Birds to See in North Carolina in September
152 bird species on our list for North Carolina are recorded regularly in September
Of these, the most often recorded are Northern Cardinal, American Crow, Blue Jay, Tufted Titmouse and Downy Woodpecker. New this month: Palm Warbler, Magnolia Warbler, Swainson's Thrush and Northern Pintail and 15 more.
On the move in September
GBIF · SepArriving
At their peak
Gray CatbirdBusiest month of the year · All year
American RedstartBusiest month of the year · Apr–Oct
Tennessee WarblerBusiest month of the year · Aug–Oct
Chestnut-sided WarblerBusiest month of the year · Apr–Oct
Cape May WarblerBusiest month of the year · Apr–May
Rose-breasted GrosbeakBusiest month of the year · Apr–Oct
From North Carolina’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 152 birds in September
152 birds
Northern CardinalCardinalis cardinalisResidentCommon21–23 cmRecorded all year · 3.73% in Sep
American CrowCorvus brachyrhynchosResidentCommon41–53 cmRecorded all year · 3.31% in Sep
Blue JayCyanocitta cristataResidentCommon25–30 cmRecorded all year · 3.21% in Sep
Tufted TitmouseBaeolophus bicolorResidentCommon14–16 cmRecorded all year · 3.08% in Sep
Downy WoodpeckerDryobates pubescensResidentCommon14–18 cmRecorded all year · 2.53% in Sep
Red-bellied WoodpeckerMelanerpes carolinusResidentCommon23–26 cmRecorded all year · 2.48% in Sep
Mourning DoveZenaida macrouraResidentCommon23–34 cmRecorded all year · 2.33% in Sep
Ruby-throated HummingbirdArchilochus colubrisSummer visitorCommon7–9 cmRegularly Apr–Oct · 2.23% in Sep
White-breasted NuthatchSitta carolinensisResidentCommon13–14 cmRecorded all year · 1.95% in Sep
Eastern BluebirdSialia sialisResidentCommon16–21 cmRecorded all year · 1.88% in Sep- Gray CatbirdDumetella carolinensisSummer visitorCommon20–24 cmRecorded all year · 1.66% in Sep
Turkey VultureCathartes auraResidentCommon62–81 cmRecorded all year · 1.60% in Sep
Northern MockingbirdMimus polyglottosResidentCommon21–26 cmRecorded all year · 1.55% in Sep
House FinchHaemorhous mexicanusResidentCommon13–15 cmRecorded all year · 1.46% in Sep- American RedstartSetophaga ruticillaSummer visitorCommon11–14 cmRegularly Apr–Oct · 1.40% in Sep
Great Blue HeronArdea herodiasResidentCommon91–137 cmRecorded all year · 1.28% in Sep
Pileated WoodpeckerDryocopus pileatusResidentCommon40–49 cmRecorded all year · 1.24% in Sep
American RobinTurdus migratoriusResidentCommon20–28 cmRecorded all year · 1.22% in Sep
Canada GooseBranta canadensisResidentCommon76–110 cmRecorded all year · 0.93% in Sep
Common YellowthroatGeothlypis trichasSummer visitorCommon11–13 cmRegularly Mar–Jan · 0.92% in Sep
Great White EgretArdea albaResidentCommon80–104 cmRecorded all year · 0.84% in Sep
Northern FlickerColaptes auratusWinter visitorCommon28–31 cmRecorded all year · 0.76% in Sep
Magnolia WarblerSetophaga magnoliaPassage migrantCommon11–13 cmRegularly May–Oct · 0.74% in Sep
Song SparrowMelospiza melodiaResidentCommon12–17 cmRecorded all year · 0.72% in Sep
