Birds to See in Indiana in September
146 bird species on our list for Indiana are recorded regularly in September
Of these, the most often recorded are Blue Jay, Northern Cardinal, White-breasted Nuthatch, Downy Woodpecker and Red-bellied Woodpecker. New this month: Yellow-rumped Warbler, Swainson's Thrush, Ruby-crowned Kinglet and Northern Shoveler and 15 more.
On the move in September
GBIF · SepArriving
At their peak
American RedstartBusiest month of the year · May–Oct
Tennessee WarblerBusiest month of the year · Apr–May
Bay-breasted WarblerBusiest month of the year · May
Magnolia WarblerBusiest month of the year · May
Black-throated Green WarblerBusiest month of the year · Apr–May
Chestnut-sided WarblerBusiest month of the year · May
From Indiana’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 146 birds in September
146 birds
Blue JayCyanocitta cristataResidentCommon25–30 cmRecorded all year · 3.62% in Sep
Northern CardinalCardinalis cardinalisResidentCommon21–23 cmRecorded all year · 3.53% in Sep
White-breasted NuthatchSitta carolinensisResidentCommon13–14 cmRecorded all year · 2.76% in Sep
Downy WoodpeckerDryobates pubescensResidentCommon14–18 cmRecorded all year · 2.76% in Sep
Red-bellied WoodpeckerMelanerpes carolinusResidentCommon23–26 cmRecorded all year · 2.62% in Sep
Mourning DoveZenaida macrouraResidentCommon23–34 cmRecorded all year · 2.54% in Sep
American CrowCorvus brachyrhynchosResidentCommon41–53 cmRecorded all year · 2.44% in Sep
American RobinTurdus migratoriusResidentCommon20–28 cmRecorded all year · 2.33% in Sep
Tufted TitmouseBaeolophus bicolorResidentCommon14–16 cmRecorded all year · 2.33% in Sep
Gray CatbirdDumetella carolinensisSummer visitorCommon20–24 cmRegularly Apr–Oct · 2.03% in Sep
Ruby-throated HummingbirdArchilochus colubrisSummer visitorCommon7–9 cmRegularly Apr–Oct · 1.99% in Sep
Turkey VultureCathartes auraResidentCommon62–81 cmRecorded all year · 1.90% in Sep
Northern FlickerColaptes auratusResidentCommon28–31 cmRecorded all year · 1.78% in Sep
Great Blue HeronArdea herodiasResidentCommon91–137 cmRecorded all year · 1.74% in Sep
Canada GooseBranta canadensisResidentCommon76–110 cmRecorded all year · 1.66% in Sep
Common StarlingSturnus vulgarisResidentCommon21–23 cmRecorded all year · 1.59% in Sep
House FinchHaemorhous mexicanusResidentCommon13–15 cmRecorded all year · 1.53% in Sep
Swainson's ThrushCatharus ustulatusPassage migrantCommon16–20 cmRegularly Apr–Oct · 1.35% in Sep
MallardAnas platyrhynchosResidentCommon50–65 cmRecorded all year · 1.30% in Sep
House SparrowPasser domesticusResidentCommon14–17 cmRecorded all year · 1.27% in Sep- American RedstartSetophaga ruticillaSummer visitorCommon11–14 cmRegularly May–Oct · 1.19% in Sep
Great White EgretArdea albaSummer visitorCommon80–104 cmRegularly Apr–Nov · 1.08% in Sep
Pileated WoodpeckerDryocopus pileatusResidentCommon40–49 cmRecorded all year · 1.06% in Sep
