Birds to See in China in September
167 bird species on our list for China are recorded regularly in September
Of these, the most often recorded are Eurasian Tree Sparrow, Little Egret, Pied Wagtail, Barn Swallow and Little Grebe. New this month: Eurasian Teal, Eurasian Wigeon, Northern Shoveler and Northern Pintail and 23 more.
On the move in September
GBIF · SepArriving
At their peak
From China’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 167 birds in September
167 birds
Eurasian Tree SparrowPasser montanusResidentCommon13–14 cmRecorded all year · 2.37% in Sep
Little EgretEgretta garzettaResidentCommon55–65 cmRecorded all year · 2.15% in Sep
Pied WagtailMotacilla albaResidentCommon17–19 cmRecorded all year · 1.78% in Sep
Barn SwallowHirundo rusticaSummer visitorCommon17–19 cmRecorded all year · 1.52% in Sep
Little GrebeTachybaptus ruficollisResidentCommon23–29 cmRecorded all year · 1.47% in Sep
Grey HeronArdea cinereaResidentCommon90–98 cmRecorded all year · 1.47% in Sep
Black-crowned Night-heronNycticorax nycticoraxResidentCommon58–65 cmRecorded all year · 1.28% in Sep
MoorhenGallinula chloropusResidentCommon30–38 cmRecorded all year · 1.13% in Sep
Crested MynaAcridotheres cristatellusResidentCommon24–27 cmRecorded all year · 1.12% in Sep
Yellow-browed WarblerPhylloscopus inornatusWinter visitorCommon10–11 cmRegularly Aug–May · 1.06% in Sep
Great White EgretArdea albaResidentCommon80–104 cmRecorded all year · 1.06% in Sep
Common KingfisherAlcedo atthisResidentCommon16–17 cmRecorded all year · 1.02% in Sep
KestrelFalco tinnunculusResidentCommon32–39 cmRecorded all year · 0.90% in Sep
HoopoeUpupa epopsResidentCommon25–32 cmRecorded all year · 0.80% in Sep
MallardAnas platyrhynchosResidentCommon50–65 cmRecorded all year · 0.79% in Sep
Great Spotted WoodpeckerDendrocopos majorResidentCommon23–26 cmRecorded all year · 0.74% in Sep
GreenshankTringa nebulariaResidentCommon30–35 cmRecorded all year · 0.66% in Sep
Great Crested GrebePodiceps cristatusResidentCommon46–51 cmRecorded all year · 0.56% in Sep
HobbyFalco subbuteoSummer visitorCommon28–35 cmRegularly May–Oct · 0.56% in Sep
Great CormorantPhalacrocorax carboResidentCommon80–100 cmRecorded all year · 0.54% in Sep
Grey WagtailMotacilla cinereaResidentCommon17–20 cmRecorded all year · 0.53% in Sep
Marsh TitPoecile palustrisResidentCommon12–13 cmRecorded all year · 0.52% in Sep
CootFulica atraResidentCommon36–42 cmRecorded all year · 0.50% in Sep
Common SandpiperActitis hypoleucosResidentCommon18–20 cmRecorded all year · 0.49% in Sep
Common PheasantPhasianus colchicusResidentCommon50–90 cmRecorded all year · 0.47% in Sep
Black-headed GullChroicocephalus ridibundusResidentCommon38–44 cmRecorded all year · 0.44% in Sep
Kentish PloverCharadrius alexandrinusResidentUncommon15–17 cmRecorded all year · 0.43% in Sep
Oriental Honey-buzzardPernis ptilorhynchusSummer visitorUncommon52–68 cmRecorded all year · 0.40% in Sep
WhimbrelNumenius phaeopusSummer visitorUncommon40–46 cmRegularly Apr–Jan · 0.40% in Sep
Gull-billed TernGelochelidon niloticaSummer visitorUncommon33–42 cmRegularly Apr–Oct · 0.40% in Sep
