Birds to See in Ontario in September
173 bird species on our list for Ontario are recorded regularly in September
Of these, the most often recorded are Blue Jay, Canada Goose, American Crow, Ring-billed Gull and Mallard. New this month: Ruby-crowned Kinglet, Red-breasted Merganser, White-crowned Sparrow and Greater Scaup and 19 more.
On the move in September
GBIF · SepArriving
Ruby-crowned KingletRegular from September · Apr–Jun
White-crowned SparrowRegular from September · Apr–May
Gray-cheeked ThrushRegular from September · May
Red-breasted MerganserRegular from September · Sep–May
Greater ScaupRegular from September · Sep–May
Orange-crowned WarblerRegular from September · May–Jul
At their peak
Leaving soon
From Ontario’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 173 birds in September
173 birds
Blue JayCyanocitta cristataResidentCommon25–30 cmRecorded all year · 4.02% in Sep
Canada GooseBranta canadensisResidentCommon76–110 cmRecorded all year · 2.87% in Sep
American CrowCorvus brachyrhynchosResidentCommon41–53 cmRecorded all year · 2.86% in Sep
Ring-billed GullLarus delawarensisResidentCommon43–54 cmRecorded all year · 2.64% in Sep
MallardAnas platyrhynchosResidentCommon50–65 cmRecorded all year · 2.27% in Sep
American RobinTurdus migratoriusResidentCommon20–28 cmRecorded all year · 2.19% in Sep
Northern CardinalCardinalis cardinalisResidentCommon21–23 cmRecorded all year · 2.18% in Sep
Mourning DoveZenaida macrouraResidentCommon23–34 cmRecorded all year · 2.11% in Sep
Song SparrowMelospiza melodiaSummer visitorCommon12–17 cmRecorded all year · 2.03% in Sep
Northern FlickerColaptes auratusSummer visitorCommon28–31 cmRecorded all year · 1.92% in Sep
Turkey VultureCathartes auraSummer visitorCommon62–81 cmRegularly Feb–Dec · 1.81% in Sep
Downy WoodpeckerDryobates pubescensResidentCommon14–18 cmRecorded all year · 1.75% in Sep
Common StarlingSturnus vulgarisResidentCommon21–23 cmRecorded all year · 1.72% in Sep
Great Blue HeronArdea herodiasSummer visitorCommon91–137 cmRecorded all year · 1.57% in Sep
White-breasted NuthatchSitta carolinensisWinter visitorCommon13–14 cmRecorded all year · 1.50% in Sep
Yellow-rumped WarblerSetophaga coronataSummer visitorCommon12–15 cmRegularly Apr–Nov · 1.45% in Sep
Gray CatbirdDumetella carolinensisSummer visitorCommon20–24 cmRegularly May–Oct · 1.44% in Sep
Common GrackleQuiscalus quisculaSummer visitorCommon28–34 cmRegularly Feb–Nov · 1.20% in Sep
American Herring GullLarus smithsonianusWinter visitorCommon53–65 cmRecorded all year · 1.19% in Sep
Cedar WaxwingBombycilla cedrorumSummer visitorCommon15–18 cmRecorded all year · 1.18% in Sep
Red-winged BlackbirdAgelaius phoeniceusSummer visitorCommon17–23 cmRegularly Feb–Nov · 1.14% in Sep
Wood DuckAix sponsaSummer visitorCommon47–54 cmRecorded all year · 1.01% in Sep
Hairy WoodpeckerLeuconotopicus villosusResidentCommon18–26 cmRecorded all year · 0.97% in Sep
Common RavenCorvus coraxResidentCommon54–67 cmRecorded all year · 0.89% in Sep
Common YellowthroatGeothlypis trichasSummer visitorCommon11–13 cmRegularly May–Oct · 0.87% in Sep
American RedstartSetophaga ruticillaSummer visitorCommon11–14 cmRegularly May–Sep · 0.84% in Sep
Rock DoveColumba liviaResidentCommon29–37 cmRecorded all year · 0.83% in Sep
House SparrowPasser domesticusResidentCommon14–17 cmRecorded all year · 0.79% in Sep
Ruby-throated HummingbirdArchilochus colubrisSummer visitorCommon7–9 cmRegularly May–Sep · 0.78% in Sep
