Birds to See in New York in September
174 bird species on our list for New York are recorded regularly in September
Of these, the most often recorded are Blue Jay, Gray Catbird, Northern Cardinal, Mourning Dove and American Robin. New this month: Ruby-crowned Kinglet, Palm Warbler, Swainson's Thrush and White-crowned Sparrow and 18 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 · May–Oct
Magnolia WarblerBusiest month of the year · May–Oct
Black-throated Green WarblerBusiest month of the year · Apr–Oct
Cape May WarblerBusiest month of the year · May
Tennessee WarblerBusiest month of the year · May
From New York’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 174 birds in September
174 birds
Blue JayCyanocitta cristataResidentCommon25–30 cmRecorded all year · 3.92% in Sep- Gray CatbirdDumetella carolinensisSummer visitorCommon20–24 cmRegularly Apr–Dec · 2.95% in Sep
Northern CardinalCardinalis cardinalisResidentCommon21–23 cmRecorded all year · 2.75% in Sep
Mourning DoveZenaida macrouraResidentCommon23–34 cmRecorded all year · 2.63% in Sep
American RobinTurdus migratoriusResidentCommon20–28 cmRecorded all year · 2.49% in Sep
American CrowCorvus brachyrhynchosResidentCommon41–53 cmRecorded all year · 2.27% in Sep
Downy WoodpeckerDryobates pubescensResidentCommon14–18 cmRecorded all year · 2.18% in Sep
Canada GooseBranta canadensisResidentCommon76–110 cmRecorded all year · 2.07% in Sep
Northern FlickerColaptes auratusResidentCommon28–31 cmRecorded all year · 2.01% in Sep
Red-bellied WoodpeckerMelanerpes carolinusResidentCommon23–26 cmRecorded all year · 1.95% in Sep
Common StarlingSturnus vulgarisResidentCommon21–23 cmRecorded all year · 1.94% in Sep
White-breasted NuthatchSitta carolinensisResidentCommon13–14 cmRecorded all year · 1.85% in Sep
Song SparrowMelospiza melodiaResidentCommon12–17 cmRecorded all year · 1.79% in Sep
Common YellowthroatGeothlypis trichasSummer visitorCommon11–13 cmRegularly May–Oct · 1.59% in Sep
House SparrowPasser domesticusResidentCommon14–17 cmRecorded all year · 1.56% in Sep
MallardAnas platyrhynchosResidentCommon50–65 cmRecorded all year · 1.53% in Sep
Great Blue HeronArdea herodiasResidentCommon91–137 cmRecorded all year · 1.42% in Sep
Ring-billed GullLarus delawarensisWinter visitorCommon43–54 cmRecorded all year · 1.41% in Sep
Tufted TitmouseBaeolophus bicolorResidentCommon14–17 cmRecorded all year · 1.35% in Sep- American RedstartSetophaga ruticillaSummer visitorCommon11–14 cmRegularly May–Oct · 1.19% in Sep
Rock DoveColumba liviaResidentCommon29–37 cmRecorded all year · 1.17% in Sep
American Herring GullLarus smithsonianusWinter visitorCommon53–65 cmRecorded all year · 1.15% in Sep
Cedar WaxwingBombycilla cedrorumSummer visitorCommon15–18 cmRecorded all year · 1.08% in Sep
Turkey VultureCathartes auraResidentCommon62–81 cmRecorded all year · 1.04% in Sep
Ruby-throated HummingbirdArchilochus colubrisSummer visitorCommon7–9 cmRegularly May–Sep · 0.94% in Sep
Common GrackleQuiscalus quisculaSummer visitorCommon28–34 cmRecorded all year · 0.94% in Sep
Red-tailed HawkButeo jamaicensisResidentCommon45–65 cmRecorded all year · 0.92% in Sep
OspreyPandion haliaetusSummer visitorCommon54–58 cmRegularly Mar–Oct · 0.92% in Sep
House FinchHaemorhous mexicanusResidentCommon13–15 cmRecorded all year · 0.91% in Sep- Magnolia WarblerSetophaga magnoliaSummer visitorCommon11–13 cmRegularly May–Oct · 0.88% in Sep