Little Ringed PloverThinornis dubiusSummer visitorCommon14–17 cmRecorded all year · 0.39% in Sep
SparrowhawkAccipiter nisusWinter visitorCommon28–38 cmRecorded all year · 0.38% in Sep
Black-tailed GullLarus crassirostrisSummer visitorUncommon43–51 cmRecorded all year · 0.36% in Sep
Wood SandpiperTringa glareolaSummer visitorUncommon19–21 cmRecorded all year · 0.36% in Sep
DunlinCalidris alpinaWinter visitorUncommon16–22 cmRegularly Jul–May · 0.36% in Sep
Common SnipeGallinago gallinagoWinter visitorUncommon25–27 cmRegularly Aug–Jun · 0.35% in Sep
Common TernSterna hirundoSummer visitorCommon31–35 cmRegularly Apr–Oct · 0.34% in Sep
Rock DoveColumba liviaResidentUncommon31–34 cmRecorded all year · 0.32% in Sep
Black-tailed GodwitLimosa limosaSummer visitorUncommon40–44 cmRecorded all year · 0.30% in Sep
Peregrine FalconFalco peregrinusWinter visitorUncommon34–58 cmRecorded all year · 0.30% in Sep
AvocetRecurvirostra avosettaResidentUncommon42–45 cmRecorded all year · 0.29% in Sep
Green SandpiperTringa ochropusWinter visitorUncommon21–24 cmRecorded all year · 0.29% in Sep
White-winged TernChlidonias leucopterusSummer visitorUncommon20–27 cmRegularly Apr–Oct · 0.28% in Sep
Spotted RedshankTringa erythropusResidentUncommon29–31 cmRecorded all year · 0.24% in Sep
CurlewNumenius arquataResidentUncommon50–60 cmRecorded all year · 0.24% in Sep
RedshankTringa totanusSummer visitorUncommon27–29 cmRecorded all year · 0.24% in Sep
Grey PloverPluvialis squatarolaResidentUncommon27–30 cmRecorded all year · 0.22% in Sep
Little TernSternula albifronsSummer visitorUncommon21–25 cmRegularly Apr–Oct · 0.22% in Sep
Scaly-breasted MuniaLonchura punctulataResidentUncommon11–12 cmRecorded all year · 0.22% in Sep
Eurasian Collared DoveStreptopelia decaoctoResidentUncommon30–32 cmRecorded all year · 0.21% in Sep
Purple HeronArdea purpureaSummer visitorUncommon78–90 cmRecorded all year · 0.21% in Sep
Ruddy ShelduckTadorna ferrugineaResidentCommon58–70 cmRecorded all year · 0.20% in Sep
GarganeySpatula querquedulaWinter visitorUncommon37–41 cmRegularly Aug–Jun · 0.20% in Sep
Bar-tailed GodwitLimosa lapponicaSummer visitorUncommon37–41 cmRecorded all year · 0.19% in Sep
Pacific Golden-PloverPluvialis fulvaWinter visitorUncommon23–26 cmRegularly Jul–May · 0.18% in Sep
Common RosefinchCarpodacus erythrinusSummer visitorUncommon13–15 cmRecorded all year · 0.18% in Sep
Mandarin DuckAix galericulataResidentUncommon41–49 cmRecorded all year · 0.18% in Sep
Eurasian TealAnas creccaWinter visitorCommon34–38 cmRegularly Sep–May · 0.17% in Sep
Temminck's StintCalidris temminckiiWinter visitorUncommon13–15 cmRegularly Jul–May · 0.17% in Sep
OspreyPandion haliaetusWinter visitorUncommon54–58 cmRegularly Jul–May · 0.16% in Sep
Ruddy TurnstoneArenaria interpresSummer visitorUncommon21–24 cmRecorded all year · 0.15% in Sep
Plumbeous Water-redstartPhoenicurus fuliginosusResidentUncommon12–15 cmRecorded all year · 0.15% in Sep
SanderlingCalidris albaSummer visitorUncommon18–20 cmRecorded all year · 0.15% in Sep
CuckooCuculus canorusSummer visitorCommon32–34 cmRegularly May–Sep · 0.14% in Sep
