Birds to See in Maryland in September
153 bird species on our list for Maryland are recorded regularly in September
Of these, the most often recorded are Northern Cardinal, Blue Jay, American Crow, Mourning Dove and Red-bellied Woodpecker. New this month: Ruby-crowned Kinglet, Yellow-rumped Warbler, Yellow-bellied Sapsucker and Swamp Sparrow and 19 more.
On the move in September
GBIF · SepArriving
At their peak
Gray CatbirdBusiest month of the year · Apr–Dec
American RedstartBusiest month of the year · Apr–Oct
Magnolia WarblerBusiest month of the year · May–Jun
Black-throated Green WarblerBusiest month of the year · Apr–Oct
Chestnut-sided WarblerBusiest month of the year · May–Oct
Cape May WarblerBusiest month of the year · May
From Maryland’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
Northern CardinalCardinalis cardinalisResidentCommon21–23 cmRecorded all year · 3.64% in Sep
Blue JayCyanocitta cristataResidentCommon25–30 cmRecorded all year · 3.49% in Sep
American CrowCorvus brachyrhynchosResidentCommon41–53 cmRecorded all year · 2.71% in Sep
Mourning DoveZenaida macrouraResidentCommon23–34 cmRecorded all year · 2.71% in Sep
Red-bellied WoodpeckerMelanerpes carolinusResidentCommon23–26 cmRecorded all year · 2.61% in Sep- Gray CatbirdDumetella carolinensisSummer visitorCommon20–24 cmRegularly Apr–Dec · 2.58% in Sep
Downy WoodpeckerDryobates pubescensResidentCommon14–18 cmRecorded all year · 2.42% in Sep
Tufted TitmouseBaeolophus bicolorResidentCommon14–16 cmRecorded all year · 2.28% in Sep
White-breasted NuthatchSitta carolinensisResidentCommon13–14 cmRecorded all year · 2.06% in Sep
Turkey VultureCathartes auraResidentCommon62–81 cmRecorded all year · 1.97% in Sep
American RobinTurdus migratoriusResidentCommon20–28 cmRecorded all year · 1.84% in Sep
Northern FlickerColaptes auratusResidentCommon28–31 cmRecorded all year · 1.79% in Sep
Common StarlingSturnus vulgarisResidentCommon21–23 cmRecorded all year · 1.67% in Sep
Eastern BluebirdSialia sialisResidentCommon16–21 cmRecorded all year · 1.59% in Sep
Northern MockingbirdMimus polyglottosResidentCommon21–26 cmRecorded all year · 1.57% in Sep
Great Blue HeronArdea herodiasResidentCommon91–137 cmRecorded all year · 1.44% in Sep
Ruby-throated HummingbirdArchilochus colubrisSummer visitorCommon7–9 cmRegularly Apr–Oct · 1.42% in Sep
House FinchHaemorhous mexicanusResidentCommon13–15 cmRecorded all year · 1.36% in Sep
Common YellowthroatGeothlypis trichasSummer visitorCommon11–13 cmRegularly Apr–Oct · 1.36% in Sep
Canada GooseBranta canadensisResidentCommon76–110 cmRecorded all year · 1.32% in Sep- American RedstartSetophaga ruticillaSummer visitorCommon11–14 cmRegularly Apr–Oct · 1.29% in Sep
Pileated WoodpeckerDryocopus pileatusResidentCommon40–49 cmRecorded all year · 1.12% in Sep
House SparrowPasser domesticusResidentCommon14–17 cmRecorded all year · 1.06% in Sep
Bald EagleHaliaeetus leucocephalusResidentCommon70–102 cmRecorded all year · 1.01% in Sep- Magnolia WarblerSetophaga magnoliaPassage migrantCommon11–13 cmRegularly May–Oct · 1.00% in Sep
