Birds to See in Rhode Island in September
142 bird species on our list for Rhode Island are recorded regularly in September
Of these, the most often recorded are Gray Catbird, Blue Jay, American Herring Gull, Song Sparrow and American Crow. New this month: Yellow-rumped Warbler, Swamp Sparrow, Great Cormorant and Ruby-crowned Kinglet and 22 more.
On the move in September
GBIF · SepArriving
At their peak
MerlinBusiest month of the year · Aug–Apr
BobolinkBusiest month of the year · May–Oct
Lesser Black-backed GullBusiest month of the year · All year
Peregrine FalconBusiest month of the year · All year
Cape May WarblerBusiest month of the year · May
American Golden-PloverBusiest month of the year · Aug–Oct
From Rhode Island’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 142 birds in September
142 birds
Gray CatbirdDumetella carolinensisSummer visitorCommon20–24 cmRecorded all year · 3.32% in Sep
Blue JayCyanocitta cristataResidentCommon25–30 cmRecorded all year · 3.10% in Sep
American Herring GullLarus smithsonianusResidentCommon53–65 cmRecorded all year · 2.98% in Sep
Song SparrowMelospiza melodiaResidentCommon12–17 cmRecorded all year · 2.54% in Sep
American CrowCorvus brachyrhynchosResidentCommon41–53 cmRecorded all year · 2.27% in Sep
Mourning DoveZenaida macrouraResidentCommon23–34 cmRecorded all year · 2.15% in Sep
Northern CardinalCardinalis cardinalisResidentCommon21–23 cmRecorded all year · 2.06% in Sep
Great Black-backed GullLarus marinusResidentCommon64–79 cmRecorded all year · 1.90% in Sep
Downy WoodpeckerDryobates pubescensResidentCommon14–18 cmRecorded all year · 1.79% in Sep
Tufted TitmouseBaeolophus bicolorResidentCommon14–16 cmRecorded all year · 1.79% in Sep
Great Blue HeronArdea herodiasResidentCommon91–137 cmRecorded all year · 1.75% in Sep
OspreyPandion haliaetusSummer visitorCommon54–58 cmRegularly Mar–Oct · 1.65% in Sep
American RobinTurdus migratoriusResidentCommon20–28 cmRecorded all year · 1.63% in Sep
White-breasted NuthatchSitta carolinensisResidentCommon13–14 cmRecorded all year · 1.61% in Sep
Northern FlickerColaptes auratusResidentCommon28–31 cmRecorded all year · 1.54% in Sep
Ring-billed GullLarus delawarensisWinter visitorCommon43–54 cmRecorded all year · 1.50% in Sep
Great White EgretArdea albaSummer visitorCommon80–104 cmRegularly Mar–Dec · 1.47% in Sep
Canada GooseBranta canadensisResidentCommon76–110 cmRecorded all year · 1.34% in Sep
MallardAnas platyrhynchosResidentCommon50–65 cmRecorded all year · 1.26% in Sep
House SparrowPasser domesticusResidentCommon14–17 cmRecorded all year · 1.20% in Sep
Red-bellied WoodpeckerMelanerpes carolinusResidentCommon23–26 cmRecorded all year · 1.18% in Sep
Common StarlingSturnus vulgarisResidentCommon21–23 cmRecorded all year · 1.17% in Sep
Common YellowthroatGeothlypis trichasSummer visitorCommon11–13 cmRegularly May–Oct · 1.16% in Sep
Semipalmated PloverCharadrius semipalmatusSummer visitorCommon17–19 cmRegularly May–Oct · 1.03% in Sep
House FinchHaemorhous mexicanusResidentCommon13–15 cmRecorded all year · 1.00% in Sep
Mute SwanCygnus olorResidentCommon140–160 cmRecorded all year · 0.91% in Sep
Ruby-throated HummingbirdArchilochus colubrisSummer visitorCommon7–9 cmRegularly Apr–Sep · 0.86% in Sep
American RedstartSetophaga ruticillaSummer visitorCommon11–14 cmRegularly May–Oct · 0.85% in Sep
Turkey VultureCathartes auraResidentCommon62–81 cmRecorded all year · 0.80% in Sep
Northern MockingbirdMimus polyglottosResidentCommon21–26 cmRecorded all year · 0.75% in Sep
