Birds to See in Kentucky in September
118 bird species on our list for Kentucky are recorded regularly in September
Of these, the most often recorded are Northern Cardinal, Blue Jay, American Crow, Tufted Titmouse and Mourning Dove. New this month: Ruby-crowned Kinglet, Tennessee Warbler, Bay-breasted Warbler and Pied-billed Grebe and 21 more.
On the move in September
GBIF · SepArriving
At their peak
Gray CatbirdBusiest month of the year · Apr–Oct
Magnolia WarblerBusiest month of the year · May
American RedstartBusiest month of the year · Apr–Jun
Chestnut-sided WarblerBusiest month of the year · Apr–May
Black-throated Green WarblerBusiest month of the year · Apr–Oct
Forster's TernBusiest month of the year · Aug–May
From Kentucky’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 118 birds in September
118 birds
Northern CardinalCardinalis cardinalisResidentCommon21–23 cmRecorded all year · 4.03% in Sep
Blue JayCyanocitta cristataResidentCommon25–30 cmRecorded all year · 3.96% in Sep
American CrowCorvus brachyrhynchosResidentCommon41–53 cmRecorded all year · 2.94% in Sep
Tufted TitmouseBaeolophus bicolorResidentCommon14–16 cmRecorded all year · 2.85% in Sep
Mourning DoveZenaida macrouraResidentCommon23–34 cmRecorded all year · 2.83% in Sep
Red-bellied WoodpeckerMelanerpes carolinusResidentCommon23–26 cmRecorded all year · 2.82% in Sep
Downy WoodpeckerDryobates pubescensResidentCommon14–18 cmRecorded all year · 2.65% in Sep
American RobinTurdus migratoriusResidentCommon20–28 cmRecorded all year · 2.52% in Sep
Turkey VultureCathartes auraResidentCommon62–81 cmRecorded all year · 2.35% in Sep
Ruby-throated HummingbirdArchilochus colubrisSummer visitorCommon7–9 cmRegularly Apr–Oct · 2.29% in Sep
White-breasted NuthatchSitta carolinensisResidentCommon13–14 cmRecorded all year · 2.19% in Sep
Common StarlingSturnus vulgarisResidentCommon21–23 cmRecorded all year · 1.94% in Sep
House FinchHaemorhous mexicanusResidentCommon13–15 cmRecorded all year · 1.56% in Sep
Great Blue HeronArdea herodiasResidentCommon91–137 cmRecorded all year · 1.35% in Sep
Northern FlickerColaptes auratusResidentCommon28–31 cmRecorded all year · 1.34% in Sep- Gray CatbirdDumetella carolinensisSummer visitorCommon20–24 cmRegularly Apr–Oct · 1.20% in Sep
- Magnolia WarblerSetophaga magnoliaPassage migrantCommon11–13 cmRegularly May–Oct · 1.19% in Sep
Northern MockingbirdMimus polyglottosResidentCommon21–26 cmRecorded all year · 1.18% in Sep
Canada GooseBranta canadensisResidentCommon76–110 cmRecorded all year · 1.16% in Sep
Pileated WoodpeckerDryocopus pileatusResidentCommon40–49 cmRecorded all year · 1.11% in Sep- American RedstartSetophaga ruticillaPassage migrantCommon11–14 cmRegularly Apr–Oct · 1.08% in Sep
Eastern BluebirdSialia sialisResidentCommon16–21 cmRecorded all year · 1.08% in Sep
Common GrackleQuiscalus quisculaResidentCommon28–34 cmRecorded all year · 1.00% in Sep
Song SparrowMelospiza melodiaResidentCommon12–17 cmRecorded all year · 0.97% in Sep