Cedar WaxwingBombycilla cedrorumSummer visitorCommon15–18 cmRecorded all year · 1.05% in Sep
Eastern BluebirdSialia sialisResidentCommon16–21 cmRecorded all year · 1.01% in Sep
Song SparrowMelospiza melodiaResidentCommon12–17 cmRecorded all year · 0.98% in Sep- Tennessee WarblerLeiothlypis peregrinaPassage migrantCommon10–13 cmRegularly Apr–Oct · 0.96% in Sep
Wood DuckAix sponsaSummer visitorCommon47–54 cmRegularly Feb–Dec · 0.95% in Sep- Bay-breasted WarblerSetophaga castaneaPassage migrantCommon14–14 cmRegularly May–Oct · 0.93% in Sep
- Magnolia WarblerSetophaga magnoliaPassage migrantCommon11–13 cmRegularly May–Oct · 0.88% in Sep
Hairy WoodpeckerLeuconotopicus villosusResidentCommon18–26 cmRecorded all year · 0.87% in Sep- Black-throated Green WarblerSetophaga virensPassage migrantCommon11–12 cmRegularly Apr–Oct · 0.78% in Sep
Red-headed WoodpeckerMelanerpes erythrocephalusResidentCommon19–23 cmRecorded all year · 0.73% in Sep
Common YellowthroatGeothlypis trichasSummer visitorCommon11–13 cmRegularly Apr–Oct · 0.70% in Sep
Red-winged BlackbirdAgelaius phoeniceusResidentCommon17–23 cmRecorded all year · 0.69% in Sep
Ring-billed GullLarus delawarensisWinter visitorCommon43–54 cmRecorded all year · 0.66% in Sep
Red-tailed HawkButeo jamaicensisResidentCommon45–65 cmRecorded all year · 0.63% in Sep- Chestnut-sided WarblerSetophaga pensylvanicaPassage migrantCommon10–14 cmRegularly May–Oct · 0.58% in Sep
Rose-breasted GrosbeakPheucticus ludovicianusSummer visitorCommon18–22 cmRegularly Apr–Oct · 0.57% in Sep
Nashville WarblerLeiothlypis ruficapillaPassage migrantCommon11–13 cmRegularly Apr–Oct · 0.55% in Sep
Bald EagleHaliaeetus leucocephalusWinter visitorCommon70–102 cmRecorded all year · 0.52% in Sep
Chipping SparrowSpizella passerinaSummer visitorCommon12–15 cmRegularly Mar–Nov · 0.48% in Sep
Common GrackleQuiscalus quisculaSummer visitorCommon28–34 cmRecorded all year · 0.43% in Sep
Yellow-rumped WarblerSetophaga coronataWinter visitorCommon12–15 cmRegularly Sep–May · 0.42% in Sep
Cape May WarblerSetophaga tigrinaPassage migrantUncommon12–14 cmRegularly May–Oct · 0.40% in Sep
Blackpoll WarblerSetophaga striataPassage migrantUncommon13–15 cmRegularly May–Oct · 0.39% in Sep
Barn SwallowHirundo rusticaSummer visitorCommon17–19 cmRegularly Apr–Sep · 0.36% in Sep
Rock DoveColumba liviaResidentCommon29–37 cmRecorded all year · 0.34% in Sep
OspreyPandion haliaetusSummer visitorUncommon54–58 cmRegularly Mar–Nov · 0.34% in Sep
OvenbirdSeiurus aurocapillaSummer visitorUncommon12–15 cmRegularly Apr–Oct · 0.33% in Sep
Lesser YellowlegsTringa flavipesPassage migrantUncommon23–27 cmRegularly Mar–Oct · 0.29% in Sep
Palm WarblerSetophaga palmarumPassage migrantCommon12–14 cmRegularly Apr–Oct · 0.27% in Sep
Gray-cheeked ThrushCatharus minimusPassage migrantUncommon16–17 cmRegularly Apr–Oct · 0.27% in Sep
Least SandpiperCalidris minutillaPassage migrantUncommon13–15 cmRegularly Apr–Nov · 0.26% in Sep
