Birds to See in Ohio in September
147 bird species on our list for Ohio are recorded regularly in September
Of these, the most often recorded are Blue Jay, Northern Cardinal, Red-bellied Woodpecker, Mourning Dove and Downy Woodpecker. New this month: Yellow-rumped Warbler, Ruby-crowned Kinglet, Swainson's Thrush and Northern Shoveler and 18 more.
On the move in September
GBIF · SepArriving
Swainson's ThrushRegular from September · Apr–May
Black-throated Green WarblerRegular from September · Apr–Jun
Blackpoll WarblerRegular from September · May
Yellow-rumped WarblerRegular from September · Sep–May
Palm WarblerRegular from September · Apr–May
Black-throated Blue WarblerRegular from September · May
At their peak
Leaving soon
From Ohio’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 147 birds in September
147 birds
Blue JayCyanocitta cristataResidentCommon25–30 cmRecorded all year · 3.96% in Sep
Northern CardinalCardinalis cardinalisResidentCommon21–23 cmRecorded all year · 3.42% in Sep
Red-bellied WoodpeckerMelanerpes carolinusResidentCommon23–26 cmRecorded all year · 2.65% in Sep
Mourning DoveZenaida macrouraResidentCommon23–34 cmRecorded all year · 2.59% in Sep
Downy WoodpeckerDryobates pubescensResidentCommon14–18 cmRecorded all year · 2.53% in Sep
American RobinTurdus migratoriusResidentCommon20–28 cmRecorded all year · 2.45% in Sep
White-breasted NuthatchSitta carolinensisResidentCommon13–14 cmRecorded all year · 2.40% in Sep
Gray CatbirdDumetella carolinensisSummer visitorCommon20–24 cmRegularly Apr–Oct · 2.25% in Sep
Turkey VultureCathartes auraSummer visitorCommon62–81 cmRecorded all year · 2.24% in Sep
American CrowCorvus brachyrhynchosResidentCommon41–53 cmRecorded all year · 2.18% in Sep
Tufted TitmouseBaeolophus bicolorResidentCommon14–16 cmRecorded all year · 1.91% in Sep
Canada GooseBranta canadensisResidentCommon76–110 cmRecorded all year · 1.90% in Sep
Northern FlickerColaptes auratusResidentCommon28–31 cmRecorded all year · 1.83% in Sep
Great Blue HeronArdea herodiasResidentCommon91–137 cmRecorded all year · 1.83% in Sep
Common StarlingSturnus vulgarisResidentCommon21–23 cmRecorded all year · 1.77% in Sep
Song SparrowMelospiza melodiaResidentCommon12–17 cmRecorded all year · 1.51% in Sep
MallardAnas platyrhynchosResidentCommon50–65 cmRecorded all year · 1.47% in Sep
House FinchHaemorhous mexicanusResidentCommon13–15 cmRecorded all year · 1.38% in Sep
House SparrowPasser domesticusResidentCommon14–17 cmRecorded all year · 1.31% in Sep
Ring-billed GullLarus delawarensisResidentCommon43–54 cmRecorded all year · 1.21% in Sep
Ruby-throated HummingbirdArchilochus colubrisSummer visitorCommon7–9 cmRegularly May–Sep · 1.17% in Sep
Cedar WaxwingBombycilla cedrorumSummer visitorCommon15–18 cmRegularly May–Jan · 1.12% in Sep
Red-winged BlackbirdAgelaius phoeniceusSummer visitorCommon17–23 cmRecorded all year · 1.07% in Sep
