Birds to See in New Jersey in September
158 bird species on our list for New Jersey are recorded regularly in September
Of these, the most often recorded are Blue Jay, Gray Catbird, Mourning Dove, Northern Cardinal and Northern Flicker. New this month: Yellow-rumped Warbler, Ruby-crowned Kinglet, Sharp-shinned Hawk and Palm Warbler and 17 more.
On the move in September
GBIF · SepArriving
At their peak
American RedstartBusiest month of the year · May–Oct
Magnolia WarblerBusiest month of the year · May
BobolinkBusiest month of the year · May–Oct
Cape May WarblerBusiest month of the year · May
Black-throated Green WarblerBusiest month of the year · Apr–Jun
Northern WaterthrushBusiest month of the year · Apr–Jun
From New Jersey’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 158 birds in September
158 birds
Blue JayCyanocitta cristataResidentCommon25–30 cmRecorded all year · 2.65% in Sep
Gray CatbirdDumetella carolinensisSummer visitorCommon20–24 cmRegularly Apr–Feb · 2.64% in Sep
Mourning DoveZenaida macrouraResidentCommon23–34 cmRecorded all year · 2.51% in Sep
Northern CardinalCardinalis cardinalisResidentCommon21–23 cmRecorded all year · 2.41% in Sep
Northern FlickerColaptes auratusResidentCommon28–31 cmRecorded all year · 1.76% in Sep
OspreyPandion haliaetusSummer visitorCommon54–58 cmRegularly Mar–Nov · 1.75% in Sep
Turkey VultureCathartes auraResidentCommon62–81 cmRecorded all year · 1.72% in Sep
Red-bellied WoodpeckerMelanerpes carolinusResidentCommon23–26 cmRecorded all year · 1.71% in Sep
American RobinTurdus migratoriusResidentCommon20–28 cmRecorded all year · 1.62% in Sep
Downy WoodpeckerDryobates pubescensResidentCommon14–18 cmRecorded all year · 1.57% in Sep
Common YellowthroatGeothlypis trichasSummer visitorCommon11–13 cmRegularly Apr–Oct · 1.56% in Sep
American CrowCorvus brachyrhynchosResidentCommon41–53 cmRecorded all year · 1.53% in Sep
Canada GooseBranta canadensisResidentCommon76–110 cmRecorded all year · 1.49% in Sep- American RedstartSetophaga ruticillaSummer visitorCommon11–14 cmRegularly May–Oct · 1.46% in Sep
Great Blue HeronArdea herodiasResidentCommon91–137 cmRecorded all year · 1.45% in Sep
Common StarlingSturnus vulgarisResidentCommon21–23 cmRecorded all year · 1.42% in Sep
Great White EgretArdea albaSummer visitorCommon80–104 cmRecorded all year · 1.39% in Sep
American Herring GullLarus smithsonianusResidentCommon53–65 cmRecorded all year · 1.37% in Sep
Tufted TitmouseBaeolophus bicolorResidentCommon14–17 cmRecorded all year · 1.33% in Sep
MallardAnas platyrhynchosResidentCommon50–65 cmRecorded all year · 1.25% in Sep
Northern MockingbirdMimus polyglottosResidentCommon21–26 cmRecorded all year · 1.19% in Sep
House FinchHaemorhous mexicanusResidentCommon13–15 cmRecorded all year · 1.16% in Sep
White-breasted NuthatchSitta carolinensisResidentCommon13–14 cmRecorded all year · 1.10% in Sep
Song SparrowMelospiza melodiaResidentCommon12–17 cmRecorded all year · 1.07% in Sep
Red-winged BlackbirdAgelaius phoeniceusResidentCommon17–23 cmRecorded all year · 1.00% in Sep
Great Black-backed GullLarus marinusResidentCommon64–79 cmRecorded all year · 0.97% in Sep
