Birds to See in Illinois in September
153 bird species on our list for Illinois are recorded regularly in September
Of these, the most often recorded are Blue Jay, Northern Cardinal, American Robin, Downy Woodpecker and Mourning Dove. New this month: Yellow-rumped Warbler, Ruby-crowned Kinglet, White-crowned Sparrow and Palm Warbler and 19 more.
On the move in September
GBIF · SepArriving
Palm WarblerRegular from September · Apr–May
Yellow-rumped WarblerRegular from September · Sep–May
Ruby-crowned KingletRegular from September · Apr–May
Gray-cheeked ThrushRegular from September · Apr–May
Yellow-bellied SapsuckerRegular from September · Sep–May
Lincoln's SparrowRegular from September · Apr–May
At their peak
Swainson's ThrushBusiest month of the year · Apr–May
American RedstartBusiest month of the year · May–Oct
Magnolia WarblerBusiest month of the year · May
Tennessee WarblerBusiest month of the year · Apr–May
Bay-breasted WarblerBusiest month of the year · May
Nashville WarblerBusiest month of the year · Apr–May
From Illinois’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 153 birds in September
153 birds
Blue JayCyanocitta cristataResidentCommon25–30 cmRecorded all year · 3.17% in Sep
Northern CardinalCardinalis cardinalisResidentCommon21–23 cmRecorded all year · 3.09% in Sep
American RobinTurdus migratoriusResidentCommon20–28 cmRecorded all year · 2.76% in Sep
Downy WoodpeckerDryobates pubescensResidentCommon14–18 cmRecorded all year · 2.63% in Sep
Mourning DoveZenaida macrouraResidentCommon23–34 cmRecorded all year · 2.45% in Sep
Canada GooseBranta canadensisResidentCommon76–110 cmRecorded all year · 2.39% in Sep
Red-bellied WoodpeckerMelanerpes carolinusResidentCommon23–26 cmRecorded all year · 2.13% in Sep
White-breasted NuthatchSitta carolinensisResidentCommon13–14 cmRecorded all year · 2.05% in Sep
Northern FlickerColaptes auratusResidentCommon28–31 cmRecorded all year · 2.01% in Sep
House SparrowPasser domesticusResidentCommon14–17 cmRecorded all year · 1.87% in Sep
Gray CatbirdDumetella carolinensisSummer visitorCommon20–24 cmRegularly Apr–Oct · 1.82% in Sep
American CrowCorvus brachyrhynchosResidentCommon41–53 cmRecorded all year · 1.74% in Sep
Common StarlingSturnus vulgarisResidentCommon21–23 cmRecorded all year · 1.74% in Sep
MallardAnas platyrhynchosResidentCommon50–65 cmRecorded all year · 1.67% in Sep
Ruby-throated HummingbirdArchilochus colubrisSummer visitorCommon7–9 cmRegularly May–Oct · 1.64% in Sep
Great Blue HeronArdea herodiasResidentCommon91–137 cmRecorded all year · 1.63% in Sep- Swainson's ThrushCatharus ustulatusPassage migrantCommon16–20 cmRegularly Apr–Oct · 1.58% in Sep
- American RedstartSetophaga ruticillaSummer visitorCommon11–14 cmRegularly May–Oct · 1.57% in Sep
House FinchHaemorhous mexicanusResidentCommon13–15 cmRecorded all year · 1.52% in Sep
Ring-billed GullLarus delawarensisResidentCommon43–54 cmRecorded all year · 1.31% in Sep
Cedar WaxwingBombycilla cedrorumSummer visitorCommon15–18 cmRecorded all year · 1.27% in Sep- Magnolia WarblerSetophaga magnoliaPassage migrantCommon11–13 cmRegularly May–Oct · 1.17% in Sep
