Birds to See in Nova Scotia in September
162 bird species on our list for Nova Scotia are recorded regularly in September
Of these, the most often recorded are American Crow, American Herring Gull, Song Sparrow, Blue Jay and Northern Flicker. New this month: Horned Grebe, Red-necked Grebe, Dunlin and White-crowned Sparrow and 15 more.
On the move in September
GBIF · SepArriving
At their peak
From Nova Scotia’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 162 birds in September
162 birds
American CrowCorvus brachyrhynchosResidentCommon41–53 cmRecorded all year · 4.39% in Sep
American Herring GullLarus smithsonianusResidentCommon53–65 cmRecorded all year · 3.85% in Sep
Song SparrowMelospiza melodiaResidentCommon12–17 cmRecorded all year · 3.58% in Sep
Blue JayCyanocitta cristataResidentCommon25–30 cmRecorded all year · 3.46% in Sep
Northern FlickerColaptes auratusResidentCommon28–31 cmRecorded all year · 2.06% in Sep
Great Black-backed GullLarus marinusResidentCommon64–79 cmRecorded all year · 2.02% in Sep
Common StarlingSturnus vulgarisResidentCommon21–23 cmRecorded all year · 1.99% in Sep
Yellow-rumped WarblerSetophaga coronataSummer visitorCommon12–15 cmRegularly Apr–Dec · 1.90% in Sep
Common YellowthroatGeothlypis trichasSummer visitorCommon11–13 cmRegularly May–Oct · 1.83% in Sep
Mourning DoveZenaida macrouraResidentCommon23–34 cmRecorded all year · 1.74% in Sep
American Black DuckAnas rubripesResidentCommon54–59 cmRecorded all year · 1.73% in Sep
Common RavenCorvus coraxResidentCommon54–67 cmRecorded all year · 1.64% in Sep
Great Blue HeronArdea herodiasSummer visitorCommon91–137 cmRegularly Apr–Dec · 1.63% in Sep
American RobinTurdus migratoriusSummer visitorCommon20–28 cmRecorded all year · 1.56% in Sep
MallardAnas platyrhynchosResidentCommon50–65 cmRecorded all year · 1.47% in Sep
Ring-billed GullLarus delawarensisWinter visitorCommon43–54 cmRecorded all year · 1.43% in Sep
Semipalmated PloverCharadrius semipalmatusPassage migrantCommon17–19 cmRegularly Jul–Oct · 1.37% in Sep
EiderSomateria mollissimaResidentCommon50–71 cmRecorded all year · 1.31% in Sep
Bald EagleHaliaeetus leucocephalusResidentCommon70–102 cmRecorded all year · 1.25% in Sep
Greater YellowlegsTringa melanoleucaPassage migrantCommon29–40 cmRegularly Apr–Nov · 1.23% in Sep
Cedar WaxwingBombycilla cedrorumSummer visitorCommon15–18 cmRecorded all year · 1.22% in Sep
Semipalmated SandpiperCalidris pusillaPassage migrantCommon15–18 cmRegularly Jul–Oct · 1.11% in Sep
Canada GooseBranta canadensisResidentCommon76–110 cmRecorded all year · 1.04% in Sep
Rock DoveColumba liviaResidentCommon29–37 cmRecorded all year · 0.99% in Sep
Gray CatbirdDumetella carolinensisSummer visitorCommon20–24 cmRegularly May–Oct · 0.88% in Sep
Palm WarblerSetophaga palmarumSummer visitorCommon12–14 cmRegularly Apr–Nov · 0.84% in Sep
Northern GannetMorus bassanusSummer visitorCommon87–100 cmRegularly Apr–Dec · 0.81% in Sep
Downy WoodpeckerDryobates pubescensResidentCommon14–18 cmRecorded all year · 0.81% in Sep
Northern CardinalCardinalis cardinalisResidentCommon21–23 cmRecorded all year · 0.80% in Sep