MallardAnas platyrhynchosResidentCommon50–65 cmRecorded all year · 0.93% in Sep
Chipping SparrowSpizella passerinaSummer visitorCommon12–15 cmRecorded all year · 0.83% in Sep
OspreyPandion haliaetusSummer visitorCommon54–58 cmRegularly Mar–Oct · 0.78% in Sep
Fish CrowCorvus ossifragusResidentCommon36–41 cmRecorded all year · 0.72% in Sep
Hairy WoodpeckerLeuconotopicus villosusResidentCommon18–26 cmRecorded all year · 0.71% in Sep
Song SparrowMelospiza melodiaResidentCommon12–17 cmRecorded all year · 0.68% in Sep
Great White EgretArdea albaSummer visitorCommon80–104 cmRegularly Mar–Dec · 0.65% in Sep
Cedar WaxwingBombycilla cedrorumResidentCommon15–18 cmRecorded all year · 0.64% in Sep
Common GrackleQuiscalus quisculaResidentCommon28–34 cmRecorded all year · 0.59% in Sep
Red-winged BlackbirdAgelaius phoeniceusResidentCommon17–23 cmRecorded all year · 0.56% in Sep- Black-throated Green WarblerSetophaga virensSummer visitorCommon11–12 cmRegularly Apr–Oct · 0.53% in Sep
- Chestnut-sided WarblerSetophaga pensylvanicaSummer visitorCommon10–14 cmRegularly May–Oct · 0.52% in Sep
Ring-billed GullLarus delawarensisWinter visitorCommon43–54 cmRegularly Jul–May · 0.51% in Sep
Wood DuckAix sponsaSummer visitorCommon47–54 cmRecorded all year · 0.46% in Sep
Scarlet TanagerPiranga olivaceaSummer visitorCommon16–19 cmRegularly Apr–Oct · 0.44% in Sep- Cape May WarblerSetophaga tigrinaPassage migrantUncommon12–14 cmRegularly May–Oct · 0.39% in Sep
Red-tailed HawkButeo jamaicensisResidentCommon45–65 cmRecorded all year · 0.39% in Sep
Rose-breasted GrosbeakPheucticus ludovicianusSummer visitorUncommon18–22 cmRegularly Apr–Oct · 0.38% in Sep
Rock DoveColumba liviaResidentCommon29–37 cmRecorded all year · 0.38% in Sep
American Herring GullLarus smithsonianusWinter visitorCommon53–65 cmRecorded all year · 0.38% in Sep
Great Crested FlycatcherMyiarchus crinitusSummer visitorCommon17–22 cmRegularly Apr–Sep · 0.37% in Sep
Common RavenCorvus coraxResidentUncommon54–67 cmRecorded all year · 0.32% in Sep
Swainson's ThrushCatharus ustulatusPassage migrantUncommon16–20 cmRegularly May–Oct · 0.31% in Sep
Forster's TernSterna forsteriSummer visitorUncommon33–36 cmRecorded all year · 0.31% in Sep
Black-throated Blue WarblerSetophaga caerulescensSummer visitorUncommon11–13 cmRegularly Apr–Oct · 0.30% in Sep
VeeryCatharus fuscescensSummer visitorUncommon16–19 cmRegularly Apr–Oct · 0.28% in Sep
OvenbirdSeiurus aurocapillaSummer visitorCommon12–15 cmRegularly Apr–Oct · 0.28% in Sep
Tennessee WarblerLeiothlypis peregrinaPassage migrantUncommon10–13 cmRegularly May–Oct · 0.24% in Sep
Palm WarblerSetophaga palmarumPassage migrantCommon12–14 cmRegularly Apr–Nov · 0.24% in Sep
Lesser YellowlegsTringa flavipesPassage migrantUncommon23–27 cmRegularly Mar–Nov · 0.24% in Sep
Great Black-backed GullLarus marinusResidentCommon64–79 cmRecorded all year · 0.24% in Sep
Ruby-crowned KingletCorthylio calendulaWinter visitorCommon9–11 cmRegularly Sep–May · 0.23% in Sep
