Birds to See in South Carolina in September
133 bird species on our list for South Carolina are recorded regularly in September
Of these, the most often recorded are Northern Cardinal, Blue Jay, American Crow, Tufted Titmouse and Mourning Dove. New this month: Palm Warbler, Blue-headed Vireo, Black-throated Blue Warbler and Magnolia Warbler and 25 more.
On the move in September
GBIF · SepArriving
At their peak
American RedstartBusiest month of the year · Apr–May
Northern Yellow WarblerBusiest month of the year · Apr–May
Northern WaterthrushBusiest month of the year · Apr–May
Chestnut-sided WarblerBusiest month of the year · May
BobolinkBusiest month of the year · Apr–May
Lesser Black-backed GullBusiest month of the year · Jul–Apr
From South 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 133 birds in September
133 birds
Northern CardinalCardinalis cardinalisResidentCommon21–23 cmRecorded all year · 4.14% in Sep
Blue JayCyanocitta cristataResidentCommon25–30 cmRecorded all year · 3.04% in Sep
American CrowCorvus brachyrhynchosResidentCommon41–53 cmRecorded all year · 2.90% in Sep
Tufted TitmouseBaeolophus bicolorResidentCommon14–16 cmRecorded all year · 2.89% in Sep
Mourning DoveZenaida macrouraResidentCommon23–34 cmRecorded all year · 2.80% in Sep
Red-bellied WoodpeckerMelanerpes carolinusResidentCommon23–26 cmRecorded all year · 2.55% in Sep
Downy WoodpeckerDryobates pubescensResidentCommon14–18 cmRecorded all year · 2.40% in Sep
Northern MockingbirdMimus polyglottosResidentCommon21–26 cmRecorded all year · 2.34% in Sep
Ruby-throated HummingbirdArchilochus colubrisSummer visitorCommon7–9 cmRegularly Mar–Oct · 1.97% in Sep
Great White EgretArdea albaResidentCommon80–104 cmRecorded all year · 1.88% in Sep
House FinchHaemorhous mexicanusResidentCommon13–15 cmRecorded all year · 1.76% in Sep
Eastern BluebirdSialia sialisResidentCommon16–21 cmRecorded all year · 1.74% in Sep
Turkey VultureCathartes auraResidentCommon62–81 cmRecorded all year · 1.69% in Sep
Great Blue HeronArdea herodiasResidentCommon91–137 cmRecorded all year · 1.41% in Sep- American RedstartSetophaga ruticillaPassage migrantCommon11–14 cmRegularly Apr–Oct · 1.23% in Sep
Pileated WoodpeckerDryocopus pileatusResidentCommon40–49 cmRecorded all year · 1.22% in Sep
OspreyPandion haliaetusResidentCommon54–58 cmRecorded all year · 1.09% in Sep
White-breasted NuthatchSitta carolinensisResidentCommon13–14 cmRecorded all year · 1.02% in Sep
Common YellowthroatGeothlypis trichasResidentCommon11–13 cmRecorded all year · 0.87% in Sep
Gray CatbirdDumetella carolinensisWinter visitorCommon20–24 cmRecorded all year · 0.73% in Sep
Painted BuntingPasserina cirisSummer visitorCommon12–14 cmRegularly Feb–Nov · 0.63% in Sep
Fish CrowCorvus ossifragusResidentCommon36–41 cmRecorded all year · 0.59% in Sep
Common GrackleQuiscalus quisculaResidentCommon28–34 cmRecorded all year · 0.55% in Sep
Red-winged BlackbirdAgelaius phoeniceusResidentCommon17–23 cmRecorded all year · 0.53% in Sep
Canada GooseBranta canadensisResidentCommon76–110 cmRecorded all year · 0.53% in Sep
Red-tailed HawkButeo jamaicensisResidentCommon45–65 cmRecorded all year · 0.52% in Sep
Bald EagleHaliaeetus leucocephalusWinter visitorCommon70–102 cmRecorded all year · 0.51% in Sep
Red-headed WoodpeckerMelanerpes erythrocephalusResidentCommon19–23 cmRecorded all year · 0.51% in Sep