Hairy WoodpeckerLeuconotopicus villosusResidentCommon18–26 cmRecorded all year · 0.88% in Sep
Northern MockingbirdMimus polyglottosResidentCommon21–26 cmRecorded all year · 0.77% in Sep
Red-winged BlackbirdAgelaius phoeniceusSummer visitorCommon17–23 cmRecorded all year · 0.71% in Sep
Great White EgretArdea albaSummer visitorCommon80–104 cmRegularly Mar–Dec · 0.70% in Sep
Wood DuckAix sponsaSummer visitorCommon47–54 cmRecorded all year · 0.68% in Sep
Common RavenCorvus coraxResidentCommon54–67 cmRecorded all year · 0.60% in Sep
Bald EagleHaliaeetus leucocephalusResidentCommon70–102 cmRecorded all year · 0.60% in Sep
Yellow-rumped WarblerSetophaga coronataSummer visitorCommon12–15 cmRecorded all year · 0.59% in Sep- Black-throated Green WarblerSetophaga virensSummer visitorCommon11–12 cmRegularly Apr–Oct · 0.59% in Sep
Rose-breasted GrosbeakPheucticus ludovicianusSummer visitorCommon18–22 cmRegularly Apr–Oct · 0.58% in Sep
Chipping SparrowSpizella passerinaSummer visitorCommon12–15 cmRegularly Apr–Nov · 0.56% in Sep
Great Black-backed GullLarus marinusWinter visitorCommon64–79 cmRecorded all year · 0.54% in Sep
Swainson's ThrushCatharus ustulatusSummer visitorCommon16–20 cmRegularly May–Oct · 0.52% in Sep
Pileated WoodpeckerDryocopus pileatusResidentCommon40–49 cmRecorded all year · 0.52% in Sep
Black-throated Blue WarblerSetophaga caerulescensSummer visitorCommon11–13 cmRegularly Apr–Oct · 0.46% in Sep
Palm WarblerSetophaga palmarumPassage migrantCommon12–14 cmRegularly Apr–Nov · 0.43% in Sep
Scarlet TanagerPiranga olivaceaSummer visitorCommon16–19 cmRegularly May–Oct · 0.43% in Sep
Blackpoll WarblerSetophaga striataPassage migrantUncommon13–15 cmRegularly May–Oct · 0.41% in Sep
Swamp SparrowMelospiza georgianaSummer visitorCommon12–15 cmRecorded all year · 0.41% in Sep
Mute SwanCygnus olorResidentCommon140–160 cmRecorded all year · 0.41% in Sep
Eastern BluebirdSialia sialisResidentCommon16–21 cmRecorded all year · 0.40% in Sep
Ruby-crowned KingletCorthylio calendulaPassage migrantCommon9–11 cmRegularly Sep–May · 0.40% in Sep
OvenbirdSeiurus aurocapillaSummer visitorCommon12–15 cmRegularly Apr–Oct · 0.37% in Sep
Chestnut-sided WarblerSetophaga pensylvanicaSummer visitorCommon10–14 cmRegularly May–Sep · 0.36% in Sep- Cape May WarblerSetophaga tigrinaPassage migrantUncommon12–14 cmRegularly May–Oct · 0.36% in Sep
- Tennessee WarblerLeiothlypis peregrinaPassage migrantUncommon10–13 cmRegularly May–Oct · 0.34% in Sep
Yellow-bellied SapsuckerSphyrapicus variusResidentCommon19–22 cmRecorded all year · 0.34% in Sep
VeeryCatharus fuscescensSummer visitorCommon16–19 cmRegularly May–Sep · 0.32% in Sep
Northern WaterthrushParkesia noveboracensisSummer visitorUncommon12–15 cmRegularly Apr–Oct · 0.31% in Sep
Bay-breasted WarblerSetophaga castaneaPassage migrantUncommon14–14 cmRegularly May–Oct · 0.31% in Sep
Greater YellowlegsTringa melanoleucaSummer visitorUncommon29–40 cmRegularly Mar–Jan · 0.31% in Sep
Northern Yellow WarblerSetophaga aestivaSummer visitorCommon12–13 cmRegularly Apr–Sep · 0.31% in Sep
Semipalmated PloverCharadrius semipalmatusSummer visitorCommon17–19 cmRegularly May–Oct · 0.30% in Sep
Nashville WarblerLeiothlypis ruficapillaSummer visitorUncommon11–13 cmRegularly Apr–Oct · 0.30% in Sep
MerlinFalco columbariusWinter visitorUncommon24–33 cmRecorded all year · 0.27% in Sep