Great White EgretArdea albaSummer visitorCommon80–104 cmRegularly Mar–Nov · 1.01% in Sep
Magnolia WarblerSetophaga magnoliaPassage migrantCommon11–13 cmRegularly May–Oct · 0.95% in Sep
American RedstartSetophaga ruticillaSummer visitorCommon11–14 cmRegularly Apr–Oct · 0.88% in Sep
Bay-breasted WarblerSetophaga castaneaPassage migrantCommon14–14 cmRegularly May–Oct · 0.87% in Sep
Bald EagleHaliaeetus leucocephalusResidentCommon70–102 cmRecorded all year · 0.84% in Sep
Wood DuckAix sponsaSummer visitorCommon47–54 cmRecorded all year · 0.84% in Sep
Hairy WoodpeckerLeuconotopicus villosusResidentCommon18–26 cmRecorded all year · 0.82% in Sep
Eastern BluebirdSialia sialisResidentCommon16–21 cmRecorded all year · 0.80% in Sep- Swainson's ThrushCatharus ustulatusPassage migrantCommon16–20 cmRegularly Apr–Oct · 0.78% in Sep
Common YellowthroatGeothlypis trichasSummer visitorCommon11–13 cmRegularly Apr–Oct · 0.78% in Sep
Red-tailed HawkButeo jamaicensisResidentCommon45–65 cmRecorded all year · 0.76% in Sep
Common GrackleQuiscalus quisculaSummer visitorCommon28–34 cmRecorded all year · 0.76% in Sep
Tennessee WarblerLeiothlypis peregrinaPassage migrantCommon10–13 cmRegularly May–Oct · 0.64% in Sep
Pileated WoodpeckerDryocopus pileatusResidentCommon40–49 cmRecorded all year · 0.63% in Sep- Black-throated Green WarblerSetophaga virensPassage migrantCommon11–12 cmRegularly Apr–Oct · 0.56% in Sep
Nashville WarblerLeiothlypis ruficapillaPassage migrantCommon11–13 cmRegularly Apr–Oct · 0.53% in Sep
Red-headed WoodpeckerMelanerpes erythrocephalusResidentCommon19–23 cmRecorded all year · 0.53% in Sep
American Herring GullLarus smithsonianusResidentCommon53–65 cmRecorded all year · 0.53% in Sep
Chipping SparrowSpizella passerinaSummer visitorCommon12–15 cmRegularly Mar–Nov · 0.50% in Sep
Cape May WarblerSetophaga tigrinaPassage migrantUncommon12–14 cmRegularly May–Oct · 0.49% in Sep- Blackpoll WarblerSetophaga striataPassage migrantUncommon13–15 cmRegularly May–Oct · 0.48% in Sep
Barn SwallowHirundo rusticaSummer visitorCommon17–19 cmRegularly Apr–Sep · 0.47% in Sep
OspreyPandion haliaetusSummer visitorCommon54–58 cmRegularly Mar–Oct · 0.47% in Sep
Rose-breasted GrosbeakPheucticus ludovicianusSummer visitorCommon18–22 cmRegularly Apr–Oct · 0.44% in Sep
Lesser YellowlegsTringa flavipesPassage migrantCommon23–27 cmRegularly Mar–Nov · 0.40% in Sep- Yellow-rumped WarblerSetophaga coronataWinter visitorCommon12–15 cmRegularly Sep–May · 0.39% in Sep
Rock DoveColumba liviaResidentCommon31–34 cmRecorded all year · 0.36% in Sep
Greater YellowlegsTringa melanoleucaPassage migrantUncommon29–40 cmRegularly Mar–Nov · 0.33% in Sep
Pied-billed GrebePodilymbus podicepsWinter visitorCommon31–38 cmRecorded all year · 0.30% in Sep
Least SandpiperCalidris minutillaPassage migrantCommon13–15 cmRegularly May–Oct · 0.29% in Sep
Chestnut-sided WarblerSetophaga pensylvanicaPassage migrantCommon10–14 cmRegularly May–Sep · 0.28% in Sep
