Birds to See in Delaware in September
139 bird species on our list for Delaware are recorded regularly in September
Of these, the most often recorded are Northern Cardinal, Blue Jay, Mourning Dove, Turkey Vulture and Gray Catbird. New this month: Yellow-rumped Warbler, Ruby-crowned Kinglet, Northern Pintail and Sharp-shinned Hawk and 16 more.
On the move in September
GBIF · SepArriving
At their peak
Gray CatbirdBusiest month of the year · All year
American RedstartBusiest month of the year · May–Jun
Magnolia WarblerBusiest month of the year · May
Chestnut-sided WarblerBusiest month of the year · May
BobolinkBusiest month of the year · May
Black-throated Green WarblerBusiest month of the year · Apr–May
From Delaware’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 139 birds in September
139 birds
Northern CardinalCardinalis cardinalisResidentCommon21–23 cmRecorded all year · 2.67% in Sep
Blue JayCyanocitta cristataResidentCommon25–30 cmRecorded all year · 2.54% in Sep
Mourning DoveZenaida macrouraResidentCommon23–34 cmRecorded all year · 2.47% in Sep
Turkey VultureCathartes auraResidentCommon62–81 cmRecorded all year · 2.38% in Sep- Gray CatbirdDumetella carolinensisSummer visitorCommon20–24 cmRecorded all year · 2.18% in Sep
Downy WoodpeckerDryobates pubescensResidentCommon14–18 cmRecorded all year · 1.81% in Sep
Tufted TitmouseBaeolophus bicolorResidentCommon14–17 cmRecorded all year · 1.79% in Sep
Red-bellied WoodpeckerMelanerpes carolinusResidentCommon23–26 cmRecorded all year · 1.77% in Sep
American CrowCorvus brachyrhynchosResidentCommon41–53 cmRecorded all year · 1.66% in Sep
Great Blue HeronArdea herodiasResidentCommon91–137 cmRecorded all year · 1.64% in Sep
American RobinTurdus migratoriusResidentCommon20–28 cmRecorded all year · 1.53% in Sep
Bald EagleHaliaeetus leucocephalusResidentCommon70–102 cmRecorded all year · 1.47% in Sep
Northern FlickerColaptes auratusResidentCommon28–31 cmRecorded all year · 1.46% in Sep
OspreyPandion haliaetusSummer visitorCommon54–58 cmRegularly Mar–Nov · 1.46% in Sep
Canada GooseBranta canadensisResidentCommon76–110 cmRecorded all year · 1.41% in Sep
Common StarlingSturnus vulgarisResidentCommon21–23 cmRecorded all year · 1.31% in Sep
Great White EgretArdea albaSummer visitorCommon80–104 cmRecorded all year · 1.31% in Sep
Common YellowthroatGeothlypis trichasSummer visitorCommon11–13 cmRegularly Apr–Oct · 1.26% in Sep
House FinchHaemorhous mexicanusResidentCommon13–15 cmRecorded all year · 1.23% in Sep- American RedstartSetophaga ruticillaPassage migrantCommon11–14 cmRegularly May–Oct · 1.18% in Sep
Northern MockingbirdMimus polyglottosResidentCommon21–26 cmRecorded all year · 1.10% in Sep
American Herring GullLarus smithsonianusResidentCommon53–65 cmRecorded all year · 1.07% in Sep
Ruby-throated HummingbirdArchilochus colubrisSummer visitorCommon7–9 cmRegularly Apr–Oct · 1.06% in Sep
White-breasted NuthatchSitta carolinensisResidentCommon13–14 cmRecorded all year · 1.03% in Sep
Forster's TernSterna forsteriSummer visitorCommon33–36 cmRegularly Mar–Jan · 1.00% in Sep
Red-winged BlackbirdAgelaius phoeniceusResidentCommon17–23 cmRecorded all year · 0.96% in Sep
Eastern BluebirdSialia sialisResidentCommon16–21 cmRecorded all year · 0.82% in Sep
MallardAnas platyrhynchosResidentCommon50–65 cmRecorded all year · 0.81% in Sep
Pileated WoodpeckerDryocopus pileatusResidentCommon40–49 cmRecorded all year · 0.78% in Sep
