Birds to See in Massachusetts in September
172 bird species on our list for Massachusetts are recorded regularly in September
Of these, the most often recorded are Blue Jay, Gray Catbird, Northern Cardinal, Mourning Dove and American Crow. New this month: Yellow-rumped Warbler, Ruby-crowned Kinglet, Surf Scoter and Palm Warbler and 20 more.
On the move in September
GBIF · SepArriving
At their peak
Peregrine FalconBusiest month of the year · All year
MerlinBusiest month of the year · Jul–May
Cape May WarblerBusiest month of the year · May
Swainson's ThrushBusiest month of the year · May–Jun
Broad-winged HawkBusiest month of the year · Apr–Oct
Lesser Black-backed GullBusiest month of the year · All year
From Massachusetts’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 172 birds in September
172 birds
Blue JayCyanocitta cristataResidentCommon25–30 cmRecorded all year · 4.26% in Sep
Gray CatbirdDumetella carolinensisSummer visitorCommon20–24 cmRegularly May–Jan · 3.11% in Sep
Northern CardinalCardinalis cardinalisResidentCommon21–23 cmRecorded all year · 2.55% in Sep
Mourning DoveZenaida macrouraResidentCommon23–34 cmRecorded all year · 2.53% in Sep
American CrowCorvus brachyrhynchosResidentCommon41–53 cmRecorded all year · 2.45% in Sep
Song SparrowMelospiza melodiaResidentCommon12–17 cmRecorded all year · 2.35% in Sep
Downy WoodpeckerDryobates pubescensResidentCommon14–18 cmRecorded all year · 2.33% in Sep
American RobinTurdus migratoriusResidentCommon20–28 cmRecorded all year · 2.22% in Sep
White-breasted NuthatchSitta carolinensisResidentCommon13–14 cmRecorded all year · 2.21% in Sep
Tufted TitmouseBaeolophus bicolorResidentCommon14–17 cmRecorded all year · 2.12% in Sep
Northern FlickerColaptes auratusResidentCommon28–31 cmRecorded all year · 1.91% in Sep
American Herring GullLarus smithsonianusResidentCommon53–65 cmRecorded all year · 1.84% in Sep
Great Blue HeronArdea herodiasResidentCommon91–137 cmRecorded all year · 1.66% in Sep
Red-bellied WoodpeckerMelanerpes carolinusResidentCommon23–26 cmRecorded all year · 1.59% in Sep
MallardAnas platyrhynchosResidentCommon50–65 cmRecorded all year · 1.53% in Sep
Canada GooseBranta canadensisResidentCommon76–110 cmRecorded all year · 1.39% in Sep
House SparrowPasser domesticusResidentCommon14–17 cmRecorded all year · 1.31% in Sep
Common StarlingSturnus vulgarisResidentCommon21–23 cmRecorded all year · 1.26% in Sep
House FinchHaemorhous mexicanusResidentCommon13–15 cmRecorded all year · 1.18% in Sep
Common YellowthroatGeothlypis trichasSummer visitorCommon11–13 cmRegularly May–Oct · 1.12% in Sep
Great Black-backed GullLarus marinusResidentCommon64–79 cmRecorded all year · 1.06% in Sep
Ring-billed GullLarus delawarensisWinter visitorCommon43–54 cmRecorded all year · 1.03% in Sep
Cedar WaxwingBombycilla cedrorumSummer visitorCommon15–18 cmRecorded all year · 0.99% in Sep
Common GrackleQuiscalus quisculaSummer visitorCommon28–34 cmRegularly Feb–Nov · 0.98% in Sep
Red-tailed HawkButeo jamaicensisResidentCommon45–65 cmRecorded all year · 0.97% in Sep
Great White EgretArdea albaSummer visitorCommon80–104 cmRegularly Mar–Nov · 0.97% in Sep
Hairy WoodpeckerLeuconotopicus villosusResidentCommon18–26 cmRecorded all year · 0.82% in Sep
Semipalmated PloverCharadrius semipalmatusPassage migrantCommon17–19 cmRegularly May–Oct · 0.82% in Sep
OspreyPandion haliaetusSummer visitorCommon54–58 cmRegularly Mar–Oct · 0.80% in Sep