Great White EgretArdea albaSummer visitorCommon80–104 cmRegularly Apr–Nov · 1.14% in Sep
Turkey VultureCathartes auraSummer visitorCommon62–81 cmRecorded all year · 1.13% in Sep
Red-tailed HawkButeo jamaicensisResidentCommon45–65 cmRecorded all year · 1.04% in Sep- Tennessee WarblerLeiothlypis peregrinaPassage migrantCommon10–13 cmRegularly Apr–Oct · 1.02% in Sep
Red-winged BlackbirdAgelaius phoeniceusSummer visitorCommon17–23 cmRecorded all year · 0.95% in Sep- Palm WarblerSetophaga palmarumPassage migrantCommon12–14 cmRegularly Apr–Oct · 0.94% in Sep
Hairy WoodpeckerLeuconotopicus villosusResidentCommon18–26 cmRecorded all year · 0.86% in Sep
Song SparrowMelospiza melodiaResidentCommon12–17 cmRecorded all year · 0.86% in Sep
Wood DuckAix sponsaSummer visitorCommon47–54 cmRecorded all year · 0.84% in Sep
Common GrackleQuiscalus quisculaSummer visitorCommon28–34 cmRecorded all year · 0.80% in Sep
Common YellowthroatGeothlypis trichasSummer visitorCommon11–13 cmRegularly Apr–Oct · 0.80% in Sep- Bay-breasted WarblerSetophaga castaneaPassage migrantCommon14–14 cmRegularly May–Oct · 0.79% in Sep
- Yellow-rumped WarblerSetophaga coronataWinter visitorCommon12–15 cmRegularly Sep–May · 0.79% in Sep
- Nashville WarblerLeiothlypis ruficapillaPassage migrantCommon11–13 cmRegularly Apr–Oct · 0.77% in Sep
Rock DoveColumba liviaResidentCommon29–37 cmRecorded all year · 0.70% in Sep
Rose-breasted GrosbeakPheucticus ludovicianusSummer visitorCommon18–22 cmRegularly Apr–Oct · 0.69% in Sep
Red-headed WoodpeckerMelanerpes erythrocephalusResidentCommon19–23 cmRecorded all year · 0.66% in Sep
Blackpoll WarblerSetophaga striataPassage migrantCommon13–15 cmRegularly May–Oct · 0.66% in Sep
Tufted TitmouseBaeolophus bicolorResidentCommon14–16 cmRecorded all year · 0.65% in Sep
Black-throated Green WarblerSetophaga virensPassage migrantCommon11–12 cmRegularly Apr–Oct · 0.65% in Sep
Eastern BluebirdSialia sialisResidentCommon16–21 cmRecorded all year · 0.59% in Sep
Barn SwallowHirundo rusticaSummer visitorCommon17–19 cmRegularly Apr–Sep · 0.58% in Sep
Chestnut-sided WarblerSetophaga pensylvanicaPassage migrantCommon10–14 cmRegularly May–Oct · 0.56% in Sep
American Herring GullLarus smithsonianusWinter visitorCommon53–65 cmRecorded all year · 0.53% in Sep
Cape May WarblerSetophaga tigrinaPassage migrantUncommon12–14 cmRegularly May–Oct · 0.41% in Sep
OvenbirdSeiurus aurocapillaPassage migrantUncommon12–15 cmRegularly Apr–Oct · 0.40% in Sep
Bald EagleHaliaeetus leucocephalusWinter visitorCommon70–102 cmRecorded all year · 0.40% in Sep- Ruby-crowned KingletCorthylio calendulaPassage migrantCommon9–11 cmRegularly Apr–Dec · 0.35% in Sep
Northern WaterthrushParkesia noveboracensisPassage migrantUncommon12–15 cmRegularly Apr–Oct · 0.34% in Sep
Chipping SparrowSpizella passerinaSummer visitorCommon12–15 cmRegularly Mar–Nov · 0.34% in Sep
Least FlycatcherEmpidonax minimusPassage migrantCommon12–14 cmRegularly Apr–Sep · 0.33% in Sep- Gray-cheeked ThrushCatharus minimusPassage migrantUncommon16–17 cmRegularly Apr–Oct · 0.32% in Sep
