Birds to See in North Dakota in September
143 bird species on our list for North Dakota are recorded regularly in September
Of these, the most often recorded are Mourning Dove, American Robin, Northern Flicker, Canada Goose and Red-tailed Hawk. New this month: Yellow-rumped Warbler, Orange-crowned Warbler, Ruby-crowned Kinglet and Lincoln's Sparrow and 10 more.
On the move in September
GBIF · SepArriving
Yellow-rumped WarblerRegular from September · Apr–May
Orange-crowned WarblerRegular from September · Apr–May
Ruby-crowned KingletRegular from September · Apr–May
Lincoln's SparrowRegular from September · Apr–May
White-crowned SparrowRegular from September · Apr–May
Sharp-shinned HawkRegular from September · Sep–May
At their peak
From North Dakota’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 143 birds in September
143 birds
Mourning DoveZenaida macrouraSummer visitorCommon23–34 cmRegularly Apr–Oct · 3.20% in Sep
American RobinTurdus migratoriusResidentCommon20–28 cmRecorded all year · 3.15% in Sep
Northern FlickerColaptes auratusResidentCommon28–31 cmRecorded all year · 2.58% in Sep
Canada GooseBranta canadensisWinter visitorCommon76–110 cmRecorded all year · 2.46% in Sep
Red-tailed HawkButeo jamaicensisSummer visitorCommon45–65 cmRecorded all year · 2.09% in Sep
Blue JayCyanocitta cristataWinter visitorCommon25–30 cmRecorded all year · 2.01% in Sep
White-breasted NuthatchSitta carolinensisWinter visitorCommon13–14 cmRecorded all year · 2.00% in Sep- Yellow-rumped WarblerSetophaga coronataPassage migrantCommon12–15 cmRegularly Apr–Oct · 1.81% in Sep
Ring-billed GullLarus delawarensisSummer visitorCommon43–54 cmRegularly Mar–Dec · 1.72% in Sep
Barn SwallowHirundo rusticaSummer visitorCommon17–19 cmRegularly May–Oct · 1.63% in Sep
American CrowCorvus brachyrhynchosWinter visitorCommon41–53 cmRecorded all year · 1.63% in Sep
Chipping SparrowSpizella passerinaSummer visitorCommon12–15 cmRegularly Apr–Oct · 1.58% in Sep
Downy WoodpeckerDryobates pubescensWinter visitorCommon14–18 cmRecorded all year · 1.52% in Sep
Cedar WaxwingBombycilla cedrorumResidentCommon15–18 cmRecorded all year · 1.44% in Sep
MallardAnas platyrhynchosResidentCommon50–65 cmRecorded all year · 1.40% in Sep
Hairy WoodpeckerLeuconotopicus villosusWinter visitorCommon18–26 cmRecorded all year · 1.27% in Sep
Common GrackleQuiscalus quisculaSummer visitorCommon28–34 cmRecorded all year · 1.22% in Sep- Orange-crowned WarblerLeiothlypis celataPassage migrantCommon11–14 cmRegularly Apr–Oct · 1.21% in Sep
House SparrowPasser domesticusWinter visitorCommon14–17 cmRecorded all year · 1.14% in Sep
Gray CatbirdDumetella carolinensisSummer visitorCommon20–24 cmRegularly May–Oct · 1.13% in Sep
Franklin's GullLeucophaeus pipixcanSummer visitorCommon32–36 cmRegularly Apr–Nov · 1.09% in Sep
Turkey VultureCathartes auraSummer visitorCommon62–81 cmRegularly Apr–Oct · 1.06% in Sep