Grey PloverPluvialis squatarolaSummer visitorCommon27–30 cmRegularly May–Feb · 0.80% in Sep
Black-throated Green WarblerSetophaga virensSummer visitorCommon11–12 cmRegularly May–Oct · 0.79% in Sep
Swamp SparrowMelospiza georgianaSummer visitorCommon12–15 cmRegularly Apr–Feb · 0.77% in Sep
Northern Yellow WarblerSetophaga aestivaSummer visitorCommon12–13 cmRegularly May–Sep · 0.69% in Sep
Least SandpiperCalidris minutillaPassage migrantCommon13–15 cmRegularly Jul–Sep · 0.69% in Sep
MerlinFalco columbariusWinter visitorCommon24–33 cmRecorded all year · 0.68% in Sep
Magnolia WarblerSetophaga magnoliaSummer visitorCommon11–13 cmRegularly May–Sep · 0.67% in Sep
SanderlingCalidris albaWinter visitorCommon18–20 cmRegularly Jul–Feb · 0.66% in Sep
Ruby-throated HummingbirdArchilochus colubrisSummer visitorCommon7–9 cmRegularly May–Sep · 0.62% in Sep
Hairy WoodpeckerLeuconotopicus villosusResidentCommon18–26 cmRecorded all year · 0.62% in Sep
Common PheasantPhasianus colchicusResidentCommon50–90 cmRecorded all year · 0.62% in Sep
Common LoonGavia immerResidentCommon66–91 cmRecorded all year · 0.61% in Sep
Lesser YellowlegsTringa flavipesPassage migrantCommon23–27 cmRegularly Jul–Oct · 0.61% in Sep
Blue-headed VireoVireo solitariusSummer visitorCommon12–15 cmRegularly May–Oct · 0.60% in Sep
Blackpoll WarblerSetophaga striataSummer visitorCommon13–15 cmRegularly May–Oct · 0.59% in Sep
Eurasian TealAnas creccaWinter visitorCommon34–38 cmRecorded all year · 0.58% in Sep
White-breasted NuthatchSitta carolinensisResidentCommon13–14 cmRecorded all year · 0.57% in Sep
Common GrackleQuiscalus quisculaSummer visitorCommon28–34 cmRegularly Mar–Nov · 0.57% in Sep
OspreyPandion haliaetusSummer visitorCommon54–58 cmRegularly Apr–Oct · 0.51% in Sep
American RedstartSetophaga ruticillaSummer visitorCommon11–14 cmRegularly May–Sep · 0.48% in Sep
Sharp-shinned HawkAccipiter striatusWinter visitorUncommon24–34 cmRecorded all year · 0.47% in Sep
Black GuillemotCepphus grylleResidentCommon30–32 cmRecorded all year · 0.37% in Sep
Common TernSterna hirundoSummer visitorCommon31–35 cmRegularly May–Oct · 0.37% in Sep
Turkey VultureCathartes auraResidentUncommon62–81 cmRecorded all year · 0.36% in Sep
WhimbrelNumenius phaeopusPassage migrantUncommon40–46 cmRegularly Jul–Oct · 0.35% in Sep
Bonaparte's GullChroicocephalus philadelphiaWinter visitorCommon28–38 cmRegularly Jul–Mar · 0.33% in Sep
Short-billed DowitcherLimnodromus griseusPassage migrantCommon23–32 cmRegularly Jul–Oct · 0.33% in Sep
White-rumped SandpiperCalidris fuscicollisPassage migrantUncommon15–18 cmRegularly Jul–Nov · 0.33% in Sep
Barn SwallowHirundo rusticaSummer visitorCommon17–19 cmRegularly Apr–Sep · 0.30% in Sep
Ruddy TurnstoneArenaria interpresPassage migrantUncommon21–24 cmRegularly May–Oct · 0.30% in Sep
Hermit ThrushCatharus guttatusSummer visitorCommon14–18 cmRegularly Apr–Nov · 0.30% in Sep
Red-winged BlackbirdAgelaius phoeniceusSummer visitorCommon17–23 cmRegularly Feb–Dec · 0.28% in Sep
Nashville WarblerLeiothlypis ruficapillaSummer visitorUncommon11–13 cmRegularly May–Nov · 0.28% in Sep
Pileated WoodpeckerDryocopus pileatusResidentUncommon40–49 cmRecorded all year · 0.28% in Sep