Ruby-throated HummingbirdArchilochus colubrisSummer visitorCommon7–9 cmRegularly May–Sep · 0.80% in Sep
Greater YellowlegsTringa melanoleucaSummer visitorCommon29–40 cmRegularly Mar–Dec · 0.77% in Sep
Chipping SparrowSpizella passerinaSummer visitorCommon12–15 cmRegularly Apr–Nov · 0.77% in Sep
Turkey VultureCathartes auraResidentCommon62–81 cmRecorded all year · 0.75% in Sep
Semipalmated SandpiperCalidris pusillaSummer visitorCommon15–18 cmRegularly May–Oct · 0.69% in Sep
Northern MockingbirdMimus polyglottosResidentCommon21–26 cmRecorded all year · 0.67% in Sep
American RedstartSetophaga ruticillaSummer visitorCommon11–14 cmRegularly May–Oct · 0.60% in Sep
Wood DuckAix sponsaSummer visitorCommon47–54 cmRecorded all year · 0.60% in Sep
Mute SwanCygnus olorResidentCommon140–160 cmRecorded all year · 0.59% in Sep
Rock DoveColumba liviaResidentCommon29–37 cmRecorded all year · 0.58% in Sep
Eastern BluebirdSialia sialisResidentCommon16–21 cmRecorded all year · 0.57% in Sep
Grey PloverPluvialis squatarolaSummer visitorCommon27–30 cmRegularly Apr–Dec · 0.51% in Sep
American Black DuckAnas rubripesWinter visitorCommon54–59 cmRecorded all year · 0.49% in Sep
Least SandpiperCalidris minutillaPassage migrantCommon13–15 cmRegularly May–Sep · 0.49% in Sep
Common RavenCorvus coraxResidentCommon54–67 cmRecorded all year · 0.47% in Sep
Red-winged BlackbirdAgelaius phoeniceusSummer visitorCommon17–23 cmRecorded all year · 0.47% in Sep
SanderlingCalidris albaWinter visitorCommon18–20 cmRegularly Jul–May · 0.46% in Sep
Blackpoll WarblerSetophaga striataPassage migrantCommon13–15 cmRegularly May–Nov · 0.44% in Sep
Yellow-rumped WarblerSetophaga coronataWinter visitorCommon12–15 cmRegularly Sep–May · 0.44% in Sep
Common TernSterna hirundoSummer visitorCommon31–35 cmRegularly May–Oct · 0.40% in Sep
Swamp SparrowMelospiza georgianaSummer visitorCommon12–15 cmRecorded all year · 0.39% in Sep
Wild TurkeyMeleagris gallopavoResidentCommon100–125 cmRecorded all year · 0.37% in Sep
EiderSomateria mollissimaWinter visitorCommon50–71 cmRecorded all year · 0.36% in Sep
Lesser YellowlegsTringa flavipesPassage migrantCommon23–27 cmRegularly Apr–Oct · 0.33% in Sep
Eurasian TealAnas creccaWinter visitorCommon34–38 cmRecorded all year · 0.32% in Sep
Palm WarblerSetophaga palmarumPassage migrantCommon12–14 cmRegularly Apr–Dec · 0.31% in Sep
Black-throated Green WarblerSetophaga virensSummer visitorCommon11–12 cmRegularly Apr–Oct · 0.31% in Sep
Barn SwallowHirundo rusticaSummer visitorCommon17–19 cmRegularly Apr–Sep · 0.29% in Sep
Pileated WoodpeckerDryocopus pileatusResidentUncommon40–49 cmRecorded all year · 0.28% in Sep
Bald EagleHaliaeetus leucocephalusWinter visitorCommon70–102 cmRecorded all year · 0.26% in Sep- Peregrine FalconFalco peregrinusWinter visitorUncommon34–58 cmRecorded all year · 0.26% in Sep
- MerlinFalco columbariusWinter visitorUncommon24–33 cmRegularly Jul–May · 0.25% in Sep
Rose-breasted GrosbeakPheucticus ludovicianusSummer visitorCommon18–22 cmRegularly Apr–Sep · 0.25% in Sep
Magnolia WarblerSetophaga magnoliaPassage migrantUncommon11–13 cmRegularly May–Oct · 0.23% in Sep
Short-billed DowitcherLimnodromus griseusSummer visitorUncommon23–32 cmRegularly May–Oct · 0.23% in Sep
BobolinkDolichonyx oryzivorusSummer visitorUncommon16–20 cmRegularly May–Oct · 0.22% in Sep
Solitary SandpiperTringa solitariaPassage migrantUncommon19–23 cmRegularly Apr–Oct · 0.21% in Sep