House FinchHaemorhous mexicanusWinter visitorCommon13–15 cmRecorded all year · 1.04% in Sep
Great Blue HeronArdea herodiasSummer visitorCommon91–137 cmRegularly Mar–Nov · 0.97% in Sep- Ruby-crowned KingletCorthylio calendulaPassage migrantCommon9–11 cmRegularly Apr–Oct · 0.97% in Sep
Eurasian Collared DoveStreptopelia decaoctoWinter visitorCommon30–32 cmRecorded all year · 0.97% in Sep
Common StarlingSturnus vulgarisResidentCommon21–23 cmRecorded all year · 0.93% in Sep
Red-winged BlackbirdAgelaius phoeniceusSummer visitorCommon17–23 cmRegularly Mar–Nov · 0.92% in Sep
Song SparrowMelospiza melodiaSummer visitorCommon12–17 cmRegularly Apr–Nov · 0.90% in Sep
Rock DoveColumba liviaWinter visitorCommon29–37 cmRecorded all year · 0.89% in Sep
Western MeadowlarkSturnella neglectaSummer visitorCommon16–26 cmRegularly Mar–Nov · 0.81% in Sep
Bald EagleHaliaeetus leucocephalusWinter visitorCommon70–102 cmRecorded all year · 0.79% in Sep
Northern Yellow WarblerSetophaga aestivaSummer visitorCommon12–13 cmRegularly May–Sep · 0.79% in Sep- Lincoln's SparrowMelospiza lincolniiPassage migrantCommon13–15 cmRegularly Apr–Oct · 0.73% in Sep
Greater YellowlegsTringa melanoleucaPassage migrantCommon29–40 cmRegularly Apr–Nov · 0.71% in Sep
Northern ShovelerSpatula clypeataSummer visitorCommon44–51 cmRegularly Mar–Nov · 0.71% in Sep
Pied-billed GrebePodilymbus podicepsSummer visitorCommon31–38 cmRegularly Apr–Nov · 0.70% in Sep
Clay-colored SparrowSpizella pallidaSummer visitorCommon13–15 cmRegularly May–Oct · 0.61% in Sep
Common YellowthroatGeothlypis trichasSummer visitorCommon11–13 cmRegularly May–Sep · 0.61% in Sep
Pine SiskinSpinus pinusWinter visitorCommon11–14 cmRegularly Aug–May · 0.60% in Sep
GadwallMareca streperaSummer visitorCommon46–56 cmRegularly Mar–Jan · 0.59% in Sep
Least FlycatcherEmpidonax minimusSummer visitorCommon12–14 cmRegularly May–Sep · 0.58% in Sep
Wood DuckAix sponsaSummer visitorCommon47–54 cmRegularly Mar–Jan · 0.57% in Sep
Common PheasantPhasianus colchicusResidentCommon50–90 cmRecorded all year · 0.57% in Sep
American RedstartSetophaga ruticillaSummer visitorCommon11–14 cmRegularly May–Sep · 0.56% in Sep
Great White EgretArdea albaSummer visitorCommon80–104 cmRegularly Apr–Oct · 0.54% in Sep
Ruddy DuckOxyura jamaicensisSummer visitorCommon35–43 cmRegularly Apr–Nov · 0.53% in Sep
Lesser YellowlegsTringa flavipesSummer visitorCommon23–27 cmRegularly Apr–Oct · 0.51% in Sep
Ruby-throated HummingbirdArchilochus colubrisSummer visitorCommon7–9 cmRegularly May–Sep · 0.51% in Sep
MerlinFalco columbariusWinter visitorCommon24–33 cmRecorded all year · 0.48% in Sep
Vesper SparrowPooecetes gramineusSummer visitorCommon13–17 cmRegularly Apr–Oct · 0.44% in Sep
Tennessee WarblerLeiothlypis peregrinaPassage migrantCommon10–13 cmRegularly May–Sep · 0.44% in Sep
Eurasian TealAnas creccaSummer visitorCommon34–38 cmRegularly Mar–Jan · 0.43% in Sep- White-crowned SparrowZonotrichia leucophrysPassage migrantCommon15–16 cmRegularly Apr–Dec · 0.42% in Sep