Pectoral SandpiperCalidris melanotosPassage migrantUncommon19–23 cmRegularly Mar–Nov · 0.24% in Sep
Philadelphia VireoVireo philadelphicusPassage migrantUncommon11–13 cmRegularly May–Oct · 0.23% in Sep
Pied-billed GrebePodilymbus podicepsWinter visitorCommon31–38 cmRegularly Jul–May · 0.23% in Sep
Sandhill CraneAntigone canadensisWinter visitorCommon80–122 cmRecorded all year · 0.23% in Sep
Scarlet TanagerPiranga olivaceaSummer visitorCommon16–19 cmRegularly Apr–Oct · 0.22% in Sep
Greater YellowlegsTringa melanoleucaPassage migrantUncommon29–40 cmRegularly Mar–Nov · 0.20% in Sep
Mute SwanCygnus olorResidentCommon140–160 cmRecorded all year · 0.20% in Sep
Least FlycatcherEmpidonax minimusPassage migrantUncommon12–14 cmRegularly Apr–Sep · 0.19% in Sep
Solitary SandpiperTringa solitariaPassage migrantUncommon19–23 cmRegularly Apr–Oct · 0.19% in Sep
Northern MockingbirdMimus polyglottosResidentCommon21–26 cmRecorded all year · 0.19% in Sep
Great Crested FlycatcherMyiarchus crinitusSummer visitorCommon17–22 cmRegularly Apr–Sep · 0.18% in Sep
Semipalmated SandpiperCalidris pusillaSummer visitorUncommon15–18 cmRegularly May–Oct · 0.18% in Sep
Barred OwlStrix variaResidentUncommon43–50 cmRecorded all year · 0.17% in Sep
Wild TurkeyMeleagris gallopavoResidentUncommon100–125 cmRecorded all year · 0.16% in Sep
Ruby-crowned KingletCorthylio calendulaWinter visitorCommon9–11 cmRegularly Sep–May · 0.15% in Sep
Eurasian TealAnas creccaWinter visitorUncommon34–38 cmRegularly Aug–Apr · 0.15% in Sep
Semipalmated PloverCharadrius semipalmatusSummer visitorUncommon17–19 cmRegularly Apr–Oct · 0.15% in Sep
American Herring GullLarus smithsonianusWinter visitorUncommon53–65 cmRecorded all year · 0.13% in Sep
Black-throated Blue WarblerSetophaga caerulescensPassage migrantUncommon11–13 cmRegularly May–Oct · 0.12% in Sep
VeeryCatharus fuscescensSummer visitorUncommon16–19 cmRegularly Apr–Sep · 0.12% in Sep
SanderlingCalidris albaPassage migrantUncommon18–20 cmRegularly May–Nov · 0.11% in Sep
Northern ShovelerSpatula clypeataWinter visitorCommon44–51 cmRegularly Sep–May · 0.11% in Sep
Peregrine FalconFalco peregrinusResidentUncommon34–58 cmRecorded all year · 0.11% in Sep
Baltimore OrioleIcterus galbulaSummer visitorCommon17–19 cmRegularly Apr–Sep · 0.11% in Sep
Stilt SandpiperCalidris himantopusPassage migrantUncommon18–23 cmRegularly Apr–Oct · 0.10% in Sep
Broad-winged HawkButeo platypterusSummer visitorUncommon34–44 cmRegularly Apr–Oct · 0.10% in Sep
Swamp SparrowMelospiza georgianaWinter visitorCommon12–15 cmRecorded all year · 0.09% in Sep
Eastern Screech-owlMegascops asioWinter visitorUncommon16–25 cmRecorded all year · 0.09% in Sep
Northern WaterthrushParkesia noveboracensisPassage migrantUncommon12–15 cmRegularly Apr–Oct · 0.09% in Sep
Yellow-bellied SapsuckerSphyrapicus variusWinter visitorUncommon19–22 cmRegularly Sep–Apr · 0.09% in Sep