Greater YellowlegsTringa melanoleucaSummer visitorCommon29–40 cmRegularly Mar–Dec · 0.74% in Sep
Semipalmated SandpiperCalidris pusillaSummer visitorCommon15–18 cmRegularly May–Oct · 0.72% in Sep
Common GrackleQuiscalus quisculaSummer visitorCommon28–34 cmRecorded all year · 0.72% in Sep
Cedar WaxwingBombycilla cedrorumSummer visitorCommon15–18 cmRecorded all year · 0.65% in Sep
Red-tailed HawkButeo jamaicensisResidentCommon45–65 cmRecorded all year · 0.64% in Sep
Grey PloverPluvialis squatarolaSummer visitorCommon27–30 cmRegularly Apr–Jan · 0.59% in Sep
Least SandpiperCalidris minutillaSummer visitorCommon13–15 cmRegularly May–Sep · 0.59% in Sep
SanderlingCalidris albaWinter visitorCommon18–20 cmRecorded all year · 0.57% in Sep
Wood DuckAix sponsaSummer visitorCommon47–54 cmRecorded all year · 0.56% in Sep
Rock DoveColumba liviaResidentCommon29–37 cmRecorded all year · 0.52% in Sep
EiderSomateria mollissimaWinter visitorCommon50–71 cmRecorded all year · 0.52% in Sep
Chipping SparrowSpizella passerinaSummer visitorCommon12–15 cmRegularly Apr–Nov · 0.51% in Sep
Hairy WoodpeckerLeuconotopicus villosusResidentCommon18–26 cmRecorded all year · 0.49% in Sep- MerlinFalco columbariusWinter visitorUncommon24–33 cmRegularly Aug–Apr · 0.49% in Sep
Fish CrowCorvus ossifragusResidentCommon36–41 cmRecorded all year · 0.46% in Sep
Blackpoll WarblerSetophaga striataPassage migrantCommon13–15 cmRegularly May–Oct · 0.46% in Sep
Palm WarblerSetophaga palmarumPassage migrantCommon12–14 cmRegularly Sep–May · 0.45% in Sep
Red-winged BlackbirdAgelaius phoeniceusSummer visitorCommon17–23 cmRecorded all year · 0.43% in Sep
Yellow-rumped WarblerSetophaga coronataWinter visitorCommon12–15 cmRegularly Sep–May · 0.39% in Sep
Common TernSterna hirundoSummer visitorCommon31–35 cmRegularly May–Sep · 0.36% in Sep
Northern Yellow WarblerSetophaga aestivaSummer visitorCommon12–13 cmRegularly Apr–Sep · 0.36% in Sep
Barn SwallowHirundo rusticaSummer visitorCommon17–19 cmRegularly Apr–Sep · 0.35% in Sep
Ruddy TurnstoneArenaria interpresSummer visitorCommon21–24 cmRegularly May–Mar · 0.33% in Sep- BobolinkDolichonyx oryzivorusSummer visitorUncommon16–20 cmRegularly May–Oct · 0.29% in Sep
Swamp SparrowMelospiza georgianaWinter visitorCommon12–15 cmRegularly Sep–Jun · 0.28% in Sep
Common RavenCorvus coraxResidentUncommon54–67 cmRecorded all year · 0.28% in Sep- Lesser Black-backed GullLarus fuscusWinter visitorUncommon52–64 cmRecorded all year · 0.25% in Sep
Eastern BluebirdSialia sialisResidentCommon16–21 cmRecorded all year · 0.25% in Sep
Short-billed DowitcherLimnodromus griseusSummer visitorCommon23–32 cmRegularly May–Sep · 0.25% in Sep
American Black DuckAnas rubripesWinter visitorCommon54–59 cmRegularly Aug–Apr · 0.25% in Sep
Lesser YellowlegsTringa flavipesPassage migrantCommon23–27 cmRegularly Apr–Oct · 0.24% in Sep
WilletTringa semipalmataSummer visitorCommon33–41 cmRegularly Apr–Sep · 0.24% in Sep- Peregrine FalconFalco peregrinusWinter visitorUncommon34–58 cmRecorded all year · 0.23% in Sep
Wild TurkeyMeleagris gallopavoResidentUncommon100–125 cmRecorded all year · 0.23% in Sep
Great Crested FlycatcherMyiarchus crinitusSummer visitorCommon17–22 cmRegularly May–Sep · 0.20% in Sep
Black-throated Green WarblerSetophaga virensPassage migrantUncommon11–12 cmRegularly May–Oct · 0.19% in Sep- Cape May WarblerSetophaga tigrinaPassage migrantUncommon12–14 cmRegularly May–Nov · 0.19% in Sep
Black-crowned Night-heronNycticorax nycticoraxSummer visitorUncommon58–65 cmRegularly Feb–Nov · 0.18% in Sep
