Birds to See in Northern Ireland in September
133 bird species on our list for Northern Ireland are recorded regularly in September
Of these, the most often recorded are European Robin, Hooded Crow, European Herring Gull, Common Starling and Black-headed Gull. New this month: Brent Goose, Merlin, Pink-footed Goose and Barnacle Goose and 5 more.
On the move in September
GBIF · SepArriving
At their peak
From Northern Ireland’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 133 birds in September
133 birds
European RobinErithacus rubeculaResidentCommon13–14 cmRecorded all year · 3.52% in Sep
Hooded CrowCorvus cornixResidentCommon44–51 cmRecorded all year · 3.20% in Sep
European Herring GullLarus argentatusResidentCommon55–67 cmRecorded all year · 2.88% in Sep
Common StarlingSturnus vulgarisResidentCommon21–23 cmRecorded all year · 2.81% in Sep
Black-headed GullChroicocephalus ridibundusResidentCommon38–44 cmRecorded all year · 2.74% in Sep
WoodpigeonColumba palumbusResidentCommon40–42 cmRecorded all year · 2.67% in Sep
JackdawColoeus monedulaResidentCommon34–39 cmRecorded all year · 2.52% in Sep
MagpiePica picaResidentCommon44–46 cmRecorded all year · 2.40% in Sep
Barn SwallowHirundo rusticaSummer visitorCommon17–19 cmRegularly Apr–Oct · 2.22% in Sep
Great CormorantPhalacrocorax carboResidentCommon80–100 cmRecorded all year · 2.17% in Sep
RookCorvus frugilegusResidentCommon45–47 cmRecorded all year · 2.13% in Sep
House SparrowPasser domesticusResidentCommon14–17 cmRecorded all year · 2.08% in Sep
Pied WagtailMotacilla albaResidentCommon17–19 cmRecorded all year · 2.01% in Sep
Rock DoveColumba liviaResidentCommon29–37 cmRecorded all year · 1.99% in Sep
Blue TitCyanistes caeruleusResidentCommon11–12 cmRecorded all year · 1.98% in Sep
Eurasian WrenTroglodytes troglodytesResidentCommon9–10 cmRecorded all year · 1.89% in Sep
Eurasian OystercatcherHaematopus ostralegusResidentCommon40–45 cmRecorded all year · 1.83% in Sep
Coal TitPeriparus aterResidentCommon10–12 cmRecorded all year · 1.78% in Sep
MallardAnas platyrhynchosResidentCommon50–65 cmRecorded all year · 1.74% in Sep
European GoldfinchCarduelis carduelisResidentCommon12–13 cmRecorded all year · 1.69% in Sep
BlackbirdTurdus merulaResidentCommon24–25 cmRecorded all year · 1.68% in Sep
Grey HeronArdea cinereaResidentCommon90–98 cmRecorded all year · 1.67% in Sep
Great TitParus majorResidentCommonRecorded all year · 1.66% in Sep
RedshankTringa totanusWinter visitorCommon27–29 cmRecorded all year · 1.56% in Sep
Lesser Black-backed GullLarus fuscusSummer visitorCommon52–64 cmRecorded all year · 1.53% in Sep
ChaffinchFringilla coelebsResidentCommon14–16 cmRecorded all year · 1.39% in Sep
CurlewNumenius arquataResidentCommon50–60 cmRecorded all year · 1.37% in Sep
Great Black-backed GullLarus marinusResidentCommon64–79 cmRecorded all year · 1.34% in Sep
DunnockPrunella modularisResidentCommon14–15 cmRecorded all year · 1.31% in Sep
House MartinDelichon urbicumSummer visitorCommon13–15 cmRegularly Apr–Sep · 1.15% in Sep
