Birds to See in Pennsylvania in September
146 bird species on our list for Pennsylvania are recorded regularly in September
Of these, the most often recorded are Blue Jay, Northern Cardinal, Gray Catbird, Mourning Dove and American Crow. New this month: Ruby-crowned Kinglet, Yellow-rumped Warbler, Palm Warbler and Swainson's Thrush and 13 more.
On the move in September
GBIF · SepArriving
At their peak
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
Bay-breasted WarblerBusiest month of the year · May
Broad-winged HawkBusiest month of the year · Apr–Oct
Tennessee WarblerBusiest month of the year · May
From Pennsylvania’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 146 birds in September
146 birds
Blue JayCyanocitta cristataResidentCommon25–30 cmRecorded all year · 4.61% in Sep
Northern CardinalCardinalis cardinalisResidentCommon21–23 cmRecorded all year · 3.44% in Sep
Gray CatbirdDumetella carolinensisSummer visitorCommon20–24 cmRegularly Apr–Oct · 3.42% in Sep
Mourning DoveZenaida macrouraResidentCommon23–34 cmRecorded all year · 3.03% in Sep
American CrowCorvus brachyrhynchosResidentCommon41–53 cmRecorded all year · 2.89% in Sep
Red-bellied WoodpeckerMelanerpes carolinusResidentCommon23–26 cmRecorded all year · 2.84% in Sep
American RobinTurdus migratoriusResidentCommon20–28 cmRecorded all year · 2.68% in Sep
Downy WoodpeckerDryobates pubescensResidentCommon14–18 cmRecorded all year · 2.60% in Sep
White-breasted NuthatchSitta carolinensisResidentCommon13–14 cmRecorded all year · 2.59% in Sep
Northern FlickerColaptes auratusResidentCommon28–31 cmRecorded all year · 2.33% in Sep
Tufted TitmouseBaeolophus bicolorResidentCommon14–17 cmRecorded all year · 2.17% in Sep
Turkey VultureCathartes auraResidentCommon62–81 cmRecorded all year · 1.93% in Sep
Song SparrowMelospiza melodiaResidentCommon12–17 cmRecorded all year · 1.85% in Sep
House FinchHaemorhous mexicanusResidentCommon13–15 cmRecorded all year · 1.74% in Sep
Common StarlingSturnus vulgarisResidentCommon21–23 cmRecorded all year · 1.67% in Sep
Common YellowthroatGeothlypis trichasSummer visitorCommon11–13 cmRegularly Apr–Oct · 1.34% in Sep
Canada GooseBranta canadensisResidentCommon76–110 cmRecorded all year · 1.34% in Sep
Cedar WaxwingBombycilla cedrorumSummer visitorCommon15–18 cmRecorded all year · 1.33% in Sep
Ruby-throated HummingbirdArchilochus colubrisSummer visitorCommon7–9 cmRegularly May–Sep · 1.25% in Sep
Great Blue HeronArdea herodiasResidentCommon91–137 cmRecorded all year · 1.23% in Sep
Hairy WoodpeckerLeuconotopicus villosusResidentCommon18–26 cmRecorded all year · 1.12% in Sep
Red-tailed HawkButeo jamaicensisResidentCommon45–65 cmRecorded all year · 1.07% in Sep
House SparrowPasser domesticusResidentCommon14–17 cmRecorded all year · 1.07% in Sep
Eastern BluebirdSialia sialisResidentCommon16–21 cmRecorded all year · 1.05% in Sep
American RedstartSetophaga ruticillaSummer visitorCommon11–14 cmRegularly May–Oct · 0.98% in Sep
MallardAnas platyrhynchosResidentCommon50–65 cmRecorded all year · 0.97% in Sep- Magnolia WarblerSetophaga magnoliaSummer visitorCommon11–13 cmRegularly May–Oct · 0.96% in Sep
Pileated WoodpeckerDryocopus pileatusResidentCommon40–49 cmRecorded all year · 0.92% in Sep- Black-throated Green WarblerSetophaga virensSummer visitorCommon11–12 cmRegularly Apr–Oct · 0.86% in Sep
Bald EagleHaliaeetus leucocephalusResidentCommon70–102 cmRecorded all year · 0.74% in Sep
Chipping SparrowSpizella passerinaSummer visitorCommon12–15 cmRegularly Mar–Nov · 0.71% in Sep
Northern MockingbirdMimus polyglottosResidentCommon21–26 cmRecorded all year · 0.67% in Sep