Great White EgretArdea albaSummer visitorCommon80–104 cmRegularly Apr–Nov · 0.77% in Sep
Magnolia WarblerSetophaga magnoliaSummer visitorCommon11–13 cmRegularly May–Oct · 0.74% in Sep
Nashville WarblerLeiothlypis ruficapillaSummer visitorCommon11–13 cmRegularly Apr–Oct · 0.68% in Sep
Black-throated Green WarblerSetophaga virensSummer visitorCommon11–12 cmRegularly Apr–Oct · 0.63% in Sep
Bald EagleHaliaeetus leucocephalusWinter visitorCommon70–102 cmRecorded all year · 0.62% in Sep- Ruby-crowned KingletCorthylio calendulaPassage migrantCommon9–11 cmRegularly Apr–Nov · 0.62% in Sep
Swainson's ThrushCatharus ustulatusSummer visitorCommon16–20 cmRegularly May–Oct · 0.61% in Sep
Palm WarblerSetophaga palmarumPassage migrantCommon12–14 cmRegularly Apr–Oct · 0.58% in Sep
Swamp SparrowMelospiza georgianaSummer visitorCommon12–15 cmRegularly Apr–Feb · 0.58% in Sep
MerlinFalco columbariusResidentCommon24–33 cmRecorded all year · 0.56% in Sep
Red-bellied WoodpeckerMelanerpes carolinusResidentCommon23–26 cmRecorded all year · 0.55% in Sep
Bay-breasted WarblerSetophaga castaneaSummer visitorCommon14–14 cmRegularly May–Sep · 0.55% in Sep
Mute SwanCygnus olorResidentCommon140–160 cmRecorded all year · 0.55% in Sep
Red-tailed HawkButeo jamaicensisWinter visitorCommon45–65 cmRecorded all year · 0.54% in Sep
Chipping SparrowSpizella passerinaSummer visitorCommon12–15 cmRegularly Apr–Oct · 0.54% in Sep
Eurasian TealAnas creccaWinter visitorCommon34–38 cmRecorded all year · 0.53% in Sep
Rose-breasted GrosbeakPheucticus ludovicianusSummer visitorCommon18–22 cmRegularly May–Sep · 0.50% in Sep
House FinchHaemorhous mexicanusResidentCommon13–15 cmRecorded all year · 0.47% in Sep
Lesser YellowlegsTringa flavipesPassage migrantCommon23–27 cmRegularly Apr–Oct · 0.46% in Sep
Tennessee WarblerLeiothlypis peregrinaSummer visitorUncommon10–13 cmRegularly May–Oct · 0.45% in Sep
Pileated WoodpeckerDryocopus pileatusResidentCommon40–49 cmRecorded all year · 0.44% in Sep
Sharp-shinned HawkAccipiter striatusWinter visitorUncommon24–34 cmRecorded all year · 0.43% in Sep
Blackpoll WarblerSetophaga striataPassage migrantUncommon13–15 cmRegularly May–Oct · 0.42% in Sep
OspreyPandion haliaetusSummer visitorCommon54–58 cmRegularly Apr–Oct · 0.42% in Sep
Greater YellowlegsTringa melanoleucaSummer visitorUncommon29–40 cmRegularly Apr–Nov · 0.40% in Sep
Cape May WarblerSetophaga tigrinaPassage migrantUncommon12–14 cmRegularly May–Sep · 0.39% in Sep
Yellow-bellied SapsuckerSphyrapicus variusSummer visitorCommon19–22 cmRegularly Apr–Jan · 0.39% in Sep
Common MerganserMergus merganserWinter visitorCommon58–68 cmRecorded all year · 0.36% in Sep
Chestnut-sided WarblerSetophaga pensylvanicaSummer visitorCommon10–14 cmRegularly May–Sep · 0.36% in Sep
American Black DuckAnas rubripesWinter visitorCommon54–59 cmRecorded all year · 0.36% in Sep
Common LoonGavia immerSummer visitorCommon66–91 cmRegularly Mar–Jan · 0.35% in Sep
Semipalmated PloverCharadrius semipalmatusSummer visitorUncommon17–19 cmRegularly May–Oct · 0.34% in Sep
Pied-billed GrebePodilymbus podicepsSummer visitorUncommon31–38 cmRecorded all year · 0.32% in Sep
Black-throated Blue WarblerSetophaga caerulescensSummer visitorUncommon11–13 cmRegularly May–Oct · 0.32% in Sep
Blue-headed VireoVireo solitariusSummer visitorUncommon12–15 cmRegularly Apr–Oct · 0.31% in Sep