- Sharp-shinned HawkAccipiter striatusWinter visitorUncommon24–34 cmRegularly Sep–May · 0.40% in Sep
Nashville WarblerLeiothlypis ruficapillaPassage migrantUncommon11–13 cmRegularly May–Oct · 0.37% in Sep
Swainson's ThrushCatharus ustulatusPassage migrantCommon16–20 cmRegularly May–Sep · 0.36% in Sep
OvenbirdSeiurus aurocapillaSummer visitorUncommon12–15 cmRegularly May–Sep · 0.34% in Sep
Black-necked GrebePodiceps nigricollisSummer visitorCommon28–34 cmRegularly Apr–Nov · 0.32% in Sep
Broad-winged HawkButeo platypterusPassage migrantUncommon34–44 cmRegularly Apr–Oct · 0.32% in Sep
Northern PintailAnas acutaSummer visitorCommon59–76 cmRegularly Mar–Jan · 0.31% in Sep
Yellow-bellied SapsuckerSphyrapicus variusSummer visitorUncommon19–22 cmRegularly Apr–Oct · 0.31% in Sep
Blue-headed VireoVireo solitariusPassage migrantUncommon12–15 cmRegularly May–Sep · 0.30% in Sep
American AvocetRecurvirostra americanaSummer visitorUncommon43–51 cmRegularly Apr–Nov · 0.30% in Sep
Horned LarkEremophila alpestrisWinter visitorCommon16–20 cmRecorded all year · 0.26% in Sep
Wild TurkeyMeleagris gallopavoResidentCommon100–125 cmRecorded all year · 0.26% in Sep
Rose-breasted GrosbeakPheucticus ludovicianusSummer visitorCommon18–22 cmRegularly May–Sep · 0.25% in Sep
Philadelphia VireoVireo philadelphicusPassage migrantUncommon11–13 cmRegularly May–Sep · 0.24% in Sep
Marsh WrenCistothorus palustrisSummer visitorCommon10–14 cmRegularly May–Oct · 0.24% in Sep
Least SandpiperCalidris minutillaPassage migrantCommon13–15 cmRegularly May–Oct · 0.23% in Sep
Say's PhoebeSayornis sayaSummer visitorUncommon17–20 cmRegularly Apr–Sep · 0.23% in Sep
Palm WarblerSetophaga palmarumPassage migrantUncommon12–14 cmRegularly Apr–Oct · 0.23% in Sep
Red-headed WoodpeckerMelanerpes erythrocephalusSummer visitorUncommon19–23 cmRegularly May–Sep · 0.22% in Sep
Long-billed DowitcherLimnodromus scolopaceusPassage migrantUncommon27–30 cmRegularly Apr–Nov · 0.22% in Sep
Magnolia WarblerSetophaga magnoliaPassage migrantUncommon11–13 cmRegularly May–Sep · 0.22% in Sep
Common RavenCorvus coraxWinter visitorCommon54–67 cmRecorded all year · 0.21% in Sep
Red-bellied WoodpeckerMelanerpes carolinusWinter visitorCommon23–26 cmRecorded all year · 0.20% in Sep
Sandhill CraneAntigone canadensisPassage migrantUncommon80–122 cmRegularly Sep–May · 0.20% in Sep
Pectoral SandpiperCalidris melanotosPassage migrantCommon19–23 cmRegularly Apr–Oct · 0.20% in Sep
Baird's SandpiperCalidris bairdiiSummer visitorUncommon14–17 cmRegularly Apr–Oct · 0.19% in Sep
Northern WaterthrushParkesia noveboracensisSummer visitorUncommon12–15 cmRegularly May–Sep · 0.19% in Sep
OspreyPandion haliaetusSummer visitorUncommon54–58 cmRegularly Apr–Oct · 0.19% in Sep
Northern CardinalCardinalis cardinalisWinter visitorCommon21–23 cmRecorded all year · 0.19% in Sep
