Birds to See in Alaska in September
144 bird species on our list for Alaska are recorded regularly in September
Of these, the most often recorded are Common Raven, Bald Eagle, Kittiwake, Mallard and American Robin. New this month: Eurasian Wigeon, Boreal Owl, Northern Saw-whet Owl and Brambling and 11 more.
On the move in September
GBIF · SepArriving
At their peak
KittiwakeBusiest month of the year · Feb–Nov
Lapland LongspurBusiest month of the year · Mar–Oct
Pectoral SandpiperBusiest month of the year · May–Oct
Pacific Golden-PloverBusiest month of the year · Apr–Oct
FulmarBusiest month of the year · May–Oct
Long-billed DowitcherBusiest month of the year · May–Oct
From Alaska’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 144 birds in September
144 birds
Common RavenCorvus coraxResidentCommon54–67 cmRecorded all year · 3.45% in Sep
Bald EagleHaliaeetus leucocephalusResidentCommon70–102 cmRecorded all year · 2.82% in Sep- KittiwakeRissa tridactylaSummer visitorCommon37–41 cmRegularly Feb–Nov · 2.26% in Sep
MallardAnas platyrhynchosResidentCommon50–65 cmRecorded all year · 2.17% in Sep
American RobinTurdus migratoriusSummer visitorCommon20–28 cmRecorded all year · 1.70% in Sep- Lapland LongspurCalcarius lapponicusSummer visitorCommon15–16 cmRegularly Mar–Oct · 1.56% in Sep
Song SparrowMelospiza melodiaResidentCommon12–17 cmRecorded all year · 1.56% in Sep
Eurasian TealAnas creccaSummer visitorCommon34–38 cmRecorded all year · 1.48% in Sep
Northern PintailAnas acutaSummer visitorCommon59–76 cmRecorded all year · 1.25% in Sep
American CrowCorvus brachyrhynchosResidentCommon41–53 cmRecorded all year · 1.19% in Sep
Ruby-crowned KingletCorthylio calendulaSummer visitorCommon9–11 cmRegularly Mar–Dec · 1.10% in Sep
Pacific WrenTroglodytes pacificusResidentCommon8–12 cmRecorded all year · 1.09% in Sep
Common RedpollAcanthis flammeaResidentCommon12–14 cmRecorded all year · 0.93% in Sep
Snow BuntingPlectrophenax nivalisResidentCommon15–18 cmRecorded all year · 0.91% in Sep
American Herring GullLarus smithsonianusSummer visitorCommon53–65 cmRecorded all year · 0.86% in Sep
Canada GooseBranta canadensisSummer visitorCommon76–110 cmRecorded all year · 0.86% in Sep
Varied ThrushIxoreus naeviusResidentCommon20–26 cmRecorded all year · 0.83% in Sep
Red-necked GrebePodiceps grisegenaResidentCommon40–50 cmRecorded all year · 0.73% in Sep
Sandhill CraneAntigone canadensisSummer visitorCommon80–122 cmRegularly Apr–Sep · 0.72% in Sep
Glaucous GullLarus hyperboreusSummer visitorCommon62–68 cmRecorded all year · 0.71% in Sep
White-crowned SparrowZonotrichia leucophrysSummer visitorCommon15–16 cmRecorded all year · 0.70% in Sep
Hairy WoodpeckerLeuconotopicus villosusWinter visitorCommon18–26 cmRecorded all year · 0.70% in Sep
Fox SparrowPasserella iliacaSummer visitorCommon15–19 cmRecorded all year · 0.68% in Sep- Pectoral SandpiperCalidris melanotosSummer visitorCommon19–23 cmRegularly May–Oct · 0.66% in Sep
- Pacific Golden-PloverPluvialis fulvaSummer visitorCommon23–26 cmRegularly Apr–Oct · 0.66% in Sep
Common MerganserMergus merganserWinter visitorCommon58–68 cmRecorded all year · 0.66% in Sep
Greater ScaupAythya marilaResidentCommon39–56 cmRecorded all year · 0.66% in Sep
Yellow-rumped WarblerSetophaga coronataSummer visitorCommon12–15 cmRegularly Apr–Oct · 0.63% in Sep
Orange-crowned WarblerLeiothlypis celataSummer visitorCommon11–14 cmRegularly Apr–Nov · 0.63% in Sep
Greater YellowlegsTringa melanoleucaSummer visitorCommon29–40 cmRegularly Apr–Oct · 0.62% in Sep- FulmarFulmarus glacialisSummer visitorCommon45–50 cmRegularly May–Oct · 0.62% in Sep