Pectoral SandpiperCalidris melanotosPassage migrantUncommon19–23 cmRegularly Apr–Oct · 0.17% in Sep
Sharp-shinned HawkAccipiter striatusWinter visitorUncommon24–34 cmRegularly Sep–May · 0.17% in Sep
Magnolia WarblerSetophaga magnoliaPassage migrantUncommon11–13 cmRegularly May–Oct · 0.16% in Sep- American Golden-PloverPluvialis dominicaPassage migrantUncommon24–28 cmRegularly Aug–Oct · 0.16% in Sep
Forster's TernSterna forsteriPassage migrantUncommon33–36 cmRegularly Jul–Oct · 0.16% in Sep
Common LoonGavia immerWinter visitorCommon66–91 cmRecorded all year · 0.16% in Sep
Bald EagleHaliaeetus leucocephalusWinter visitorUncommon70–102 cmRecorded all year · 0.16% in Sep
Common PheasantPhasianus colchicusWinter visitorUncommon50–90 cmRecorded all year · 0.16% in Sep
Piping PloverCharadrius melodusSummer visitorCommon17–18 cmRegularly Mar–Sep · 0.16% in Sep
Solitary SandpiperTringa solitariaPassage migrantUncommon19–23 cmRegularly Apr–Oct · 0.16% in Sep
Great CormorantPhalacrocorax carboWinter visitorCommon80–100 cmRegularly Sep–Apr · 0.15% in Sep
Pileated WoodpeckerDryocopus pileatusResidentUncommon40–49 cmRecorded all year · 0.15% in Sep
Nashville WarblerLeiothlypis ruficapillaPassage migrantUncommon11–13 cmRegularly Apr–Nov · 0.14% in Sep
Rose-breasted GrosbeakPheucticus ludovicianusSummer visitorCommon18–22 cmRegularly Apr–Sep · 0.14% in Sep
Ruby-crowned KingletCorthylio calendulaWinter visitorCommon9–11 cmRegularly Sep–May · 0.14% in Sep
Baltimore OrioleIcterus galbulaSummer visitorCommon17–19 cmRegularly Apr–Sep · 0.14% in Sep
Scarlet TanagerPiranga olivaceaSummer visitorCommon16–19 cmRegularly May–Oct · 0.14% in Sep
Chestnut-sided WarblerSetophaga pensylvanicaSummer visitorUncommon10–14 cmRegularly May–Oct · 0.13% in Sep
Eurasian TealAnas creccaWinter visitorUncommon34–38 cmRegularly Aug–Apr · 0.12% in Sep
Red KnotCalidris canutusSummer visitorUncommon23–26 cmRegularly May–Oct · 0.12% in Sep
Blue-headed VireoVireo solitariusPassage migrantUncommon12–15 cmRegularly Apr–Nov · 0.12% in Sep
White-rumped SandpiperCalidris fuscicollisSummer visitorUncommon15–18 cmRegularly May–Nov · 0.12% in Sep
Northern WaterthrushParkesia noveboracensisSummer visitorUncommon12–15 cmRegularly Apr–Oct · 0.11% in Sep
Lincoln's SparrowMelospiza lincolniiPassage migrantUncommon13–15 cmRegularly Sep–Nov · 0.11% in Sep
WhimbrelNumenius phaeopusPassage migrantUncommon40–46 cmRegularly Jul–Oct · 0.11% in Sep
Black-throated Blue WarblerSetophaga caerulescensPassage migrantUncommon11–13 cmRegularly May–Oct · 0.10% in Sep
Great ShearwaterArdenna gravisSummer visitorUncommon43–51 cmRegularly May–Nov · 0.10% in Sep
Least FlycatcherEmpidonax minimusSummer visitorUncommon12–14 cmRegularly May–Oct · 0.09% in Sep
DickcisselSpiza americanaPassage migrantUncommon14–16 cmRegularly Aug–Jan · 0.09% in Sep
VeeryCatharus fuscescensSummer visitorCommon16–19 cmRegularly May–Sep · 0.09% in Sep
Buff-breasted SandpiperCalidris subruficollisPassage migrantUncommon18–20 cmRegularly Aug–Sep · 0.09% in Sep
Pied-billed GrebePodilymbus podicepsWinter visitorUncommon31–38 cmRegularly Sep–Apr · 0.08% in Sep
Great Horned OwlBubo virginianusWinter visitorUncommon46–63 cmRecorded all year · 0.08% in Sep
Philadelphia VireoVireo philadelphicusPassage migrantUncommon11–13 cmRegularly Sep–Oct · 0.08% in Sep
Barred OwlStrix variaResidentUncommon43–50 cmRecorded all year · 0.08% in Sep
Bonaparte's GullChroicocephalus philadelphiaResidentUncommon28–38 cmRecorded all year · 0.08% in Sep
DunlinCalidris alpinaWinter visitorUncommon16–22 cmRegularly Aug–Jun · 0.08% in Sep