Chipping SparrowSpizella passerinaResidentCommon12–15 cmRecorded all year · 0.71% in Sep
Fish CrowCorvus ossifragusResidentCommon36–41 cmRecorded all year · 0.68% in Sep
Common StarlingSturnus vulgarisResidentCommon21–23 cmRecorded all year · 0.65% in Sep- Tennessee WarblerLeiothlypis peregrinaPassage migrantCommon10–13 cmRegularly Aug–Oct · 0.64% in Sep
OspreyPandion haliaetusSummer visitorCommon54–58 cmRecorded all year · 0.63% in Sep- Chestnut-sided WarblerSetophaga pensylvanicaSummer visitorCommon10–14 cmRegularly Apr–Oct · 0.62% in Sep
Hairy WoodpeckerLeuconotopicus villosusResidentCommon18–26 cmRecorded all year · 0.61% in Sep- Cape May WarblerSetophaga tigrinaPassage migrantCommon12–14 cmRegularly Apr–Oct · 0.61% in Sep
MallardAnas platyrhynchosResidentCommon50–65 cmRecorded all year · 0.60% in Sep
Scarlet TanagerPiranga olivaceaSummer visitorCommon16–19 cmRegularly Apr–Oct · 0.58% in Sep
Cedar WaxwingBombycilla cedrorumResidentCommon15–18 cmRecorded all year · 0.57% in Sep- Rose-breasted GrosbeakPheucticus ludovicianusSummer visitorCommon18–22 cmRegularly Apr–Oct · 0.57% in Sep
Swainson's ThrushCatharus ustulatusPassage migrantUncommon16–20 cmRegularly Apr–Oct · 0.49% in Sep
Red-tailed HawkButeo jamaicensisResidentCommon45–65 cmRecorded all year · 0.42% in Sep
Red-headed WoodpeckerMelanerpes erythrocephalusResidentUncommon19–23 cmRecorded all year · 0.37% in Sep
Black-throated Green WarblerSetophaga virensSummer visitorUncommon11–12 cmRegularly Mar–Oct · 0.36% in Sep
Bald EagleHaliaeetus leucocephalusWinter visitorCommon70–102 cmRecorded all year · 0.35% in Sep
Blue-headed VireoVireo solitariusSummer visitorCommon12–15 cmRecorded all year · 0.34% in Sep
Common GrackleQuiscalus quisculaResidentCommon28–34 cmRecorded all year · 0.33% in Sep
Great Crested FlycatcherMyiarchus crinitusSummer visitorCommon17–22 cmRegularly Apr–Sep · 0.33% in Sep
Black-throated Blue WarblerSetophaga caerulescensSummer visitorUncommon11–13 cmRegularly Apr–Oct · 0.33% in Sep
Palm WarblerSetophaga palmarumWinter visitorCommon12–14 cmRegularly Sep–May · 0.29% in Sep
Common RavenCorvus coraxResidentUncommon54–67 cmRecorded all year · 0.29% in Sep
Red-winged BlackbirdAgelaius phoeniceusResidentCommon17–23 cmRecorded all year · 0.26% in Sep
Bay-breasted WarblerSetophaga castaneaPassage migrantUncommon14–14 cmRegularly May–Oct · 0.26% in Sep
Rock DoveColumba liviaResidentUncommon29–37 cmRecorded all year · 0.25% in Sep
Wood DuckAix sponsaResidentUncommon47–54 cmRecorded all year · 0.24% in Sep
American Herring GullLarus smithsonianusResidentUncommon53–65 cmRecorded all year · 0.23% in Sep
SanderlingCalidris albaResidentUncommon18–20 cmRecorded all year · 0.23% in Sep
WilletTringa semipalmataResidentUncommon33–41 cmRecorded all year · 0.22% in Sep
House SparrowPasser domesticusResidentUncommon14–17 cmRecorded all year · 0.21% in Sep
Semipalmated PloverCharadrius semipalmatusSummer visitorUncommon17–19 cmRecorded all year · 0.21% in Sep