Lesser YellowlegsTringa flavipesPassage migrantUncommon23–27 cmRegularly Apr–Oct · 0.26% in Sep
Least SandpiperCalidris minutillaPassage migrantCommon13–15 cmRegularly May–Sep · 0.26% in Sep
American Black DuckAnas rubripesWinter visitorCommon54–59 cmRecorded all year · 0.25% in Sep
Semipalmated SandpiperCalidris pusillaSummer visitorCommon15–18 cmRegularly May–Oct · 0.25% in Sep
Blue-headed VireoVireo solitariusSummer visitorUncommon12–15 cmRegularly Apr–Nov · 0.24% in Sep
Eurasian TealAnas creccaWinter visitorUncommon34–38 cmRegularly Jul–May · 0.24% in Sep
Barn SwallowHirundo rusticaSummer visitorCommon17–19 cmRegularly Apr–Sep · 0.23% in Sep
Peregrine FalconFalco peregrinusWinter visitorUncommon34–58 cmRecorded all year · 0.22% in Sep
Baltimore OrioleIcterus galbulaSummer visitorCommon17–19 cmRegularly Apr–Sep · 0.22% in Sep
Great Crested FlycatcherMyiarchus crinitusSummer visitorCommon17–22 cmRegularly May–Sep · 0.19% in Sep
Wild TurkeyMeleagris gallopavoResidentUncommon100–125 cmRecorded all year · 0.19% in Sep
Broad-winged HawkButeo platypterusSummer visitorUncommon34–44 cmRegularly Apr–Oct · 0.18% in Sep
Sharp-shinned HawkAccipiter striatusWinter visitorUncommon24–34 cmRecorded all year · 0.18% in Sep
Least FlycatcherEmpidonax minimusSummer visitorUncommon12–14 cmRegularly May–Sep · 0.17% in Sep
Black-crowned Night-heronNycticorax nycticoraxSummer visitorUncommon58–65 cmRecorded all year · 0.17% in Sep
Pied-billed GrebePodilymbus podicepsWinter visitorUncommon31–38 cmRecorded all year · 0.17% in Sep
SanderlingCalidris albaWinter visitorUncommon18–20 cmRecorded all year · 0.16% in Sep
Common MerganserMergus merganserWinter visitorCommon58–68 cmRecorded all year · 0.16% in Sep
Lincoln's SparrowMelospiza lincolniiSummer visitorUncommon13–15 cmRegularly May–Nov · 0.16% in Sep
BobolinkDolichonyx oryzivorusSummer visitorUncommon16–20 cmRegularly May–Oct · 0.15% in Sep
Solitary SandpiperTringa solitariaPassage migrantUncommon19–23 cmRegularly Apr–Oct · 0.15% in Sep
Fish CrowCorvus ossifragusResidentCommon36–41 cmRecorded all year · 0.15% in Sep
Philadelphia VireoVireo philadelphicusPassage migrantUncommon11–13 cmRegularly May–Oct · 0.14% in Sep
Marsh WrenCistothorus palustrisSummer visitorUncommon10–14 cmRegularly Apr–Dec · 0.14% in Sep
Grey PloverPluvialis squatarolaWinter visitorUncommon27–30 cmRecorded all year · 0.13% in Sep
Common TernSterna hirundoSummer visitorUncommon31–35 cmRegularly Apr–Oct · 0.13% in Sep
Northern ShovelerSpatula clypeataWinter visitorUncommon44–51 cmRegularly Aug–May · 0.13% in Sep
Pectoral SandpiperCalidris melanotosPassage migrantUncommon19–23 cmRegularly Apr–Nov · 0.12% in Sep
Forster's TernSterna forsteriSummer visitorUncommon33–36 cmRegularly Apr–Nov · 0.12% in Sep
GadwallMareca streperaWinter visitorCommon46–56 cmRecorded all year · 0.11% in Sep
Common LoonGavia immerWinter visitorCommon66–91 cmRecorded all year · 0.11% in Sep
Barred OwlStrix variaResidentUncommon43–50 cmRecorded all year · 0.10% in Sep
Eastern Screech-owlMegascops asioWinter visitorUncommon16–25 cmRecorded all year · 0.08% in Sep
Northern PintailAnas acutaWinter visitorUncommon59–76 cmRegularly Aug–Apr · 0.08% in Sep
Sandhill CraneAntigone canadensisSummer visitorUncommon80–122 cmRecorded all year · 0.08% in Sep
Gray-cheeked ThrushCatharus minimusPassage migrantUncommon16–17 cmRegularly May–Oct · 0.07% in Sep