WilletTringa semipalmataResidentCommon33–41 cmRecorded all year · 0.51% in Sep
American RobinTurdus migratoriusResidentCommon20–28 cmRecorded all year · 0.47% in Sep
Barn SwallowHirundo rusticaSummer visitorCommon17–19 cmRegularly Mar–Oct · 0.42% in Sep
Forster's TernSterna forsteriResidentCommon33–36 cmRecorded all year · 0.42% in Sep
Palm WarblerSetophaga palmarumWinter visitorCommon12–14 cmRegularly Sep–Apr · 0.41% in Sep
Chipping SparrowSpizella passerinaResidentCommon12–15 cmRecorded all year · 0.40% in Sep
SanderlingCalidris albaResidentCommon18–20 cmRecorded all year · 0.38% in Sep
Common StarlingSturnus vulgarisResidentCommon21–23 cmRecorded all year · 0.38% in Sep
Semipalmated PloverCharadrius semipalmatusResidentCommon17–19 cmRecorded all year · 0.37% in Sep
Great Crested FlycatcherMyiarchus crinitusSummer visitorCommon17–22 cmRegularly Apr–Sep · 0.35% in Sep
Least SandpiperCalidris minutillaResidentCommon13–15 cmRecorded all year · 0.34% in Sep
Wood DuckAix sponsaResidentCommon47–54 cmRecorded all year · 0.33% in Sep- Northern Yellow WarblerSetophaga aestivaPassage migrantUncommon12–13 cmRegularly Apr–Oct · 0.33% in Sep
Northern FlickerColaptes auratusWinter visitorCommon28–31 cmRecorded all year · 0.31% in Sep
Rock DoveColumba liviaResidentUncommon29–37 cmRecorded all year · 0.31% in Sep- Northern WaterthrushParkesia noveboracensisPassage migrantUncommon12–15 cmRegularly Apr–Oct · 0.29% in Sep
Grey PloverPluvialis squatarolaResidentUncommon27–30 cmRecorded all year · 0.29% in Sep
MallardAnas platyrhynchosResidentCommon50–65 cmRecorded all year · 0.29% in Sep
Barred OwlStrix variaResidentUncommon43–50 cmRecorded all year · 0.28% in Sep
Swainson's ThrushCatharus ustulatusPassage migrantUncommon16–20 cmRegularly May–Oct · 0.26% in Sep
Magnolia WarblerSetophaga magnoliaPassage migrantUncommon11–13 cmRegularly May–Oct · 0.25% in Sep
House SparrowPasser domesticusResidentUncommon14–17 cmRecorded all year · 0.24% in Sep
Black-crowned Night-heronNycticorax nycticoraxResidentUncommon58–65 cmRecorded all year · 0.24% in Sep
Pied-billed GrebePodilymbus podicepsWinter visitorCommon31–38 cmRegularly Jun–Apr · 0.23% in Sep
Greater YellowlegsTringa melanoleucaResidentUncommon29–40 cmRecorded all year · 0.22% in Sep
VeeryCatharus fuscescensPassage migrantUncommon16–19 cmRegularly Apr–Oct · 0.21% in Sep
Cattle EgretArdea ibisSummer visitorUncommon46–56 cmRecorded all year · 0.21% in Sep
Lesser YellowlegsTringa flavipesResidentUncommon23–27 cmRecorded all year · 0.20% in Sep
Cape May WarblerSetophaga tigrinaPassage migrantUncommon12–14 cmRegularly Apr–Oct · 0.20% in Sep
Sandwich TernThalasseus sandvicensisSummer visitorUncommon36–41 cmRegularly Apr–Nov · 0.20% in Sep
Ruddy TurnstoneArenaria interpresResidentUncommon21–24 cmRecorded all year · 0.19% in Sep- Chestnut-sided WarblerSetophaga pensylvanicaPassage migrantUncommon10–14 cmRegularly May–Oct · 0.19% in Sep
Ring-billed GullLarus delawarensisWinter visitorCommon43–54 cmRecorded all year · 0.18% in Sep
Scarlet TanagerPiranga olivaceaSummer visitorUncommon16–19 cmRegularly Apr–Oct · 0.18% in Sep
Hairy WoodpeckerLeuconotopicus villosusResidentUncommon18–26 cmRecorded all year · 0.17% in Sep
Baltimore OrioleIcterus galbulaWinter visitorUncommon17–19 cmRegularly Aug–May · 0.17% in Sep