Least SandpiperCalidris minutillaPassage migrantUncommon13–15 cmRegularly Apr–Nov · 0.23% in Sep
Bay-breasted WarblerSetophaga castaneaPassage migrantUncommon14–14 cmRegularly May–Oct · 0.23% in Sep
Broad-winged HawkButeo platypterusSummer visitorUncommon34–44 cmRegularly Apr–Oct · 0.21% in Sep
Red-headed WoodpeckerMelanerpes erythrocephalusResidentUncommon19–23 cmRecorded all year · 0.21% in Sep
Barn SwallowHirundo rusticaSummer visitorCommon17–19 cmRegularly Apr–Sep · 0.20% in Sep
Greater YellowlegsTringa melanoleucaWinter visitorUncommon29–40 cmRegularly Jul–May · 0.20% in Sep
Baltimore OrioleIcterus galbulaSummer visitorCommon17–19 cmRegularly Apr–Sep · 0.20% in Sep
Barred OwlStrix variaResidentUncommon43–50 cmRecorded all year · 0.18% in Sep
Blackpoll WarblerSetophaga striataPassage migrantUncommon13–15 cmRegularly May–Oct · 0.17% in Sep
BobolinkDolichonyx oryzivorusSummer visitorUncommon16–20 cmRegularly Apr–Oct · 0.17% in Sep
Sharp-shinned HawkAccipiter striatusWinter visitorUncommon24–34 cmRegularly Sep–May · 0.17% in Sep
Semipalmated SandpiperCalidris pusillaSummer visitorUncommon15–18 cmRegularly May–Oct · 0.16% in Sep
Semipalmated PloverCharadrius semipalmatusSummer visitorUncommon17–19 cmRegularly May–Nov · 0.16% in Sep
Least FlycatcherEmpidonax minimusPassage migrantUncommon12–14 cmRegularly May–Oct · 0.15% in Sep
Northern Yellow WarblerSetophaga aestivaSummer visitorCommon12–13 cmRegularly Apr–Sep · 0.15% in Sep
Eastern Screech-owlMegascops asioResidentUncommon16–25 cmRecorded all year · 0.13% in Sep
Nashville WarblerLeiothlypis ruficapillaPassage migrantUncommon11–13 cmRegularly Apr–Nov · 0.12% in Sep
Yellow-rumped WarblerSetophaga coronataWinter visitorCommon12–15 cmRegularly Sep–May · 0.12% in Sep
MerlinFalco columbariusWinter visitorUncommon24–33 cmRegularly Aug–May · 0.11% in Sep
Solitary SandpiperTringa solitariaPassage migrantUncommon19–23 cmRegularly Apr–Oct · 0.11% in Sep
Eurasian TealAnas creccaWinter visitorUncommon34–38 cmRegularly Aug–Apr · 0.11% in Sep
Pectoral SandpiperCalidris melanotosPassage migrantUncommon19–23 cmRegularly Mar–Nov · 0.10% in Sep
Northern WaterthrushParkesia noveboracensisPassage migrantUncommon12–15 cmRegularly Apr–Oct · 0.10% in Sep
Pied-billed GrebePodilymbus podicepsWinter visitorUncommon31–38 cmRegularly Aug–May · 0.10% in Sep
SanderlingCalidris albaWinter visitorUncommon18–20 cmRecorded all year · 0.10% in Sep
Wild TurkeyMeleagris gallopavoResidentUncommon100–125 cmRecorded all year · 0.08% in Sep
American Black DuckAnas rubripesWinter visitorCommon54–59 cmRecorded all year · 0.08% in Sep
Peregrine FalconFalco peregrinusWinter visitorUncommon34–58 cmRecorded all year · 0.08% in Sep
Blue-headed VireoVireo solitariusSummer visitorUncommon12–15 cmRegularly Apr–Oct · 0.07% in Sep
Swamp SparrowMelospiza georgianaWinter visitorCommon12–15 cmRegularly Sep–Jun · 0.07% in Sep
Northern ShovelerSpatula clypeataWinter visitorUncommon44–51 cmRegularly Aug–Apr · 0.07% in Sep
Philadelphia VireoVireo philadelphicusPassage migrantUncommon11–13 cmRegularly Sep–Oct · 0.07% in Sep