Broad-winged HawkButeo platypterusSummer visitorUncommon34–44 cmRegularly Apr–Sep · 0.07% in Sep
Bay-breasted WarblerSetophaga castaneaPassage migrantUncommon14–14 cmRegularly May–Oct · 0.06% in Sep
Northern GannetMorus bassanusWinter visitorCommon87–100 cmRegularly Aug–Jun · 0.06% in Sep
Marsh WrenCistothorus palustrisResidentUncommon10–14 cmRecorded all year · 0.05% in Sep
Ruddy DuckOxyura jamaicensisWinter visitorCommon35–43 cmRegularly Sep–May · 0.05% in Sep
Swainson's ThrushCatharus ustulatusPassage migrantUncommon16–20 cmRegularly May–Oct · 0.05% in Sep
Yellow-bellied SapsuckerSphyrapicus variusWinter visitorUncommon19–22 cmRegularly Sep–Apr · 0.05% in Sep
Tennessee WarblerLeiothlypis peregrinaPassage migrantUncommon10–13 cmRegularly May–Oct · 0.05% in Sep
Baird's SandpiperCalidris bairdiiPassage migrantRare14–17 cmRegularly Aug–Sep · 0.04% in Sep
Marbled GodwitLimosa fedoaPassage migrantUncommon40–50 cmRegularly Aug–Sep · 0.04% in Sep
Glossy IbisPlegadis falcinellusSummer visitorUncommon48–66 cmRegularly Apr–Sep · 0.04% in Sep
Eastern Screech-owlMegascops asioWinter visitorRare16–25 cmRecorded all year · 0.04% in Sep
Red-necked PhalaropePhalaropus lobatusPassage migrantRare18–19 cmRegularly Aug–Sep · 0.04% in Sep
Western SandpiperCalidris mauriPassage migrantUncommon14–17 cmRegularly Jul–Sep · 0.04% in Sep
Hermit ThrushCatharus guttatusResidentCommon14–18 cmRecorded all year · 0.04% in Sep
Arctic JaegerStercorarius parasiticusPassage migrantRare41–46 cmRegularly May–Nov · 0.03% in Sep
Yellow-bellied FlycatcherEmpidonax flaviventrisPassage migrantRare13–15 cmRegularly Aug–Sep · 0.03% in Sep
Hudsonian GodwitLimosa haemasticaPassage migrantRare36–42 cmRegularly Aug–Oct · 0.03% in Sep
American BitternBotaurus lentiginosusWinter visitorRare58–85 cmRegularly Jun–Apr · 0.03% in Sep
Northern PintailAnas acutaWinter visitorUncommon59–76 cmRegularly Sep–Mar · 0.02% in Sep
Roseate TernSterna dougalliiSummer visitorUncommon33–41 cmRegularly May–Sep · 0.02% in Sep
Stilt SandpiperCalidris himantopusPassage migrantUncommon18–23 cmRegularly Jul–Oct · 0.02% in Sep
Black TernChlidonias nigerPassage migrantUncommon22–26 cmRegularly Jul–Sep · 0.02% in Sep
Sooty ShearwaterArdenna griseaSummer visitorUncommon40–51 cmRegularly May–Sep · 0.02% in Sep
White-crowned SparrowZonotrichia leucophrysWinter visitorUncommon15–16 cmRegularly Sep–May · 0.02% in Sep
Manx ShearwaterPuffinus puffinusPassage migrantRare30–38 cmRegularly Jun–Nov · 0.02% in Sep
Lark SparrowChondestes grammacusScarceRare15–17 cmRegularly Sep · 0.02% in Sep
Clay-colored SparrowSpizella pallidaPassage migrantUncommon13–15 cmRegularly Sep–Dec · 0.02% in Sep
Virginia RailRallus limicolaResidentRare20–27 cmRecorded all year · 0.01% in Sep
Black-billed CuckooCoccyzus erythropthalmusSummer visitorRare28–32 cmRegularly May–Oct · 0.01% in Sep
Gray-cheeked ThrushCatharus minimusPassage migrantRare16–17 cmRegularly Sep–Oct · 0.01% in Sep
Muscovy DuckCairina moschataWinter visitorRare66–84 cmRecorded all year · 0.01% in Sep
King EiderSomateria spectabilisWinter visitorUncommon46–64 cmRegularly Sep–Feb · 0.01% in Sep
Greylag GooseAnser anserSummer visitorRare75–90 cmRegularly Feb–Dec · 0.01% in Sep
Mourning WarblerGeothlypis philadelphiaPassage migrantRare10–15 cmRegularly May–Sep · 0.00% in Sep
Red-headed WoodpeckerMelanerpes erythrocephalusPassage migrantUncommon19–23 cmRegularly Sep–May · 0.00% in Sep
Wilson's PhalaropePhalaropus tricolorPassage migrantRare22–24 cmRegularly 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