Least SandpiperCalidris minutillaPassage migrantUncommon13–15 cmRegularly Apr–Jan · 0.21% in Sep
Great Black-backed GullLarus marinusResidentUncommon64–79 cmRecorded all year · 0.20% in Sep
Broad-winged HawkButeo platypterusSummer visitorUncommon34–44 cmRegularly Apr–Oct · 0.20% in Sep
Barred OwlStrix variaResidentUncommon43–50 cmRecorded all year · 0.20% in Sep
VeeryCatharus fuscescensSummer visitorUncommon16–19 cmRegularly Apr–Oct · 0.19% in Sep
Forster's TernSterna forsteriResidentUncommon33–36 cmRecorded all year · 0.19% in Sep
Baltimore OrioleIcterus galbulaResidentUncommon17–19 cmRecorded all year · 0.18% in Sep
Grey PloverPluvialis squatarolaResidentUncommon27–30 cmRecorded all year · 0.17% in Sep
OvenbirdSeiurus aurocapillaSummer visitorCommon12–15 cmRegularly Apr–Oct · 0.16% in Sep
Northern WaterthrushParkesia noveboracensisPassage migrantUncommon12–15 cmRegularly Apr–Oct · 0.16% in Sep
Northern Yellow WarblerSetophaga aestivaSummer visitorUncommon12–13 cmRegularly Apr–Oct · 0.15% in Sep
Wild TurkeyMeleagris gallopavoResidentUncommon100–125 cmRecorded all year · 0.15% in Sep
Ring-billed GullLarus delawarensisWinter visitorCommon43–54 cmRegularly Jul–May · 0.13% in Sep
Common TernSterna hirundoSummer visitorUncommon31–35 cmRegularly Apr–Oct · 0.13% in Sep
Barn SwallowHirundo rusticaSummer visitorCommon17–19 cmRegularly Mar–Sep · 0.13% in Sep
Greater YellowlegsTringa melanoleucaResidentUncommon29–40 cmRecorded all year · 0.13% in Sep
Semipalmated SandpiperCalidris pusillaSummer visitorUncommon15–18 cmRegularly May–Oct · 0.13% in Sep
Solitary SandpiperTringa solitariaPassage migrantUncommon19–23 cmRegularly Apr–Oct · 0.12% in Sep
Sandwich TernThalasseus sandvicensisSummer visitorUncommon36–41 cmRegularly Apr–Nov · 0.12% in Sep
Lesser YellowlegsTringa flavipesWinter visitorUncommon23–27 cmRegularly Jul–May · 0.12% in Sep
Pied-billed GrebePodilymbus podicepsWinter visitorCommon31–38 cmRegularly Aug–Apr · 0.11% in Sep
BobolinkDolichonyx oryzivorusPassage migrantUncommon16–20 cmRegularly Apr–Oct · 0.10% in Sep
Ruddy TurnstoneArenaria interpresResidentUncommon21–24 cmRecorded all year · 0.10% in Sep
Pectoral SandpiperCalidris melanotosPassage migrantUncommon19–23 cmRegularly Mar–Nov · 0.10% in Sep
MerlinFalco columbariusWinter visitorUncommon24–33 cmRegularly Sep–May · 0.09% in Sep
Sharp-shinned HawkAccipiter striatusWinter visitorUncommon24–34 cmRecorded all year · 0.09% in Sep
Lesser Black-backed GullLarus fuscusWinter visitorUncommon52–64 cmRecorded all year · 0.08% in Sep
Eastern Screech-owlMegascops asioResidentUncommon16–25 cmRecorded all year · 0.08% in Sep
Great Horned OwlBubo virginianusResidentUncommon46–63 cmRecorded all year · 0.08% in Sep
Short-billed DowitcherLimnodromus griseusSummer visitorUncommon23–32 cmRecorded all year · 0.08% in Sep
Nashville WarblerLeiothlypis ruficapillaPassage migrantUncommon11–13 cmRegularly Sep–Jan · 0.07% in Sep
Gray-cheeked ThrushCatharus minimusPassage migrantUncommon16–17 cmRegularly May–Oct · 0.07% in Sep