Grey PloverPluvialis squatarolaSummer visitorUncommon27–30 cmRecorded all year · 0.07% in Sep
Yellow-bellied SapsuckerSphyrapicus variusWinter visitorCommon19–22 cmRegularly Sep–Apr · 0.06% in Sep
Great Horned OwlBubo virginianusWinter visitorUncommon46–63 cmRecorded all year · 0.06% in Sep
Black-crowned Night-heronNycticorax nycticoraxSummer visitorUncommon58–65 cmRecorded all year · 0.06% in Sep
Purple MartinProgne subisSummer visitorCommon18–20 cmRegularly Apr–Sep · 0.06% in Sep
Common TernSterna hirundoSummer visitorUncommon31–35 cmRegularly Apr–Oct · 0.06% in Sep
Gray-cheeked ThrushCatharus minimusPassage migrantUncommon16–17 cmRegularly May–Oct · 0.06% in Sep
Horned LarkEremophila alpestrisResidentUncommon16–20 cmRecorded all year · 0.05% in Sep
Lincoln's SparrowMelospiza lincolniiPassage migrantUncommon13–15 cmRegularly May–Nov · 0.05% in Sep
Stilt SandpiperCalidris himantopusPassage migrantUncommon18–23 cmRegularly Jul–Oct · 0.05% in Sep
Marsh WrenCistothorus palustrisResidentUncommon10–14 cmRecorded all year · 0.05% in Sep
Cattle EgretArdea ibisSummer visitorUncommon46–56 cmRegularly Apr–Nov · 0.05% in Sep
Ruddy TurnstoneArenaria interpresResidentUncommon21–24 cmRecorded all year · 0.04% in Sep
American Golden-PloverPluvialis dominicaPassage migrantRare24–28 cmRegularly Aug–Oct · 0.04% in Sep
Virginia RailRallus limicolaResidentUncommon20–27 cmRecorded all year · 0.04% in Sep
Ruddy DuckOxyura jamaicensisWinter visitorCommon35–43 cmRegularly Aug–Apr · 0.04% in Sep
White-rumped SandpiperCalidris fuscicollisPassage migrantRare15–18 cmRegularly May–Nov · 0.04% in Sep
Lesser Black-backed GullLarus fuscusWinter visitorUncommon52–64 cmRecorded all year · 0.04% in Sep
American AvocetRecurvirostra americanaSummer visitorRare43–51 cmRegularly Feb–Nov · 0.04% in Sep
Northern PintailAnas acutaWinter visitorUncommon59–76 cmRegularly Sep–Mar · 0.04% in Sep
Short-billed DowitcherLimnodromus griseusSummer visitorUncommon23–32 cmRegularly Apr–Sep · 0.04% in Sep
Great ShearwaterArdenna gravisPassage migrantRare43–51 cmRegularly Jun–Sep · 0.03% in Sep
Trumpeter SwanCygnus buccinatorResidentRare139–157 cmRecorded all year · 0.03% in Sep
Yellow-bellied FlycatcherEmpidonax flaviventrisPassage migrantRare13–15 cmRegularly Aug–Sep · 0.03% in Sep
Sand MartinRiparia ripariaSummer visitorUncommon12–14 cmRegularly Apr–Sep · 0.03% in Sep
GadwallMareca streperaWinter visitorUncommon46–56 cmRegularly Sep–Apr · 0.03% in Sep
Western SandpiperCalidris mauriPassage migrantUncommon14–17 cmRegularly Jul–Dec · 0.03% in Sep
WilletTringa semipalmataSummer visitorUncommon33–41 cmRegularly Apr–Jan · 0.02% in Sep
Glossy IbisPlegadis falcinellusSummer visitorUncommon48–66 cmRegularly Apr–Sep · 0.02% in Sep
Buff-breasted SandpiperCalidris subruficollisPassage migrantRare18–20 cmRegularly Aug–Sep · 0.02% in Sep
Long-tailed JaegerStercorarius longicaudusPassage migrantRare48–58 cmRegularly Aug–Sep · 0.02% in Sep
Mute SwanCygnus olorResidentRare140–160 cmRecorded all year · 0.02% in Sep