Tennessee WarblerLeiothlypis peregrinaPassage migrantCommon10–13 cmRegularly Apr–Oct · 0.82% in Sep
Bay-breasted WarblerSetophaga castaneaPassage migrantCommon14–14 cmRegularly May–Oct · 0.81% in Sep
MallardAnas platyrhynchosResidentCommon50–65 cmRecorded all year · 0.81% in Sep
House SparrowPasser domesticusResidentCommon14–17 cmRecorded all year · 0.81% in Sep
Great White EgretArdea albaSummer visitorCommon80–104 cmRegularly Mar–Nov · 0.79% in Sep
Swainson's ThrushCatharus ustulatusPassage migrantCommon16–20 cmRegularly Apr–Oct · 0.77% in Sep
Red-tailed HawkButeo jamaicensisResidentCommon45–65 cmRecorded all year · 0.69% in Sep
Cedar WaxwingBombycilla cedrorumResidentCommon15–18 cmRecorded all year · 0.67% in Sep
Red-winged BlackbirdAgelaius phoeniceusResidentCommon17–23 cmRecorded all year · 0.64% in Sep
Chipping SparrowSpizella passerinaSummer visitorCommon12–15 cmRecorded all year · 0.63% in Sep
Common YellowthroatGeothlypis trichasSummer visitorCommon11–13 cmRegularly Apr–Oct · 0.62% in Sep
Hairy WoodpeckerLeuconotopicus villosusResidentCommon18–26 cmRecorded all year · 0.61% in Sep- Chestnut-sided WarblerSetophaga pensylvanicaPassage migrantCommon10–14 cmRegularly Apr–Oct · 0.59% in Sep
- Black-throated Green WarblerSetophaga virensSummer visitorCommon11–12 cmRegularly Apr–Oct · 0.57% in Sep
Red-headed WoodpeckerMelanerpes erythrocephalusResidentCommon19–23 cmRecorded all year · 0.55% in Sep
Rock DoveColumba liviaResidentCommon29–37 cmRecorded all year · 0.49% in Sep
Rose-breasted GrosbeakPheucticus ludovicianusPassage migrantCommon18–22 cmRegularly Apr–Oct · 0.41% in Sep
Wood DuckAix sponsaResidentCommon47–54 cmRecorded all year · 0.40% in Sep
OspreyPandion haliaetusSummer visitorCommon54–58 cmRegularly Mar–Oct · 0.38% in Sep
Bald EagleHaliaeetus leucocephalusWinter visitorCommon70–102 cmRecorded all year · 0.35% in Sep
Scarlet TanagerPiranga olivaceaSummer visitorCommon16–19 cmRegularly Apr–Oct · 0.30% in Sep
Philadelphia VireoVireo philadelphicusPassage migrantUncommon11–13 cmRegularly May–Oct · 0.30% in Sep
Wild TurkeyMeleagris gallopavoResidentUncommon100–125 cmRecorded all year · 0.29% in Sep
Least SandpiperCalidris minutillaPassage migrantUncommon13–15 cmRegularly Mar–Dec · 0.27% in Sep
Ring-billed GullLarus delawarensisWinter visitorCommon43–54 cmRegularly Jul–Apr · 0.22% in Sep
Barn SwallowHirundo rusticaSummer visitorCommon17–19 cmRegularly Apr–Sep · 0.22% in Sep
Palm WarblerSetophaga palmarumPassage migrantCommon12–14 cmRegularly Sep–May · 0.22% in Sep
Nashville WarblerLeiothlypis ruficapillaPassage migrantUncommon11–13 cmRegularly Apr–Oct · 0.21% in Sep
Least FlycatcherEmpidonax minimusPassage migrantUncommon12–14 cmRegularly Apr–Sep · 0.20% in Sep
Great Crested FlycatcherMyiarchus crinitusSummer visitorCommon17–22 cmRegularly Apr–Sep · 0.20% in Sep
Solitary SandpiperTringa solitariaPassage migrantUncommon19–23 cmRegularly Apr–Oct · 0.20% in Sep
Pectoral SandpiperCalidris melanotosPassage migrantUncommon19–23 cmRegularly Mar–Oct · 0.19% in Sep