Philadelphia VireoVireo philadelphicusPassage migrantUncommon11–13 cmRegularly Sep–Oct · 0.07% in Sep
American Black DuckAnas rubripesResidentUncommon54–59 cmRecorded all year · 0.07% in Sep
Black TernChlidonias nigerSummer visitorUncommon22–26 cmRegularly May–Sep · 0.06% in Sep
Peregrine FalconFalco peregrinusWinter visitorUncommon34–58 cmRecorded all year · 0.06% in Sep
Muscovy DuckCairina moschataResidentUncommon66–84 cmRecorded all year · 0.06% in Sep
Least FlycatcherEmpidonax minimusSummer visitorUncommon12–14 cmRegularly Apr–Oct · 0.05% in Sep
Western SandpiperCalidris mauriWinter visitorUncommon14–17 cmRegularly Jul–May · 0.05% in Sep
Marbled GodwitLimosa fedoaWinter visitorUncommon40–50 cmRecorded all year · 0.04% in Sep
Red CrossbillLoxia curvirostraResidentRare15–17 cmRecorded all year · 0.04% in Sep
Mute SwanCygnus olorResidentUncommon140–160 cmRecorded all year · 0.04% in Sep
Black-crowned Night-heronNycticorax nycticoraxResidentUncommon58–65 cmRecorded all year · 0.04% in Sep
Piping PloverCharadrius melodusSummer visitorUncommon17–18 cmRecorded all year · 0.04% in Sep
Eurasian Collared DoveStreptopelia decaoctoResidentUncommon30–32 cmRecorded all year · 0.03% in Sep
American AvocetRecurvirostra americanaWinter visitorUncommon43–51 cmRecorded all year · 0.03% in Sep
Great ShearwaterArdenna gravisSummer visitorUncommon43–51 cmRegularly May–Oct · 0.03% in Sep
Northern ShovelerSpatula clypeataWinter visitorUncommon44–51 cmRegularly Sep–Apr · 0.03% in Sep
Blackpoll WarblerSetophaga striataPassage migrantUncommon13–15 cmRegularly Apr–Oct · 0.03% in Sep
WhimbrelNumenius phaeopusSummer visitorUncommon40–46 cmRegularly Apr–Oct · 0.03% in Sep
Marsh WrenCistothorus palustrisWinter visitorUncommon10–14 cmRecorded all year · 0.03% in Sep
Prothonotary WarblerProtonotaria citreaSummer visitorUncommon13–14 cmRegularly Apr–Sep · 0.02% in Sep
Greylag GooseAnser anserResidentRare75–90 cmRecorded all year · 0.02% in Sep
White-rumped SandpiperCalidris fuscicollisSummer visitorRare15–18 cmRegularly May–Nov · 0.02% in Sep
Stilt SandpiperCalidris himantopusPassage migrantUncommon18–23 cmRegularly May–Oct · 0.02% in Sep
Red-necked PhalaropePhalaropus lobatusPassage migrantUncommon18–19 cmRegularly May–Oct · 0.02% in Sep
American Golden-PloverPluvialis dominicaPassage migrantRare24–28 cmRegularly Mar–Nov · 0.02% in Sep
Northern PintailAnas acutaWinter visitorUncommon59–76 cmRegularly Sep–Mar · 0.02% in Sep
Glossy IbisPlegadis falcinellusSummer visitorUncommon48–66 cmRegularly Jan–Oct · 0.02% in Sep
Painted BuntingPasserina cirisSummer visitorUncommon12–14 cmRegularly Dec–Oct · 0.02% in Sep
Yellow-bellied FlycatcherEmpidonax flaviventrisPassage migrantRare13–15 cmRegularly Aug–Oct · 0.02% in Sep
Cattle EgretArdea ibisSummer visitorUncommon46–56 cmRecorded all year · 0.02% in Sep
Red KnotCalidris canutusSummer visitorUncommon23–26 cmRecorded all year · 0.02% in Sep
Eurasian TealAnas creccaWinter visitorUncommon34–38 cmRegularly Sep–Apr · 0.02% in Sep