Red-necked PhalaropePhalaropus lobatusPassage migrantUncommon18–19 cmRegularly Apr–Oct · 0.14% in Sep
Sharp-tailed SandpiperCalidris acuminataSummer visitorUncommon17–22 cmRegularly Apr–Oct · 0.14% in Sep
WryneckJynx torquillaWinter visitorUncommon16–18 cmRecorded all year · 0.12% in Sep
Red-billed ChoughPyrrhocorax pyrrhocoraxSummer visitorUncommon39–43 cmRecorded all year · 0.12% in Sep
Vega GullLarus vegaeWinter visitorUncommon55–67 cmRegularly Jun–Apr · 0.11% in Sep
Blue Rock-thrushMonticola solitariusResidentUncommon21–23 cmRecorded all year · 0.11% in Sep
Carrion CrowCorvus coroneResidentCommon45–47 cmRecorded all year · 0.10% in Sep
Red KnotCalidris canutusSummer visitorUncommon23–26 cmRegularly Mar–Jan · 0.10% in Sep
Eurasian JayGarrulus glandariusResidentUncommon32–35 cmRecorded all year · 0.10% in Sep
Northern GoshawkAstur gentilisWinter visitorUncommon46–61 cmRegularly Sep–Jul · 0.09% in Sep
Eurasian SpoonbillPlatalea leucorodiaWinter visitorUncommon80–90 cmRecorded all year · 0.09% in Sep
Eurasian SkylarkAlauda arvensisWinter visitorUncommon16–18 cmRecorded all year · 0.08% in Sep
Eurasian OystercatcherHaematopus ostralegusSummer visitorUncommon40–45 cmRecorded all year · 0.08% in Sep
GadwallMareca streperaWinter visitorCommon46–56 cmRecorded all year · 0.07% in Sep
Hen HarrierCircus cyaneusWinter visitorUncommon41–52 cmRegularly Sep–May · 0.07% in Sep
Curlew SandpiperCalidris ferrugineaSummer visitorUncommon18–23 cmRegularly Mar–Oct · 0.07% in Sep
Swan GooseAnser cygnoidesWinter visitorUncommon81–94 cmRecorded all year · 0.07% in Sep
Black EagleIctinaetus malaiensisResidentUncommon65–80 cmRecorded all year · 0.06% in Sep
RuffCalidris pugnaxWinter visitorUncommon20–32 cmRegularly Jul–May · 0.06% in Sep
Sand MartinRiparia ripariaSummer visitorUncommon12–14 cmRegularly Mar–Nov · 0.06% in Sep
Willow TitPoecile montanusResidentUncommon11–12 cmRecorded all year · 0.06% in Sep
Common ShelduckTadorna tadornaResidentUncommon58–67 cmRecorded all year · 0.06% in Sep
Greylag GooseAnser anserResidentUncommon75–90 cmRecorded all year · 0.06% in Sep
Oriental Scops-owlOtus suniaSummer visitorUncommon16–20 cmRegularly Apr–Oct · 0.05% in Sep
Northern LapwingVanellus vanellusWinter visitorUncommon28–31 cmRecorded all year · 0.05% in Sep
Coal TitPeriparus aterResidentUncommon10–12 cmRecorded all year · 0.05% in Sep
Northern PintailAnas acutaWinter visitorUncommon59–76 cmRegularly Sep–Apr · 0.05% in Sep
Black SwanCygnus atratusResidentUncommon110–142 cmRecorded all year · 0.04% in Sep
Red-crested PochardNetta rufinaResidentUncommon53–57 cmRecorded all year · 0.04% in Sep
Little StintCalidris minutaPassage migrantRare13–15 cmRegularly Apr–Oct · 0.04% in Sep
Eurasian NuthatchSitta europaeaResidentUncommon12–15 cmRecorded all year · 0.04% in Sep
Common RavenCorvus coraxSummer visitorUncommon54–67 cmRecorded all year · 0.04% in Sep
Bar-headed GooseAnser indicusResidentUncommon68–78 cmRecorded all year · 0.04% in Sep
Black RedstartPhoenicurus ochrurosSummer visitorUncommon13–15 cmRegularly Apr–Sep · 0.04% in Sep