Wood DuckAix sponsaResidentUncommon47–54 cmRecorded all year · 0.27% in Sep
Least FlycatcherEmpidonax minimusSummer visitorCommon12–14 cmRegularly May–Sep · 0.26% in Sep
Cape May WarblerSetophaga tigrinaSummer visitorUncommon12–14 cmRegularly May–Oct · 0.26% in Sep
Red-tailed HawkButeo jamaicensisWinter visitorCommon45–65 cmRecorded all year · 0.25% in Sep
Chestnut-sided WarblerSetophaga pensylvanicaSummer visitorCommon10–14 cmRegularly May–Sep · 0.25% in Sep
Peregrine FalconFalco peregrinusWinter visitorUncommon34–58 cmRecorded all year · 0.24% in Sep
Great CormorantPhalacrocorax carboWinter visitorUncommon80–100 cmRecorded all year · 0.23% in Sep
Ruby-crowned KingletCorthylio calendulaSummer visitorCommon9–11 cmRegularly Apr–Feb · 0.22% in Sep
Solitary SandpiperTringa solitariaPassage migrantUncommon19–23 cmRegularly Jul–Oct · 0.22% in Sep
Lesser Black-backed GullLarus fuscusWinter visitorUncommon52–64 cmRecorded all year · 0.22% in Sep
Broad-winged HawkButeo platypterusSummer visitorUncommon34–44 cmRegularly Apr–Feb · 0.20% in Sep
Pectoral SandpiperCalidris melanotosPassage migrantUncommon19–23 cmRegularly Jul–Nov · 0.19% in Sep
American Golden-PloverPluvialis dominicaPassage migrantUncommon24–28 cmRegularly Aug–Nov · 0.18% in Sep
Bay-breasted WarblerSetophaga castaneaSummer visitorUncommon14–14 cmRegularly May–Sep · 0.18% in Sep
Surf ScoterMelanitta perspicillataWinter visitorCommon48–60 cmRecorded all year · 0.18% in Sep
OvenbirdSeiurus aurocapillaSummer visitorCommon12–15 cmRegularly May–Sep · 0.17% in Sep
Common MerganserMergus merganserWinter visitorCommon58–68 cmRecorded all year · 0.16% in Sep
Hooded MerganserLophodytes cucullatusWinter visitorCommon40–49 cmRecorded all year · 0.16% in Sep
Baltimore OrioleIcterus galbulaResidentUncommon17–19 cmRecorded all year · 0.15% in Sep
Chipping SparrowSpizella passerinaSummer visitorUncommon12–15 cmRecorded all year · 0.14% in Sep
Yellow-bellied SapsuckerSphyrapicus variusSummer visitorCommon19–22 cmRegularly Apr–Oct · 0.13% in Sep
Red KnotCalidris canutusWinter visitorUncommon23–26 cmRegularly Jul–Feb · 0.13% in Sep
DunlinCalidris alpinaWinter visitorUncommon16–22 cmRegularly Sep–May · 0.13% in Sep
WilletTringa semipalmataSummer visitorCommon33–41 cmRegularly Apr–Sep · 0.13% in Sep
Great ShearwaterArdenna gravisPassage migrantUncommon43–51 cmRegularly Jun–Nov · 0.12% in Sep
Lincoln's SparrowMelospiza lincolniiSummer visitorUncommon13–15 cmRecorded all year · 0.12% in Sep
Ruffed GrouseBonasa umbellusResidentCommon41–50 cmRecorded all year · 0.12% in Sep
BobolinkDolichonyx oryzivorusSummer visitorUncommon16–20 cmRegularly May–Oct · 0.12% in Sep
House SparrowPasser domesticusResidentUncommon14–17 cmRecorded all year · 0.10% in Sep
Leach's Storm-petrelHydrobates leucorhousSummer visitorUncommon18–21 cmRegularly May–Oct · 0.10% in Sep
GadwallMareca streperaResidentUncommon46–56 cmRecorded all year · 0.10% in Sep
Grey PhalaropePhalaropus fulicariusPassage migrantUncommon20–22 cmRegularly Jul–Nov · 0.10% in Sep
Pine SiskinSpinus pinusWinter visitorCommon11–14 cmRecorded all year · 0.09% in Sep
