Birds to See in Japan in September
113 bird species on our list for Japan are recorded regularly in September
Of these, the most often recorded are Eurasian Tree Sparrow, Grey Heron, Carrion Crow, Great White Egret and Pied Wagtail. New this month: Eurasian Teal, Eurasian Wigeon, Tufted Duck and Northern Shoveler and 15 more.
On the move in September
GBIF · SepArriving
At their peak
From Japan’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 113 birds in September
113 birds
Eurasian Tree SparrowPasser montanusResidentCommon13–14 cmRecorded all year · 4.54% in Sep
Grey HeronArdea cinereaResidentCommon90–98 cmRecorded all year · 4.15% in Sep
Carrion CrowCorvus coroneResidentCommon45–47 cmRecorded all year · 3.48% in Sep
Great White EgretArdea albaResidentCommon80–104 cmRecorded all year · 3.29% in Sep
Pied WagtailMotacilla albaResidentCommon17–19 cmRecorded all year · 3.13% in Sep
Rock DoveColumba liviaResidentCommon31–34 cmRecorded all year · 2.95% in Sep
Great CormorantPhalacrocorax carboResidentCommon80–100 cmRecorded all year · 2.86% in Sep
Little EgretEgretta garzettaResidentCommon55–65 cmRecorded all year · 2.52% in Sep
Barn SwallowHirundo rusticaSummer visitorCommon17–19 cmRegularly Mar–Oct · 1.64% in Sep
Blue Rock-thrushMonticola solitariusResidentCommon21–23 cmRecorded all year · 1.54% in Sep
Common KingfisherAlcedo atthisResidentCommon16–17 cmRecorded all year · 1.54% in Sep
Common SandpiperActitis hypoleucosWinter visitorCommon18–20 cmRecorded all year · 1.39% in Sep
Little GrebeTachybaptus ruficollisResidentCommon23–29 cmRecorded all year · 1.29% in Sep
Japanese WagtailMotacilla grandisResidentCommon20–23 cmRecorded all year · 1.17% in Sep
Black-tailed GullLarus crassirostrisSummer visitorCommon43–51 cmRecorded all year · 1.16% in Sep
OspreyPandion haliaetusResidentCommon54–58 cmRecorded all year · 0.82% in Sep
Long-tailed TitAegithalos caudatusResidentCommon13–16 cmRecorded all year · 0.79% in Sep
MallardAnas platyrhynchosResidentCommon50–65 cmRecorded all year · 0.72% in Sep
Eurasian TealAnas creccaWinter visitorCommon34–38 cmRegularly Sep–May · 0.70% in Sep
Grey WagtailMotacilla cinereaResidentCommon17–20 cmRecorded all year · 0.68% in Sep
GreenshankTringa nebulariaWinter visitorCommon30–35 cmRegularly Jul–May · 0.51% in Sep
Little Ringed PloverThinornis dubiusSummer visitorCommon14–17 cmRecorded all year · 0.50% in Sep
Eurasian SkylarkAlauda arvensisResidentCommon16–18 cmRecorded all year · 0.46% in Sep
Black-crowned Night-heronNycticorax nycticoraxResidentCommon58–65 cmRecorded all year · 0.46% in Sep
Great Spotted WoodpeckerDendrocopos majorResidentCommon23–26 cmRecorded all year · 0.36% in Sep
KestrelFalco tinnunculusResidentUncommon32–39 cmRecorded all year · 0.35% in Sep
MoorhenGallinula chloropusResidentUncommon30–38 cmRecorded all year · 0.35% in Sep
Eurasian JayGarrulus glandariusResidentCommon32–35 cmRecorded all year · 0.34% in Sep
DunlinCalidris alpinaWinter visitorUncommon16–22 cmRegularly Aug–May · 0.34% in Sep
Eurasian NuthatchSitta europaeaResidentUncommon12–15 cmRecorded all year · 0.33% in Sep
Coal TitPeriparus aterResidentCommon10–12 cmRecorded all year · 0.32% in Sep
Wood SandpiperTringa glareolaPassage migrantUncommon19–21 cmRegularly Feb–Dec · 0.30% in Sep
Common SnipeGallinago gallinagoWinter visitorUncommon25–27 cmRegularly Aug–May · 0.29% in Sep
Grey PloverPluvialis squatarolaWinter visitorUncommon27–30 cmRecorded all year · 0.29% in Sep
CootFulica atraWinter visitorCommon36–42 cmRecorded all year · 0.28% in Sep
