Birds to See in Maine in September
165 bird species on our list for Maine are recorded regularly in September
Of these, the most often recorded are American Crow, Blue Jay, American Herring Gull, Song Sparrow and Gray Catbird. New this month: Ruby-crowned Kinglet, Surf Scoter, Pine Siskin and Red-necked Grebe and 13 more.
On the move in September
GBIF · SepArriving
At their peak
From Maine’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 165 birds in September
165 birds
American CrowCorvus brachyrhynchosResidentCommon41–53 cmRecorded all year · 3.91% in Sep
Blue JayCyanocitta cristataResidentCommon25–30 cmRecorded all year · 3.54% in Sep
American Herring GullLarus smithsonianusResidentCommon53–65 cmRecorded all year · 3.20% in Sep
Song SparrowMelospiza melodiaSummer visitorCommon12–17 cmRecorded all year · 2.53% in Sep
Gray CatbirdDumetella carolinensisSummer visitorCommon20–24 cmRegularly May–Oct · 2.17% in Sep
Mourning DoveZenaida macrouraResidentCommon23–34 cmRecorded all year · 1.75% in Sep
White-breasted NuthatchSitta carolinensisResidentCommon13–14 cmRecorded all year · 1.69% in Sep
Great Black-backed GullLarus marinusResidentCommon64–79 cmRecorded all year · 1.65% in Sep
Great Blue HeronArdea herodiasSummer visitorCommon91–137 cmRegularly Mar–Jan · 1.57% in Sep
Northern FlickerColaptes auratusSummer visitorCommon28–31 cmRecorded all year · 1.57% in Sep
Downy WoodpeckerDryobates pubescensResidentCommon14–18 cmRecorded all year · 1.55% in Sep
Ring-billed GullLarus delawarensisWinter visitorCommon43–54 cmRecorded all year · 1.50% in Sep
EiderSomateria mollissimaResidentCommon50–71 cmRecorded all year · 1.45% in Sep
Northern CardinalCardinalis cardinalisResidentCommon21–23 cmRecorded all year · 1.41% in Sep
Common YellowthroatGeothlypis trichasSummer visitorCommon11–13 cmRegularly May–Oct · 1.40% in Sep
Yellow-rumped WarblerSetophaga coronataSummer visitorCommon12–15 cmRegularly Apr–Nov · 1.35% in Sep
MallardAnas platyrhynchosResidentCommon50–65 cmRecorded all year · 1.30% in Sep
Cedar WaxwingBombycilla cedrorumSummer visitorCommon15–18 cmRecorded all year · 1.26% in Sep
American RobinTurdus migratoriusResidentCommon20–28 cmRecorded all year · 1.25% in Sep
Common LoonGavia immerResidentCommon66–91 cmRecorded all year · 1.19% in Sep
Tufted TitmouseBaeolophus bicolorResidentCommon14–16 cmRecorded all year · 1.14% in Sep
Hairy WoodpeckerLeuconotopicus villosusResidentCommon18–26 cmRecorded all year · 1.12% in Sep
Bald EagleHaliaeetus leucocephalusResidentCommon70–102 cmRecorded all year · 1.08% in Sep
Canada GooseBranta canadensisResidentCommon76–110 cmRecorded all year · 0.94% in Sep
Common RavenCorvus coraxResidentCommon54–67 cmRecorded all year · 0.93% in Sep
OspreyPandion haliaetusSummer visitorCommon54–58 cmRegularly Apr–Oct · 0.91% in Sep
Semipalmated PloverCharadrius semipalmatusPassage migrantCommon17–19 cmRegularly Jul–Nov · 0.87% in Sep
Chipping SparrowSpizella passerinaSummer visitorCommon12–15 cmRegularly Apr–Nov · 0.85% in Sep
Ruby-throated HummingbirdArchilochus colubrisSummer visitorCommon7–9 cmRegularly May–Sep · 0.84% in Sep
Common StarlingSturnus vulgarisResidentCommon21–23 cmRecorded all year · 0.73% in Sep