Philadelphia VireoVireo philadelphicusSummer visitorUncommon11–13 cmRegularly May–Oct · 0.09% in Sep
Northern WaterthrushParkesia noveboracensisSummer visitorUncommon12–15 cmRegularly May–Sep · 0.08% in Sep
Atlantic PuffinFratercula arcticaSummer visitorUncommon28–34 cmRegularly May–Dec · 0.08% in Sep
Pied-billed GrebePodilymbus podicepsSummer visitorUncommon31–38 cmRecorded all year · 0.08% in Sep
Sand MartinRiparia ripariaSummer visitorUncommon12–14 cmRegularly May–Sep · 0.07% in Sep
Black-throated Blue WarblerSetophaga caerulescensSummer visitorUncommon11–13 cmRegularly May–Oct · 0.07% in Sep
Red CrossbillLoxia curvirostraResidentUncommon15–17 cmRecorded all year · 0.07% in Sep
Barred OwlStrix variaResidentUncommon43–50 cmRecorded all year · 0.07% in Sep
Red-necked PhalaropePhalaropus lobatusPassage migrantUncommon18–19 cmRegularly Apr–Oct · 0.07% in Sep
KittiwakeRissa tridactylaResidentUncommon37–41 cmRecorded all year · 0.06% in Sep
Swainson's ThrushCatharus ustulatusSummer visitorUncommon16–20 cmRegularly May–Oct · 0.06% in Sep
Tennessee WarblerLeiothlypis peregrinaSummer visitorUncommon10–13 cmRegularly May–Oct · 0.06% in Sep
Northern PintailAnas acutaWinter visitorUncommon59–76 cmRegularly Aug–May · 0.06% in Sep
Buff-breasted SandpiperCalidris subruficollisPassage migrantUncommon18–20 cmRegularly Aug–Sep · 0.06% in Sep
Rose-breasted GrosbeakPheucticus ludovicianusSummer visitorUncommon18–22 cmRegularly Apr–Oct · 0.06% in Sep
Great White EgretArdea albaSummer visitorUncommon80–104 cmRegularly Apr–Jan · 0.06% in Sep
DickcisselSpiza americanaWinter visitorUncommon14–16 cmRegularly Aug–Feb · 0.06% in Sep
Pomarine JaegerStercorarius pomarinusPassage migrantUncommon46–51 cmRegularly Jul–Dec · 0.05% in Sep
Hudsonian GodwitLimosa haemasticaPassage migrantUncommon36–42 cmRegularly Jul–Nov · 0.05% in Sep
Baird's SandpiperCalidris bairdiiPassage migrantRare14–17 cmRegularly Aug–Oct · 0.05% in Sep
FulmarFulmarus glacialisSummer visitorRare45–50 cmRegularly May–Nov · 0.04% in Sep
RazorbillAlca tordaResidentUncommon38–43 cmRecorded all year · 0.04% in Sep
Northern MockingbirdMimus polyglottosResidentUncommon21–26 cmRecorded all year · 0.04% in Sep
Yellow-bellied FlycatcherEmpidonax flaviventrisSummer visitorUncommon13–15 cmRegularly May–Sep · 0.04% in Sep
Stilt SandpiperCalidris himantopusPassage migrantRare18–23 cmRegularly Jul–Oct · 0.04% in Sep
Black TernChlidonias nigerPassage migrantRare22–26 cmRegularly Jun–Sep · 0.04% in Sep
Lark SparrowChondestes grammacusPassage migrantRare15–17 cmRegularly Aug–Jan · 0.04% in Sep
Northern ShovelerSpatula clypeataResidentUncommon44–51 cmRecorded all year · 0.04% in Sep
Mourning WarblerGeothlypis philadelphiaSummer visitorUncommon10–15 cmRegularly May–Sep · 0.04% in Sep
Red-necked GrebePodiceps grisegenaWinter visitorUncommon40–50 cmRegularly Sep–Apr · 0.04% in Sep
Arctic JaegerStercorarius parasiticusSummer visitorRare41–46 cmRegularly May–Dec · 0.04% in Sep
Great Horned OwlBubo virginianusResidentUncommon46–63 cmRecorded all year · 0.04% in Sep
American AvocetRecurvirostra americanaPassage migrantRare43–51 cmRegularly Sep · 0.03% in Sep