- Long-billed DowitcherLimnodromus scolopaceusSummer visitorCommon27–30 cmRegularly May–Oct · 0.60% in Sep
Downy WoodpeckerDryobates pubescensWinter visitorCommon14–18 cmRecorded all year · 0.59% in Sep
Peregrine FalconFalco peregrinusSummer visitorCommon34–58 cmRegularly Apr–Jan · 0.58% in Sep
Lincoln's SparrowMelospiza lincolniiSummer visitorCommon13–15 cmRecorded all year · 0.57% in Sep
Northern ShovelerSpatula clypeataSummer visitorCommon44–51 cmRegularly Mar–Dec · 0.57% in Sep
Pacific LoonGavia pacificaResidentCommon58–74 cmRecorded all year · 0.57% in Sep
Bonaparte's GullChroicocephalus philadelphiaSummer visitorCommon28–38 cmRegularly Apr–Nov · 0.56% in Sep
Common LoonGavia immerResidentCommon66–91 cmRecorded all year · 0.54% in Sep
Horned GrebePodiceps auritusWinter visitorCommon31–38 cmRecorded all year · 0.54% in Sep
Trumpeter SwanCygnus buccinatorResidentCommon139–157 cmRecorded all year · 0.53% in Sep
Surf ScoterMelanitta perspicillataWinter visitorCommon48–60 cmRecorded all year · 0.52% in Sep
Rock DoveColumba liviaResidentCommon29–37 cmRecorded all year · 0.52% in Sep
Pine SiskinSpinus pinusResidentCommon11–14 cmRecorded all year · 0.51% in Sep
Long-tailed DuckClangula hyemalisResidentCommon37–60 cmRecorded all year · 0.50% in Sep
Great Blue HeronArdea herodiasWinter visitorCommon91–137 cmRecorded all year · 0.49% in Sep
MerlinFalco columbariusSummer visitorCommon24–33 cmRecorded all year · 0.49% in Sep
Ruddy TurnstoneArenaria interpresSummer visitorUncommon21–24 cmRegularly May–Oct · 0.46% in Sep
Sharp-tailed SandpiperCalidris acuminataPassage migrantUncommon17–22 cmRegularly Aug–Nov · 0.44% in Sep
Cackling GooseBranta hutchinsiiSummer visitorCommon53–76 cmRegularly Apr–Nov · 0.44% in Sep
Vega GullLarus vegaeSummer visitorUncommon55–67 cmRegularly May–Nov · 0.42% in Sep
Pied WagtailMotacilla albaPassage migrantUncommon17–19 cmRegularly May–Sep · 0.41% in Sep
EiderSomateria mollissimaSummer visitorCommon50–71 cmRegularly May–Mar · 0.40% in Sep
King EiderSomateria spectabilisSummer visitorCommon46–64 cmRegularly May–Mar · 0.40% in Sep
Western SandpiperCalidris mauriSummer visitorCommon14–17 cmRegularly Apr–Oct · 0.39% in Sep
American Tree SparrowSpizelloides arboreaSummer visitorCommon14–17 cmRecorded all year · 0.37% in Sep
Hermit ThrushCatharus guttatusSummer visitorCommon14–18 cmRegularly Apr–Oct · 0.37% in Sep
Grey PhalaropePhalaropus fulicariusSummer visitorCommon20–22 cmRegularly May–Oct · 0.36% in Sep
Red-breasted MerganserMergus serratorResidentCommon52–58 cmRecorded all year · 0.36% in Sep
Northern Yellow WarblerSetophaga aestivaSummer visitorCommon12–13 cmRegularly May–Oct · 0.34% in Sep
Sharp-shinned HawkAccipiter striatusWinter visitorUncommon24–34 cmRecorded all year · 0.32% in Sep
Rough-legged HawkButeo lagopusSummer visitorUncommon46–59 cmRegularly Apr–Oct · 0.31% in Sep
GoldeneyeBucephala clangulaWinter visitorCommon40–51 cmRecorded all year · 0.29% in Sep
Northern FlickerColaptes auratusResidentCommon28–31 cmRecorded all year · 0.28% in Sep
Red-necked PhalaropePhalaropus lobatusSummer visitorCommon18–19 cmRegularly May–Sep · 0.26% in Sep
Eurasian WigeonMareca penelopeWinter visitorUncommon42–51 cmRegularly Sep–Jun · 0.25% in Sep
Common StarlingSturnus vulgarisWinter visitorCommon21–23 cmRecorded all year · 0.25% in Sep
Red CrossbillLoxia curvirostraWinter visitorCommon15–17 cmRecorded all year · 0.24% in Sep