Black TernChlidonias nigerPassage migrantUncommon22–26 cmRegularly May–Sep · 0.02% in Sep
Black-billed CuckooCoccyzus erythropthalmusSummer visitorRare28–32 cmRegularly Apr–Oct · 0.02% in Sep
Marbled GodwitLimosa fedoaPassage migrantRare40–50 cmRegularly Apr–Dec · 0.01% in Sep
Hudsonian GodwitLimosa haemasticaPassage migrantRare36–42 cmRegularly Sep–Oct · 0.01% in Sep
Prothonotary WarblerProtonotaria citreaSummer visitorUncommon13–14 cmRegularly Apr–Sep · 0.01% in Sep
Wilson's PhalaropePhalaropus tricolorSummer visitorRare22–24 cmRegularly May–Oct · 0.01% in Sep
Sandwich TernThalasseus sandvicensisPassage migrantRare36–41 cmRegularly Jun–Oct · 0.01% in Sep
Mourning WarblerGeothlypis philadelphiaPassage migrantRare10–15 cmRegularly May–Oct · 0.01% in Sep
Red-necked PhalaropePhalaropus lobatusPassage migrantRare18–19 cmRegularly May–Oct · 0.01% in Sep
DunlinCalidris alpinaWinter visitorUncommon16–22 cmRegularly Sep–May · 0.01% in Sep
Baird's SandpiperCalidris bairdiiPassage migrantRare14–17 cmRegularly Aug–Oct · 0.01% in Sep
Arctic JaegerStercorarius parasiticusPassage migrantRare41–46 cmRegularly Sep–Nov · 0.01% in Sep
Leach's Storm-petrelHydrobates leucorhousPassage migrantRare18–21 cmRegularly Jun–Sep · 0.01% in Sep
Long-billed DowitcherLimnodromus scolopaceusWinter visitorRare27–30 cmRegularly Jul–Mar · 0.01% in Sep
Red KnotCalidris canutusSummer visitorRare23–26 cmRegularly May–Nov · 0.01% in Sep
DickcisselSpiza americanaSummer visitorRare14–16 cmRegularly May–Nov · 0.01% in Sep
Clay-colored SparrowSpizella pallidaPassage migrantRare13–15 cmRegularly Sep–Apr · 0.01% in Sep
American BitternBotaurus lentiginosusWinter visitorRare58–85 cmRegularly Sep–May · 0.01% in Sep
Piping PloverCharadrius melodusSummer visitorRare17–18 cmRegularly Mar–Oct · 0.00% in Sep
Sandhill CraneAntigone canadensisWinter visitorRare80–122 cmRecorded all year · 0.00% in Sep
WhimbrelNumenius phaeopusSummer visitorRare40–46 cmRegularly Apr–Oct · 0.00% in Sep
Upland SandpiperBartramia longicaudaPassage migrantRare28–32 cmRegularly Apr–Sep · 0.00% in Sep
Western KingbirdTyrannus verticalisPassage migrantRare20–24 cmRegularly Sep–Nov · 0.00% in Sep
Pomarine JaegerStercorarius pomarinusPassage migrantRare46–51 cmRegularly Jun–Nov · 0.00% in Sep
Sabine's GullXema sabiniPassage migrantRare27–33 cmRegularly Sep · 0.00% in Sep
Muscovy DuckCairina moschataWinter visitorRare66–84 cmRecorded all year · 0.00% in Sep
Alder FlycatcherEmpidonax alnorumSummer visitorRare13–17 cmRegularly May–Sep · 0.00% in Sep
Ruffed GrouseBonasa umbellusResidentRare41–50 cmRecorded all year · 0.00% in Sep
Lark SparrowChondestes grammacusPassage migrantRare15–17 cmRegularly Aug–Dec · 0.00% in Sep
Eurasian Collared DoveStreptopelia decaoctoPassage migrantRare30–32 cmRegularly Jun–Sep · 0.00% in Sep
Swan GooseAnser cygnoidesWinter visitorRare81–94 cmRegularly Jul–May · 0.00% in Sep
Common PheasantPhasianus colchicusResidentRare50–90 cmRegularly Sep–Jul · 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