GoldcrestRegulus regulusResidentCommon9–10 cmRecorded all year · 1.10% in Sep
Common GullLarus canusResidentCommon40–46 cmRecorded all year · 1.04% in Sep
Northern GannetMorus bassanusSummer visitorCommon87–100 cmRecorded all year · 1.04% in Sep
Ruddy TurnstoneArenaria interpresWinter visitorCommon21–24 cmRecorded all year · 1.03% in Sep
Meadow PipitAnthus pratensisResidentCommon14–15 cmRecorded all year · 0.97% in Sep
DunlinCalidris alpinaResidentCommon16–22 cmRecorded all year · 0.93% in Sep
Little EgretEgretta garzettaResidentCommon55–65 cmRecorded all year · 0.90% in Sep
MoorhenGallinula chloropusResidentCommon30–38 cmRecorded all year · 0.86% in Sep
European ShagGulosus aristotelisResidentCommon65–80 cmRecorded all year · 0.86% in Sep
Eurasian TealAnas creccaWinter visitorCommon34–38 cmRecorded all year · 0.85% in Sep
Mute SwanCygnus olorResidentCommon140–160 cmRecorded all year · 0.84% in Sep
BuzzardButeo buteoResidentCommon51–57 cmRecorded all year · 0.82% in Sep
Grey WagtailMotacilla cinereaResidentCommon17–20 cmRecorded all year · 0.82% in Sep
EiderSomateria mollissimaResidentCommon50–71 cmRecorded all year · 0.80% in Sep
Black-tailed GodwitLimosa limosaResidentCommon40–44 cmRecorded all year · 0.77% in Sep
LinnetLinaria cannabinaResidentCommon13–14 cmRecorded all year · 0.77% in Sep
Little GrebeTachybaptus ruficollisResidentCommon23–29 cmRecorded all year · 0.73% in Sep
Greylag GooseAnser anserResidentCommon75–90 cmRecorded all year · 0.72% in Sep
Ringed PloverCharadrius hiaticulaResidentCommon17–19 cmRecorded all year · 0.70% in Sep
WheatearOenanthe oenantheSummer visitorCommon15–16 cmRegularly Mar–Oct · 0.70% in Sep
SparrowhawkAccipiter nisusResidentCommon28–38 cmRecorded all year · 0.69% in Sep
Eurasian Collared DoveStreptopelia decaoctoResidentCommon30–32 cmRecorded all year · 0.68% in Sep
Rock PipitAnthus petrosusResidentCommon16–18 cmRecorded all year · 0.67% in Sep
CootFulica atraResidentCommon36–42 cmRecorded all year · 0.66% in Sep
Common RavenCorvus coraxResidentCommon54–67 cmRecorded all year · 0.63% in Sep
StonechatSaxicola rubicolaResidentCommon12–13 cmRecorded all year · 0.61% in Sep
Tufted DuckAythya fuligulaResidentCommon40–47 cmRecorded all year · 0.53% in Sep
Great Crested GrebePodiceps cristatusResidentCommon46–51 cmRecorded all year · 0.50% in Sep
Northern LapwingVanellus vanellusResidentCommon28–31 cmRecorded all year · 0.48% in Sep
Brent GooseBranta berniclaWinter visitorCommon55–66 cmRegularly Sep–May · 0.48% in Sep
Common TernSterna hirundoSummer visitorCommon31–35 cmRegularly Apr–Sep · 0.48% in Sep
Song ThrushTurdus philomelosResidentCommon20–23 cmRecorded all year · 0.46% in Sep
Long-tailed TitAegithalos caudatusResidentCommon13–16 cmRecorded all year · 0.46% in Sep
FulmarFulmarus glacialisResidentCommon45–50 cmRegularly Dec–Sep · 0.44% in Sep
Sandwich TernThalasseus sandvicensisSummer visitorCommon36–41 cmRegularly Mar–Sep · 0.44% in Sep
KittiwakeRissa tridactylaSummer visitorCommon37–41 cmRecorded all year · 0.41% in Sep