Lincoln's SparrowMelospiza lincolniiPassage migrantUncommon13–15 cmRegularly May–Nov · 0.21% in Sep
Ruby-crowned KingletCorthylio calendulaWinter visitorCommon9–11 cmRegularly Sep–May · 0.20% in Sep
Northern Yellow WarblerSetophaga aestivaSummer visitorCommon12–13 cmRegularly Apr–Sep · 0.20% in Sep
Sharp-shinned HawkAccipiter striatusWinter visitorUncommon24–34 cmRegularly Aug–May · 0.20% in Sep
Common LoonGavia immerWinter visitorCommon66–91 cmRecorded all year · 0.19% in Sep
Ruddy TurnstoneArenaria interpresSummer visitorUncommon21–24 cmRegularly May–Feb · 0.19% in Sep
White-rumped SandpiperCalidris fuscicollisSummer visitorUncommon15–18 cmRegularly May–Nov · 0.18% in Sep
Nashville WarblerLeiothlypis ruficapillaPassage migrantUncommon11–13 cmRegularly May–Oct · 0.18% in Sep
Scarlet TanagerPiranga olivaceaSummer visitorCommon16–19 cmRegularly May–Sep · 0.18% in Sep
Baltimore OrioleIcterus galbulaSummer visitorCommon17–19 cmRegularly May–Sep · 0.18% in Sep
Blue-headed VireoVireo solitariusSummer visitorUncommon12–15 cmRegularly Apr–Oct · 0.17% in Sep- Cape May WarblerSetophaga tigrinaPassage migrantUncommon12–14 cmRegularly May–Oct · 0.17% in Sep
Fish CrowCorvus ossifragusSummer visitorCommon36–41 cmRecorded all year · 0.17% in Sep
Black-crowned Night-heronNycticorax nycticoraxSummer visitorUncommon58–65 cmRegularly Mar–Jan · 0.17% in Sep
Forster's TernSterna forsteriPassage migrantUncommon33–36 cmRegularly Jul–Nov · 0.17% in Sep
Northern GannetMorus bassanusWinter visitorCommon87–100 cmRecorded all year · 0.16% in Sep
WhimbrelNumenius phaeopusPassage migrantUncommon40–46 cmRegularly Jul–Oct · 0.16% in Sep- Swainson's ThrushCatharus ustulatusPassage migrantUncommon16–20 cmRegularly May–Oct · 0.15% in Sep
- Broad-winged HawkButeo platypterusSummer visitorUncommon34–44 cmRegularly Apr–Oct · 0.15% in Sep
Yellow-bellied SapsuckerSphyrapicus variusResidentUncommon19–22 cmRecorded all year · 0.15% in Sep
DunlinCalidris alpinaWinter visitorUncommon16–22 cmRegularly Aug–May · 0.13% in Sep- Lesser Black-backed GullLarus fuscusWinter visitorUncommon52–64 cmRecorded all year · 0.13% in Sep
Great ShearwaterArdenna gravisPassage migrantUncommon43–51 cmRegularly Jul–Nov · 0.12% in Sep
GadwallMareca streperaResidentUncommon46–56 cmRecorded all year · 0.12% in Sep
Pectoral SandpiperCalidris melanotosPassage migrantUncommon19–23 cmRegularly Apr–Nov · 0.12% in Sep
American Golden-PloverPluvialis dominicaPassage migrantUncommon24–28 cmRegularly Aug–Oct · 0.11% in Sep
Chestnut-sided WarblerSetophaga pensylvanicaSummer visitorUncommon10–14 cmRegularly May–Sep · 0.11% in Sep
WilletTringa semipalmataSummer visitorCommon33–41 cmRegularly Apr–Sep · 0.11% in Sep
Marsh WrenCistothorus palustrisSummer visitorUncommon10–14 cmRecorded all year · 0.11% in Sep
Tennessee WarblerLeiothlypis peregrinaPassage migrantUncommon10–13 cmRegularly May–Nov · 0.11% in Sep
Barred OwlStrix variaResidentUncommon43–50 cmRecorded all year · 0.11% in Sep
Great Crested FlycatcherMyiarchus crinitusSummer visitorCommon17–22 cmRegularly May–Sep · 0.10% in Sep
Philadelphia VireoVireo philadelphicusPassage migrantUncommon11–13 cmRegularly Sep–Oct · 0.10% in Sep
Great Horned OwlBubo virginianusWinter visitorUncommon46–63 cmRecorded all year · 0.10% in Sep
Northern WaterthrushParkesia noveboracensisSummer visitorUncommon12–15 cmRegularly Apr–Oct · 0.10% in Sep