Ruby-throated HummingbirdArchilochus colubrisSummer visitorCommon7–9 cmRegularly Apr–Oct · 0.97% in Sep
House SparrowPasser domesticusResidentCommon14–17 cmRecorded all year · 0.90% in Sep
Bald EagleHaliaeetus leucocephalusResidentCommon70–102 cmRecorded all year · 0.86% in Sep
Common GrackleQuiscalus quisculaResidentCommon28–34 cmRecorded all year · 0.85% in Sep
Mute SwanCygnus olorResidentCommon140–160 cmRecorded all year · 0.75% in Sep
Ring-billed GullLarus delawarensisWinter visitorCommon43–54 cmRecorded all year · 0.72% in Sep
Red-tailed HawkButeo jamaicensisResidentCommon45–65 cmRecorded all year · 0.68% in Sep
Cedar WaxwingBombycilla cedrorumSummer visitorCommon15–18 cmRecorded all year · 0.64% in Sep
MerlinFalco columbariusWinter visitorCommon24–33 cmRegularly Sep–May · 0.63% in Sep
Palm WarblerSetophaga palmarumPassage migrantCommon12–14 cmRegularly Apr–Nov · 0.62% in Sep
Greater YellowlegsTringa melanoleucaResidentCommon29–40 cmRecorded all year · 0.60% in Sep
Northern Yellow WarblerSetophaga aestivaSummer visitorCommon12–13 cmRegularly Apr–Oct · 0.58% in Sep
Forster's TernSterna forsteriSummer visitorCommon33–36 cmRegularly Apr–Nov · 0.58% in Sep
Hairy WoodpeckerLeuconotopicus villosusResidentCommon18–26 cmRecorded all year · 0.57% in Sep- Magnolia WarblerSetophaga magnoliaPassage migrantCommon11–13 cmRegularly May–Oct · 0.57% in Sep
Rock DoveColumba liviaResidentCommon29–37 cmRecorded all year · 0.56% in Sep
Semipalmated SandpiperCalidris pusillaSummer visitorCommon15–18 cmRegularly May–Oct · 0.54% in Sep
Sharp-shinned HawkAccipiter striatusWinter visitorCommon24–34 cmRegularly Sep–Apr · 0.53% in Sep
Fish CrowCorvus ossifragusSummer visitorCommon36–41 cmRecorded all year · 0.53% in Sep
Lesser YellowlegsTringa flavipesSummer visitorCommon23–27 cmRegularly Mar–Nov · 0.49% in Sep
Semipalmated PloverCharadrius semipalmatusSummer visitorCommon17–19 cmRegularly May–Oct · 0.48% in Sep
Least SandpiperCalidris minutillaSummer visitorCommon13–15 cmRegularly Apr–Oct · 0.45% in Sep
Chipping SparrowSpizella passerinaSummer visitorCommon12–15 cmRecorded all year · 0.43% in Sep
Peregrine FalconFalco peregrinusWinter visitorCommon34–58 cmRecorded all year · 0.42% in Sep- BobolinkDolichonyx oryzivorusSummer visitorUncommon16–20 cmRegularly May–Oct · 0.42% in Sep
Wood DuckAix sponsaSummer visitorCommon47–54 cmRecorded all year · 0.42% in Sep- Cape May WarblerSetophaga tigrinaPassage migrantUncommon12–14 cmRegularly May–Oct · 0.42% in Sep
Barn SwallowHirundo rusticaSummer visitorCommon17–19 cmRegularly Apr–Sep · 0.40% in Sep- Black-throated Green WarblerSetophaga virensPassage migrantUncommon11–12 cmRegularly Apr–Oct · 0.38% in Sep
Yellow-rumped WarblerSetophaga coronataWinter visitorCommon12–15 cmRegularly Sep–May · 0.37% in Sep- Northern WaterthrushParkesia noveboracensisPassage migrantUncommon12–15 cmRegularly Apr–Oct · 0.35% in Sep
Eurasian TealAnas creccaWinter visitorCommon34–38 cmRegularly Aug–May · 0.33% in Sep
Eastern BluebirdSialia sialisResidentCommon16–21 cmRecorded all year · 0.33% in Sep