Wood DuckAix sponsaSummer visitorCommon47–54 cmRecorded all year · 0.64% in Sep
Rose-breasted GrosbeakPheucticus ludovicianusSummer visitorCommon18–22 cmRegularly Apr–Oct · 0.57% in Sep
Common RavenCorvus coraxResidentCommon54–67 cmRecorded all year · 0.56% in Sep
Scarlet TanagerPiranga olivaceaSummer visitorCommon16–19 cmRegularly May–Oct · 0.55% in Sep
Rock DoveColumba liviaResidentCommon29–37 cmRecorded all year · 0.54% in Sep- Cape May WarblerSetophaga tigrinaPassage migrantUncommon12–14 cmRegularly May–Oct · 0.49% in Sep
Chestnut-sided WarblerSetophaga pensylvanicaSummer visitorUncommon10–14 cmRegularly May–Oct · 0.48% in Sep
OspreyPandion haliaetusSummer visitorCommon54–58 cmRegularly Mar–Nov · 0.48% in Sep
Common GrackleQuiscalus quisculaSummer visitorCommon28–34 cmRecorded all year · 0.46% in Sep
Red-winged BlackbirdAgelaius phoeniceusResidentCommon17–23 cmRecorded all year · 0.46% in Sep
Great White EgretArdea albaSummer visitorCommon80–104 cmRegularly Mar–Nov · 0.44% in Sep- Bay-breasted WarblerSetophaga castaneaPassage migrantUncommon14–14 cmRegularly May–Oct · 0.39% in Sep
- Broad-winged HawkButeo platypterusSummer visitorUncommon34–44 cmRegularly Apr–Oct · 0.39% in Sep
- Tennessee WarblerLeiothlypis peregrinaPassage migrantUncommon10–13 cmRegularly May–Oct · 0.38% in Sep
Black-throated Blue WarblerSetophaga caerulescensSummer visitorUncommon11–13 cmRegularly Apr–Oct · 0.37% in Sep
Swainson's ThrushCatharus ustulatusPassage migrantUncommon16–20 cmRegularly May–Oct · 0.37% in Sep
Sharp-shinned HawkAccipiter striatusWinter visitorUncommon24–34 cmRegularly Aug–May · 0.31% in Sep
Barn SwallowHirundo rusticaSummer visitorCommon17–19 cmRegularly Apr–Sep · 0.30% in Sep
Fish CrowCorvus ossifragusResidentCommon36–41 cmRecorded all year · 0.30% in Sep
OvenbirdSeiurus aurocapillaSummer visitorCommon12–15 cmRegularly Apr–Sep · 0.29% in Sep
Ring-billed GullLarus delawarensisWinter visitorCommon43–54 cmRecorded all year · 0.28% in Sep
Blackpoll WarblerSetophaga striataPassage migrantUncommon13–15 cmRegularly May–Oct · 0.27% in Sep
Yellow-rumped WarblerSetophaga coronataWinter visitorCommon12–15 cmRegularly Sep–May · 0.27% in Sep
Palm WarblerSetophaga palmarumPassage migrantCommon12–14 cmRegularly Apr–Nov · 0.26% in Sep
Ruby-crowned KingletCorthylio calendulaWinter visitorCommon9–11 cmRegularly Sep–May · 0.25% in Sep
Lesser YellowlegsTringa flavipesPassage migrantUncommon23–27 cmRegularly Apr–Oct · 0.25% in Sep
Nashville WarblerLeiothlypis ruficapillaPassage migrantUncommon11–13 cmRegularly Apr–Oct · 0.24% in Sep
Blue-headed VireoVireo solitariusSummer visitorUncommon12–15 cmRegularly Apr–Oct · 0.22% in Sep
Least SandpiperCalidris minutillaPassage migrantUncommon13–15 cmRegularly May–Oct · 0.21% in Sep
Solitary SandpiperTringa solitariaPassage migrantUncommon19–23 cmRegularly Apr–Oct · 0.20% in Sep
MerlinFalco columbariusWinter visitorUncommon24–33 cmRecorded all year · 0.17% in Sep
Least FlycatcherEmpidonax minimusSummer visitorUncommon12–14 cmRegularly May–Sep · 0.17% in Sep
Swamp SparrowMelospiza georgianaResidentCommon12–15 cmRecorded all year · 0.16% in Sep
Great Crested FlycatcherMyiarchus crinitusSummer visitorCommon17–22 cmRegularly Apr–Sep · 0.16% in Sep
VeeryCatharus fuscescensSummer visitorUncommon16–19 cmRegularly May–Sep · 0.15% in Sep
Greater YellowlegsTringa melanoleucaPassage migrantUncommon29–40 cmRegularly Mar–Nov · 0.15% in Sep
Wild TurkeyMeleagris gallopavoResidentUncommon100–125 cmRecorded all year · 0.14% in Sep
Philadelphia VireoVireo philadelphicusPassage migrantUncommon11–13 cmRegularly May–Oct · 0.14% in Sep