Pileated WoodpeckerDryocopus pileatusResidentUncommon40–49 cmRecorded all year · 0.28% in Sep
OspreyPandion haliaetusSummer visitorUncommon54–58 cmRegularly Mar–Oct · 0.28% in Sep
Philadelphia VireoVireo philadelphicusPassage migrantUncommon11–13 cmRegularly May–Oct · 0.26% in Sep
Sandhill CraneAntigone canadensisWinter visitorCommon80–122 cmRecorded all year · 0.25% in Sep- Yellow-bellied SapsuckerSphyrapicus variusWinter visitorCommon19–22 cmRegularly Sep–May · 0.24% in Sep
Lesser YellowlegsTringa flavipesPassage migrantCommon23–27 cmRegularly Apr–Oct · 0.23% in Sep
Pied-billed GrebePodilymbus podicepsWinter visitorCommon31–38 cmRecorded all year · 0.22% in Sep
Black-throated Blue WarblerSetophaga caerulescensPassage migrantUncommon11–13 cmRegularly May–Oct · 0.22% in Sep
Least SandpiperCalidris minutillaPassage migrantCommon13–15 cmRegularly Apr–Oct · 0.21% in Sep
Peregrine FalconFalco peregrinusWinter visitorUncommon34–58 cmRecorded all year · 0.20% in Sep
Solitary SandpiperTringa solitariaPassage migrantCommon19–23 cmRegularly Apr–Oct · 0.19% in Sep
Black-crowned Night-heronNycticorax nycticoraxSummer visitorUncommon58–65 cmRegularly Mar–Jan · 0.18% in Sep- Lincoln's SparrowMelospiza lincolniiPassage migrantUncommon13–15 cmRegularly Apr–Oct · 0.18% in Sep
Great Crested FlycatcherMyiarchus crinitusSummer visitorCommon17–22 cmRegularly Apr–Sep · 0.18% in Sep
Semipalmated PloverCharadrius semipalmatusSummer visitorUncommon17–19 cmRegularly May–Sep · 0.18% in Sep
Pectoral SandpiperCalidris melanotosPassage migrantUncommon19–23 cmRegularly Mar–Oct · 0.17% in Sep
Swamp SparrowMelospiza georgianaSummer visitorCommon12–15 cmRecorded all year · 0.17% in Sep
SanderlingCalidris albaSummer visitorUncommon18–20 cmRegularly May–Oct · 0.16% in Sep
Scarlet TanagerPiranga olivaceaSummer visitorUncommon16–19 cmRegularly Apr–Oct · 0.16% in Sep
MerlinFalco columbariusWinter visitorUncommon24–33 cmRegularly Aug–May · 0.16% in Sep
Eurasian TealAnas creccaWinter visitorCommon34–38 cmRegularly Aug–Apr · 0.15% in Sep
Greater YellowlegsTringa melanoleucaPassage migrantUncommon29–40 cmRegularly Mar–Nov · 0.15% in Sep
White-crowned SparrowZonotrichia leucophrysWinter visitorCommon15–16 cmRegularly Sep–May · 0.14% in Sep
Northern ShovelerSpatula clypeataWinter visitorCommon44–51 cmRegularly Aug–May · 0.14% in Sep
Semipalmated SandpiperCalidris pusillaSummer visitorUncommon15–18 cmRegularly May–Sep · 0.14% in Sep
Sharp-shinned HawkAccipiter striatusWinter visitorUncommon24–34 cmRegularly Sep–May · 0.14% in Sep
VeeryCatharus fuscescensPassage migrantUncommon16–19 cmRegularly Apr–Sep · 0.13% in Sep
Broad-winged HawkButeo platypterusSummer visitorUncommon34–44 cmRegularly Apr–Oct · 0.13% in Sep
Great Horned OwlBubo virginianusWinter visitorUncommon46–63 cmRecorded all year · 0.12% in Sep
Barred OwlStrix variaResidentUncommon43–50 cmRecorded all year · 0.11% in Sep
Eurasian Collared DoveStreptopelia decaoctoResidentUncommon30–32 cmRecorded all year · 0.11% in Sep
Baltimore OrioleIcterus galbulaSummer visitorCommon17–19 cmRegularly Apr–Sep · 0.11% in Sep
Marsh WrenCistothorus palustrisSummer visitorUncommon10–14 cmRegularly Apr–Oct · 0.11% in Sep