Bearded TitPanurus biarmicusResidentUncommon13–15 cmRecorded all year · 0.04% in Sep
Booted EagleHieraaetus pennatusSummer visitorUncommon42–51 cmRegularly Mar–Dec · 0.04% in Sep
Little OwlAthene noctuaResidentUncommon21–23 cmRecorded all year · 0.04% in Sep
BluethroatLuscinia svecicaResidentUncommon13–14 cmRegularly Sep–Jul · 0.03% in Sep
Eurasian WigeonMareca penelopeWinter visitorUncommon42–51 cmRegularly Sep–May · 0.03% in Sep
Northern ShovelerSpatula clypeataWinter visitorUncommon44–51 cmRegularly Sep–Jun · 0.03% in Sep
PochardAythya ferinaWinter visitorUncommon42–49 cmRecorded all year · 0.03% in Sep
MagpiePica picaSummer visitorUncommon44–46 cmRegularly May–Feb · 0.03% in Sep
Golden EagleAquila chrysaetosResidentUncommon66–102 cmRecorded all year · 0.03% in Sep
Common MerganserMergus merganserWinter visitorCommon58–68 cmRegularly Jun–Apr · 0.03% in Sep
Horned LarkEremophila alpestrisSummer visitorUncommon16–20 cmRegularly Apr–Feb · 0.03% in Sep
Lesser Black-backed GullLarus fuscusWinter visitorUncommon52–64 cmRegularly Aug–May · 0.03% in Sep
Great TitParus majorSummer visitorUncommonRegularly Feb–Dec · 0.03% in Sep
Eurasian BitternBotaurus stellarisResidentUncommon69–81 cmRecorded all year · 0.03% in Sep
TwiteLinaria flavirostrisSummer visitorUncommon13–14 cmRecorded all year · 0.03% in Sep
Black-necked GrebePodiceps nigricollisResidentUncommon28–34 cmRecorded all year · 0.02% in Sep
Orange-headed ThrushGeokichla citrinaResidentRare20–23 cmRecorded all year · 0.02% in Sep
RookCorvus frugilegusResidentUncommon45–47 cmRecorded all year · 0.02% in Sep
GoldcrestRegulus regulusWinter visitorUncommon9–10 cmRecorded all year · 0.02% in Sep
Whooper SwanCygnus cygnusWinter visitorUncommon140–165 cmRecorded all year · 0.02% in Sep
House SparrowPasser domesticusSummer visitorUncommon14–17 cmRecorded all year · 0.02% in Sep
Common StarlingSturnus vulgarisResidentUncommon21–23 cmRecorded all year · 0.02% in Sep
Common CraneGrus grusWinter visitorUncommon100–130 cmRegularly Jul–Mar · 0.02% in Sep
Eurasian WoodcockScolopax rusticolaWinter visitorRare33–38 cmRegularly Sep–May · 0.01% in Sep
TreecreeperCerthia familiarisResidentUncommon12–14 cmRecorded all year · 0.01% in Sep
Arctic JaegerStercorarius parasiticusPassage migrantRare41–46 cmRegularly Sep · 0.01% in Sep
Crag MartinPtyonoprogne rupestrisSummer visitorUncommon14–15 cmRegularly Mar–Jan · 0.01% in Sep
Long-tailed TitAegithalos caudatusWinter visitorUncommon13–16 cmRecorded all year · 0.01% in Sep
Eurasian WrenTroglodytes troglodytesResidentUncommon9–10 cmRecorded all year · 0.01% in Sep
Red CrossbillLoxia curvirostraResidentUncommon15–17 cmRecorded all year · 0.01% in Sep
White-tailed RobinMyiomela leucuraResidentUncommon16–18 cmRecorded all year · 0.01% in Sep
BlackbirdTurdus merulaSummer visitorUncommon24–25 cmRegularly Apr–Dec · 0.01% in Sep
Alpine ChoughPyrrhocorax graculusSummer visitorUncommon36–39 cmRegularly Apr–Dec · 0.01% in Sep
Pectoral SandpiperCalidris melanotosPassage migrantRare19–23 cmRegularly Apr–Oct · 0.01% in Sep
ChiffchaffPhylloscopus collybitaSummer visitorRare10–12 cmRegularly Jan–Oct · 0.01% in Sep