American Black DuckAnas rubripesWinter visitorCommon54–59 cmRecorded all year · 0.33% in Sep
Black-throated Blue WarblerSetophaga caerulescensPassage migrantUncommon11–13 cmRegularly Apr–Oct · 0.33% in Sep
Common RavenCorvus coraxResidentUncommon54–67 cmRecorded all year · 0.33% in Sep
Blackpoll WarblerSetophaga striataPassage migrantUncommon13–15 cmRegularly May–Nov · 0.32% in Sep
Common TernSterna hirundoSummer visitorCommon31–35 cmRegularly May–Oct · 0.31% in Sep
SanderlingCalidris albaResidentUncommon18–20 cmRecorded all year · 0.30% in Sep
Scarlet TanagerPiranga olivaceaSummer visitorCommon16–19 cmRegularly May–Oct · 0.29% in Sep
Ruby-crowned KingletCorthylio calendulaWinter visitorCommon9–11 cmRegularly Sep–May · 0.28% in Sep
Rose-breasted GrosbeakPheucticus ludovicianusSummer visitorCommon18–22 cmRegularly Apr–Oct · 0.28% in Sep
Great Crested FlycatcherMyiarchus crinitusSummer visitorCommon17–22 cmRegularly Apr–Sep · 0.27% in Sep
Black-crowned Night-heronNycticorax nycticoraxSummer visitorUncommon58–65 cmRecorded all year · 0.27% in Sep
Chestnut-sided WarblerSetophaga pensylvanicaSummer visitorUncommon10–14 cmRegularly May–Oct · 0.27% in Sep
Baltimore OrioleIcterus galbulaSummer visitorCommon17–19 cmRegularly Apr–Jan · 0.27% in Sep
Broad-winged HawkButeo platypterusSummer visitorUncommon34–44 cmRegularly Apr–Nov · 0.26% in Sep
Pileated WoodpeckerDryocopus pileatusResidentUncommon40–49 cmRecorded all year · 0.26% in Sep
VeeryCatharus fuscescensSummer visitorUncommon16–19 cmRegularly May–Oct · 0.25% in Sep
Lesser Black-backed GullLarus fuscusWinter visitorUncommon52–64 cmRecorded all year · 0.25% in Sep
Grey PloverPluvialis squatarolaResidentUncommon27–30 cmRecorded all year · 0.24% in Sep
Swainson's ThrushCatharus ustulatusPassage migrantUncommon16–20 cmRegularly May–Oct · 0.22% in Sep
OvenbirdSeiurus aurocapillaSummer visitorCommon12–15 cmRegularly Apr–Oct · 0.22% in Sep
Glossy IbisPlegadis falcinellusSummer visitorCommon48–66 cmRegularly Apr–Oct · 0.21% in Sep
Northern ShovelerSpatula clypeataWinter visitorCommon44–51 cmRegularly Aug–Apr · 0.20% in Sep
Pectoral SandpiperCalidris melanotosPassage migrantUncommon19–23 cmRegularly Apr–Nov · 0.20% in Sep
Solitary SandpiperTringa solitariaPassage migrantUncommon19–23 cmRegularly Apr–Oct · 0.19% in Sep
Tennessee WarblerLeiothlypis peregrinaPassage migrantUncommon10–13 cmRegularly May–Oct · 0.18% in Sep
Short-billed DowitcherLimnodromus griseusSummer visitorUncommon23–32 cmRegularly Apr–Oct · 0.18% in Sep
Marsh WrenCistothorus palustrisSummer visitorCommon10–14 cmRegularly Apr–Jan · 0.17% in Sep
Ruddy TurnstoneArenaria interpresResidentUncommon21–24 cmRecorded all year · 0.16% in Sep
Swamp SparrowMelospiza georgianaWinter visitorCommon12–15 cmRecorded all year · 0.15% in Sep
Bay-breasted WarblerSetophaga castaneaPassage migrantUncommon14–14 cmRegularly May–Oct · 0.15% in Sep
Wild TurkeyMeleagris gallopavoResidentUncommon100–125 cmRecorded all year · 0.14% in Sep
Nashville WarblerLeiothlypis ruficapillaPassage migrantUncommon11–13 cmRegularly Apr–Jan · 0.14% in Sep
GadwallMareca streperaWinter visitorCommon46–56 cmRecorded all year · 0.13% in Sep