Manx ShearwaterPuffinus puffinusSummer visitorCommon30–38 cmRegularly Mar–Oct · 0.39% in Sep
ChiffchaffPhylloscopus collybitaSummer visitorCommon10–12 cmRegularly Mar–Nov · 0.38% in Sep
Reed BuntingEmberiza schoeniclusResidentCommon14–16 cmRecorded all year · 0.38% in Sep
BlackcapSylvia atricapillaResidentCommon13–15 cmRecorded all year · 0.37% in Sep
Common RedpollAcanthis flammeaResidentCommon12–14 cmRecorded all year · 0.36% in Sep
TwiteLinaria flavirostrisSummer visitorCommon13–14 cmRecorded all year · 0.36% in Sep
BullfinchPyrrhula pyrrhulaResidentCommon15–17 cmRecorded all year · 0.35% in Sep
Red KnotCalidris canutusWinter visitorUncommon23–26 cmRegularly May–Feb · 0.34% in Sep
Eurasian SkylarkAlauda arvensisResidentCommon16–18 cmRecorded all year · 0.33% in Sep
GreenfinchChloris chlorisResidentCommon15–16 cmRecorded all year · 0.33% in Sep
Common KingfisherAlcedo atthisResidentUncommon16–17 cmRecorded all year · 0.32% in Sep
KestrelFalco tinnunculusResidentCommon32–39 cmRecorded all year · 0.30% in Sep
WhimbrelNumenius phaeopusSummer visitorCommon40–46 cmRegularly Apr–Sep · 0.30% in Sep
Mistle ThrushTurdus viscivorusResidentCommon26–29 cmRecorded all year · 0.29% in Sep
Common SnipeGallinago gallinagoResidentUncommon25–27 cmRecorded all year · 0.29% in Sep
Eurasian WigeonMareca penelopeWinter visitorCommon42–51 cmRegularly Jul–May · 0.28% in Sep
Black GuillemotCepphus grylleResidentCommon30–32 cmRecorded all year · 0.27% in Sep
Common ShelduckTadorna tadornaResidentCommon58–67 cmRecorded all year · 0.27% in Sep
GadwallMareca streperaResidentUncommon46–56 cmRecorded all year · 0.27% in Sep
RuffCalidris pugnaxPassage migrantUncommon20–32 cmRegularly Mar–Oct · 0.25% in Sep
Bar-tailed GodwitLimosa lapponicaWinter visitorUncommon37–41 cmRegularly Jul–May · 0.24% in Sep
Eurasian SiskinSpinus spinusResidentCommon11–13 cmRecorded all year · 0.24% in Sep
Northern ShovelerSpatula clypeataResidentUncommon44–51 cmRecorded all year · 0.23% in Sep
RazorbillAlca tordaResidentCommon38–43 cmRecorded all year · 0.23% in Sep
Willow WarblerPhylloscopus trochilusSummer visitorCommon11–13 cmRegularly Apr–Sep · 0.23% in Sep
Common PheasantPhasianus colchicusResidentCommon50–90 cmRecorded all year · 0.22% in Sep
Arctic JaegerStercorarius parasiticusPassage migrantUncommon41–46 cmRegularly Jul–Oct · 0.22% in Sep
Peregrine FalconFalco peregrinusResidentUncommon34–58 cmRecorded all year · 0.22% in Sep
Eurasian JayGarrulus glandariusResidentUncommon32–35 cmRecorded all year · 0.21% in Sep
SanderlingCalidris albaResidentUncommon18–20 cmRegularly Mar–Jan · 0.21% in Sep
Arctic TernSterna paradisaeaSummer visitorUncommon33–39 cmRegularly May–Oct · 0.20% in Sep
Golden PloverPluvialis apricariaWinter visitorUncommon26–29 cmRegularly Jul–May · 0.20% in Sep
Great SkuaStercorarius skuaSummer visitorUncommon50–58 cmRegularly Mar–Oct · 0.20% in Sep
TreecreeperCerthia familiarisResidentUncommon12–14 cmRecorded all year · 0.20% in Sep
GreenshankTringa nebulariaPassage migrantUncommon30–35 cmRegularly Jul–Apr · 0.18% in Sep
