Birds to See in South Dakota in September
146 bird species on our list for South Dakota are recorded regularly in September
Of these, the most often recorded are American Robin, Mourning Dove, Blue Jay, Turkey Vulture and Northern Flicker. New this month: White-crowned Sparrow, Lincoln's Sparrow, Orange-crowned Warbler and Bonaparte's Gull and 10 more.
On the move in September
GBIF · SepArriving
At their peak
From South 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 146 birds in September
146 birds
American RobinTurdus migratoriusResidentCommon20–28 cmRecorded all year · 3.51% in Sep
Mourning DoveZenaida macrouraSummer visitorCommon23–34 cmRegularly Mar–Dec · 3.39% in Sep
Blue JayCyanocitta cristataResidentCommon25–30 cmRecorded all year · 2.96% in Sep
Turkey VultureCathartes auraSummer visitorCommon62–81 cmRegularly Apr–Oct · 2.86% in Sep
Northern FlickerColaptes auratusResidentCommon28–31 cmRecorded all year · 2.68% in Sep
Western MeadowlarkSturnella neglectaSummer visitorCommon16–26 cmRegularly Mar–Jan · 2.09% in Sep
Canada GooseBranta canadensisResidentCommon76–110 cmRecorded all year · 1.97% in Sep
Barn SwallowHirundo rusticaSummer visitorCommon17–19 cmRegularly Apr–Oct · 1.86% in Sep
MallardAnas platyrhynchosResidentCommon50–65 cmRecorded all year · 1.85% in Sep
Common StarlingSturnus vulgarisResidentCommon21–23 cmRecorded all year · 1.82% in Sep
Red-tailed HawkButeo jamaicensisResidentCommon45–65 cmRecorded all year · 1.77% in Sep
Eurasian Collared DoveStreptopelia decaoctoResidentCommon30–32 cmRecorded all year · 1.70% in Sep
Great Blue HeronArdea herodiasSummer visitorCommon91–137 cmRecorded all year · 1.67% in Sep
House SparrowPasser domesticusResidentCommon14–17 cmRecorded all year · 1.61% in Sep
White-breasted NuthatchSitta carolinensisWinter visitorCommon13–14 cmRecorded all year · 1.51% in Sep
Ring-billed GullLarus delawarensisWinter visitorCommon43–54 cmRecorded all year · 1.49% in Sep
American CrowCorvus brachyrhynchosResidentCommon41–53 cmRecorded all year · 1.49% in Sep
Downy WoodpeckerDryobates pubescensWinter visitorCommon14–18 cmRecorded all year · 1.46% in Sep
Common GrackleQuiscalus quisculaSummer visitorCommon28–34 cmRegularly Mar–Dec · 1.22% in Sep
Franklin's GullLeucophaeus pipixcanSummer visitorCommon32–36 cmRegularly Mar–Jan · 1.16% in Sep
Gray CatbirdDumetella carolinensisSummer visitorCommon20–24 cmRegularly May–Oct · 1.13% in Sep
Red-winged BlackbirdAgelaius phoeniceusSummer visitorCommon17–23 cmRecorded all year · 1.12% in Sep
Rock DoveColumba liviaResidentCommon29–37 cmRecorded all year · 1.12% in Sep
Chipping SparrowSpizella passerinaSummer visitorCommon12–15 cmRegularly Apr–Oct · 1.08% in Sep
Yellow-rumped WarblerSetophaga coronataSummer visitorCommon12–15 cmRegularly Apr–Dec · 1.08% in Sep
Hairy WoodpeckerLeuconotopicus villosusWinter visitorCommon18–26 cmRecorded all year · 1.06% in Sep
House FinchHaemorhous mexicanusWinter visitorCommon13–15 cmRecorded all year · 1.03% in Sep
Song SparrowMelospiza melodiaSummer visitorCommon12–17 cmRegularly Mar–Dec · 0.89% in Sep
Cedar WaxwingBombycilla cedrorumResidentCommon15–18 cmRecorded all year · 0.87% in Sep
Wood DuckAix sponsaSummer visitorCommon47–54 cmRecorded all year · 0.84% in Sep
Great White EgretArdea albaSummer visitorCommon80–104 cmRegularly Apr–Nov · 0.79% in Sep
Pied-billed GrebePodilymbus podicepsSummer visitorCommon31–38 cmRegularly Mar–Dec · 0.75% in Sep
Northern CardinalCardinalis cardinalisResidentCommon21–23 cmRecorded all year · 0.73% in Sep