Red-cockaded WoodpeckerLeuconotopicus borealisResidentRare20–23 cmRecorded all year · 0.02% in Sep
Pomarine JaegerStercorarius pomarinusPassage migrantRare46–51 cmRegularly Apr–Oct · 0.01% in Sep
Long-tailed JaegerStercorarius longicaudusPassage migrantRare48–58 cmRegularly May–Sep · 0.01% in Sep
Buff-breasted SandpiperCalidris subruficollisPassage migrantRare18–20 cmRegularly Aug–Sep · 0.01% in Sep
Black-billed CuckooCoccyzus erythropthalmusSummer visitorRare28–32 cmRegularly Apr–Oct · 0.01% in Sep
DunlinCalidris alpinaWinter visitorUncommon16–22 cmRegularly Sep–Jun · 0.01% in Sep
Arctic JaegerStercorarius parasiticusWinter visitorRare41–46 cmRegularly Aug–Jun · 0.01% in Sep
Lark SparrowChondestes grammacusWinter visitorRare15–17 cmRegularly Aug–Jun · 0.01% in Sep
Baird's SandpiperCalidris bairdiiPassage migrantRare14–17 cmRegularly Aug–Oct · 0.01% in Sep
Horned LarkEremophila alpestrisResidentRare16–20 cmRecorded all year · 0.01% in Sep
Sabine's GullXema sabiniPassage migrantRare27–33 cmRegularly Sep · 0.01% in Sep
American BitternBotaurus lentiginosusWinter visitorRare58–85 cmRegularly Aug–Jun · 0.01% in Sep
Gull-billed TernGelochelidon niloticaSummer visitorRare33–42 cmRegularly Apr–Sep · 0.01% in Sep
Long-billed DowitcherLimnodromus scolopaceusWinter visitorRare27–30 cmRegularly Jul–May · 0.01% in Sep
DickcisselSpiza americanaSummer visitorRare14–16 cmRegularly May–Feb · 0.01% in Sep
Ruffed GrouseBonasa umbellusSummer visitorRare41–50 cmRecorded all year · 0.01% in Sep
Sand MartinRiparia ripariaSummer visitorRare12–14 cmRegularly Apr–Sep · 0.01% in Sep
Egyptian GooseAlopochen aegyptiacaResidentRare63–73 cmRecorded all year · 0.01% in Sep
Upland SandpiperBartramia longicaudaPassage migrantRare28–32 cmRegularly Apr–Sep · 0.01% in Sep
Lincoln's SparrowMelospiza lincolniiPassage migrantUncommon13–15 cmRegularly Sep–Apr · 0.01% in Sep
Manx ShearwaterPuffinus puffinusWinter visitorRare30–38 cmRegularly Dec–Sep · 0.01% in Sep
Virginia RailRallus limicolaWinter visitorRare20–27 cmRecorded all year · 0.00% in Sep
Mourning WarblerGeothlypis philadelphiaPassage migrantRare10–15 cmRegularly May–Oct · 0.00% in Sep
Hudsonian GodwitLimosa haemasticaPassage migrantRare36–42 cmRegularly Aug–Oct · 0.00% in Sep
Clay-colored SparrowSpizella pallidaWinter visitorRare13–15 cmRegularly Sep–Apr · 0.00% in Sep
Willow FlycatcherEmpidonax trailliiSummer visitorUncommon13–17 cmRegularly May–Sep · 0.00% in Sep
Common MerganserMergus merganserWinter visitorRare58–68 cmRegularly Nov–Sep · 0.00% in Sep
Alder FlycatcherEmpidonax alnorumSummer visitorRare13–17 cmRegularly May–Sep · 0.00% in Sep
Western KingbirdTyrannus verticalisPassage migrantRare20–24 cmRegularly Sep–Jan · 0.00% in Sep
Bar-tailed GodwitLimosa lapponicaPassage migrantRare37–41 cmRegularly Sep–Mar · 0.00% in Sep
Swan GooseAnser cygnoidesWinter visitorRare81–94 cmRecorded all year · 0.00% in Sep
Northern Saw-whet OwlAegolius acadicusResidentRare17–21 cmRecorded all year · 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