Semipalmated SandpiperCalidris pusillaPassage migrantCommon15–18 cmRegularly Jun–Oct · 0.73% in Sep
MerlinFalco columbariusSummer visitorCommon24–33 cmRegularly Feb–Dec · 0.70% in Sep
American Black DuckAnas rubripesWinter visitorCommon54–59 cmRecorded all year · 0.69% in Sep
Black GuillemotCepphus grylleResidentCommon30–32 cmRecorded all year · 0.69% in Sep
Greater YellowlegsTringa melanoleucaSummer visitorCommon29–40 cmRegularly Apr–Nov · 0.68% in Sep
Great White EgretArdea albaSummer visitorCommon80–104 cmRegularly Mar–Nov · 0.67% in Sep
Black-throated Green WarblerSetophaga virensSummer visitorCommon11–12 cmRegularly May–Oct · 0.65% in Sep
American RedstartSetophaga ruticillaSummer visitorCommon11–14 cmRegularly May–Sep · 0.64% in Sep
House FinchHaemorhous mexicanusResidentCommon13–15 cmRecorded all year · 0.63% in Sep
Turkey VultureCathartes auraSummer visitorCommon62–81 cmRecorded all year · 0.60% in Sep
Pileated WoodpeckerDryocopus pileatusResidentCommon40–49 cmRecorded all year · 0.60% in Sep
Northern GannetMorus bassanusSummer visitorCommon87–100 cmRegularly May–Jan · 0.59% in Sep
Eastern BluebirdSialia sialisResidentCommon16–21 cmRecorded all year · 0.55% in Sep
Rock DoveColumba liviaResidentCommon29–37 cmRecorded all year · 0.52% in Sep
Blue-headed VireoVireo solitariusSummer visitorCommon12–15 cmRegularly Apr–Oct · 0.51% in Sep
Swamp SparrowMelospiza georgianaSummer visitorCommon12–15 cmRegularly Apr–Nov · 0.49% in Sep
Red-bellied WoodpeckerMelanerpes carolinusResidentCommon23–26 cmRecorded all year · 0.46% in Sep
House SparrowPasser domesticusResidentCommon14–17 cmRecorded all year · 0.44% in Sep
Northern Yellow WarblerSetophaga aestivaSummer visitorCommon12–13 cmRegularly May–Sep · 0.44% in Sep
Least SandpiperCalidris minutillaPassage migrantCommon13–15 cmRegularly May–Sep · 0.43% in Sep
Wild TurkeyMeleagris gallopavoResidentCommon100–125 cmRecorded all year · 0.42% in Sep
Yellow-bellied SapsuckerSphyrapicus variusSummer visitorCommon19–22 cmRegularly Apr–Feb · 0.41% in Sep
Ruby-crowned KingletCorthylio calendulaSummer visitorCommon9–11 cmRegularly Apr–Nov · 0.40% in Sep
Palm WarblerSetophaga palmarumSummer visitorCommon12–14 cmRegularly Apr–Nov · 0.39% in Sep
Blackpoll WarblerSetophaga striataSummer visitorUncommon13–15 cmRegularly May–Oct · 0.37% in Sep
Wood DuckAix sponsaSummer visitorCommon47–54 cmRegularly Feb–Nov · 0.36% in Sep
Cape May WarblerSetophaga tigrinaPassage migrantUncommon12–14 cmRegularly May–Oct · 0.36% in Sep
Magnolia WarblerSetophaga magnoliaSummer visitorCommon11–13 cmRegularly May–Oct · 0.35% in Sep
Common GrackleQuiscalus quisculaSummer visitorCommon28–34 cmRegularly Mar–Nov · 0.35% in Sep
Sharp-shinned HawkAccipiter striatusWinter visitorUncommon24–34 cmRecorded all year · 0.35% in Sep
SanderlingCalidris albaWinter visitorUncommon18–20 cmRegularly Jul–Feb · 0.35% in Sep
Hermit ThrushCatharus guttatusSummer visitorCommon14–18 cmRegularly Apr–Dec · 0.34% in Sep
Grey PloverPluvialis squatarolaSummer visitorCommon27–30 cmRegularly May–Nov · 0.33% in Sep
Lesser YellowlegsTringa flavipesPassage migrantCommon23–27 cmRegularly Apr–Oct · 0.32% in Sep
Peregrine FalconFalco peregrinusResidentUncommon34–58 cmRecorded all year · 0.31% in Sep