Northern PintailAnas acutaWinter visitorCommon59–76 cmRecorded all year · 0.28% in Sep
Pacific Golden-PloverPluvialis fulvaWinter visitorUncommon23–26 cmRegularly Jul–May · 0.26% in Sep
WhimbrelNumenius phaeopusSummer visitorUncommon40–46 cmRegularly Jan–Oct · 0.26% in Sep
SanderlingCalidris albaWinter visitorUncommon18–20 cmRegularly Jul–May · 0.25% in Sep
Kentish PloverCharadrius alexandrinusResidentUncommon15–17 cmRecorded all year · 0.25% in Sep
Bar-tailed GodwitLimosa lapponicaSummer visitorUncommon37–41 cmRegularly Mar–Oct · 0.24% in Sep
Eurasian WigeonMareca penelopeWinter visitorCommon42–51 cmRegularly Sep–Jun · 0.24% in Sep
Marsh TitPoecile palustrisResidentUncommon12–13 cmRecorded all year · 0.23% in Sep
Oriental Honey-buzzardPernis ptilorhynchusPassage migrantUncommon52–68 cmRegularly Sep–Oct · 0.23% in Sep
Rose-ringed ParakeetPsittacula krameriResidentUncommon38–42 cmRecorded all year · 0.21% in Sep
RedshankTringa totanusWinter visitorUncommon27–29 cmRecorded all year · 0.19% in Sep
Northern ShovelerSpatula clypeataWinter visitorCommon44–51 cmRegularly Sep–Jun · 0.16% in Sep
Green SandpiperTringa ochropusWinter visitorUncommon21–24 cmRegularly Jul–May · 0.16% in Sep
Ruddy TurnstoneArenaria interpresPassage migrantUncommon21–24 cmRegularly Jan–Oct · 0.16% in Sep
Willow TitPoecile montanusResidentUncommon11–12 cmRecorded all year · 0.16% in Sep
Eurasian OystercatcherHaematopus ostralegusResidentUncommon40–45 cmRecorded all year · 0.14% in Sep
Black-tailed GodwitLimosa limosaPassage migrantUncommon40–44 cmRegularly Apr–Nov · 0.13% in Sep
Great Crested GrebePodiceps cristatusWinter visitorCommon46–51 cmRecorded all year · 0.12% in Sep
Mute SwanCygnus olorResidentUncommon140–160 cmRecorded all year · 0.11% in Sep
RuffCalidris pugnaxPassage migrantUncommon20–32 cmRegularly Apr–Oct · 0.11% in Sep
PochardAythya ferinaWinter visitorCommon42–49 cmRecorded all year · 0.10% in Sep
Black-headed GullChroicocephalus ridibundusWinter visitorCommon38–44 cmRegularly Aug–Jun · 0.10% in Sep
Red KnotCalidris canutusPassage migrantUncommon23–26 cmRegularly Apr–Nov · 0.10% in Sep
Mandarin DuckAix galericulataResidentUncommon41–49 cmRecorded all year · 0.10% in Sep
Tufted DuckAythya fuligulaWinter visitorCommon40–47 cmRegularly Sep–Jun · 0.10% in Sep
Greater ScaupAythya marilaResidentCommon39–56 cmRecorded all year · 0.10% in Sep
GarganeySpatula querquedulaWinter visitorUncommon37–41 cmRegularly Aug–Jun · 0.09% in Sep
Sand MartinRiparia ripariaSummer visitorUncommon12–14 cmRegularly Apr–Oct · 0.08% in Sep
White-tailed Sea-eagleHaliaeetus albicillaWinter visitorUncommon66–94 cmRegularly Aug–Feb · 0.08% in Sep
Temminck's StintCalidris temminckiiWinter visitorUncommon13–15 cmRegularly Aug–May · 0.08% in Sep
CurlewNumenius arquataWinter visitorUncommon50–60 cmRegularly Jul–May · 0.07% in Sep
Greater White-fronted GooseAnser albifronsWinter visitorUncommon64–81 cmRegularly Sep–May · 0.07% in Sep
Scaly-breasted MuniaLonchura punctulataResidentUncommon11–12 cmRecorded all year · 0.07% in Sep
Spotted RedshankTringa erythropusWinter visitorUncommon29–31 cmRegularly Sep–May · 0.07% in Sep
Sharp-tailed SandpiperCalidris acuminataPassage migrantUncommon17–22 cmRegularly Apr–Nov · 0.06% in Sep
SparrowhawkAccipiter nisusWinter visitorUncommon28–38 cmRegularly Aug–May · 0.06% in Sep
Common MerganserMergus merganserWinter visitorUncommon58–68 cmRecorded all year · 0.06% in Sep
Swan GooseAnser cygnoidesWinter visitorUncommon81–94 cmRegularly Jul–May · 0.05% in Sep
TreecreeperCerthia familiarisResidentUncommon12–14 cmRecorded all year · 0.05% in Sep