Black-throated Blue WarblerSetophaga caerulescensPassage migrantUncommon11–13 cmRegularly Apr–Nov · 0.17% in Sep
Semipalmated SandpiperCalidris pusillaSummer visitorUncommon15–18 cmRegularly Mar–Oct · 0.17% in Sep
Rose-breasted GrosbeakPheucticus ludovicianusPassage migrantUncommon18–22 cmRegularly Apr–Oct · 0.14% in Sep
Eurasian Collared DoveStreptopelia decaoctoResidentUncommon30–32 cmRecorded all year · 0.14% in Sep
MerlinFalco columbariusWinter visitorUncommon24–33 cmRegularly Sep–Apr · 0.13% in Sep- BobolinkDolichonyx oryzivorusPassage migrantUncommon16–20 cmRegularly Apr–Oct · 0.13% in Sep
American Herring GullLarus smithsonianusWinter visitorUncommon53–65 cmRecorded all year · 0.12% in Sep
Short-billed DowitcherLimnodromus griseusResidentUncommon23–32 cmRecorded all year · 0.12% in Sep
Western SandpiperCalidris mauriWinter visitorUncommon14–17 cmRegularly Jul–May · 0.12% in Sep
Black TernChlidonias nigerSummer visitorUncommon22–26 cmRegularly May–Sep · 0.11% in Sep
Tennessee WarblerLeiothlypis peregrinaPassage migrantUncommon10–13 cmRegularly Sep–Oct · 0.11% in Sep
Great Horned OwlBubo virginianusResidentUncommon46–63 cmRecorded all year · 0.11% in Sep
OvenbirdSeiurus aurocapillaSummer visitorUncommon12–15 cmRegularly Mar–Oct · 0.11% in Sep
Wild TurkeyMeleagris gallopavoResidentUncommon100–125 cmRecorded all year · 0.11% in Sep
Marsh WrenCistothorus palustrisResidentUncommon10–14 cmRecorded all year · 0.10% in Sep
Pectoral SandpiperCalidris melanotosPassage migrantUncommon19–23 cmRegularly Mar–Oct · 0.10% in Sep
Piping PloverCharadrius melodusWinter visitorUncommon17–18 cmRegularly Jul–May · 0.09% in Sep
Glossy IbisPlegadis falcinellusResidentUncommon48–66 cmRecorded all year · 0.09% in Sep
Solitary SandpiperTringa solitariaPassage migrantUncommon19–23 cmRegularly Apr–Oct · 0.08% in Sep
Peregrine FalconFalco peregrinusWinter visitorUncommon34–58 cmRegularly Sep–Mar · 0.08% in Sep
American AvocetRecurvirostra americanaWinter visitorUncommon43–51 cmRecorded all year · 0.08% in Sep
Common TernSterna hirundoSummer visitorUncommon31–35 cmRegularly Mar–Oct · 0.08% in Sep
Marbled GodwitLimosa fedoaWinter visitorUncommon40–50 cmRecorded all year · 0.07% in Sep
Gull-billed TernGelochelidon niloticaSummer visitorUncommon33–42 cmRegularly Apr–Sep · 0.07% in Sep
Broad-winged HawkButeo platypterusSummer visitorUncommon34–44 cmRegularly Apr–Oct · 0.05% in Sep- Lesser Black-backed GullLarus fuscusWinter visitorUncommon52–64 cmRegularly Jul–Apr · 0.05% in Sep
WhimbrelNumenius phaeopusSummer visitorUncommon40–46 cmRegularly Apr–Jan · 0.05% in Sep
Gray-cheeked ThrushCatharus minimusPassage migrantUncommon16–17 cmRegularly May–Oct · 0.05% in Sep
Horned LarkEremophila alpestrisResidentUncommon16–20 cmRecorded all year · 0.05% in Sep
Stilt SandpiperCalidris himantopusWinter visitorUncommon18–23 cmRegularly Jul–May · 0.05% in Sep
Red-cockaded WoodpeckerLeuconotopicus borealisResidentUncommon20–23 cmRecorded all year · 0.04% in Sep
Eastern Screech-owlMegascops asioResidentRare16–25 cmRecorded all year · 0.04% in Sep
Prothonotary WarblerProtonotaria citreaSummer visitorUncommon13–14 cmRegularly Mar–Sep · 0.04% in Sep
Purple MartinProgne subisSummer visitorCommon18–20 cmRegularly Mar–Sep · 0.04% in Sep