White-crowned SparrowZonotrichia leucophrysWinter visitorUncommon15–16 cmRegularly Sep–May · 0.03% in Sep
Sooty ShearwaterArdenna griseaSummer visitorUncommon40–51 cmRegularly May–Oct · 0.03% in Sep
Manx ShearwaterPuffinus puffinusPassage migrantUncommon30–38 cmRegularly Jun–Sep · 0.03% in Sep
VeeryCatharus fuscescensSummer visitorUncommon16–19 cmRegularly May–Sep · 0.03% in Sep
Clay-colored SparrowSpizella pallidaWinter visitorUncommon13–15 cmRegularly Sep–Apr · 0.02% in Sep
Glossy IbisPlegadis falcinellusPassage migrantRare48–66 cmRegularly Apr–Sep · 0.02% in Sep
American BitternBotaurus lentiginosusSummer visitorUncommon58–85 cmRegularly Apr–Nov · 0.02% in Sep
WheatearOenanthe oenanthePassage migrantRare15–16 cmRegularly Sep · 0.02% in Sep
Piping PloverCharadrius melodusSummer visitorUncommon17–18 cmRegularly Apr–Sep · 0.02% in Sep
Western KingbirdTyrannus verticalisPassage migrantRare20–24 cmRegularly Sep–Nov · 0.02% in Sep
Arctic TernSterna paradisaeaSummer visitorUncommon33–39 cmRegularly May–Sep · 0.02% in Sep
Sandhill CraneAntigone canadensisSummer visitorRare80–122 cmRegularly Mar–Dec · 0.02% in Sep
Western SandpiperCalidris mauriPassage migrantRare14–17 cmRegularly Sep · 0.02% in Sep
Horned GrebePodiceps auritusWinter visitorUncommon31–38 cmRegularly Sep–Apr · 0.01% in Sep
Lapland LongspurCalcarius lapponicusWinter visitorUncommon15–16 cmRegularly Sep–Mar · 0.01% in Sep
Black-headed GullChroicocephalus ridibundusWinter visitorUncommon38–44 cmRegularly Sep–Apr · 0.01% in Sep
Eastern BluebirdSialia sialisResidentUncommon16–21 cmRecorded all year · 0.01% in Sep
Wilson's PhalaropePhalaropus tricolorPassage migrantRare22–24 cmRegularly May–Sep · 0.01% in Sep
Long-billed DowitcherLimnodromus scolopaceusPassage migrantRare27–30 cmRegularly Sep–Dec · 0.01% in Sep
Say's PhoebeSayornis sayaPassage migrantRare17–20 cmRegularly Sep · 0.01% in Sep
Scarlet TanagerPiranga olivaceaSummer visitorRare16–19 cmRegularly Apr–Oct · 0.01% in Sep
Prothonotary WarblerProtonotaria citreaPassage migrantRare13–14 cmRegularly Aug–Sep · 0.01% in Sep
Black-backed WoodpeckerPicoides arcticusResidentRare21–24 cmRecorded all year · 0.01% in Sep
House FinchHaemorhous mexicanusResidentRare13–15 cmRecorded all year · 0.01% in Sep
Black-billed CuckooCoccyzus erythropthalmusSummer visitorRare28–32 cmRegularly May–Oct · 0.01% in Sep
Eurasian WigeonMareca penelopeWinter visitorUncommon42–51 cmRegularly Sep–Apr · 0.01% in Sep
Long-tailed JaegerStercorarius longicaudusPassage migrantRare48–58 cmRegularly Aug–Sep · 0.00% in Sep
Sabine's GullXema sabiniPassage migrantRare27–33 cmRegularly Sep · 0.00% in Sep
Marsh WrenCistothorus palustrisResidentRare10–14 cmRegularly Sep–Jul · 0.00% in Sep
Northern Saw-whet OwlAegolius acadicusWinter visitorUncommon17–21 cmRegularly Sep–Jul · 0.00% in Sep
Snow GooseAnser caerulescensWinter visitorRare69–84 cmRegularly Sep–May · 0.00% in Sep
Black-crowned Night-heronNycticorax nycticoraxSummer visitorRare58–65 cmRegularly Apr–Sep · 0.00% in Sep
Helmeted GuineafowlNumida meleagrisSummer visitorRare53–63 cmRegularly Apr–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