Least FlycatcherEmpidonax minimusSummer visitorCommon12–14 cmRegularly May–Sep · 0.30% in Sep
Philadelphia VireoVireo philadelphicusSummer visitorUncommon11–13 cmRegularly May–Sep · 0.29% in Sep
Broad-winged HawkButeo platypterusSummer visitorUncommon34–44 cmRegularly Apr–Oct · 0.28% in Sep- White-crowned SparrowZonotrichia leucophrysWinter visitorCommon15–16 cmRegularly Sep–May · 0.28% in Sep
Least SandpiperCalidris minutillaPassage migrantCommon13–15 cmRegularly May–Oct · 0.26% in Sep
Trumpeter SwanCygnus buccinatorResidentCommon139–157 cmRecorded all year · 0.25% in Sep
Hooded MerganserLophodytes cucullatusWinter visitorCommon40–49 cmRecorded all year · 0.25% in Sep
Semipalmated SandpiperCalidris pusillaSummer visitorUncommon15–18 cmRegularly May–Oct · 0.25% in Sep
Barn SwallowHirundo rusticaSummer visitorCommon17–19 cmRegularly Apr–Sep · 0.25% in Sep
Sandhill CraneAntigone canadensisResidentUncommon80–122 cmRecorded all year · 0.24% in Sep
Wild TurkeyMeleagris gallopavoResidentCommon100–125 cmRecorded all year · 0.22% in Sep
SanderlingCalidris albaPassage migrantUncommon18–20 cmRegularly May–Nov · 0.22% in Sep
Pectoral SandpiperCalidris melanotosPassage migrantUncommon19–23 cmRegularly Apr–Nov · 0.22% in Sep
Bonaparte's GullChroicocephalus philadelphiaSummer visitorCommon28–38 cmRegularly Mar–Jan · 0.21% in Sep
Northern ShovelerSpatula clypeataWinter visitorUncommon44–51 cmRegularly Aug–Jun · 0.20% in Sep
Scarlet TanagerPiranga olivaceaSummer visitorUncommon16–19 cmRegularly May–Sep · 0.20% in Sep
Solitary SandpiperTringa solitariaPassage migrantUncommon19–23 cmRegularly Apr–Oct · 0.19% in Sep
Peregrine FalconFalco peregrinusWinter visitorUncommon34–58 cmRecorded all year · 0.19% in Sep
GadwallMareca streperaWinter visitorCommon46–56 cmRecorded all year · 0.18% in Sep
Great Black-backed GullLarus marinusWinter visitorCommon64–79 cmRegularly Aug–May · 0.18% in Sep
Black-crowned Night-heronNycticorax nycticoraxSummer visitorUncommon58–65 cmRegularly Apr–Feb · 0.18% in Sep
Lincoln's SparrowMelospiza lincolniiSummer visitorUncommon13–15 cmRegularly May–Oct · 0.18% in Sep
Great Crested FlycatcherMyiarchus crinitusSummer visitorCommon17–22 cmRegularly May–Sep · 0.18% in Sep
Grey PloverPluvialis squatarolaPassage migrantUncommon27–30 cmRegularly Apr–Nov · 0.17% in Sep
Hermit ThrushCatharus guttatusSummer visitorCommon14–18 cmRegularly Apr–Feb · 0.15% in Sep
Northern Yellow WarblerSetophaga aestivaSummer visitorCommon12–13 cmRegularly Apr–Sep · 0.15% in Sep
OvenbirdSeiurus aurocapillaSummer visitorCommon12–15 cmRegularly May–Sep · 0.14% in Sep
Marsh WrenCistothorus palustrisSummer visitorUncommon10–14 cmRegularly Apr–Oct · 0.14% in Sep- Gray-cheeked ThrushCatharus minimusPassage migrantUncommon16–17 cmRegularly May–Oct · 0.14% in Sep
Common TernSterna hirundoSummer visitorUncommon31–35 cmRegularly Apr–Oct · 0.13% in Sep
Ruffed GrouseBonasa umbellusResidentUncommon41–50 cmRecorded all year · 0.12% in Sep
Northern PintailAnas acutaWinter visitorUncommon59–76 cmRegularly Aug–May · 0.12% in Sep
American Golden-PloverPluvialis dominicaPassage migrantUncommon24–28 cmRegularly May–Oct · 0.11% in Sep
VeeryCatharus fuscescensSummer visitorCommon16–19 cmRegularly May–Sep · 0.11% in Sep
Eastern BluebirdSialia sialisResidentUncommon16–21 cmRecorded all year · 0.10% in Sep
Baird's SandpiperCalidris bairdiiPassage migrantUncommon14–17 cmRegularly Aug–Oct · 0.09% in Sep