Least FlycatcherEmpidonax minimusPassage migrantUncommon12–14 cmRegularly May–Oct · 0.26% in Sep
Trumpeter SwanCygnus buccinatorResidentUncommon139–157 cmRecorded all year · 0.26% in Sep
Philadelphia VireoVireo philadelphicusPassage migrantUncommon11–13 cmRegularly May–Oct · 0.26% in Sep
Pectoral SandpiperCalidris melanotosPassage migrantUncommon19–23 cmRegularly Mar–Nov · 0.25% in Sep
Northern MockingbirdMimus polyglottosResidentCommon21–26 cmRecorded all year · 0.25% in Sep
Semipalmated SandpiperCalidris pusillaSummer visitorUncommon15–18 cmRegularly May–Oct · 0.23% in Sep
Semipalmated PloverCharadrius semipalmatusSummer visitorUncommon17–19 cmRegularly May–Oct · 0.23% in Sep
OvenbirdSeiurus aurocapillaSummer visitorUncommon12–15 cmRegularly Apr–Oct · 0.23% in Sep- Palm WarblerSetophaga palmarumPassage migrantCommon12–14 cmRegularly Apr–Oct · 0.22% in Sep
- Black-throated Blue WarblerSetophaga caerulescensPassage migrantUncommon11–13 cmRegularly May–Oct · 0.21% in Sep
Ruby-crowned KingletCorthylio calendulaPassage migrantCommon9–11 cmRegularly Apr–Dec · 0.20% in Sep
Scarlet TanagerPiranga olivaceaSummer visitorCommon16–19 cmRegularly Apr–Oct · 0.20% in Sep
Solitary SandpiperTringa solitariaPassage migrantUncommon19–23 cmRegularly Apr–Oct · 0.19% in Sep
Sandhill CraneAntigone canadensisResidentUncommon80–122 cmRecorded all year · 0.18% in Sep
Gray-cheeked ThrushCatharus minimusPassage migrantUncommon16–17 cmRegularly May–Oct · 0.17% in Sep
Swamp SparrowMelospiza georgianaResidentCommon12–15 cmRecorded all year · 0.16% in Sep
Eurasian TealAnas creccaWinter visitorUncommon34–38 cmRegularly Aug–May · 0.15% in Sep
Wild TurkeyMeleagris gallopavoResidentUncommon91–122 cmRecorded all year · 0.15% in Sep
Great Crested FlycatcherMyiarchus crinitusSummer visitorCommon17–22 cmRegularly Apr–Sep · 0.15% in Sep
Lincoln's SparrowMelospiza lincolniiPassage migrantUncommon13–15 cmRegularly May–Oct · 0.15% in Sep
Yellow-bellied FlycatcherEmpidonax flaviventrisPassage migrantUncommon13–15 cmRegularly May–Sep · 0.14% in Sep
SanderlingCalidris albaPassage migrantUncommon18–20 cmRegularly May–Nov · 0.13% in Sep
Northern Yellow WarblerSetophaga aestivaSummer visitorCommon12–13 cmRegularly Apr–Sep · 0.12% in Sep
Barred OwlStrix variaResidentUncommon43–50 cmRecorded all year · 0.12% in Sep
Northern ShovelerSpatula clypeataWinter visitorCommon44–51 cmRegularly Sep–May · 0.12% in Sep
Purple MartinProgne subisSummer visitorCommon18–20 cmRegularly Apr–Sep · 0.11% in Sep
Stilt SandpiperCalidris himantopusPassage migrantUncommon18–23 cmRegularly Jul–Oct · 0.11% in Sep
VeeryCatharus fuscescensSummer visitorUncommon16–19 cmRegularly Apr–Sep · 0.11% in Sep
Bonaparte's GullChroicocephalus philadelphiaPassage migrantCommon28–38 cmRegularly Mar–Jan · 0.10% in Sep
Yellow-bellied SapsuckerSphyrapicus variusWinter visitorUncommon19–22 cmRegularly Sep–May · 0.10% in Sep
Blue-headed VireoVireo solitariusSummer visitorUncommon12–15 cmRegularly Apr–Oct · 0.10% in Sep