Least FlycatcherEmpidonax minimusSummer visitorUncommon12–14 cmRegularly May–Oct · 0.13% in Sep
Pied-billed GrebePodilymbus podicepsWinter visitorUncommon31–38 cmRegularly Aug–Apr · 0.11% in Sep
WilletTringa semipalmataSummer visitorUncommon33–41 cmRegularly Apr–Oct · 0.11% in Sep
Purple MartinProgne subisSummer visitorCommon18–20 cmRegularly Apr–Sep · 0.10% in Sep
Lincoln's SparrowMelospiza lincolniiPassage migrantUncommon13–15 cmRegularly May–Nov · 0.10% in Sep
Stilt SandpiperCalidris himantopusPassage migrantUncommon18–23 cmRegularly Apr–Oct · 0.10% in Sep
White-rumped SandpiperCalidris fuscicollisSummer visitorUncommon15–18 cmRegularly May–Nov · 0.10% in Sep
Western SandpiperCalidris mauriPassage migrantUncommon14–17 cmRegularly Jul–Jan · 0.09% in Sep
Northern PintailAnas acutaWinter visitorCommon59–76 cmRegularly Sep–Apr · 0.09% in Sep
Philadelphia VireoVireo philadelphicusPassage migrantUncommon11–13 cmRegularly Sep–Oct · 0.09% in Sep
DickcisselSpiza americanaSummer visitorUncommon14–16 cmRegularly Mar–Jan · 0.08% in Sep
Blue-headed VireoVireo solitariusPassage migrantUncommon12–15 cmRegularly Apr–Nov · 0.07% in Sep
Eastern Screech-owlMegascops asioResidentUncommon16–25 cmRecorded all year · 0.07% in Sep
Yellow-bellied SapsuckerSphyrapicus variusWinter visitorCommon19–22 cmRegularly Sep–Jun · 0.06% in Sep
Great Horned OwlBubo virginianusWinter visitorUncommon46–63 cmRecorded all year · 0.06% in Sep
DunlinCalidris alpinaWinter visitorUncommon16–22 cmRegularly Sep–Jun · 0.06% in Sep
American Golden-PloverPluvialis dominicaPassage migrantUncommon24–28 cmRegularly Aug–Nov · 0.06% in Sep
American AvocetRecurvirostra americanaPassage migrantUncommon43–51 cmRegularly Jun–Nov · 0.06% in Sep
Red-headed WoodpeckerMelanerpes erythrocephalusResidentUncommon19–23 cmRecorded all year · 0.05% in Sep
American BitternBotaurus lentiginosusWinter visitorUncommon58–85 cmRegularly Aug–May · 0.05% in Sep
Sand MartinRiparia ripariaSummer visitorUncommon12–14 cmRegularly Apr–Sep · 0.05% in Sep
Yellow-bellied FlycatcherEmpidonax flaviventrisPassage migrantRare13–15 cmRegularly May–Oct · 0.05% in Sep
WhimbrelNumenius phaeopusSummer visitorUncommon40–46 cmRegularly Apr–Oct · 0.05% in Sep
Red KnotCalidris canutusSummer visitorUncommon23–26 cmRegularly May–Jan · 0.04% in Sep
Long-billed DowitcherLimnodromus scolopaceusWinter visitorUncommon27–30 cmRegularly Jul–Apr · 0.04% in Sep
Great ShearwaterArdenna gravisPassage migrantUncommon43–51 cmRegularly Jun–Nov · 0.04% in Sep
Buff-breasted SandpiperCalidris subruficollisPassage migrantRare18–20 cmRegularly Aug–Sep · 0.04% in Sep
Piping PloverCharadrius melodusSummer visitorUncommon17–18 cmRegularly Mar–Oct · 0.04% in Sep
Virginia RailRallus limicolaResidentUncommon20–27 cmRecorded all year · 0.03% in Sep
Arctic JaegerStercorarius parasiticusPassage migrantUncommon41–46 cmRegularly Apr–Nov · 0.03% in Sep
Eurasian WigeonMareca penelopeWinter visitorUncommon42–51 cmRegularly Sep–Mar · 0.03% in Sep
Gray-cheeked ThrushCatharus minimusPassage migrantRare16–17 cmRegularly May–Oct · 0.03% in Sep
Baird's SandpiperCalidris bairdiiPassage migrantRare14–17 cmRegularly Aug–Oct · 0.03% in Sep