Greater YellowlegsTringa melanoleucaResidentCommon29–40 cmRecorded all year · 0.76% in Sep
Great Black-backed GullLarus marinusResidentCommon64–79 cmRecorded all year · 0.73% in Sep
Ring-billed GullLarus delawarensisWinter visitorCommon43–54 cmRecorded all year · 0.72% in Sep
Chipping SparrowSpizella passerinaSummer visitorCommon12–15 cmRegularly Mar–Jan · 0.68% in Sep
Song SparrowMelospiza melodiaResidentCommon12–17 cmRecorded all year · 0.67% in Sep
Hairy WoodpeckerLeuconotopicus villosusResidentCommon18–26 cmRecorded all year · 0.65% in Sep- Magnolia WarblerSetophaga magnoliaPassage migrantCommon11–13 cmRegularly May–Oct · 0.63% in Sep
House SparrowPasser domesticusResidentCommon14–17 cmRecorded all year · 0.59% in Sep
Lesser YellowlegsTringa flavipesSummer visitorCommon23–27 cmRecorded all year · 0.58% in Sep
Semipalmated SandpiperCalidris pusillaSummer visitorCommon15–18 cmRegularly May–Oct · 0.57% in Sep
Red-tailed HawkButeo jamaicensisResidentCommon45–65 cmRecorded all year · 0.56% in Sep
Semipalmated PloverCharadrius semipalmatusSummer visitorCommon17–19 cmRegularly May–Nov · 0.54% in Sep
Rock DoveColumba liviaResidentCommon29–37 cmRecorded all year · 0.50% in Sep
American AvocetRecurvirostra americanaResidentCommon43–51 cmRecorded all year · 0.49% in Sep
Fish CrowCorvus ossifragusResidentCommon36–41 cmRecorded all year · 0.46% in Sep
Mute SwanCygnus olorResidentCommon140–160 cmRecorded all year · 0.45% in Sep
Cedar WaxwingBombycilla cedrorumResidentCommon15–18 cmRecorded all year · 0.43% in Sep
Grey PloverPluvialis squatarolaSummer visitorCommon27–30 cmRecorded all year · 0.42% in Sep- Chestnut-sided WarblerSetophaga pensylvanicaPassage migrantUncommon10–14 cmRegularly May–Oct · 0.39% in Sep
Common GrackleQuiscalus quisculaResidentCommon28–34 cmRecorded all year · 0.39% in Sep
Peregrine FalconFalco peregrinusWinter visitorUncommon34–58 cmRegularly Jul–May · 0.36% in Sep- BobolinkDolichonyx oryzivorusPassage migrantUncommon16–20 cmRegularly May–Oct · 0.35% in Sep
MerlinFalco columbariusWinter visitorUncommon24–33 cmRegularly Sep–May · 0.34% in Sep
Barn SwallowHirundo rusticaSummer visitorCommon17–19 cmRegularly Apr–Sep · 0.34% in Sep- Black-throated Green WarblerSetophaga virensPassage migrantUncommon11–12 cmRegularly Apr–Oct · 0.34% in Sep
Least SandpiperCalidris minutillaSummer visitorCommon13–15 cmRegularly Apr–Nov · 0.33% in Sep
Eurasian TealAnas creccaWinter visitorCommon34–38 cmRegularly Jul–May · 0.32% in Sep
American Black DuckAnas rubripesWinter visitorCommon54–59 cmRecorded all year · 0.32% in Sep
Short-billed DowitcherLimnodromus griseusSummer visitorCommon23–32 cmRegularly Apr–Oct · 0.32% in Sep
Sharp-shinned HawkAccipiter striatusWinter visitorCommon24–34 cmRegularly Sep–Apr · 0.32% in Sep
SanderlingCalidris albaWinter visitorCommon18–20 cmRecorded all year · 0.31% in Sep
Great Crested FlycatcherMyiarchus crinitusSummer visitorCommon17–22 cmRegularly Apr–Sep · 0.28% in Sep
Wood DuckAix sponsaSummer visitorCommon47–54 cmRecorded all year · 0.28% in Sep
Northern ShovelerSpatula clypeataWinter visitorCommon44–51 cmRegularly Aug–Apr · 0.28% in Sep
Cape May WarblerSetophaga tigrinaPassage migrantUncommon12–14 cmRegularly May–Oct · 0.27% in Sep
Lesser Black-backed GullLarus fuscusWinter visitorUncommon52–64 cmRecorded all year · 0.24% in Sep
Glossy IbisPlegadis falcinellusSummer visitorCommon48–66 cmRegularly Apr–Oct · 0.23% in Sep
Marsh WrenCistothorus palustrisSummer visitorCommon10–14 cmRegularly Apr–Jan · 0.23% in Sep