Pomarine JaegerStercorarius pomarinusSummer visitorUncommon46–51 cmRegularly May–Oct · 0.24% in Sep
GadwallMareca streperaResidentCommon46–56 cmRecorded all year · 0.24% in Sep
Arctic JaegerStercorarius parasiticusSummer visitorCommon41–46 cmRegularly May–Oct · 0.23% in Sep
Red-throated LoonGavia stellataSummer visitorCommon53–69 cmRecorded all year · 0.22% in Sep
OspreyPandion haliaetusSummer visitorUncommon54–58 cmRegularly Apr–Oct · 0.22% in Sep
WheatearOenanthe oenantheSummer visitorUncommon15–16 cmRegularly May–Sep · 0.21% in Sep
Iceland GullLarus glaucoidesWinter visitorCommon52–60 cmRegularly Aug–Apr · 0.20% in Sep
Gray-cheeked ThrushCatharus minimusSummer visitorCommon16–17 cmRegularly May–Sep · 0.19% in Sep
SanderlingCalidris albaWinter visitorUncommon18–20 cmRecorded all year · 0.19% in Sep
Tundra SwanCygnus columbianusSummer visitorCommon120–150 cmRegularly Mar–Nov · 0.19% in Sep
Greater White-fronted GooseAnser albifronsSummer visitorCommon64–81 cmRegularly Apr–Oct · 0.18% in Sep
Semipalmated PloverCharadrius semipalmatusSummer visitorCommon17–19 cmRegularly Apr–Sep · 0.18% in Sep
BluethroatLuscinia svecicaSummer visitorUncommon13–14 cmRegularly May–Sep · 0.17% in Sep
Brent GooseBranta berniclaSummer visitorCommon55–66 cmRegularly Feb–Oct · 0.17% in Sep
American Three-toed WoodpeckerPicoides dorsalisResidentUncommon21–24 cmRecorded all year · 0.16% in Sep
Red-tailed HawkButeo jamaicensisSummer visitorUncommon45–65 cmRegularly Mar–Dec · 0.15% in Sep
Rock PtarmiganLagopus mutaSummer visitorUncommon34–36 cmRecorded all year · 0.14% in Sep
Swainson's ThrushCatharus ustulatusSummer visitorCommon16–20 cmRegularly May–Sep · 0.13% in Sep
Common YellowthroatGeothlypis trichasSummer visitorUncommon11–13 cmRegularly May–Oct · 0.13% in Sep
Sooty ShearwaterArdenna griseaSummer visitorUncommon40–51 cmRegularly May–Oct · 0.12% in Sep
Eurasian Collared DoveStreptopelia decaoctoWinter visitorUncommon30–32 cmRecorded all year · 0.12% in Sep
Lesser YellowlegsTringa flavipesSummer visitorCommon23–27 cmRegularly Apr–Sep · 0.12% in Sep
Common SnipeGallinago gallinagoSummer visitorUncommon25–27 cmRegularly May–Oct · 0.12% in Sep
Great Horned OwlBubo virginianusWinter visitorUncommon46–63 cmRecorded all year · 0.11% in Sep
BramblingFringilla montifringillaWinter visitorUncommon14–16 cmRegularly Sep–Jun · 0.11% in Sep
Least SandpiperCalidris minutillaSummer visitorCommon13–15 cmRegularly Apr–Sep · 0.11% in Sep
Golden EagleAquila chrysaetosSummer visitorUncommon66–102 cmRegularly Feb–Nov · 0.11% in Sep
Red-breasted SapsuckerSphyrapicus ruberSummer visitorUncommon19–22 cmRecorded all year · 0.10% in Sep
Black-backed WoodpeckerPicoides arcticusWinter visitorUncommon21–24 cmRecorded all year · 0.10% in Sep
Sabine's GullXema sabiniSummer visitorUncommon27–33 cmRegularly May–Oct · 0.09% in Sep
DunlinCalidris alpinaResidentCommon16–22 cmRecorded all year · 0.09% in Sep
Ruffed GrouseBonasa umbellusWinter visitorUncommon41–50 cmRegularly Jul–May · 0.08% in Sep
GarganeySpatula querquedulaPassage migrantUncommon37–41 cmRegularly May–Oct · 0.07% in Sep
Hooded MerganserLophodytes cucullatusWinter visitorUncommon40–49 cmRegularly Aug–May · 0.07% in Sep
Snow GooseAnser caerulescensSummer visitorUncommon69–84 cmRegularly Apr–Nov · 0.06% in Sep
Cedar WaxwingBombycilla cedrorumPassage migrantUncommon15–18 cmRegularly Jun–Dec · 0.05% in Sep
Short-eared OwlAsio flammeusResidentUncommon34–43 cmRecorded all year · 0.05% in Sep
Grey PloverPluvialis squatarolaSummer visitorUncommon27–30 cmRegularly Apr–Oct · 0.05% in Sep