Yellow-bellied FlycatcherEmpidonax flaviventrisPassage migrantUncommon13–15 cmRegularly May–Sep · 0.10% in Sep
BobolinkDolichonyx oryzivorusSummer visitorUncommon16–20 cmRegularly May–Oct · 0.09% in Sep
Mute SwanCygnus olorWinter visitorUncommon140–160 cmRecorded all year · 0.09% in Sep
Northern PintailAnas acutaWinter visitorUncommon59–76 cmRegularly Aug–Apr · 0.09% in Sep
Blue-headed VireoVireo solitariusPassage migrantUncommon12–15 cmRegularly Apr–Oct · 0.08% in Sep
Stilt SandpiperCalidris himantopusPassage migrantUncommon18–23 cmRegularly Jul–Oct · 0.08% in Sep
Wild TurkeyMeleagris gallopavoResidentUncommon100–125 cmRecorded all year · 0.08% in Sep
Orange-crowned WarblerLeiothlypis celataPassage migrantUncommon11–14 cmRegularly Apr–Nov · 0.07% in Sep
Grey PloverPluvialis squatarolaPassage migrantUncommon27–30 cmRegularly May–Nov · 0.07% in Sep
Hermit ThrushCatharus guttatusWinter visitorCommon14–18 cmRegularly Sep–May · 0.07% in Sep
Baird's SandpiperCalidris bairdiiPassage migrantUncommon14–17 cmRegularly Jul–Sep · 0.07% in Sep
Forster's TernSterna forsteriSummer visitorUncommon33–36 cmRegularly Apr–Nov · 0.06% in Sep
Horned LarkEremophila alpestrisWinter visitorUncommon16–20 cmRecorded all year · 0.05% in Sep
American Golden-PloverPluvialis dominicaSummer visitorUncommon24–28 cmRegularly Mar–Oct · 0.05% in Sep
Northern MockingbirdMimus polyglottosResidentUncommon21–26 cmRecorded all year · 0.05% in Sep
Purple MartinProgne subisSummer visitorCommon18–20 cmRegularly Apr–Sep · 0.04% in Sep
Mourning WarblerGeothlypis philadelphiaPassage migrantUncommon10–15 cmRegularly May–Sep · 0.04% in Sep
GadwallMareca streperaWinter visitorCommon46–56 cmRegularly Sep–Apr · 0.04% in Sep
Trumpeter SwanCygnus buccinatorWinter visitorUncommon139–157 cmRecorded all year · 0.04% in Sep
Bonaparte's GullChroicocephalus philadelphiaWinter visitorUncommon28–38 cmRegularly Aug–May · 0.04% in Sep
Eurasian Tree SparrowPasser montanusResidentUncommon13–14 cmRecorded all year · 0.04% in Sep
Fish CrowCorvus ossifragusSummer visitorUncommon36–41 cmRegularly Feb–Oct · 0.04% in Sep
Sand MartinRiparia ripariaSummer visitorUncommon12–14 cmRegularly Apr–Sep · 0.03% in Sep
Red-necked PhalaropePhalaropus lobatusPassage migrantRare18–19 cmRegularly May–Sep · 0.03% in Sep
Eastern Screech-owlMegascops asioWinter visitorUncommon16–25 cmRecorded all year · 0.03% in Sep
Buff-breasted SandpiperCalidris subruficollisPassage migrantUncommon18–20 cmRegularly Aug–Sep · 0.03% in Sep
Pine SiskinSpinus pinusWinter visitorCommon11–14 cmRegularly Sep–May · 0.03% in Sep
Short-billed DowitcherLimnodromus griseusPassage migrantUncommon23–32 cmRegularly May–Sep · 0.03% in Sep
Common TernSterna hirundoSummer visitorRare31–35 cmRegularly Apr–Oct · 0.03% in Sep
Franklin's GullLeucophaeus pipixcanSummer visitorUncommon32–36 cmRegularly May–Nov · 0.03% in Sep
Lesser Black-backed GullLarus fuscusWinter visitorUncommon52–64 cmRegularly Sep–Apr · 0.03% in Sep
Black-billed CuckooCoccyzus erythropthalmusSummer visitorUncommon28–32 cmRegularly May–Sep · 0.03% in Sep