Yellow-bellied FlycatcherEmpidonax flaviventrisPassage migrantUncommon13–15 cmRegularly May–Sep · 0.09% in Sep
Horned LarkEremophila alpestrisWinter visitorCommon16–20 cmRecorded all year · 0.08% in Sep
Great Horned OwlBubo virginianusWinter visitorUncommon46–63 cmRecorded all year · 0.08% in Sep
MerlinFalco columbariusWinter visitorUncommon24–33 cmRecorded all year · 0.08% in Sep
Blue-headed VireoVireo solitariusPassage migrantUncommon12–15 cmRegularly Apr–Oct · 0.08% in Sep
Forster's TernSterna forsteriSummer visitorUncommon33–36 cmRegularly Apr–Oct · 0.07% in Sep
Lincoln's SparrowMelospiza lincolniiPassage migrantUncommon13–15 cmRegularly Apr–Nov · 0.07% in Sep
Common TernSterna hirundoPassage migrantUncommon31–35 cmRegularly Apr–Oct · 0.07% in Sep
Northern PintailAnas acutaWinter visitorUncommon59–76 cmRegularly Sep–Apr · 0.07% in Sep
Baird's SandpiperCalidris bairdiiPassage migrantUncommon14–17 cmRegularly Aug–Oct · 0.06% in Sep
Bonaparte's GullChroicocephalus philadelphiaWinter visitorUncommon28–38 cmRegularly Aug–Apr · 0.06% in Sep
Sharp-shinned HawkAccipiter striatusWinter visitorUncommon24–34 cmRegularly Sep–May · 0.06% in Sep
Black-crowned Night-heronNycticorax nycticoraxSummer visitorUncommon58–65 cmRegularly Apr–Feb · 0.06% in Sep
American Golden-PloverPluvialis dominicaPassage migrantRare24–28 cmRegularly Mar–Oct · 0.05% in Sep
Black TernChlidonias nigerSummer visitorUncommon22–26 cmRegularly May–Sep · 0.05% in Sep
Grey PloverPluvialis squatarolaPassage migrantRare27–30 cmRegularly May–Nov · 0.04% in Sep
Marsh WrenCistothorus palustrisSummer visitorUncommon10–14 cmRegularly Apr–Oct · 0.04% in Sep
Purple MartinProgne subisSummer visitorCommon18–20 cmRegularly Mar–Sep · 0.04% in Sep
BobolinkDolichonyx oryzivorusSummer visitorUncommon16–20 cmRegularly Apr–Oct · 0.04% in Sep
Arctic JaegerStercorarius parasiticusPassage migrantRare41–46 cmRegularly Aug–Nov · 0.04% in Sep
Orange-crowned WarblerLeiothlypis celataPassage migrantUncommon11–14 cmRegularly Sep–May · 0.03% in Sep
Fish CrowCorvus ossifragusSummer visitorUncommon36–41 cmRecorded all year · 0.03% in Sep
Red-necked PhalaropePhalaropus lobatusPassage migrantRare18–19 cmRegularly May–Oct · 0.03% in Sep
Prothonotary WarblerProtonotaria citreaSummer visitorUncommon13–14 cmRegularly Apr–Sep · 0.03% in Sep
Willow FlycatcherEmpidonax trailliiSummer visitorUncommon13–17 cmRegularly May–Sep · 0.03% in Sep
Buff-breasted SandpiperCalidris subruficollisPassage migrantRare18–20 cmRegularly Aug–Sep · 0.03% in Sep
Short-billed DowitcherLimnodromus griseusPassage migrantUncommon23–32 cmRegularly Apr–Sep · 0.03% in Sep
Mourning WarblerGeothlypis philadelphiaPassage migrantUncommon10–15 cmRegularly May–Sep · 0.02% in Sep
Sabine's GullXema sabiniPassage migrantRare27–33 cmRegularly Sep–Oct · 0.02% in Sep
Hermit ThrushCatharus guttatusWinter visitorUncommon14–18 cmRegularly Sep–May · 0.02% in Sep
Ruddy TurnstoneArenaria interpresPassage migrantRare21–24 cmRegularly May–Sep · 0.02% in Sep