DipperCinclus cinclusSummer visitorUncommon17–20 cmRecorded all year · 0.01% in Sep
Lady Amherst's PheasantChrysolophus amherstiaeSummer visitorUncommon100–120 cmRegularly Dec–Oct · 0.01% in Sep
Western Marsh-harrierCircus aeruginosusSummer visitorRare48–56 cmRegularly May–Sep · 0.01% in Sep
European GoldfinchCarduelis carduelisSummer visitorUncommon12–13 cmRegularly May–Oct · 0.01% in Sep
Red JunglefowlGallus gallusResidentRare42–75 cmRecorded all year · 0.01% in Sep
Bonelli's EagleAquila fasciataResidentRare65–72 cmRecorded all year · 0.01% in Sep
European Bee-eaterMerops apiasterSummer visitorUncommon27–29 cmRegularly May–Sep · 0.01% in Sep
Common GullLarus canusWinter visitorUncommon40–46 cmRegularly Sep–May · 0.01% in Sep
Ringed PloverCharadrius hiaticulaPassage migrantRare17–19 cmRegularly Aug–Apr · 0.01% in Sep
JackdawColoeus monedulaSummer visitorRare34–39 cmRegularly May–Sep · 0.01% in Sep
Mistle ThrushTurdus viscivorusSummer visitorUncommon26–29 cmRegularly May–Dec · 0.01% in Sep
Muscovy DuckCairina moschataResidentRare66–84 cmRecorded all year · 0.01% in Sep
ChukarAlectoris chukarResidentRare32–38 cmRecorded all year · 0.01% in Sep
Lesser WhitethroatCurruca currucaSummer visitorRare11–13 cmRegularly May–Nov · 0.01% in Sep
White-crested LaughingthrushGarrulax leucolophusWinter visitorUncommon27–31 cmRegularly Sep–May · 0.01% in Sep
Pomarine JaegerStercorarius pomarinusPassage migrantRare46–51 cmRegularly Sep–Mar · 0.00% in Sep
Black LarkMelanocorypha yeltoniensisSummer visitorRare17–20 cmRegularly May–Sep · 0.00% in Sep
BuzzardButeo buteoSummer visitorRare51–57 cmRegularly May–Jan · 0.00% in Sep
Glossy IbisPlegadis falcinellusResidentRare48–66 cmRegularly Dec–Sep · 0.00% in Sep
Golden PheasantChrysolophus pictusSummer visitorUncommon90–105 cmRecorded all year · 0.00% in Sep
Short-toed LarkCalandrella brachydactylaSummer visitorRare14–17 cmRegularly May–Sep · 0.00% in Sep
GreenfinchChloris chlorisSummer visitorRare15–16 cmRegularly May–Oct · 0.00% in Sep
LinnetLinaria cannabinaSummer visitorRare13–14 cmRegularly May–Sep · 0.00% in Sep
Little GullHydrocoloeus minutusPassage migrantRare25–30 cmRegularly Feb–Sep · 0.00% in Sep
Long-eared OwlAsio otusWinter visitorUncommon35–40 cmRegularly Sep–Jul · 0.00% in Sep
Roseate TernSterna dougalliiSummer visitorRare33–41 cmRegularly May–Sep · 0.00% in Sep
Spotted FlycatcherMuscicapa striataSummer visitorRare14–16 cmRegularly May–Sep · 0.00% in Sep
Reed BuntingEmberiza schoeniclusResidentUncommon14–16 cmRecorded all year · 0.00% in Sep
Yellow WagtailMotacilla flavaSummer visitorRare15–17 cmRegularly Apr–Sep · 0.00% in Sep
FieldfareTurdus pilarisSummer visitorRare22–27 cmRegularly May–Feb · 0.00% in Sep
Horned GrebePodiceps auritusResidentRare31–38 cmRegularly Apr–Feb · 0.00% in Sep
Mute SwanCygnus olorResidentRare140–160 cmRegularly Sep–Jul · 0.00% in Sep
Lesser Spotted WoodpeckerDryobates minorResidentRare14–16 cmRegularly May–Mar · 0.00% in Sep
Long-billed DowitcherLimnodromus scolopaceusPassage migrantRare27–30 cmRegularly Aug–Apr · 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