Baltimore OrioleIcterus galbulaSummer visitorCommon17–19 cmRegularly Apr–Sep · 0.09% in Sep
Peregrine FalconFalco peregrinusWinter visitorUncommon34–58 cmRecorded all year · 0.08% in Sep
American Golden-PloverPluvialis dominicaPassage migrantUncommon24–28 cmRegularly Apr–Oct · 0.08% in Sep
Marsh WrenCistothorus palustrisSummer visitorUncommon10–14 cmRegularly Apr–Oct · 0.08% in Sep
Common TernSterna hirundoSummer visitorUncommon31–35 cmRegularly Apr–Nov · 0.08% in Sep
Horned LarkEremophila alpestrisWinter visitorCommon16–20 cmRecorded all year · 0.08% in Sep
MerlinFalco columbariusWinter visitorUncommon24–33 cmRegularly Jul–May · 0.07% in Sep
Short-billed DowitcherLimnodromus griseusPassage migrantUncommon23–32 cmRegularly May–Sep · 0.07% in Sep
Forster's TernSterna forsteriSummer visitorUncommon33–36 cmRegularly Apr–Nov · 0.07% in Sep
Grey PloverPluvialis squatarolaPassage migrantUncommon27–30 cmRegularly May–Nov · 0.06% in Sep
Great Horned OwlBubo virginianusWinter visitorUncommon46–63 cmRecorded all year · 0.06% in Sep
Baird's SandpiperCalidris bairdiiPassage migrantUncommon14–17 cmRegularly Aug–Oct · 0.06% in Sep
Mute SwanCygnus olorWinter visitorUncommon140–160 cmRecorded all year · 0.06% in Sep
Mourning WarblerGeothlypis philadelphiaPassage migrantUncommon10–15 cmRegularly May–Oct · 0.06% in Sep
Broad-winged HawkButeo platypterusSummer visitorUncommon34–44 cmRegularly Apr–Oct · 0.06% in Sep
Black-crowned Night-heronNycticorax nycticoraxSummer visitorUncommon58–65 cmRecorded all year · 0.06% in Sep
Eastern Screech-owlMegascops asioResidentUncommon16–25 cmRecorded all year · 0.05% in Sep
BobolinkDolichonyx oryzivorusSummer visitorUncommon16–20 cmRegularly May–Oct · 0.05% in Sep
Sharp-shinned HawkAccipiter striatusWinter visitorUncommon24–34 cmRecorded all year · 0.05% in Sep
Sand MartinRiparia ripariaSummer visitorUncommon12–14 cmRegularly Apr–Sep · 0.05% in Sep
Northern WaterthrushParkesia noveboracensisPassage migrantUncommon12–15 cmRegularly Apr–Sep · 0.04% in Sep
Common MerganserMergus merganserWinter visitorCommon58–68 cmRegularly Aug–Apr · 0.04% in Sep
White-rumped SandpiperCalidris fuscicollisSummer visitorRare15–18 cmRegularly May–Nov · 0.04% in Sep
Orange-crowned WarblerLeiothlypis celataWinter visitorUncommon11–14 cmRegularly Sep–May · 0.04% in Sep
Buff-breasted SandpiperCalidris subruficollisPassage migrantRare18–20 cmRegularly Aug–Sep · 0.04% in Sep
Red-necked PhalaropePhalaropus lobatusPassage migrantRare18–19 cmRegularly May–Oct · 0.04% in Sep
Hermit ThrushCatharus guttatusWinter visitorUncommon14–18 cmRegularly Sep–May · 0.03% in Sep
Lesser Black-backed GullLarus fuscusWinter visitorUncommon52–64 cmRegularly Jul–Apr · 0.03% in Sep
Great Black-backed GullLarus marinusWinter visitorUncommon64–79 cmRegularly Aug–Apr · 0.03% in Sep
Ruddy TurnstoneArenaria interpresPassage migrantRare21–24 cmRegularly May–Oct · 0.03% in Sep