Eurasian Collared DoveStreptopelia decaoctoResidentRare30–32 cmRecorded all year · 0.02% in Sep
Long-tailed JaegerStercorarius longicaudusPassage migrantRare48–58 cmRegularly Aug–Sep · 0.02% in Sep
American AvocetRecurvirostra americanaPassage migrantRare43–51 cmRegularly Apr–Nov · 0.02% in Sep
Sand MartinRiparia ripariaSummer visitorUncommon12–14 cmRegularly Apr–Sep · 0.02% in Sep
Common PheasantPhasianus colchicusResidentUncommon50–90 cmRecorded all year · 0.01% in Sep
Lesser Black-backed GullLarus fuscusWinter visitorUncommon52–64 cmRegularly Aug–May · 0.01% in Sep
Black-billed CuckooCoccyzus erythropthalmusSummer visitorRare28–32 cmRegularly May–Sep · 0.01% in Sep
Franklin's GullLeucophaeus pipixcanPassage migrantUncommon32–36 cmRegularly Sep–Dec · 0.01% in Sep
Red KnotCalidris canutusPassage migrantRare23–26 cmRegularly Aug–Sep · 0.01% in Sep
White-rumped SandpiperCalidris fuscicollisSummer visitorRare15–18 cmRegularly May–Oct · 0.01% in Sep
Vesper SparrowPooecetes gramineusSummer visitorUncommon13–17 cmRegularly Mar–Nov · 0.01% in Sep
Long-billed DowitcherLimnodromus scolopaceusPassage migrantUncommon27–30 cmRegularly Mar–Nov · 0.01% in Sep
Wilson's PhalaropePhalaropus tricolorSummer visitorRare22–24 cmRegularly Apr–Sep · 0.01% in Sep
Clay-colored SparrowSpizella pallidaPassage migrantRare13–15 cmRegularly Apr–Oct · 0.01% in Sep
Little GullHydrocoloeus minutusPassage migrantRare25–30 cmRegularly Sep–Nov · 0.01% in Sep
Trumpeter SwanCygnus buccinatorWinter visitorUncommon139–157 cmRecorded all year · 0.01% in Sep
American BitternBotaurus lentiginosusSummer visitorRare58–85 cmRegularly Apr–Nov · 0.01% in Sep
Virginia RailRallus limicolaSummer visitorUncommon20–27 cmRegularly Mar–Dec · 0.01% in Sep
Greylag GooseAnser anserResidentRare75–90 cmRecorded all year · 0.01% in Sep
WhimbrelNumenius phaeopusResidentRare40–46 cmRegularly May–Sep · 0.01% in Sep
WilletTringa semipalmataSummer visitorRare33–41 cmRegularly Apr–Sep · 0.01% in Sep
Alder FlycatcherEmpidonax alnorumSummer visitorUncommon13–17 cmRegularly May–Sep · 0.00% in Sep
Black-necked GrebePodiceps nigricollisPassage migrantRare28–34 cmRegularly Sep–May · 0.00% in Sep
Muscovy DuckCairina moschataWinter visitorRare66–84 cmRecorded all year · 0.00% in Sep
Piping PloverCharadrius melodusPassage migrantRare17–18 cmRegularly Jul–Sep · 0.00% in Sep
Marbled GodwitLimosa fedoaSummer visitorRare40–50 cmRegularly Apr–Sep · 0.00% in Sep
Monk ParakeetMyiopsitta monachusResidentRare29–31 cmRecorded all year · 0.00% in Sep
Western SandpiperCalidris mauriPassage migrantRare14–17 cmRegularly Apr–Sep · 0.00% in Sep
Upland SandpiperBartramia longicaudaSummer visitorRare28–32 cmRegularly Apr–Sep · 0.00% in Sep
Cattle EgretArdea ibisSummer visitorRare46–56 cmRegularly Apr–Nov · 0.00% in Sep
Western KingbirdTyrannus verticalisSummer visitorRare20–24 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