Red-necked GrebePodiceps grisegenaSummer visitorUncommon40–50 cmRecorded all year · 0.09% in Sep
Yellow-bellied FlycatcherEmpidonax flaviventrisSummer visitorUncommon13–15 cmRegularly May–Sep · 0.09% in Sep
Horned LarkEremophila alpestrisWinter visitorCommon16–20 cmRecorded all year · 0.08% in Sep- Red-breasted MerganserMergus serratorWinter visitorCommon52–58 cmRegularly Sep–May · 0.08% in Sep
Pine SiskinSpinus pinusWinter visitorCommon11–14 cmRecorded all year · 0.07% in Sep
Stilt SandpiperCalidris himantopusPassage migrantUncommon18–23 cmRegularly Jul–Oct · 0.07% in Sep- Greater ScaupAythya marilaWinter visitorCommon39–56 cmRegularly Sep–May · 0.07% in Sep
Eastern Screech-owlMegascops asioWinter visitorUncommon16–25 cmRecorded all year · 0.07% in Sep
Lesser Black-backed GullLarus fuscusWinter visitorUncommon52–64 cmRecorded all year · 0.06% in Sep
Barred OwlStrix variaResidentUncommon43–50 cmRecorded all year · 0.06% in Sep
Northern WaterthrushParkesia noveboracensisSummer visitorUncommon12–15 cmRegularly Apr–Sep · 0.06% in Sep- Orange-crowned WarblerLeiothlypis celataSummer visitorUncommon11–14 cmRegularly May–Jan · 0.06% in Sep
BobolinkDolichonyx oryzivorusSummer visitorUncommon16–20 cmRegularly May–Sep · 0.05% in Sep
Purple MartinProgne subisSummer visitorUncommon18–20 cmRegularly Apr–Sep · 0.05% in Sep
Ruddy TurnstoneArenaria interpresSummer visitorUncommon21–24 cmRegularly May–Oct · 0.05% in Sep
Tufted TitmouseBaeolophus bicolorResidentUncommon14–17 cmRecorded all year · 0.05% in Sep
Red-headed WoodpeckerMelanerpes erythrocephalusSummer visitorUncommon19–23 cmRegularly Apr–Feb · 0.05% in Sep
Ruddy DuckOxyura jamaicensisWinter visitorUncommon35–43 cmRecorded all year · 0.05% in Sep
White-rumped SandpiperCalidris fuscicollisSummer visitorRare15–18 cmRegularly May–Nov · 0.05% in Sep
Great Horned OwlBubo virginianusWinter visitorUncommon46–63 cmRecorded all year · 0.04% in Sep
American BitternBotaurus lentiginosusSummer visitorUncommon58–85 cmRegularly Apr–Oct · 0.04% in Sep
Red-necked PhalaropePhalaropus lobatusPassage migrantRare18–19 cmRegularly May–Sep · 0.04% in Sep
DunlinCalidris alpinaPassage migrantUncommon16–22 cmRegularly Apr–Dec · 0.04% in Sep
Short-billed DowitcherLimnodromus griseusPassage migrantUncommon23–32 cmRegularly May–Sep · 0.04% in Sep
Virginia RailRallus limicolaSummer visitorUncommon20–27 cmRegularly Apr–Oct · 0.03% in Sep
Sand MartinRiparia ripariaSummer visitorUncommon12–14 cmRegularly Apr–Sep · 0.03% in Sep
Snow GooseAnser caerulescensWinter visitorUncommon69–84 cmRegularly Sep–Apr · 0.03% in Sep
Northern MockingbirdMimus polyglottosResidentUncommon21–26 cmRecorded all year · 0.03% in Sep
Horned GrebePodiceps auritusWinter visitorUncommon31–38 cmRegularly Sep–May · 0.03% in Sep
Red CrossbillLoxia curvirostraWinter visitorUncommon15–17 cmRecorded all year · 0.03% in Sep
Buff-breasted SandpiperCalidris subruficollisPassage migrantRare18–20 cmRegularly Aug–Oct · 0.03% in Sep
Arctic JaegerStercorarius parasiticusPassage migrantRare41–46 cmRegularly Aug–Nov · 0.03% in Sep
Hudsonian GodwitLimosa haemasticaPassage migrantRare36–42 cmRegularly Jun–Nov · 0.03% in Sep
Mourning WarblerGeothlypis philadelphiaSummer visitorUncommon10–15 cmRegularly May–Sep · 0.03% in Sep
Black-billed CuckooCoccyzus erythropthalmusSummer visitorUncommon28–32 cmRegularly May–Sep · 0.03% in Sep
Long-billed DowitcherLimnodromus scolopaceusPassage migrantRare27–30 cmRegularly Apr–Nov · 0.02% in Sep