Rose-breasted GrosbeakPheucticus ludovicianusPassage migrantUncommon18–22 cmRegularly Apr–Oct · 0.23% in Sep
Black-throated Blue WarblerSetophaga caerulescensPassage migrantUncommon11–13 cmRegularly Apr–Oct · 0.22% in Sep
Scarlet TanagerPiranga olivaceaSummer visitorUncommon16–19 cmRegularly Apr–Oct · 0.21% in Sep
Pied-billed GrebePodilymbus podicepsWinter visitorUncommon31–38 cmRecorded all year · 0.21% in Sep
Ruby-crowned KingletCorthylio calendulaWinter visitorCommon9–11 cmRegularly Sep–Apr · 0.21% in Sep
Broad-winged HawkButeo platypterusPassage migrantUncommon34–44 cmRegularly Apr–Oct · 0.21% in Sep
VeeryCatharus fuscescensSummer visitorUncommon16–19 cmRegularly May–Sep · 0.20% in Sep
Northern Yellow WarblerSetophaga aestivaSummer visitorCommon12–13 cmRegularly Apr–Sep · 0.20% in Sep
Palm WarblerSetophaga palmarumPassage migrantCommon12–14 cmRegularly Sep–Apr · 0.20% in Sep
OvenbirdSeiurus aurocapillaSummer visitorCommon12–15 cmRegularly Apr–Sep · 0.17% in Sep
Wild TurkeyMeleagris gallopavoSummer visitorUncommon100–125 cmRecorded all year · 0.16% in Sep
Northern PintailAnas acutaWinter visitorCommon59–76 cmRegularly Sep–Apr · 0.15% in Sep
Purple MartinProgne subisSummer visitorCommon18–20 cmRegularly Apr–Sep · 0.14% in Sep
Tennessee WarblerLeiothlypis peregrinaPassage migrantUncommon10–13 cmRegularly May–Oct · 0.14% in Sep
Common TernSterna hirundoSummer visitorUncommon31–35 cmRegularly May–Nov · 0.14% in Sep
Baltimore OrioleIcterus galbulaSummer visitorCommon17–19 cmRegularly Apr–Sep · 0.14% in Sep
Eastern Screech-owlMegascops asioWinter visitorUncommon16–25 cmRecorded all year · 0.14% in Sep
Bay-breasted WarblerSetophaga castaneaPassage migrantUncommon14–14 cmRegularly May–Oct · 0.13% in Sep
WilletTringa semipalmataSummer visitorCommon33–41 cmRegularly Apr–Nov · 0.12% in Sep
Swainson's ThrushCatharus ustulatusPassage migrantUncommon16–20 cmRegularly May–Oct · 0.12% in Sep
Common RavenCorvus coraxWinter visitorUncommon54–67 cmRegularly Aug–Jun · 0.12% in Sep
Yellow-rumped WarblerSetophaga coronataWinter visitorCommon12–15 cmRegularly Sep–May · 0.11% in Sep
DunlinCalidris alpinaResidentCommon16–22 cmRecorded all year · 0.11% in Sep
Pectoral SandpiperCalidris melanotosPassage migrantUncommon19–23 cmRegularly Mar–Nov · 0.11% in Sep
Western SandpiperCalidris mauriPassage migrantUncommon14–17 cmRegularly Jul–Jan · 0.11% in Sep
Blackpoll WarblerSetophaga striataPassage migrantUncommon13–15 cmRegularly May–Oct · 0.11% in Sep
Northern WaterthrushParkesia noveboracensisPassage migrantUncommon12–15 cmRegularly Apr–Oct · 0.10% in Sep
Great Horned OwlBubo virginianusWinter visitorUncommon46–63 cmRecorded all year · 0.10% in Sep
Ruddy TurnstoneArenaria interpresResidentUncommon21–24 cmRecorded all year · 0.10% in Sep
Least FlycatcherEmpidonax minimusPassage migrantUncommon12–14 cmRegularly May–Sep · 0.09% in Sep
White-rumped SandpiperCalidris fuscicollisSummer visitorUncommon15–18 cmRegularly May–Nov · 0.09% in Sep
Stilt SandpiperCalidris himantopusPassage migrantUncommon18–23 cmRegularly Apr–Oct · 0.09% in Sep
Sandhill CraneAntigone canadensisResidentUncommon80–122 cmRecorded all year · 0.09% in Sep
Marbled GodwitLimosa fedoaPassage migrantUncommon40–50 cmRegularly Aug–Dec · 0.09% in Sep
Long-billed DowitcherLimnodromus scolopaceusPassage migrantUncommon27–30 cmRegularly Jul–Mar · 0.09% in Sep
Nashville WarblerLeiothlypis ruficapillaPassage migrantUncommon11–13 cmRegularly Apr–Oct · 0.08% in Sep