Barred OwlStrix variaResidentRare43–50 cmRecorded all year · 0.03% in Sep
Horned LarkEremophila alpestrisWinter visitorUncommon16–20 cmRecorded all year · 0.03% in Sep
Marbled GodwitLimosa fedoaWinter visitorUncommon40–50 cmRegularly Jun–Feb · 0.02% in Sep
Black TernChlidonias nigerPassage migrantUncommon22–26 cmRegularly May–Sep · 0.02% in Sep
Clay-colored SparrowSpizella pallidaWinter visitorRare13–15 cmRegularly Sep–May · 0.02% in Sep
Snow GooseAnser caerulescensWinter visitorUncommon69–84 cmRegularly Jul–May · 0.02% in Sep
Lark SparrowChondestes grammacusPassage migrantRare15–17 cmRegularly Apr–Jan · 0.02% in Sep
Black-billed CuckooCoccyzus erythropthalmusSummer visitorUncommon28–32 cmRegularly May–Oct · 0.02% in Sep
Great CormorantPhalacrocorax carboWinter visitorUncommon80–100 cmRegularly Sep–Apr · 0.02% in Sep
Mourning WarblerGeothlypis philadelphiaPassage migrantRare10–15 cmRegularly May–Oct · 0.02% in Sep
Alder FlycatcherEmpidonax alnorumSummer visitorRare13–17 cmRegularly May–Sep · 0.01% in Sep
Wilson's PhalaropePhalaropus tricolorSummer visitorRare22–24 cmRegularly May–Oct · 0.01% in Sep
Hudsonian GodwitLimosa haemasticaPassage migrantRare36–42 cmRegularly Aug–Nov · 0.01% in Sep
Monk ParakeetMyiopsitta monachusResidentRare29–31 cmRecorded all year · 0.01% in Sep
Sandhill CraneAntigone canadensisWinter visitorUncommon80–122 cmRecorded all year · 0.01% in Sep
Prothonotary WarblerProtonotaria citreaSummer visitorUncommon13–14 cmRegularly Apr–Sep · 0.01% in Sep
Red-necked PhalaropePhalaropus lobatusPassage migrantRare18–19 cmRegularly May–Oct · 0.01% in Sep
Long-tailed JaegerStercorarius longicaudusPassage migrantRare48–58 cmRegularly Aug–Sep · 0.01% in Sep
Pomarine JaegerStercorarius pomarinusPassage migrantRare46–51 cmRegularly Jun–Dec · 0.01% in Sep
Western KingbirdTyrannus verticalisPassage migrantRare20–24 cmRegularly Sep–Dec · 0.01% in Sep
Leach's Storm-petrelHydrobates leucorhousPassage migrantRare18–21 cmRegularly Jun–Sep · 0.00% in Sep
Grey PhalaropePhalaropus fulicariusPassage migrantRare20–22 cmRegularly Sep–Dec · 0.00% in Sep
Roseate TernSterna dougalliiSummer visitorRare33–41 cmRegularly May–Sep · 0.00% in Sep
Cattle EgretArdea ibisSummer visitorRare46–56 cmRegularly Mar–Nov · 0.00% in Sep
Upland SandpiperBartramia longicaudaPassage migrantRare28–32 cmRegularly Apr–Sep · 0.00% in Sep
Sandwich TernThalasseus sandvicensisPassage migrantRare36–41 cmRegularly Jun–Sep · 0.00% in Sep
Common PheasantPhasianus colchicusResidentRare50–90 cmRecorded all year · 0.00% in Sep
RuffCalidris pugnaxPassage migrantRare20–32 cmRegularly May–Sep · 0.00% in Sep
Muscovy DuckCairina moschataWinter visitorRare66–84 cmRecorded all year · 0.00% in Sep
Greylag GooseAnser anserSummer visitorRare75–90 cmRegularly Feb–Dec · 0.00% in Sep
BudgerigarMelopsittacus undulatusPassage migrantRare18–20 cmRegularly May–Nov · 0.00% in Sep
Indian PeafowlPavo cristatusSummer visitorRare86–230 cmRegularly Jan–Sep · 0.00% in Sep
Ruffed GrouseBonasa umbellusSummer visitorRare41–50 cmRegularly Apr–Nov · 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