed VireoVireo solitariusSummer visitorUncommon12–15 cmRegularly May–Sep · 0.06% in Sep
Golden EagleAquila chrysaetosWinter visitorUncommon66–102 cmRecorded all year · 0.06% in Sep
SanderlingCalidris albaSummer visitorUncommon18–20 cmRegularly May–Oct · 0.06% in Sep
American Golden-PloverPluvialis dominicaPassage migrantUncommon24–28 cmRegularly May–Oct · 0.05% in Sep
Forster's TernSterna forsteriSummer visitorUncommon33–36 cmRegularly Apr–Sep · 0.05% in Sep
Semipalmated SandpiperCalidris pusillaSummer visitorUncommon15–18 cmRegularly Apr–Sep · 0.05% in Sep
Fox SparrowPasserella iliacaSummer visitorUncommon15–19 cmRegularly Apr–Jan · 0.04% in Sep
Lesser Black-backed GullLarus fuscusPassage migrantRare52–64 cmRegularly Aug–Apr · 0.04% in Sep
Marbled GodwitLimosa fedoaSummer visitorUncommon40–50 cmRegularly Apr–Sep · 0.04% in Sep
Varied ThrushIxoreus naeviusSummer visitorUncommon20–26 cmRecorded all year · 0.04% in Sep
Cinnamon TealSpatula cyanopteraSummer visitorUncommon36–43 cmRegularly Apr–Sep · 0.04% in Sep
Nashville WarblerLeiothlypis ruficapillaSummer visitorRare11–13 cmRegularly May–Oct · 0.04% in Sep
Sabine's GullXema sabiniPassage migrantRare27–33 cmRegularly May–Oct · 0.04% in Sep
Northern Saw-whet OwlAegolius acadicusWinter visitorUncommon17–21 cmRegularly Sep–Jun · 0.04% in Sep
Rose-breasted GrosbeakPheucticus ludovicianusSummer visitorUncommon18–22 cmRegularly May–Sep · 0.04% in Sep
Common TernSterna hirundoSummer visitorUncommon31–35 cmRegularly May–Sep · 0.04% in Sep
WilletTringa semipalmataSummer visitorUncommon33–41 cmRegularly Apr–Sep · 0.04% in Sep
Great White EgretArdea albaSummer visitorRare80–104 cmRegularly May–Oct · 0.03% in Sep
Tundra SwanCygnus columbianusWinter visitorCommon120–150 cmRegularly Sep–May · 0.03% in Sep
Philadelphia VireoVireo philadelphicusSummer visitorUncommon11–13 cmRegularly May–Sep · 0.03% in Sep
Say's PhoebeSayornis sayaSummer visitorUncommon17–20 cmRegularly Apr–Sep · 0.03% in Sep
Bay-breasted WarblerSetophaga castaneaSummer visitorUncommon14–14 cmRegularly May–Sep · 0.03% in Sep
Red-naped SapsuckerSphyrapicus nuchalisSummer visitorUncommon19–21 cmRegularly Apr–Sep · 0.02% in Sep
Short-billed DowitcherLimnodromus griseusSummer visitorUncommon23–32 cmRegularly May–Sep · 0.02% in Sep
Ruby-throated HummingbirdArchilochus colubrisSummer visitorUncommon7–9 cmRegularly May–Sep · 0.02% in Sep
Pacific WrenTroglodytes pacificusSummer visitorUncommon8–12 cmRegularly Apr–Oct · 0.02% in Sep
Surf ScoterMelanitta perspicillataPassage migrantUncommon48–60 cmRegularly May–Nov · 0.02% in Sep
American BitternBotaurus lentiginosusSummer visitorRare58–85 cmRegularly May–Oct · 0.02% in Sep
Mourning WarblerGeothlypis philadelphiaSummer visitorUncommon10–15 cmRegularly May–Sep · 0.02% in Sep
Hudsonian GodwitLimosa haemasticaPassage migrantRare36–42 cmRegularly Apr–Sep · 0.02% in Sep
Ross's GooseAnser rossiiPassage migrantUncommon57–64 cmRegularly Sep–May · 0.02% in Sep
Long-eared OwlAsio otusSummer visitorRare35–40 cmRegularly Feb–Dec · 0.01% in Sep
Black-backed WoodpeckerPicoides arcticusWinter visitorUncommon21–24 cmRecorded all year · 0.01% in Sep
Chestnut-sided WarblerSetophaga pensylvanicaSummer visitorRare10–14 cmRegularly May–Sep · 0.01% in Sep
Black-throated Green WarblerSetophaga virensSummer visitorRare11–12 cmRegularly May–Sep · 0.01% in Sep
Cape May WarblerSetophaga tigrinaSummer visitorUncommon12–14 cmRegularly May–Sep · 0.01% in Sep
Virginia RailRallus limicolaSummer visitorRare20–27 cmRegularly Apr–Sep · 0.01% in Sep
Northern Pygmy-owlGlaucidium gnomaWinter visitorUncommon15–17 cmRegularly Sep–Apr · 0.01% in Sep
Black-throated Blue WarblerSetophaga caerulescensPassage migrantRare11–13 cmRegularly Sep–Oct · 0.01% in Sep
Arctic JaegerStercorarius parasiticusPassage migrantRare41–46 cmRegularly Sep · 0.01% in Sep
Short-eared OwlAsio flammeusWinter visitorUncommon34–43 cmRecorded all year · 0.01% in Sep
Barred OwlStrix variaResidentRare43–50 cmRecorded all year · 0.01% in Sep
Wild TurkeyMeleagris gallopavoWinter visitorRare100–125 cmRecorded all year · 0.00% in Sep
Western SandpiperCalidris mauriPassage migrantRare14–17 cmRegularly May–Sep · 0.00% in Sep
ChukarAlectoris chukarSummer visitorRare32–38 cmRegularly Jan–Oct · 0.00% in Sep
Buff-breasted SandpiperCalidris subruficollisPassage migrantRare18–20 cmRegularly Aug–Sep · 0.00% in Sep
Gray-cheeked ThrushCatharus minimusPassage migrantRare16–17 cmRegularly May–Oct · 0.00% in Sep
Yellow-bellied FlycatcherEmpidonax flaviventrisSummer visitorRare13–15 cmRegularly May–Sep · 0.00% in Sep
Data: EOD – eBird Observation Dataset (Cornell Lab of Ornithology), accessed via GBIF.org, CC BY 4.0. Records from 2019–2024, aggregated and filtered by Birdfact. How these lists are made