Great Horned OwlBubo virginianusWinter visitorCommon46–63 cmRecorded all year · 0.19% in Sep
Swamp SparrowMelospiza georgianaSummer visitorUncommon12–15 cmRegularly Apr–Oct · 0.18% in Sep
Pileated WoodpeckerDryocopus pileatusWinter visitorCommon40–49 cmRecorded all year · 0.16% in Sep
Eastern BluebirdSialia sialisSummer visitorUncommon16–21 cmRegularly Mar–Nov · 0.16% in Sep
Blackpoll WarblerSetophaga striataPassage migrantUncommon13–15 cmRegularly May–Sep · 0.16% in Sep
Red CrossbillLoxia curvirostraWinter visitorUncommon15–17 cmRegularly Jul–May · 0.16% in Sep
Stilt SandpiperCalidris himantopusSummer visitorUncommon18–23 cmRegularly May–Oct · 0.15% in Sep
Chestnut-sided WarblerSetophaga pensylvanicaPassage migrantUncommon10–14 cmRegularly May–Sep · 0.15% in Sep
Forster's TernSterna forsteriSummer visitorUncommon33–36 cmRegularly Apr–Oct · 0.15% in Sep
Grey PartridgePerdix perdixWinter visitorCommon28–32 cmRecorded all year · 0.14% in Sep
Hooded MerganserLophodytes cucullatusSummer visitorCommon40–49 cmRegularly Mar–Jan · 0.13% in Sep
Semipalmated SandpiperCalidris pusillaSummer visitorCommon15–18 cmRegularly Apr–Sep · 0.13% in Sep
Bay-breasted WarblerSetophaga castaneaPassage migrantUncommon14–14 cmRegularly May–Sep · 0.13% in Sep
Peregrine FalconFalco peregrinusSummer visitorUncommon34–58 cmRegularly Mar–Oct · 0.12% in Sep
Mourning WarblerGeothlypis philadelphiaPassage migrantUncommon10–15 cmRegularly May–Sep · 0.11% in Sep
Mountain BluebirdSialia currucoidesSummer visitorUncommon15–18 cmRegularly Mar–Oct · 0.11% in Sep
Semipalmated PloverCharadrius semipalmatusPassage migrantUncommon17–19 cmRegularly Apr–Sep · 0.11% in Sep
Western KingbirdTyrannus verticalisSummer visitorCommon20–24 cmRegularly May–Sep · 0.11% in Sep
Red-necked PhalaropePhalaropus lobatusSummer visitorUncommon18–19 cmRegularly May–Oct · 0.10% in Sep
SanderlingCalidris albaSummer visitorUncommon18–20 cmRegularly May–Nov · 0.10% in Sep
Bonaparte's GullChroicocephalus philadelphiaPassage migrantUncommon28–38 cmRegularly Apr–Dec · 0.10% in Sep
Solitary SandpiperTringa solitariaPassage migrantUncommon19–23 cmRegularly Apr–Sep · 0.10% in Sep
Sand MartinRiparia ripariaSummer visitorCommon12–14 cmRegularly May–Sep · 0.09% in Sep
Grey PloverPluvialis squatarolaSummer visitorUncommon27–30 cmRegularly May–Nov · 0.09% in Sep
Baltimore OrioleIcterus galbulaSummer visitorCommon17–19 cmRegularly May–Sep · 0.09% in Sep
Great Crested FlycatcherMyiarchus crinitusSummer visitorUncommon17–22 cmRegularly May–Sep · 0.09% in Sep
Black-crowned Night-heronNycticorax nycticoraxSummer visitorUncommon58–65 cmRegularly Apr–Oct · 0.08% in Sep
Golden EagleAquila chrysaetosWinter visitorCommon66–102 cmRegularly Jun–Apr · 0.08% in Sep
American Golden-PloverPluvialis dominicaPassage migrantUncommon24–28 cmRegularly Apr–Nov · 0.07% in Sep
Horned GrebePodiceps auritusSummer visitorUncommon31–38 cmRegularly Apr–Nov · 0.07% in Sep