Northern MockingbirdMimus polyglottosResidentCommon21–26 cmRecorded all year · 0.30% in Sep
Swainson's ThrushCatharus ustulatusSummer visitorUncommon16–20 cmRegularly May–Oct · 0.29% in Sep
Bonaparte's GullChroicocephalus philadelphiaSummer visitorUncommon28–38 cmRegularly May–Dec · 0.28% in Sep
Red-tailed HawkButeo jamaicensisWinter visitorCommon45–65 cmRecorded all year · 0.27% in Sep
Eurasian TealAnas creccaWinter visitorCommon34–38 cmRegularly Jul–May · 0.27% in Sep
Broad-winged HawkButeo platypterusSummer visitorUncommon34–44 cmRegularly Apr–Sep · 0.26% in Sep
Rose-breasted GrosbeakPheucticus ludovicianusSummer visitorCommon18–22 cmRegularly May–Oct · 0.26% in Sep
Nashville WarblerLeiothlypis ruficapillaSummer visitorUncommon11–13 cmRegularly May–Oct · 0.24% in Sep
Lincoln's SparrowMelospiza lincolniiSummer visitorUncommon13–15 cmRegularly May–Oct · 0.23% in Sep
Least FlycatcherEmpidonax minimusSummer visitorUncommon12–14 cmRegularly May–Sep · 0.22% in Sep
Solitary SandpiperTringa solitariaPassage migrantUncommon19–23 cmRegularly May–Oct · 0.22% in Sep
Lesser Black-backed GullLarus fuscusWinter visitorUncommon52–64 cmRegularly Jul–Apr · 0.21% in Sep
Common PheasantPhasianus colchicusSummer visitorUncommon50–90 cmRegularly Apr–Dec · 0.19% in Sep
Great CormorantPhalacrocorax carboWinter visitorCommon80–100 cmRecorded all year · 0.19% in Sep
Bay-breasted WarblerSetophaga castaneaSummer visitorUncommon14–14 cmRegularly May–Oct · 0.19% in Sep
Chestnut-sided WarblerSetophaga pensylvanicaSummer visitorCommon10–14 cmRegularly May–Sep · 0.19% in Sep
Baltimore OrioleIcterus galbulaSummer visitorCommon17–19 cmRegularly May–Oct · 0.18% in Sep
Philadelphia VireoVireo philadelphicusSummer visitorUncommon11–13 cmRegularly May–Oct · 0.18% in Sep
Tennessee WarblerLeiothlypis peregrinaSummer visitorUncommon10–13 cmRegularly May–Oct · 0.18% in Sep
Red-winged BlackbirdAgelaius phoeniceusSummer visitorCommon17–23 cmRegularly Feb–Nov · 0.18% in Sep
Northern WaterthrushParkesia noveboracensisSummer visitorUncommon12–15 cmRegularly May–Oct · 0.17% in Sep
Black-throated Blue WarblerSetophaga caerulescensSummer visitorCommon11–13 cmRegularly May–Oct · 0.15% in Sep
Surf ScoterMelanitta perspicillataWinter visitorCommon48–60 cmRegularly Sep–Jun · 0.15% in Sep
Common TernSterna hirundoSummer visitorCommon31–35 cmRegularly May–Sep · 0.15% in Sep
Barred OwlStrix variaResidentUncommon43–50 cmRecorded all year · 0.15% in Sep
Red CrossbillLoxia curvirostraResidentUncommon15–17 cmRecorded all year · 0.14% in Sep
Pomarine JaegerStercorarius pomarinusPassage migrantUncommon46–51 cmRegularly Aug–Oct · 0.14% in Sep
BobolinkDolichonyx oryzivorusSummer visitorUncommon16–20 cmRegularly May–Oct · 0.14% in Sep
Hooded MerganserLophodytes cucullatusWinter visitorCommon40–49 cmRecorded all year · 0.14% in Sep
Barn SwallowHirundo rusticaSummer visitorCommon17–19 cmRegularly Apr–Sep · 0.14% in Sep
Atlantic PuffinFratercula arcticaSummer visitorUncommon28–34 cmRegularly May–Oct · 0.13% in Sep
Short-billed DowitcherLimnodromus griseusSummer visitorUncommon23–32 cmRegularly May–Sep · 0.12% in Sep