Bay-breasted WarblerSetophaga castaneaPassage migrantUncommon14–14 cmRegularly May–Oct · 0.04% in Sep
Blue-headed VireoVireo solitariusWinter visitorUncommon12–15 cmRegularly Sep–Jul · 0.04% in Sep
Sand MartinRiparia ripariaPassage migrantUncommon12–14 cmRegularly Mar–Oct · 0.04% in Sep
Great Black-backed GullLarus marinusWinter visitorUncommon64–79 cmRecorded all year · 0.03% in Sep
Northern ShovelerSpatula clypeataWinter visitorUncommon44–51 cmRegularly Sep–Apr · 0.03% in Sep
Common RavenCorvus coraxSummer visitorRare54–67 cmRecorded all year · 0.03% in Sep
Sharp-shinned HawkAccipiter striatusWinter visitorUncommon24–34 cmRegularly Sep–May · 0.03% in Sep
Black-throated Green WarblerSetophaga virensSummer visitorUncommon11–12 cmRegularly Mar–Oct · 0.03% in Sep
Least FlycatcherEmpidonax minimusPassage migrantRare12–14 cmRegularly Aug–Oct · 0.03% in Sep
Buff-breasted SandpiperCalidris subruficollisPassage migrantRare18–20 cmRegularly Aug–Oct · 0.02% in Sep
Red KnotCalidris canutusResidentUncommon23–26 cmRecorded all year · 0.02% in Sep
Nashville WarblerLeiothlypis ruficapillaPassage migrantRare11–13 cmRegularly Sep–May · 0.02% in Sep
Muscovy DuckCairina moschataResidentRare66–84 cmRecorded all year · 0.02% in Sep
Philadelphia VireoVireo philadelphicusPassage migrantRare11–13 cmRegularly Sep–Oct · 0.02% in Sep
American Golden-PloverPluvialis dominicaPassage migrantRare24–28 cmRegularly Mar–Oct · 0.01% in Sep
Wilson's PhalaropePhalaropus tricolorPassage migrantRare22–24 cmRegularly Jun–Oct · 0.01% in Sep
Clay-colored SparrowSpizella pallidaPassage migrantRare13–15 cmRegularly Sep–Nov · 0.01% in Sep
White-rumped SandpiperCalidris fuscicollisPassage migrantRare15–18 cmRegularly Apr–Oct · 0.01% in Sep
American BitternBotaurus lentiginosusWinter visitorRare58–85 cmRegularly Sep–May · 0.01% in Sep
Blackpoll WarblerSetophaga striataPassage migrantUncommon13–15 cmRegularly Apr–Oct · 0.01% in Sep
Baird's SandpiperCalidris bairdiiPassage migrantRare14–17 cmRegularly Sep · 0.01% in Sep
Yellow-bellied FlycatcherEmpidonax flaviventrisPassage migrantRare13–15 cmRegularly Sep–Oct · 0.01% in Sep
Virginia RailRallus limicolaWinter visitorUncommon20–27 cmRegularly Sep–Apr · 0.01% in Sep
Mute SwanCygnus olorWinter visitorUncommon140–160 cmRecorded all year · 0.00% in Sep
Red-necked PhalaropePhalaropus lobatusPassage migrantRare18–19 cmRegularly May–Sep · 0.00% in Sep
Black-billed CuckooCoccyzus erythropthalmusPassage migrantRare28–32 cmRegularly May–Oct · 0.00% in Sep
Long-billed DowitcherLimnodromus scolopaceusWinter visitorRare27–30 cmRegularly Aug–May · 0.00% in Sep
Lark SparrowChondestes grammacusWinter visitorRare15–17 cmRegularly Aug–May · 0.00% in Sep
Arctic JaegerStercorarius parasiticusWinter visitorRare41–46 cmRegularly Sep–Apr · 0.00% in Sep
Mourning WarblerGeothlypis philadelphiaPassage migrantRare10–15 cmRegularly Sep · 0.00% in Sep
Upland SandpiperBartramia longicaudaPassage migrantRare28–32 cmRegularly Apr–Sep · 0.00% in Sep
Pomarine JaegerStercorarius pomarinusPassage migrantRare46–51 cmRegularly Sep · 0.00% in Sep
Willow FlycatcherEmpidonax trailliiScarceRare13–17 cmRegularly Aug–Sep · 0.00% in Sep
Red CrossbillLoxia curvirostraResidentRare15–17 cmRegularly Jun–Sep · 0.00% in Sep
Alder FlycatcherEmpidonax alnorumPassage migrantRare13–17 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