Water RailRallus aquaticusResidentUncommon23–28 cmRecorded all year · 0.17% in Sep
Red-breasted MerganserMergus serratorWinter visitorUncommon52–58 cmRecorded all year · 0.16% in Sep
Sooty ShearwaterArdenna griseaPassage migrantUncommon40–51 cmRegularly Aug–Sep · 0.16% in Sep
Pink-footed GooseAnser brachyrhynchusPassage migrantUncommon60–75 cmRegularly Mar–Jan · 0.16% in Sep
Red-throated LoonGavia stellataResidentUncommon53–69 cmRegularly Aug–May · 0.13% in Sep
Curlew SandpiperCalidris ferrugineaPassage migrantUncommon18–23 cmRegularly Sep · 0.13% in Sep
PochardAythya ferinaResidentUncommon42–49 cmRecorded all year · 0.11% in Sep
Common LoonGavia immerWinter visitorUncommon66–91 cmRegularly Sep–May · 0.10% in Sep
Common ScoterMelanitta nigraWinter visitorUncommon43–54 cmRegularly Jul–Apr · 0.10% in Sep
Sabine's GullXema sabiniPassage migrantUncommon27–33 cmRegularly Aug–Sep · 0.10% in Sep
WhitethroatCurruca communisSummer visitorCommon13–15 cmRegularly Apr–Sep · 0.10% in Sep
Carrion CrowCorvus coroneWinter visitorUncommon45–47 cmRegularly Aug–May · 0.10% in Sep
Hen HarrierCircus cyaneusPassage migrantUncommon41–52 cmRegularly Dec–Oct · 0.10% in Sep
Sand MartinRiparia ripariaSummer visitorCommon12–14 cmRegularly Mar–Sep · 0.10% in Sep
Eurasian Tree SparrowPasser montanusResidentUncommon13–14 cmRecorded all year · 0.09% in Sep
Mediterranean GullIchthyaetus melanocephalusSummer visitorUncommon37–40 cmRecorded all year · 0.09% in Sep
Sedge WarblerAcrocephalus schoenobaenusSummer visitorCommon12–13 cmRegularly Apr–Sep · 0.08% in Sep
MerlinFalco columbariusPassage migrantCommon24–33 cmRegularly Sep–May · 0.08% in Sep
European Storm-petrelHydrobates pelagicusPassage migrantUncommon14–18 cmRegularly Jun–Sep · 0.07% in Sep
Lapland LongspurCalcarius lapponicusPassage migrantUncommon15–16 cmRegularly Sep–Oct · 0.07% in Sep
Whooper SwanCygnus cygnusWinter visitorCommon140–165 cmRegularly Aug–Apr · 0.07% in Sep
Common SandpiperActitis hypoleucosSummer visitorCommon18–20 cmRegularly Apr–Sep · 0.06% in Sep
Great Spotted WoodpeckerDendrocopos majorSummer visitorUncommon23–26 cmRegularly Mar–Dec · 0.06% in Sep
Barnacle GooseBranta leucopsisSummer visitorUncommon58–70 cmRegularly Feb–Nov · 0.04% in Sep
Grey PloverPluvialis squatarolaPassage migrantUncommon27–30 cmRegularly Sep–Apr · 0.04% in Sep
Leach's Storm-petrelHydrobates leucorhousScarceRare18–21 cmRegularly Sep · 0.04% in Sep
Red CrossbillLoxia curvirostraSummer visitorUncommon15–17 cmRegularly Feb–Dec · 0.04% in Sep
DipperCinclus cinclusSummer visitorUncommon17–20 cmRegularly Mar–Jan · 0.04% in Sep
Little GullHydrocoloeus minutusPassage migrantUncommon25–30 cmRegularly May–Dec · 0.03% in Sep
Red KiteMilvus milvusResidentUncommon60–66 cmRegularly Mar–Dec · 0.03% in Sep
Spotted FlycatcherMuscicapa striataSummer visitorUncommon14–16 cmRegularly May–Sep · 0.03% in Sep
Atlantic PuffinFratercula arcticaSummer visitorUncommon28–34 cmRegularly Mar–Sep · 0.03% 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