OvenbirdSeiurus aurocapillaSummer visitorUncommon12–15 cmRegularly Apr–Oct · 0.19% in Sep
Barred OwlStrix variaResidentUncommon43–50 cmRecorded all year · 0.18% in Sep
Broad-winged HawkButeo platypterusSummer visitorUncommon34–44 cmRegularly Apr–Oct · 0.16% in Sep
Lesser YellowlegsTringa flavipesPassage migrantUncommon23–27 cmRegularly Mar–Oct · 0.15% in Sep
Great Horned OwlBubo virginianusResidentUncommon46–63 cmRecorded all year · 0.14% in Sep
Eastern Screech-owlMegascops asioResidentUncommon16–25 cmRecorded all year · 0.14% in Sep
Baltimore OrioleIcterus galbulaSummer visitorCommon17–19 cmRegularly Apr–Sep · 0.12% in Sep
Semipalmated SandpiperCalidris pusillaSummer visitorUncommon15–18 cmRegularly May–Sep · 0.12% in Sep
Semipalmated PloverCharadrius semipalmatusSummer visitorUncommon17–19 cmRegularly Apr–Sep · 0.11% in Sep
Cape May WarblerSetophaga tigrinaPassage migrantUncommon12–14 cmRegularly Apr–Oct · 0.11% in Sep
Pied-billed GrebePodilymbus podicepsWinter visitorCommon31–38 cmRegularly Sep–Apr · 0.10% in Sep
Gray-cheeked ThrushCatharus minimusPassage migrantUncommon16–17 cmRegularly Apr–Oct · 0.10% in Sep
Northern Yellow WarblerSetophaga aestivaSummer visitorCommon12–13 cmRegularly Apr–Sep · 0.10% in Sep
Greater YellowlegsTringa melanoleucaPassage migrantUncommon29–40 cmRegularly Mar–Nov · 0.09% in Sep
Black-crowned Night-heronNycticorax nycticoraxSummer visitorUncommon58–65 cmRegularly Mar–Jan · 0.09% in Sep
Eurasian Collared DoveStreptopelia decaoctoResidentUncommon30–32 cmRecorded all year · 0.09% in Sep- Forster's TernSterna forsteriWinter visitorUncommon33–36 cmRegularly Aug–May · 0.08% in Sep
Fish CrowCorvus ossifragusSummer visitorUncommon36–41 cmRecorded all year · 0.08% in Sep
Peregrine FalconFalco peregrinusResidentUncommon34–58 cmRecorded all year · 0.07% in Sep
Prothonotary WarblerProtonotaria citreaSummer visitorUncommon13–14 cmRegularly Apr–Sep · 0.07% in Sep
Blue-headed VireoVireo solitariusSummer visitorUncommon12–15 cmRegularly Mar–Nov · 0.06% in Sep
Northern WaterthrushParkesia noveboracensisPassage migrantUncommon12–15 cmRegularly Apr–Oct · 0.06% in Sep
Stilt SandpiperCalidris himantopusPassage migrantUncommon18–23 cmRegularly Apr–Oct · 0.06% in Sep
SanderlingCalidris albaPassage migrantUncommon18–20 cmRegularly May–Sep · 0.05% in Sep
Yellow-bellied FlycatcherEmpidonax flaviventrisPassage migrantUncommon13–15 cmRegularly May–Oct · 0.05% in Sep
Ruby-crowned KingletCorthylio calendulaWinter visitorCommon9–11 cmRegularly Sep–May · 0.05% in Sep
VeeryCatharus fuscescensPassage migrantUncommon16–19 cmRegularly Apr–Sep · 0.05% in Sep
American Herring GullLarus smithsonianusWinter visitorUncommon53–65 cmRegularly Aug–Apr · 0.05% in Sep
Horned LarkEremophila alpestrisWinter visitorUncommon16–20 cmRecorded all year · 0.05% in Sep
Sharp-shinned HawkAccipiter striatusWinter visitorUncommon24–34 cmRegularly Aug–May · 0.05% in Sep
Baird's SandpiperCalidris bairdiiPassage migrantRare14–17 cmRegularly Aug–Sep · 0.04% in Sep