Tundra Bean GooseAnser serrirostrisWinter visitorUncommon66–84 cmRegularly Sep–Apr · 0.05% in Sep
Common TernSterna hirundoSummer visitorUncommon31–35 cmRegularly Mar–Dec · 0.05% in Sep
Red-necked PhalaropePhalaropus lobatusSummer visitorUncommon18–19 cmRegularly Apr–Oct · 0.05% in Sep
HobbyFalco subbuteoSummer visitorRare28–35 cmRegularly May–Oct · 0.04% in Sep
Purple HeronArdea purpureaSummer visitorRare78–90 cmRegularly Nov–Sep · 0.04% in Sep
Taiga Bean GooseAnser fabalisWinter visitorUncommon68–88 cmRegularly Sep–Apr · 0.04% in Sep
Indian PeafowlPavo cristatusSummer visitorRare86–230 cmRegularly Mar–Jan · 0.04% in Sep
HawfinchCoccothraustes coccothraustesWinter visitorCommon17–18 cmRegularly Aug–Jun · 0.04% in Sep
Black-necked GrebePodiceps nigricollisWinter visitorUncommon28–34 cmRegularly Sep–Apr · 0.04% in Sep
Common PheasantPhasianus colchicusSummer visitorRare50–90 cmRegularly Nov–Sep · 0.03% in Sep
Crested MynaAcridotheres cristatellusResidentRare24–27 cmRecorded all year · 0.03% in Sep
GoldcrestRegulus regulusResidentUncommon9–10 cmRecorded all year · 0.03% in Sep
Eurasian WrenTroglodytes troglodytesResidentUncommon9–10 cmRecorded all year · 0.03% in Sep
Red-flanked BluetailTarsiger cyanurusResidentUncommon13–14 cmRecorded all year · 0.03% in Sep
Pectoral SandpiperCalidris melanotosPassage migrantRare19–23 cmRegularly Aug–Oct · 0.03% in Sep
Muscovy DuckCairina moschataResidentRare66–84 cmRecorded all year · 0.02% in Sep
Vega GullLarus vegaeWinter visitorUncommon55–67 cmRegularly Sep–May · 0.02% in Sep
Little StintCalidris minutaPassage migrantRare13–15 cmRegularly Apr–Jan · 0.02% in Sep
BullfinchPyrrhula pyrrhulaResidentUncommon15–17 cmRecorded all year · 0.02% in Sep
Rock PtarmiganLagopus mutaSummer visitorRare34–36 cmRegularly Apr–Oct · 0.02% in Sep
Eurasian SpoonbillPlatalea leucorodiaWinter visitorUncommon80–90 cmRegularly Jul–May · 0.02% in Sep
Ringed PloverCharadrius hiaticulaWinter visitorRare17–19 cmRegularly Aug–Apr · 0.02% in Sep
Whooper SwanCygnus cygnusWinter visitorUncommon140–165 cmRegularly Sep–Jun · 0.02% in Sep
Cackling GooseBranta hutchinsiiWinter visitorRare53–76 cmRegularly Sep–Apr · 0.02% in Sep
Curlew SandpiperCalidris ferrugineaPassage migrantRare18–23 cmRegularly Apr–Sep · 0.02% in Sep
Long-billed DowitcherLimnodromus scolopaceusWinter visitorRare27–30 cmRegularly Aug–Apr · 0.01% in Sep
Common StarlingSturnus vulgarisWinter visitorUncommon21–23 cmRegularly Sep–May · 0.01% in Sep
Pomarine JaegerStercorarius pomarinusSummer visitorUncommon46–51 cmRegularly Feb–Dec · 0.01% in Sep
Eurasian SiskinSpinus spinusResidentUncommon11–13 cmRegularly Sep–Jul · 0.01% in Sep
KittiwakeRissa tridactylaResidentUncommon37–41 cmRegularly Sep–Jul · 0.01% in Sep
White-winged TernChlidonias leucopterusPassage migrantRare20–27 cmRegularly May–Sep · 0.01% in Sep
WryneckJynx torquillaResidentUncommon16–18 cmRecorded all year · 0.01% in Sep
Sooty ShearwaterArdenna griseaSummer visitorUncommon40–51 cmRegularly Apr–Oct · 0.01% in Sep
Western SandpiperCalidris mauriPassage migrantRare14–17 cmRegularly Sep · 0.01% in Sep
Arctic JaegerStercorarius parasiticusPassage migrantRare41–46 cmRegularly Apr–Nov · 0.01% in Sep
Leach's Storm-petrelHydrobates leucorhousSummer visitorRare18–21 cmRegularly Apr–Nov · 0.01% in Sep
Lesser Black-backed GullLarus fuscusWinter visitorUncommon52–64 cmRegularly Sep–Apr · 0.01% in Sep
FulmarFulmarus glacialisSummer visitorRare45–50 cmRegularly Feb–Nov · 0.00% in Sep
HoopoeUpupa epopsPassage migrantRare25–32 cmRegularly Feb–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