Yellow-bellied SapsuckerSphyrapicus variusWinter visitorCommon19–22 cmRecorded all year · 0.14% in Sep
Eastern Screech-owlMegascops asioWinter visitorUncommon16–25 cmRecorded all year · 0.13% in Sep
Lincoln's SparrowMelospiza lincolniiPassage migrantUncommon13–15 cmRegularly May–Oct · 0.12% in Sep
Pied-billed GrebePodilymbus podicepsWinter visitorUncommon31–38 cmRegularly Aug–May · 0.12% in Sep
Baltimore OrioleIcterus galbulaSummer visitorCommon17–19 cmRegularly Apr–Sep · 0.11% in Sep
Eurasian TealAnas creccaWinter visitorUncommon34–38 cmRegularly Aug–Apr · 0.11% in Sep
Red-headed WoodpeckerMelanerpes erythrocephalusResidentUncommon19–23 cmRecorded all year · 0.11% in Sep
Pectoral SandpiperCalidris melanotosPassage migrantUncommon19–23 cmRegularly Mar–Nov · 0.11% in Sep
Peregrine FalconFalco peregrinusResidentUncommon34–58 cmRecorded all year · 0.11% in Sep
Semipalmated SandpiperCalidris pusillaSummer visitorUncommon15–18 cmRegularly May–Oct · 0.11% in Sep
Common MerganserMergus merganserWinter visitorCommon58–68 cmRecorded all year · 0.10% in Sep
BobolinkDolichonyx oryzivorusSummer visitorUncommon16–20 cmRegularly May–Oct · 0.09% in Sep
Great Horned OwlBubo virginianusWinter visitorUncommon46–63 cmRecorded all year · 0.09% in Sep
Semipalmated PloverCharadrius semipalmatusSummer visitorUncommon17–19 cmRegularly May–Oct · 0.08% in Sep
Northern Yellow WarblerSetophaga aestivaSummer visitorCommon12–13 cmRegularly Apr–Sep · 0.08% in Sep
American Herring GullLarus smithsonianusWinter visitorCommon53–65 cmRecorded all year · 0.08% in Sep
Mute SwanCygnus olorResidentUncommon140–160 cmRecorded all year · 0.07% in Sep
Northern WaterthrushParkesia noveboracensisSummer visitorUncommon12–15 cmRegularly Apr–Sep · 0.07% in Sep
Yellow-bellied FlycatcherEmpidonax flaviventrisPassage migrantUncommon13–15 cmRegularly May–Sep · 0.07% in Sep
Gray-cheeked ThrushCatharus minimusPassage migrantUncommon16–17 cmRegularly May–Oct · 0.06% in Sep
Barred OwlStrix variaResidentUncommon43–50 cmRecorded all year · 0.06% in Sep
Northern ShovelerSpatula clypeataWinter visitorUncommon44–51 cmRegularly Sep–Apr · 0.06% in Sep
American Black DuckAnas rubripesWinter visitorCommon54–59 cmRegularly Aug–Apr · 0.04% in Sep
Marsh WrenCistothorus palustrisSummer visitorUncommon10–14 cmRegularly Apr–Feb · 0.04% in Sep
Hermit ThrushCatharus guttatusResidentUncommon14–18 cmRecorded all year · 0.04% in Sep
American Golden-PloverPluvialis dominicaPassage migrantRare24–28 cmRegularly Aug–Oct · 0.04% in Sep
Great Black-backed GullLarus marinusWinter visitorUncommon64–79 cmRegularly Jul–Apr · 0.03% in Sep
Lesser Black-backed GullLarus fuscusWinter visitorUncommon52–64 cmRegularly Sep–Apr · 0.03% in Sep
Sand MartinRiparia ripariaSummer visitorUncommon12–14 cmRegularly Apr–Sep · 0.03% in Sep
Stilt SandpiperCalidris himantopusPassage migrantRare18–23 cmRegularly Jul–Oct · 0.03% in Sep
Horned LarkEremophila alpestrisWinter visitorUncommon16–20 cmRecorded all year · 0.03% in Sep
Forster's TernSterna forsteriPassage migrantRare33–36 cmRegularly Apr–Nov · 0.03% in Sep
SanderlingCalidris albaPassage migrantRare18–20 cmRegularly May–Nov · 0.03% in Sep
Grey PloverPluvialis squatarolaPassage migrantRare27–30 cmRegularly Apr–Nov · 0.03% in Sep
Mourning WarblerGeothlypis philadelphiaSummer visitorRare10–15 cmRegularly May–Oct · 0.02% in Sep
Black-billed CuckooCoccyzus erythropthalmusSummer visitorUncommon28–32 cmRegularly May–Sep · 0.02% in Sep
White-rumped SandpiperCalidris fuscicollisPassage migrantRare15–18 cmRegularly May–Nov · 0.02% in Sep