Black-throated Blue WarblerSetophaga caerulescensSummer visitorUncommon11–13 cmRegularly May–Oct · 0.09% in Sep
Eastern Screech-owlMegascops asioWinter visitorUncommon16–25 cmRecorded all year · 0.09% in Sep
OvenbirdSeiurus aurocapillaSummer visitorCommon12–15 cmRegularly May–Sep · 0.09% in Sep
Bonaparte's GullChroicocephalus philadelphiaWinter visitorUncommon28–38 cmRecorded all year · 0.09% in Sep
Red KnotCalidris canutusSummer visitorUncommon23–26 cmRegularly May–Oct · 0.08% in Sep
VeeryCatharus fuscescensSummer visitorCommon16–19 cmRegularly May–Sep · 0.08% in Sep
Least FlycatcherEmpidonax minimusSummer visitorUncommon12–14 cmRegularly May–Sep · 0.08% in Sep
Roseate TernSterna dougalliiSummer visitorUncommon33–41 cmRegularly May–Sep · 0.08% in Sep
Bay-breasted WarblerSetophaga castaneaPassage migrantUncommon14–14 cmRegularly May–Oct · 0.08% in Sep
DickcisselSpiza americanaWinter visitorUncommon14–16 cmRegularly Jun–Feb · 0.07% in Sep
Long-billed DowitcherLimnodromus scolopaceusPassage migrantUncommon27–30 cmRegularly Jul–Nov · 0.07% in Sep
Pied-billed GrebePodilymbus podicepsWinter visitorUncommon31–38 cmRegularly Jun–Apr · 0.07% in Sep
Piping PloverCharadrius melodusSummer visitorUncommon17–18 cmRegularly Mar–Sep · 0.07% in Sep
Hermit ThrushCatharus guttatusResidentUncommon14–18 cmRecorded all year · 0.07% in Sep
Arctic JaegerStercorarius parasiticusSummer visitorUncommon41–46 cmRegularly May–Nov · 0.06% in Sep
Northern PintailAnas acutaWinter visitorUncommon59–76 cmRegularly Sep–Apr · 0.06% in Sep
Stilt SandpiperCalidris himantopusPassage migrantUncommon18–23 cmRegularly Jul–Oct · 0.06% in Sep
FulmarFulmarus glacialisPassage migrantUncommon45–50 cmRegularly May–Jan · 0.05% in Sep
Manx ShearwaterPuffinus puffinusSummer visitorUncommon30–38 cmRegularly Apr–Nov · 0.05% in Sep
Surf ScoterMelanitta perspicillataWinter visitorCommon48–60 cmRegularly Sep–Apr · 0.05% in Sep
Great CormorantPhalacrocorax carboWinter visitorUncommon80–100 cmRegularly Sep–Apr · 0.05% in Sep
Hudsonian GodwitLimosa haemasticaPassage migrantRare36–42 cmRegularly Jul–Nov · 0.04% in Sep
Clay-colored SparrowSpizella pallidaWinter visitorUncommon13–15 cmRegularly Jun–Feb · 0.04% in Sep
Virginia RailRallus limicolaResidentUncommon20–27 cmRecorded all year · 0.04% in Sep
Horned LarkEremophila alpestrisWinter visitorUncommon16–20 cmRecorded all year · 0.04% in Sep
Baird's SandpiperCalidris bairdiiPassage migrantRare14–17 cmRegularly Aug–Sep · 0.04% in Sep
Sooty ShearwaterArdenna griseaPassage migrantUncommon40–51 cmRegularly Jun–Nov · 0.03% in Sep
American AvocetRecurvirostra americanaPassage migrantUncommon43–51 cmRegularly Aug–Nov · 0.03% in Sep
Western SandpiperCalidris mauriPassage migrantRare14–17 cmRegularly Jul–Oct · 0.03% in Sep
Leach's Storm-petrelHydrobates leucorhousPassage migrantUncommon18–21 cmRegularly Jul–Oct · 0.03% in Sep
White-crowned SparrowZonotrichia leucophrysWinter visitorUncommon15–16 cmRegularly Sep–May · 0.03% in Sep
Sand MartinRiparia ripariaSummer visitorUncommon12–14 cmRegularly Apr–Sep · 0.03% in Sep
Buff-breasted SandpiperCalidris subruficollisPassage migrantRare18–20 cmRegularly Aug–Sep · 0.03% in Sep
Black TernChlidonias nigerPassage migrantUncommon22–26 cmRegularly Jun–Sep · 0.03% in Sep
Yellow-bellied FlycatcherEmpidonax flaviventrisPassage migrantRare13–15 cmRegularly May–Sep · 0.02% in Sep