Hermit ThrushCatharus guttatusSummer visitorCommon14–18 cmRecorded all year · 0.07% in Sep
Lesser Black-backed GullLarus fuscusWinter visitorUncommon52–64 cmRecorded all year · 0.07% in Sep
Short-billed DowitcherLimnodromus griseusPassage migrantUncommon23–32 cmRegularly May–Oct · 0.07% in Sep
Yellow-bellied FlycatcherEmpidonax flaviventrisSummer visitorUncommon13–15 cmRegularly May–Sep · 0.07% in Sep
Bonaparte's GullChroicocephalus philadelphiaWinter visitorUncommon28–38 cmRegularly Jul–May · 0.07% in Sep
American Golden-PloverPluvialis dominicaPassage migrantUncommon24–28 cmRegularly Aug–Nov · 0.06% in Sep
Great Horned OwlBubo virginianusWinter visitorUncommon46–63 cmRecorded all year · 0.06% in Sep
Monk ParakeetMyiopsitta monachusResidentUncommon29–31 cmRecorded all year · 0.06% in Sep
Ruddy TurnstoneArenaria interpresSummer visitorUncommon21–24 cmRegularly May–Feb · 0.06% in Sep
White-rumped SandpiperCalidris fuscicollisSummer visitorUncommon15–18 cmRegularly May–Nov · 0.06% in Sep
Trumpeter SwanCygnus buccinatorResidentUncommon139–157 cmRecorded all year · 0.06% in Sep
Stilt SandpiperCalidris himantopusPassage migrantUncommon18–23 cmRegularly Jul–Oct · 0.05% in Sep
Sand MartinRiparia ripariaSummer visitorUncommon12–14 cmRegularly Apr–Sep · 0.04% in Sep
Baird's SandpiperCalidris bairdiiPassage migrantRare14–17 cmRegularly Aug–Oct · 0.04% in Sep
Ruddy DuckOxyura jamaicensisWinter visitorCommon35–43 cmRegularly Jul–May · 0.03% in Sep
Ruffed GrouseBonasa umbellusResidentUncommon41–50 cmRecorded all year · 0.03% in Sep
DunlinCalidris alpinaWinter visitorUncommon16–22 cmRegularly Aug–Jun · 0.03% in Sep
Red-headed WoodpeckerMelanerpes erythrocephalusResidentRare19–23 cmRecorded all year · 0.03% in Sep
Virginia RailRallus limicolaSummer visitorUncommon20–27 cmRegularly Mar–Jan · 0.03% in Sep
Long-billed DowitcherLimnodromus scolopaceusPassage migrantRare27–30 cmRegularly Jul–Jan · 0.03% in Sep
White-crowned SparrowZonotrichia leucophrysWinter visitorUncommon15–16 cmRegularly Sep–May · 0.03% in Sep
Great ShearwaterArdenna gravisPassage migrantRare43–51 cmRegularly Jun–Nov · 0.03% in Sep
Red KnotCalidris canutusResidentRare23–26 cmRegularly May–Feb · 0.03% in Sep
Mourning WarblerGeothlypis philadelphiaSummer visitorUncommon10–15 cmRegularly May–Sep · 0.03% in Sep
Horned LarkEremophila alpestrisWinter visitorUncommon16–20 cmRecorded all year · 0.03% in Sep
Glossy IbisPlegadis falcinellusSummer visitorUncommon48–66 cmRegularly Apr–Oct · 0.02% in Sep
Purple MartinProgne subisSummer visitorUncommon18–20 cmRegularly Apr–Sep · 0.02% in Sep
Red-necked PhalaropePhalaropus lobatusPassage migrantRare18–19 cmRegularly May–Sep · 0.02% in Sep
Buff-breasted SandpiperCalidris subruficollisPassage migrantRare18–20 cmRegularly Aug–Sep · 0.02% in Sep
WhimbrelNumenius phaeopusSummer visitorRare40–46 cmRegularly May–Oct · 0.02% in Sep
DickcisselSpiza americanaPassage migrantRare14–16 cmRegularly Jun–Jan · 0.02% in Sep
American BitternBotaurus lentiginosusSummer visitorRare58–85 cmRecorded all year · 0.02% in Sep
WilletTringa semipalmataSummer visitorUncommon33–41 cmRegularly Apr–Sep · 0.02% in Sep
Black-billed CuckooCoccyzus erythropthalmusSummer visitorUncommon28–32 cmRegularly May–Sep · 0.02% in Sep
Western SandpiperCalidris mauriPassage migrantRare14–17 cmRegularly Jul–Oct · 0.02% in Sep