White-rumped SandpiperCalidris fuscicollisPassage migrantUncommon15–18 cmRegularly Jul–Nov · 0.12% in Sep
Common MerganserMergus merganserWinter visitorCommon58–68 cmRecorded all year · 0.12% in Sep
Ruddy TurnstoneArenaria interpresSummer visitorUncommon21–24 cmRegularly May–Nov · 0.12% in Sep
OvenbirdSeiurus aurocapillaSummer visitorCommon12–15 cmRegularly May–Sep · 0.12% in Sep
Scarlet TanagerPiranga olivaceaSummer visitorUncommon16–19 cmRegularly May–Oct · 0.11% in Sep
Great ShearwaterArdenna gravisPassage migrantUncommon43–51 cmRegularly Jun–Oct · 0.10% in Sep
DickcisselSpiza americanaWinter visitorUncommon14–16 cmRegularly Aug–Mar · 0.09% in Sep
VeeryCatharus fuscescensSummer visitorCommon16–19 cmRegularly May–Sep · 0.08% in Sep
WhimbrelNumenius phaeopusPassage migrantUncommon40–46 cmRegularly Jul–Sep · 0.08% in Sep
Ruffed GrouseBonasa umbellusResidentUncommon41–50 cmRecorded all year · 0.08% in Sep
White-crowned SparrowZonotrichia leucophrysPassage migrantUncommon15–16 cmRegularly May–Nov · 0.08% in Sep
Pectoral SandpiperCalidris melanotosPassage migrantUncommon19–23 cmRegularly Apr–Nov · 0.08% in Sep
Red-necked GrebePodiceps grisegenaWinter visitorCommon40–50 cmRegularly Sep–Apr · 0.08% in Sep
DunlinCalidris alpinaPassage migrantUncommon16–22 cmRegularly May–Jan · 0.07% in Sep
Leach's Storm-petrelHydrobates leucorhousSummer visitorUncommon18–21 cmRegularly May–Sep · 0.07% in Sep
Red-necked PhalaropePhalaropus lobatusSummer visitorUncommon18–19 cmRegularly May–Sep · 0.07% in Sep
Pied-billed GrebePodilymbus podicepsSummer visitorUncommon31–38 cmRegularly Mar–Dec · 0.07% in Sep
RazorbillAlca tordaResidentUncommon38–43 cmRegularly May–Mar · 0.07% in Sep
Yellow-bellied FlycatcherEmpidonax flaviventrisSummer visitorUncommon13–15 cmRegularly May–Sep · 0.06% in Sep
Black-crowned Night-heronNycticorax nycticoraxSummer visitorUncommon58–65 cmRegularly Apr–Oct · 0.06% in Sep
KittiwakeRissa tridactylaWinter visitorUncommon37–41 cmRegularly Jun–Feb · 0.06% in Sep
American Golden-PloverPluvialis dominicaPassage migrantUncommon24–28 cmRegularly Aug–Nov · 0.06% in Sep
Lark SparrowChondestes grammacusPassage migrantUncommon15–17 cmRegularly Aug–Oct · 0.05% in Sep
Pine SiskinSpinus pinusWinter visitorCommon11–14 cmRegularly Sep–Jul · 0.05% in Sep
Marsh WrenCistothorus palustrisSummer visitorUncommon10–14 cmRegularly Apr–Nov · 0.05% in Sep
Clay-colored SparrowSpizella pallidaPassage migrantUncommon13–15 cmRegularly May–Jan · 0.04% in Sep
FulmarFulmarus glacialisPassage migrantUncommon45–50 cmRegularly Jun–Oct · 0.04% in Sep
Arctic JaegerStercorarius parasiticusPassage migrantRare41–46 cmRegularly Jul–Oct · 0.04% in Sep
Baird's SandpiperCalidris bairdiiPassage migrantRare14–17 cmRegularly Aug–Sep · 0.04% in Sep
Sooty ShearwaterArdenna griseaSummer visitorRare40–51 cmRegularly May–Oct · 0.04% in Sep
Mourning WarblerGeothlypis philadelphiaSummer visitorUncommon10–15 cmRegularly May–Oct · 0.04% in Sep
Red KnotCalidris canutusSummer visitorRare23–26 cmRegularly May–Nov · 0.04% in Sep
Grey PhalaropePhalaropus fulicariusPassage migrantRare20–22 cmRegularly May–Sep · 0.03% in Sep
Sandhill CraneAntigone canadensisSummer visitorUncommon80–122 cmRegularly Mar–Dec · 0.03% in Sep