GadwallMareca streperaWinter visitorCommon46–56 cmRegularly Aug–Apr · 0.08% in Sep
Solitary SandpiperTringa solitariaPassage migrantUncommon19–23 cmRegularly Apr–Oct · 0.08% in Sep
Philadelphia VireoVireo philadelphicusPassage migrantUncommon11–13 cmRegularly Sep–Oct · 0.08% in Sep
Black-crowned Night-heronNycticorax nycticoraxResidentUncommon58–65 cmRecorded all year · 0.07% in Sep
Barred OwlStrix variaResidentUncommon43–50 cmRecorded all year · 0.07% in Sep
Hudsonian GodwitLimosa haemasticaPassage migrantUncommon36–42 cmRegularly Aug–Nov · 0.07% in Sep
Swamp SparrowMelospiza georgianaWinter visitorCommon12–15 cmRecorded all year · 0.07% in Sep
Red-headed WoodpeckerMelanerpes erythrocephalusSummer visitorUncommon19–23 cmRecorded all year · 0.06% in Sep
Sand MartinRiparia ripariaSummer visitorUncommon12–14 cmRegularly May–Sep · 0.05% in Sep
American Golden-PloverPluvialis dominicaPassage migrantUncommon24–28 cmRegularly Apr–Nov · 0.05% in Sep
Horned LarkEremophila alpestrisWinter visitorUncommon16–20 cmRecorded all year · 0.05% in Sep
Blue-headed VireoVireo solitariusPassage migrantUncommon12–15 cmRegularly Apr–Nov · 0.05% in Sep
Lincoln's SparrowMelospiza lincolniiPassage migrantUncommon13–15 cmRegularly Sep–Nov · 0.04% in Sep
Ruddy DuckOxyura jamaicensisWinter visitorCommon35–43 cmRegularly Sep–Jul · 0.04% in Sep
Virginia RailRallus limicolaResidentUncommon20–27 cmRecorded all year · 0.04% in Sep
Yellow-bellied SapsuckerSphyrapicus variusWinter visitorUncommon19–22 cmRegularly Sep–Apr · 0.04% in Sep
Cattle EgretArdea ibisSummer visitorUncommon46–56 cmRegularly Apr–Dec · 0.02% in Sep
Black TernChlidonias nigerSummer visitorUncommon22–26 cmRegularly May–Sep · 0.02% in Sep
Yellow-bellied FlycatcherEmpidonax flaviventrisPassage migrantRare13–15 cmRegularly Aug–Sep · 0.02% in Sep
Lark SparrowChondestes grammacusWinter visitorUncommon15–17 cmRegularly Sep–Feb · 0.02% in Sep
Gray-cheeked ThrushCatharus minimusPassage migrantRare16–17 cmRegularly May–Oct · 0.02% in Sep
WhimbrelNumenius phaeopusSummer visitorRare40–46 cmRegularly Apr–Sep · 0.02% in Sep
Red KnotCalidris canutusSummer visitorUncommon23–26 cmRegularly May–Sep · 0.02% in Sep
Black-billed CuckooCoccyzus erythropthalmusSummer visitorRare28–32 cmRegularly May–Oct · 0.02% in Sep
American BitternBotaurus lentiginosusWinter visitorUncommon58–85 cmRegularly Aug–May · 0.02% in Sep
Arctic JaegerStercorarius parasiticusPassage migrantRare41–46 cmRegularly Apr–Nov · 0.01% in Sep
Piping PloverCharadrius melodusSummer visitorUncommon17–18 cmRegularly Mar–Sep · 0.01% in Sep
Mourning WarblerGeothlypis philadelphiaPassage migrantRare10–15 cmRegularly May–Oct · 0.01% in Sep
Buff-breasted SandpiperCalidris subruficollisPassage migrantRare18–20 cmRegularly Aug–Sep · 0.01% in Sep
Baird's SandpiperCalidris bairdiiPassage migrantRare14–17 cmRegularly Aug–Sep · 0.01% in Sep
Sandwich TernThalasseus sandvicensisPassage migrantRare36–41 cmRegularly Jul–Sep · 0.01% in Sep
DickcisselSpiza americanaSummer visitorUncommon14–16 cmRegularly May–Oct · 0.01% in Sep
Wilson's PhalaropePhalaropus tricolorSummer visitorUncommon22–24 cmRegularly May–Sep · 0.01% in Sep
Alder FlycatcherEmpidonax alnorumPassage migrantRare13–17 cmRegularly May–Sep · 0.00% in Sep
Great ShearwaterArdenna gravisPassage migrantRare43–51 cmRegularly Sep · 0.00% in Sep
Upland SandpiperBartramia longicaudaPassage migrantRare28–32 cmRegularly Aug–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