American AvocetRecurvirostra americanaPassage migrantUncommon43–51 cmRegularly Apr–Nov · 0.02% in Sep
Black TernChlidonias nigerSummer visitorUncommon22–26 cmRegularly May–Sep · 0.02% in Sep
Red KnotCalidris canutusPassage migrantRare23–26 cmRegularly Aug–Sep · 0.02% in Sep
Clay-colored SparrowSpizella pallidaSummer visitorUncommon13–15 cmRegularly Apr–Oct · 0.02% in Sep
Common PheasantPhasianus colchicusResidentUncommon50–90 cmRecorded all year · 0.02% in Sep
Sabine's GullXema sabiniPassage migrantRare27–33 cmRegularly Sep–Oct · 0.02% in Sep
Long-billed DowitcherLimnodromus scolopaceusPassage migrantRare27–30 cmRegularly Apr–Nov · 0.02% in Sep
Ruddy TurnstoneArenaria interpresSummer visitorRare21–24 cmRegularly May–Sep · 0.02% in Sep
American BitternBotaurus lentiginosusSummer visitorRare58–85 cmRegularly Apr–Nov · 0.01% in Sep
Vesper SparrowPooecetes gramineusSummer visitorUncommon13–17 cmRegularly Mar–Nov · 0.01% in Sep
Alder FlycatcherEmpidonax alnorumPassage migrantUncommon13–17 cmRegularly May–Sep · 0.01% in Sep
Monk ParakeetMyiopsitta monachusResidentRare29–31 cmRecorded all year · 0.01% in Sep
Virginia RailRallus limicolaSummer visitorUncommon20–27 cmRegularly Mar–Nov · 0.01% in Sep
Wilson's PhalaropePhalaropus tricolorPassage migrantUncommon22–24 cmRegularly Apr–Sep · 0.01% in Sep
White-rumped SandpiperCalidris fuscicollisPassage migrantRare15–18 cmRegularly May–Oct · 0.01% in Sep
Hudsonian GodwitLimosa haemasticaPassage migrantRare36–42 cmRegularly Apr–Oct · 0.01% in Sep
Black-necked GrebePodiceps nigricollisPassage migrantRare28–34 cmRegularly Sep–May · 0.01% in Sep
DunlinCalidris alpinaPassage migrantUncommon16–22 cmRegularly Apr–Nov · 0.01% in Sep
Cattle EgretArdea ibisSummer visitorRare46–56 cmRegularly Apr–Nov · 0.01% in Sep
Great Black-backed GullLarus marinusWinter visitorUncommon64–79 cmRegularly Sep–Mar · 0.01% in Sep
Marbled GodwitLimosa fedoaPassage migrantRare40–50 cmRegularly Apr–Sep · 0.01% in Sep
Western SandpiperCalidris mauriPassage migrantRare14–17 cmRegularly Apr–Sep · 0.00% in Sep
WilletTringa semipalmataSummer visitorRare33–41 cmRegularly Apr–Sep · 0.00% in Sep
Say's PhoebeSayornis sayaPassage migrantRare17–20 cmRegularly Sep · 0.00% in Sep
Arctic JaegerStercorarius parasiticusPassage migrantRare41–46 cmRegularly Sep · 0.00% in Sep
European GoldfinchCarduelis carduelisResidentRare12–13 cmRecorded all year · 0.00% in Sep
Grey PhalaropePhalaropus fulicariusResidentRare20–22 cmRegularly Sep · 0.00% in Sep
Upland SandpiperBartramia longicaudaSummer visitorRare28–32 cmRegularly Apr–Sep · 0.00% in Sep
Western KingbirdTyrannus verticalisSummer visitorRare20–24 cmRegularly May–Sep · 0.00% in Sep
Western MeadowlarkSturnella neglectaResidentRare16–26 cmRecorded all year · 0.00% in Sep
Greylag GooseAnser anserWinter visitorRare75–90 cmRegularly Jun–Apr · 0.00% in Sep
BudgerigarMelopsittacus undulatusSummer visitorRare18–20 cmRegularly May–Dec · 0.00% in Sep
WhimbrelNumenius phaeopusSummer visitorRare40–46 cmRegularly May–Sep · 0.00% in Sep
ChukarAlectoris chukarResidentRare32–38 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