American Golden-PloverPluvialis dominicaPassage migrantRare24–28 cmRegularly Mar–Oct · 0.04% in Sep
Buff-breasted SandpiperCalidris subruficollisPassage migrantRare18–20 cmRegularly Aug–Sep · 0.04% in Sep
Lesser Black-backed GullLarus fuscusWinter visitorUncommon52–64 cmRegularly Sep–Mar · 0.03% in Sep
Northern ShovelerSpatula clypeataWinter visitorUncommon44–51 cmRegularly Sep–May · 0.03% in Sep
MerlinFalco columbariusWinter visitorUncommon24–33 cmRegularly Sep–Apr · 0.03% in Sep
Mute SwanCygnus olorWinter visitorUncommon140–160 cmRecorded all year · 0.03% in Sep
Muscovy DuckCairina moschataWinter visitorUncommon66–84 cmRecorded all year · 0.03% in Sep
Sand MartinRiparia ripariaSummer visitorUncommon12–14 cmRegularly Apr–Sep · 0.03% in Sep
BobolinkDolichonyx oryzivorusSummer visitorUncommon16–20 cmRegularly Apr–Oct · 0.03% in Sep
DickcisselSpiza americanaSummer visitorUncommon14–16 cmRegularly Apr–Oct · 0.03% in Sep
Common TernSterna hirundoPassage migrantRare31–35 cmRegularly May–Oct · 0.03% in Sep
Eurasian TealAnas creccaWinter visitorUncommon34–38 cmRegularly Sep–Apr · 0.02% in Sep
Orange-crowned WarblerLeiothlypis celataWinter visitorUncommon11–14 cmRegularly Sep–May · 0.02% in Sep
Lincoln's SparrowMelospiza lincolniiPassage migrantUncommon13–15 cmRegularly May–Nov · 0.02% in Sep
Black-throated Blue WarblerSetophaga caerulescensSummer visitorRare11–13 cmRegularly Apr–Oct · 0.02% in Sep
Black TernChlidonias nigerPassage migrantRare22–26 cmRegularly May–Sep · 0.02% in Sep
Common RavenCorvus coraxWinter visitorRare54–67 cmRegularly Sep–Jul · 0.02% in Sep
Blackpoll WarblerSetophaga striataPassage migrantUncommon13–15 cmRegularly Apr–Sep · 0.02% in Sep
American AvocetRecurvirostra americanaPassage migrantRare43–51 cmRegularly Apr–Oct · 0.01% in Sep
Marsh WrenCistothorus palustrisPassage migrantUncommon10–14 cmRegularly Sep–May · 0.01% in Sep
Mourning WarblerGeothlypis philadelphiaPassage migrantRare10–15 cmRegularly May–Oct · 0.01% in Sep
Northern PintailAnas acutaWinter visitorUncommon59–76 cmRegularly Sep–Mar · 0.01% in Sep
Western SandpiperCalidris mauriPassage migrantRare14–17 cmRegularly Jul–Oct · 0.01% in Sep
Grey PloverPluvialis squatarolaPassage migrantRare27–30 cmRegularly Apr–Oct · 0.01% in Sep
Cattle EgretArdea ibisSummer visitorRare46–56 cmRegularly Mar–Oct · 0.01% in Sep
Clay-colored SparrowSpizella pallidaPassage migrantRare13–15 cmRegularly Sep–Oct · 0.01% in Sep
Short-billed DowitcherLimnodromus griseusPassage migrantRare23–32 cmRegularly Apr–Sep · 0.01% in Sep
Black-billed CuckooCoccyzus erythropthalmusPassage migrantRare28–32 cmRegularly Apr–Oct · 0.01% in Sep
White-rumped SandpiperCalidris fuscicollisPassage migrantRare15–18 cmRegularly May–Sep · 0.01% in Sep
White-winged DoveZenaida asiaticaSummer visitorRare27–30 cmRegularly Apr–Sep · 0.00% in Sep
Wilson's PhalaropePhalaropus tricolorPassage migrantRare22–24 cmRegularly Apr–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