Marbled GodwitLimosa fedoaPassage migrantRare40–50 cmRegularly May–Dec · 0.01% in Sep
Black TernChlidonias nigerSummer visitorUncommon22–26 cmRegularly May–Sep · 0.01% in Sep
Hudsonian GodwitLimosa haemasticaPassage migrantRare36–42 cmRegularly Jul–Nov · 0.01% in Sep
EiderSomateria mollissimaWinter visitorUncommon50–71 cmRegularly Jun–Mar · 0.01% in Sep
Arctic JaegerStercorarius parasiticusPassage migrantRare41–46 cmRegularly Jun–Nov · 0.01% in Sep
American AvocetRecurvirostra americanaPassage migrantRare43–51 cmRegularly Apr–Nov · 0.01% in Sep
Clay-colored SparrowSpizella pallidaSummer visitorRare13–15 cmRegularly May–Feb · 0.01% in Sep
Piping PloverCharadrius melodusSummer visitorUncommon17–18 cmRegularly Mar–Sep · 0.01% in Sep
Red CrossbillLoxia curvirostraResidentUncommon15–17 cmRecorded all year · 0.01% in Sep
Common PheasantPhasianus colchicusResidentRare50–90 cmRecorded all year · 0.01% in Sep
Northern GannetMorus bassanusWinter visitorUncommon87–100 cmRegularly Sep–Jun · 0.01% in Sep
Lark SparrowChondestes grammacusWinter visitorRare15–17 cmRegularly Aug–Apr · 0.01% in Sep
Orange-crowned WarblerLeiothlypis celataWinter visitorUncommon11–14 cmRegularly Sep–May · 0.01% in Sep
Great CormorantPhalacrocorax carboWinter visitorUncommon80–100 cmRegularly Sep–Apr · 0.01% in Sep
Little GullHydrocoloeus minutusWinter visitorRare25–30 cmRegularly Aug–Apr · 0.01% in Sep
Eurasian WigeonMareca penelopeWinter visitorRare42–51 cmRegularly Sep–Apr · 0.01% in Sep
Sabine's GullXema sabiniPassage migrantRare27–33 cmRegularly Sep–Nov · 0.00% in Sep
Wilson's PhalaropePhalaropus tricolorSummer visitorRare22–24 cmRegularly May–Sep · 0.00% in Sep
Black-backed WoodpeckerPicoides arcticusResidentRare21–24 cmRecorded all year · 0.00% in Sep
Vesper SparrowPooecetes gramineusSummer visitorUncommon13–17 cmRegularly Apr–Feb · 0.00% in Sep
Long-tailed JaegerStercorarius longicaudusPassage migrantRare48–58 cmRegularly Aug–Oct · 0.00% in Sep
Red-necked GrebePodiceps grisegenaWinter visitorUncommon40–50 cmRegularly Sep–May · 0.00% in Sep
Upland SandpiperBartramia longicaudaSummer visitorRare28–32 cmRegularly Apr–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
Franklin's GullLeucophaeus pipixcanPassage migrantRare32–36 cmRegularly May–Oct · 0.00% in Sep
BudgerigarMelopsittacus undulatusSummer visitorRare18–20 cmRegularly Apr–Nov · 0.00% in Sep
Greylag GooseAnser anserResidentRare75–90 cmRecorded all year · 0.00% in Sep
Muscovy DuckCairina moschataWinter visitorRare66–84 cmRecorded all year · 0.00% in Sep
WheatearOenanthe oenanthePassage migrantRare15–16 cmRegularly Sep–Oct · 0.00% in Sep
KittiwakeRissa tridactylaWinter visitorRare37–41 cmRegularly Sep–Feb · 0.00% in Sep
Pomarine JaegerStercorarius pomarinusPassage migrantRare46–51 cmRegularly Aug–Nov · 0.00% in Sep
Ringed PloverCharadrius hiaticulaScarceRare17–19 cmRegularly Sep · 0.00% in Sep
Leach's Storm-petrelHydrobates leucorhousPassage migrantRare18–21 cmRegularly Jun–Sep · 0.00% in Sep
Manx ShearwaterPuffinus puffinusPassage migrantRare30–38 cmRegularly Jun–Nov · 0.00% in Sep
Sooty ShearwaterArdenna griseaSummer visitorRare40–51 cmRegularly May–Sep · 0.00% in Sep
Say's PhoebeSayornis sayaPassage migrantRare17–20 cmRegularly Sep–Oct · 0.00% in Sep
White-winged DoveZenaida asiaticaResidentRare27–30 cmRegularly Jul–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