Red KnotCalidris canutusPassage migrantRare23–26 cmRegularly Aug–Sep · 0.03% in Sep
Northern PintailAnas acutaWinter visitorUncommon59–76 cmRegularly Sep–Apr · 0.03% in Sep
Long-billed DowitcherLimnodromus scolopaceusPassage migrantRare27–30 cmRegularly Mar–Nov · 0.02% in Sep
Virginia RailRallus limicolaSummer visitorUncommon20–27 cmRegularly Jan–Oct · 0.02% in Sep
Black TernChlidonias nigerSummer visitorRare22–26 cmRegularly May–Sep · 0.02% in Sep
Black-billed CuckooCoccyzus erythropthalmusSummer visitorUncommon28–32 cmRegularly May–Sep · 0.02% in Sep
American AvocetRecurvirostra americanaPassage migrantUncommon43–51 cmRegularly Apr–Nov · 0.02% in Sep
Cattle EgretArdea ibisSummer visitorRare46–56 cmRegularly Apr–Nov · 0.01% in Sep
WhimbrelNumenius phaeopusPassage migrantRare40–46 cmRegularly May–Sep · 0.01% in Sep
Wilson's PhalaropePhalaropus tricolorPassage migrantRare22–24 cmRegularly May–Sep · 0.01% in Sep
DunlinCalidris alpinaPassage migrantUncommon16–22 cmRegularly Apr–Nov · 0.01% in Sep
WilletTringa semipalmataSummer visitorRare33–41 cmRegularly Apr–Sep · 0.01% in Sep
Piping PloverCharadrius melodusPassage migrantRare17–18 cmRegularly Apr–Sep · 0.01% in Sep
Black-necked GrebePodiceps nigricollisPassage migrantRare28–34 cmRegularly Sep–Apr · 0.01% in Sep
Franklin's GullLeucophaeus pipixcanSummer visitorRare32–36 cmRegularly Apr–Nov · 0.01% in Sep
Common RavenCorvus coraxWinter visitorRare54–67 cmRecorded all year · 0.01% in Sep
Western SandpiperCalidris mauriPassage migrantRare14–17 cmRegularly May–Sep · 0.01% in Sep
Marbled GodwitLimosa fedoaSummer visitorRare40–50 cmRegularly Apr–Oct · 0.01% in Sep
American BitternBotaurus lentiginosusSummer visitorRare58–85 cmRegularly Mar–Nov · 0.01% in Sep
Hudsonian GodwitLimosa haemasticaPassage migrantRare36–42 cmRegularly Aug–Nov · 0.01% in Sep
Common PheasantPhasianus colchicusResidentRare50–90 cmRecorded all year · 0.01% in Sep
Arctic JaegerStercorarius parasiticusPassage migrantRare41–46 cmRegularly Sep–Nov · 0.00% in Sep
Vesper SparrowPooecetes gramineusSummer visitorUncommon13–17 cmRegularly Mar–Nov · 0.00% in Sep
Clay-colored SparrowSpizella pallidaSummer visitorRare13–15 cmRegularly Apr–Oct · 0.00% in Sep
Long-tailed JaegerStercorarius longicaudusPassage migrantRare48–58 cmRegularly Sep · 0.00% in Sep
Greylag GooseAnser anserWinter visitorRare75–90 cmRecorded all year · 0.00% in Sep
Sabine's GullXema sabiniPassage migrantRare27–33 cmRegularly Sep–Nov · 0.00% in Sep
Eurasian Collared DoveStreptopelia decaoctoWinter visitorRare30–32 cmRecorded all year · 0.00% in Sep
Western KingbirdTyrannus verticalisPassage migrantRare20–24 cmRegularly Jun–Sep · 0.00% in Sep
Fish CrowCorvus ossifragusResidentRare36–41 cmRecorded all year · 0.00% in Sep
Upland SandpiperBartramia longicaudaSummer visitorRare28–32 cmRegularly Apr–Sep · 0.00% in Sep
Muscovy DuckCairina moschataResidentRare66–84 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