WilletTringa semipalmataSummer visitorUncommon33–41 cmRegularly Apr–Sep · 0.03% in Sep
Stilt SandpiperCalidris himantopusPassage migrantRare18–23 cmRegularly Jul–Oct · 0.03% in Sep
Great Horned OwlBubo virginianusResidentRare46–63 cmRecorded all year · 0.03% in Sep
Northern PintailAnas acutaWinter visitorUncommon59–76 cmRegularly Sep–Apr · 0.03% in Sep
American BitternBotaurus lentiginosusSummer visitorUncommon58–85 cmRegularly Apr–Oct · 0.03% in Sep
Glossy IbisPlegadis falcinellusSummer visitorUncommon48–66 cmRegularly Apr–Sep · 0.03% in Sep
Fish CrowCorvus ossifragusSummer visitorUncommon36–41 cmRegularly Jan–Oct · 0.02% in Sep
Vesper SparrowPooecetes gramineusSummer visitorUncommon13–17 cmRegularly Apr–Oct · 0.02% in Sep
Western SandpiperCalidris mauriPassage migrantRare14–17 cmRegularly Aug–Sep · 0.02% in Sep
Piping PloverCharadrius melodusSummer visitorUncommon17–18 cmRegularly Mar–Sep · 0.02% in Sep
Horned LarkEremophila alpestrisWinter visitorUncommon16–20 cmRegularly Sep–Apr · 0.02% in Sep
Buff-breasted SandpiperCalidris subruficollisPassage migrantRare18–20 cmRegularly Aug–Sep · 0.02% in Sep
Black-billed CuckooCoccyzus erythropthalmusSummer visitorUncommon28–32 cmRegularly May–Oct · 0.02% in Sep
Virginia RailRallus limicolaSummer visitorUncommon20–27 cmRegularly Apr–Oct · 0.01% in Sep
Northern ShovelerSpatula clypeataWinter visitorUncommon44–51 cmRecorded all year · 0.01% in Sep
Evening GrosbeakHesperiphona vespertinaWinter visitorUncommon16–22 cmRegularly Jul–May · 0.01% in Sep
GadwallMareca streperaWinter visitorUncommon46–56 cmRecorded all year · 0.01% in Sep
Marbled GodwitLimosa fedoaPassage migrantRare40–50 cmRegularly Aug–Sep · 0.01% in Sep
Wilson's PhalaropePhalaropus tricolorPassage migrantRare22–24 cmRegularly May–Sep · 0.01% in Sep
Forster's TernSterna forsteriResidentRare33–36 cmRegularly Aug–Sep · 0.01% in Sep
Manx ShearwaterPuffinus puffinusPassage migrantUncommon30–38 cmRegularly Jun–Sep · 0.01% in Sep
Long-billed DowitcherLimnodromus scolopaceusResidentRare27–30 cmRegularly Sep–Nov · 0.01% in Sep
Northern Saw-whet OwlAegolius acadicusWinter visitorRare17–21 cmRecorded all year · 0.01% in Sep
King EiderSomateria spectabilisWinter visitorRare46–64 cmRegularly Sep–Jun · 0.01% in Sep
Orange-crowned WarblerLeiothlypis celataWinter visitorUncommon11–14 cmRegularly Sep–Feb · 0.01% in Sep
Hudsonian GodwitLimosa haemasticaPassage migrantUncommon36–42 cmRegularly Aug–Nov · 0.01% in Sep
Western KingbirdTyrannus verticalisPassage migrantRare20–24 cmRegularly Sep–Nov · 0.01% in Sep
Sand MartinRiparia ripariaSummer visitorUncommon12–14 cmRegularly May–Sep · 0.01% in Sep
Black-backed WoodpeckerPicoides arcticusSummer visitorRare21–24 cmRecorded all year · 0.00% in Sep
Red-headed WoodpeckerMelanerpes erythrocephalusPassage migrantRare19–23 cmRegularly Apr–Nov · 0.00% in Sep
Gray-cheeked ThrushCatharus minimusPassage migrantRare16–17 cmRegularly May–Sep · 0.00% in Sep
Little GullHydrocoloeus minutusResidentRare25–30 cmRegularly Jul–Sep · 0.00% in Sep
ChukarAlectoris chukarSummer visitorRare32–38 cmRegularly Apr–Oct · 0.00% in Sep
Prothonotary WarblerProtonotaria citreaPassage migrantRare13–14 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