Red KnotCalidris canutusPassage migrantRare23–26 cmRegularly May–Oct · 0.02% in Sep
Sabine's GullXema sabiniPassage migrantRare27–33 cmRegularly Sep–Oct · 0.02% in Sep
Vesper SparrowPooecetes gramineusSummer visitorUncommon13–17 cmRegularly Apr–Oct · 0.02% in Sep
Lapland LongspurCalcarius lapponicusWinter visitorUncommon15–16 cmRegularly Sep–May · 0.02% in Sep
Cackling GooseBranta hutchinsiiWinter visitorUncommon53–76 cmRegularly Sep–Apr · 0.02% in Sep
Black-backed WoodpeckerPicoides arcticusResidentRare21–24 cmRecorded all year · 0.02% in Sep
Wilson's PhalaropePhalaropus tricolorSummer visitorRare22–24 cmRegularly Apr–Sep · 0.01% in Sep
Little GullHydrocoloeus minutusResidentRare25–30 cmRecorded all year · 0.01% in Sep
WhimbrelNumenius phaeopusSummer visitorRare40–46 cmRegularly May–Sep · 0.01% in Sep
Clay-colored SparrowSpizella pallidaSummer visitorUncommon13–15 cmRegularly May–Sep · 0.01% in Sep
Black-necked GrebePodiceps nigricollisPassage migrantRare28–34 cmRegularly Apr–Dec · 0.01% in Sep
Black TernChlidonias nigerSummer visitorUncommon22–26 cmRegularly May–Sep · 0.01% in Sep
Long-tailed JaegerStercorarius longicaudusPassage migrantRare48–58 cmRegularly Aug–Oct · 0.01% in Sep
Forster's TernSterna forsteriSummer visitorUncommon33–36 cmRegularly Apr–Oct · 0.01% in Sep
Pomarine JaegerStercorarius pomarinusPassage migrantRare46–51 cmRegularly Sep–Dec · 0.01% in Sep
Northern Saw-whet OwlAegolius acadicusWinter visitorUncommon17–21 cmRegularly Sep–Apr · 0.01% in Sep
Fish CrowCorvus ossifragusResidentRare36–41 cmRecorded all year · 0.01% in Sep
Piping PloverCharadrius melodusSummer visitorRare17–18 cmRegularly Apr–Sep · 0.00% in Sep
Cattle EgretArdea ibisPassage migrantRare46–56 cmRegularly May–Nov · 0.00% in Sep
WilletTringa semipalmataSummer visitorRare33–41 cmRegularly Apr–Sep · 0.00% in Sep
Greater White-fronted GooseAnser albifronsWinter visitorUncommon64–81 cmRegularly Sep–Apr · 0.00% in Sep
Grey PhalaropePhalaropus fulicariusPassage migrantRare20–22 cmRegularly Sep–Dec · 0.00% in Sep
KittiwakeRissa tridactylaWinter visitorRare37–41 cmRegularly Sep–May · 0.00% in Sep
Marbled GodwitLimosa fedoaSummer visitorRare40–50 cmRegularly Apr–Sep · 0.00% in Sep
Pacific LoonGavia pacificaPassage migrantRare58–74 cmRegularly Jun–Jan · 0.00% in Sep
Ross's GooseAnser rossiiWinter visitorRare57–64 cmRegularly Sep–Apr · 0.00% in Sep
Western SandpiperCalidris mauriPassage migrantRare14–17 cmRegularly May–Sep · 0.00% in Sep
Common PheasantPhasianus colchicusResidentRare50–90 cmRecorded all year · 0.00% in Sep
DickcisselSpiza americanaSummer visitorRare14–16 cmRegularly May–Jan · 0.00% in Sep
White-winged DoveZenaida asiaticaSummer visitorRare27–30 cmRegularly Apr–Sep · 0.00% in Sep
Western KingbirdTyrannus verticalisPassage migrantRare20–24 cmRegularly Jun–Sep · 0.00% in Sep
Muscovy DuckCairina moschataWinter visitorRare66–84 cmRecorded all year · 0.00% in Sep
American Three-toed WoodpeckerPicoides dorsalisWinter visitorRare21–24 cmRecorded all year · 0.00% in Sep
Boreal OwlAegolius funereusWinter visitorRare21–28 cmRegularly Sep–Jun · 0.00% in Sep
Franklin's GullLeucophaeus pipixcanSummer visitorRare32–36 cmRegularly May–Oct · 0.00% in Sep
Greylag GooseAnser anserWinter visitorRare75–90 cmRegularly Sep–Jun · 0.00% in Sep
Arctic TernSterna paradisaeaSummer visitorRare33–39 cmRegularly May–Oct · 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