Eurasian SkylarkAlauda arvensisPassage migrantRare16–18 cmRegularly May–Oct · 0.04% in Sep
Barn SwallowHirundo rusticaSummer visitorUncommon17–19 cmRegularly May–Sep · 0.04% in Sep
Wood SandpiperTringa glareolaPassage migrantUncommon19–21 cmRegularly May–Sep · 0.04% in Sep
Leach's Storm-petrelHydrobates leucorhousSummer visitorUncommon18–21 cmRegularly May–Oct · 0.04% in Sep
Short-billed DowitcherLimnodromus griseusSummer visitorUncommon23–32 cmRegularly Apr–Sep · 0.03% in Sep
WhimbrelNumenius phaeopusSummer visitorCommon40–46 cmRegularly Apr–Sep · 0.03% in Sep
Bar-tailed GodwitLimosa lapponicaSummer visitorUncommon37–41 cmRegularly May–Sep · 0.03% in Sep
RuffCalidris pugnaxPassage migrantRare20–32 cmRegularly May–Sep · 0.03% in Sep
Mourning DoveZenaida macrouraResidentRare23–34 cmRegularly Sep–Oct · 0.03% in Sep
American Golden-PloverPluvialis dominicaSummer visitorUncommon24–28 cmRegularly May–Sep · 0.03% in Sep
Tufted DuckAythya fuligulaWinter visitorUncommon40–47 cmRegularly Sep–Jun · 0.03% in Sep
Jack SnipeLymnocryptes minimusScarceRare17–19 cmRegularly Sep · 0.03% in Sep
Little StintCalidris minutaPassage migrantRare13–15 cmRegularly Jun–Sep · 0.03% in Sep
Ring-billed GullLarus delawarensisPassage migrantRare43–54 cmRegularly Apr–Oct · 0.02% in Sep
Baird's SandpiperCalidris bairdiiSummer visitorUncommon14–17 cmRegularly May–Sep · 0.02% in Sep
Chipping SparrowSpizella passerinaSummer visitorUncommon12–15 cmRegularly May–Oct · 0.02% in Sep
Red-winged BlackbirdAgelaius phoeniceusResidentUncommon17–23 cmRecorded all year · 0.02% in Sep
Ringed PloverCharadrius hiaticulaPassage migrantRare17–19 cmRegularly May–Sep · 0.02% in Sep
Horned LarkEremophila alpestrisSummer visitorUncommon16–20 cmRegularly Mar–Nov · 0.02% in Sep
Snowy OwlBubo scandiacusSummer visitorUncommon52–71 cmRegularly Mar–Jan · 0.02% in Sep
Willow WarblerPhylloscopus trochilusScarceRare11–13 cmRegularly Sep · 0.02% in Sep
Northern Saw-whet OwlAegolius acadicusWinter visitorUncommon17–21 cmRegularly Sep–May · 0.02% in Sep
Boreal OwlAegolius funereusWinter visitorUncommon21–28 cmRegularly Sep–Jun · 0.02% in Sep
Northern Pygmy-owlGlaucidium gnomaWinter visitorUncommon15–17 cmRegularly Aug–Apr · 0.02% in Sep
Pied-billed GrebePodilymbus podicepsWinter visitorUncommon31–38 cmRegularly Sep–Apr · 0.02% in Sep
Common PheasantPhasianus colchicusWinter visitorUncommon50–90 cmRecorded all year · 0.02% in Sep
Tennessee WarblerLeiothlypis peregrinaPassage migrantRare10–13 cmRegularly Jun–Nov · 0.01% in Sep
Solitary SandpiperTringa solitariaSummer visitorUncommon19–23 cmRegularly May–Sep · 0.01% in Sep
Stilt SandpiperCalidris himantopusSummer visitorUncommon18–23 cmRegularly May–Sep · 0.01% in Sep
Arctic LoonGavia arcticaSummer visitorUncommon58–77 cmRegularly May–Dec · 0.01% in Sep
Gray CatbirdDumetella carolinensisPassage migrantRare20–24 cmRegularly Jun–Sep · 0.01% in Sep
Tree PipitAnthus trivialisPassage migrantRare14–16 cmRegularly Sep · 0.01% in Sep
Barred OwlStrix variaSummer visitorRare43–50 cmRegularly Jan–Nov · 0.01% in Sep
American RedstartSetophaga ruticillaSummer visitorRare11–14 cmRegularly May–Sep · 0.01% in Sep
Red KnotCalidris canutusSummer visitorUncommon23–26 cmRegularly May–Sep · 0.01% in Sep
Mountain BluebirdSialia currucoidesPassage migrantUncommon15–18 cmRegularly Sep–May · 0.01% in Sep
Western Screech-owlMegascops kennicottiiWinter visitorUncommon19–25 cmRegularly Jul–Apr · 0.01% in Sep
Manx ShearwaterPuffinus puffinusSummer visitorRare30–38 cmRegularly May–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