KittiwakeRissa tridactylaWinter visitorUncommon37–41 cmRegularly Jun–Mar · 0.02% in Sep
Marbled GodwitLimosa fedoaPassage migrantRare40–50 cmRegularly Jul–Jan · 0.02% in Sep
Red CrossbillLoxia curvirostraWinter visitorUncommon15–17 cmRecorded all year · 0.02% in Sep
Pomarine JaegerStercorarius pomarinusPassage migrantRare46–51 cmRegularly Jul–Jan · 0.02% in Sep
American BitternBotaurus lentiginosusResidentRare58–85 cmRecorded all year · 0.02% in Sep
Red-necked PhalaropePhalaropus lobatusPassage migrantUncommon18–19 cmRegularly May–Sep · 0.02% in Sep
Lark SparrowChondestes grammacusPassage migrantRare15–17 cmRegularly Aug–Dec · 0.02% in Sep
Sandhill CraneAntigone canadensisResidentRare80–122 cmRecorded all year · 0.02% in Sep
Northern ShovelerSpatula clypeataWinter visitorUncommon44–51 cmRegularly Aug–May · 0.02% in Sep
Mourning WarblerGeothlypis philadelphiaSummer visitorRare10–15 cmRegularly May–Sep · 0.01% in Sep
Glossy IbisPlegadis falcinellusSummer visitorUncommon48–66 cmRegularly Apr–Sep · 0.01% in Sep
WheatearOenanthe oenantheScarceRare15–16 cmRegularly Sep · 0.01% in Sep
Grey PhalaropePhalaropus fulicariusPassage migrantRare20–22 cmRegularly Apr–Nov · 0.01% in Sep
Sabine's GullXema sabiniPassage migrantRare27–33 cmRegularly Jul–Sep · 0.01% in Sep
Gray-cheeked ThrushCatharus minimusPassage migrantRare16–17 cmRegularly May–Oct · 0.01% in Sep
Black GuillemotCepphus grylleWinter visitorUncommon30–32 cmRegularly Aug–Mar · 0.01% in Sep
Orange-crowned WarblerLeiothlypis celataWinter visitorUncommon11–14 cmRegularly Sep–Apr · 0.01% in Sep
Vesper SparrowPooecetes gramineusSummer visitorRare13–17 cmRecorded all year · 0.01% in Sep
Ruffed GrouseBonasa umbellusSummer visitorRare41–50 cmRecorded all year · 0.01% in Sep
Long-tailed JaegerStercorarius longicaudusPassage migrantUncommon48–58 cmRegularly Aug–Sep · 0.01% in Sep
Black-billed CuckooCoccyzus erythropthalmusSummer visitorUncommon28–32 cmRegularly May–Sep · 0.01% in Sep
Monk ParakeetMyiopsitta monachusWinter visitorRare29–31 cmRegularly Jul–Apr · 0.01% in Sep
Wilson's PhalaropePhalaropus tricolorSummer visitorRare22–24 cmRegularly May–Sep · 0.00% in Sep
Common PheasantPhasianus colchicusWinter visitorRare50–90 cmRegularly Sep–Jul · 0.00% in Sep
Black-headed GullChroicocephalus ridibundusWinter visitorRare38–44 cmRegularly Jul–Apr · 0.00% in Sep
Red-headed WoodpeckerMelanerpes erythrocephalusWinter visitorRare19–23 cmRegularly Sep–Jun · 0.00% in Sep
Northern Saw-whet OwlAegolius acadicusWinter visitorRare17–21 cmRegularly Sep–Apr · 0.00% in Sep
Western KingbirdTyrannus verticalisPassage migrantRare20–24 cmRegularly Sep–Jan · 0.00% in Sep
Muscovy DuckCairina moschataWinter visitorRare66–84 cmRecorded all year · 0.00% in Sep
Little GullHydrocoloeus minutusSummer visitorRare25–30 cmRegularly May–Nov · 0.00% in Sep
Prothonotary WarblerProtonotaria citreaPassage migrantRare13–14 cmRegularly Apr–Oct · 0.00% in Sep
Upland SandpiperBartramia longicaudaSummer visitorRare28–32 cmRegularly Apr–Sep · 0.00% in Sep
Cackling GooseBranta hutchinsiiWinter visitorRare53–76 cmRegularly Sep–Mar · 0.00% in Sep
BudgerigarMelopsittacus undulatusPassage migrantRare18–20 cmRegularly Jun–Nov · 0.00% in Sep
Atlantic PuffinFratercula arcticaWinter visitorRare28–34 cmRegularly Aug–May · 0.00% in Sep
Helmeted GuineafowlNumida meleagrisResidentRare53–63 cmRegularly Apr–Jan · 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