Black TernChlidonias nigerSummer visitorCommon22–26 cmRegularly May–Sep · 0.07% in Sep
Trumpeter SwanCygnus buccinatorSummer visitorUncommon139–157 cmRegularly Mar–Nov · 0.07% in Sep
Red-necked GrebePodiceps grisegenaSummer visitorUncommon40–50 cmRegularly Apr–Nov · 0.07% in Sep
American BitternBotaurus lentiginosusSummer visitorUncommon58–85 cmRegularly Apr–Oct · 0.06% in Sep
Sabine's GullXema sabiniPassage migrantUncommon27–33 cmRegularly Sep–Oct · 0.05% in Sep
Wilson's PhalaropePhalaropus tricolorSummer visitorCommon22–24 cmRegularly Apr–Sep · 0.05% in Sep
Purple MartinProgne subisSummer visitorCommon18–20 cmRegularly Apr–Sep · 0.05% in Sep
Common LoonGavia immerSummer visitorUncommon66–91 cmRegularly Apr–Nov · 0.05% in Sep
Marbled GodwitLimosa fedoaSummer visitorCommon40–50 cmRegularly Apr–Sep · 0.05% in Sep
Lark SparrowChondestes grammacusSummer visitorCommon15–17 cmRegularly May–Sep · 0.05% in Sep
Eastern Screech-owlMegascops asioWinter visitorUncommon16–25 cmRegularly Aug–May · 0.04% in Sep
Fox SparrowPasserella iliacaPassage migrantCommon15–19 cmRegularly Sep–Apr · 0.04% in Sep
Cape May WarblerSetophaga tigrinaPassage migrantUncommon12–14 cmRegularly May–Sep · 0.04% in Sep
Common TernSterna hirundoSummer visitorUncommon31–35 cmRegularly May–Oct · 0.04% in Sep
Yellow-bellied FlycatcherEmpidonax flaviventrisPassage migrantUncommon13–15 cmRegularly May–Sep · 0.03% in Sep
Alder FlycatcherEmpidonax alnorumPassage migrantUncommon13–17 cmRegularly May–Sep · 0.03% in Sep
Short-billed DowitcherLimnodromus griseusPassage migrantUncommon23–32 cmRegularly May–Sep · 0.03% in Sep
Burrowing OwlAthene cuniculariaSummer visitorUncommon19–25 cmRegularly Apr–Sep · 0.03% in Sep
Cattle EgretArdea ibisSummer visitorUncommon46–56 cmRegularly May–Oct · 0.02% in Sep
Hermit ThrushCatharus guttatusPassage migrantUncommon14–18 cmRegularly Apr–Dec · 0.02% in Sep
Black-throated Blue WarblerSetophaga caerulescensPassage migrantRare11–13 cmRegularly Sep–Oct · 0.02% in Sep
Virginia RailRallus limicolaSummer visitorUncommon20–27 cmRegularly May–Oct · 0.02% in Sep
Hudsonian GodwitLimosa haemasticaSummer visitorUncommon36–42 cmRegularly Apr–Oct · 0.01% in Sep
Black-throated Green WarblerSetophaga virensPassage migrantRare11–12 cmRegularly May–Sep · 0.01% in Sep
Ruffed GrouseBonasa umbellusSummer visitorRare41–50 cmRegularly Apr–Dec · 0.01% in Sep
American Black DuckAnas rubripesSummer visitorRare54–59 cmRegularly Apr–Nov · 0.01% in Sep
Scarlet TanagerPiranga olivaceaSummer visitorRare16–19 cmRegularly May–Sep · 0.01% in Sep
Lesser Black-backed GullLarus fuscusPassage migrantUncommon52–64 cmRegularly Sep–Apr · 0.01% in Sep
Buff-breasted SandpiperCalidris subruficollisPassage migrantUncommon18–20 cmRegularly May–Sep · 0.01% in Sep
Black-billed CuckooCoccyzus erythropthalmusSummer visitorRare28–32 cmRegularly May–Sep · 0.01% 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