Black-crowned Night-heronNycticorax nycticoraxSummer visitorUncommon58–65 cmRegularly Apr–Oct · 0.02% in Sep
Ruffed GrouseBonasa umbellusResidentRare41–50 cmRecorded all year · 0.02% in Sep
Sandhill CraneAntigone canadensisResidentUncommon80–122 cmRecorded all year · 0.02% in Sep
Northern PintailAnas acutaWinter visitorUncommon59–76 cmRegularly Sep–Apr · 0.01% in Sep
Baird's SandpiperCalidris bairdiiPassage migrantRare14–17 cmRegularly Aug–Sep · 0.01% in Sep
Red-necked PhalaropePhalaropus lobatusPassage migrantRare18–19 cmRegularly May–Oct · 0.01% in Sep
Bonaparte's GullChroicocephalus philadelphiaWinter visitorUncommon28–38 cmRegularly Sep–May · 0.01% in Sep
Common TernSterna hirundoSummer visitorRare31–35 cmRegularly Apr–Nov · 0.01% in Sep
Long-billed DowitcherLimnodromus scolopaceusPassage migrantRare27–30 cmRegularly May–Nov · 0.01% in Sep
Short-billed DowitcherLimnodromus griseusPassage migrantRare23–32 cmRegularly May–Sep · 0.01% in Sep
Virginia RailRallus limicolaSummer visitorUncommon20–27 cmRecorded all year · 0.01% in Sep
Orange-crowned WarblerLeiothlypis celataWinter visitorRare11–14 cmRegularly Sep–May · 0.01% in Sep
Red KnotCalidris canutusPassage migrantRare23–26 cmRegularly May–Sep · 0.01% in Sep
Buff-breasted SandpiperCalidris subruficollisPassage migrantRare18–20 cmRegularly Aug–Oct · 0.01% in Sep
DickcisselSpiza americanaSummer visitorRare14–16 cmRegularly May–Feb · 0.01% in Sep
Eurasian Collared DoveStreptopelia decaoctoResidentRare30–32 cmRecorded all year · 0.01% in Sep
American AvocetRecurvirostra americanaSummer visitorRare43–51 cmRegularly Apr–Oct · 0.01% in Sep
Black TernChlidonias nigerSummer visitorRare22–26 cmRegularly May–Sep · 0.01% in Sep
DunlinCalidris alpinaPassage migrantUncommon16–22 cmRegularly Apr–Nov · 0.00% in Sep
Glossy IbisPlegadis falcinellusSummer visitorRare48–66 cmRegularly Apr–Sep · 0.00% in Sep
Vesper SparrowPooecetes gramineusSummer visitorRare13–17 cmRegularly Feb–Nov · 0.00% in Sep
Muscovy DuckCairina moschataWinter visitorRare66–84 cmRecorded all year · 0.00% in Sep
Trumpeter SwanCygnus buccinatorResidentRare139–157 cmRecorded all year · 0.00% in Sep
Ruddy TurnstoneArenaria interpresSummer visitorRare21–24 cmRegularly May–Sep · 0.00% in Sep
Wilson's PhalaropePhalaropus tricolorPassage migrantRare22–24 cmRegularly May–Oct · 0.00% in Sep
Clay-colored SparrowSpizella pallidaResidentRare13–15 cmRegularly Sep–Jul · 0.00% in Sep
WilletTringa semipalmataSummer visitorRare33–41 cmRegularly Apr–Sep · 0.00% in Sep
Western KingbirdTyrannus verticalisPassage migrantRare20–24 cmRegularly Aug–Sep · 0.00% in Sep
WhimbrelNumenius phaeopusSummer visitorRare40–46 cmRegularly May–Sep · 0.00% in Sep
American BitternBotaurus lentiginosusPassage migrantRare58–85 cmRegularly Apr–Nov · 0.00% in Sep
Western SandpiperCalidris mauriPassage migrantRare14–17 cmRegularly Jul–Sep · 0.00% in Sep
Lark SparrowChondestes grammacusPassage migrantRare15–17 cmRegularly Aug–Sep · 0.00% in Sep
Red CrossbillLoxia curvirostraWinter visitorRare15–17 cmRegularly Jul–May · 0.00% in Sep
Cattle EgretArdea ibisPassage migrantRare46–56 cmRegularly Apr–Nov · 0.00% in Sep
Sabine's GullXema sabiniPassage migrantRare27–33 cmRegularly Sep · 0.00% in Sep
Upland SandpiperBartramia longicaudaSummer visitorRare28–32 cmRegularly May–Sep · 0.00% in Sep
Arctic JaegerStercorarius parasiticusPassage migrantRare41–46 cmRegularly Sep–Nov · 0.00% in Sep
Greylag GooseAnser anserResidentRare75–90 cmRecorded all year · 0.00% in Sep
ChukarAlectoris chukarWinter visitorRare32–38 cmRegularly Jun–Apr · 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