Wild TurkeyMeleagris gallopavoResidentCommon100–125 cmRecorded all year · 0.70% in Sep
Red-headed WoodpeckerMelanerpes erythrocephalusSummer visitorCommon19–23 cmRegularly May–Sep · 0.68% in Sep
Mountain BluebirdSialia currucoidesSummer visitorCommon15–18 cmRegularly Mar–Nov · 0.67% in Sep
Bald EagleHaliaeetus leucocephalusWinter visitorCommon70–102 cmRecorded all year · 0.66% in Sep
Orange-crowned WarblerLeiothlypis celataPassage migrantCommon11–14 cmRegularly Apr–Oct · 0.65% in Sep
Vesper SparrowPooecetes gramineusSummer visitorCommon13–17 cmRegularly Apr–Oct · 0.58% in Sep
Common PheasantPhasianus colchicusResidentCommon50–90 cmRecorded all year · 0.56% in Sep
Red-bellied WoodpeckerMelanerpes carolinusWinter visitorCommon23–26 cmRecorded all year · 0.54% in Sep
Ruby-crowned KingletCorthylio calendulaSummer visitorCommon9–11 cmRegularly Apr–Oct · 0.53% in Sep
OspreyPandion haliaetusSummer visitorCommon54–58 cmRegularly Apr–Nov · 0.53% in Sep
White-crowned SparrowZonotrichia leucophrysPassage migrantCommon15–16 cmRegularly Sep–May · 0.52% in Sep
Clay-colored SparrowSpizella pallidaSummer visitorCommon13–15 cmRegularly Apr–Oct · 0.49% in Sep
Common YellowthroatGeothlypis trichasSummer visitorCommon11–13 cmRegularly May–Oct · 0.48% in Sep
Lincoln's SparrowMelospiza lincolniiPassage migrantCommon13–15 cmRegularly Apr–Oct · 0.46% in Sep
Ruby-throated HummingbirdArchilochus colubrisSummer visitorUncommon7–9 cmRegularly May–Sep · 0.43% in Sep
Northern ShovelerSpatula clypeataSummer visitorCommon44–51 cmRegularly Mar–Nov · 0.41% in Sep
Pine SiskinSpinus pinusWinter visitorCommon11–14 cmRecorded all year · 0.41% in Sep
Nashville WarblerLeiothlypis ruficapillaPassage migrantUncommon11–13 cmRegularly May–Oct · 0.41% in Sep
Red CrossbillLoxia curvirostraResidentCommon15–17 cmRecorded all year · 0.40% in Sep
Lesser YellowlegsTringa flavipesPassage migrantCommon23–27 cmRegularly Apr–Oct · 0.38% in Sep
GadwallMareca streperaResidentCommon46–56 cmRecorded all year · 0.37% in Sep
Northern Yellow WarblerSetophaga aestivaSummer visitorCommon12–13 cmRegularly May–Sep · 0.35% in Sep
Horned LarkEremophila alpestrisWinter visitorCommon16–20 cmRecorded all year · 0.32% in Sep
Greater YellowlegsTringa melanoleucaPassage migrantCommon29–40 cmRegularly Mar–Nov · 0.31% in Sep
Eurasian TealAnas creccaWinter visitorCommon34–38 cmRecorded all year · 0.28% in Sep
Least SandpiperCalidris minutillaPassage migrantUncommon13–15 cmRegularly Apr–Oct · 0.28% in Sep
Marsh WrenCistothorus palustrisSummer visitorUncommon10–14 cmRegularly Apr–Dec · 0.26% in Sep
Great Horned OwlBubo virginianusWinter visitorCommon46–63 cmRecorded all year · 0.25% in Sep
Say's PhoebeSayornis sayaSummer visitorUncommon17–20 cmRegularly Apr–Oct · 0.25% in Sep
Swainson's ThrushCatharus ustulatusSummer visitorCommon16–20 cmRegularly May–Sep · 0.25% in Sep
Common MerganserMergus merganserWinter visitorCommon58–68 cmRecorded all year · 0.24% in Sep
Ruddy DuckOxyura jamaicensisSummer visitorCommon35–43 cmRegularly Mar–Dec · 0.23% in Sep
Pectoral SandpiperCalidris melanotosPassage migrantCommon19–23 cmRegularly Apr–Oct · 0.23% in Sep
Golden EagleAquila chrysaetosWinter visitorCommon66–102 cmRecorded all year · 0.21% in Sep
Baltimore OrioleIcterus galbulaSummer visitorCommon17–19 cmRegularly May–Sep · 0.21% in Sep
American RedstartSetophaga ruticillaSummer visitorCommon11–14 cmRegularly May–Sep · 0.19% in Sep
Sharp-shinned HawkAccipiter striatusWinter visitorUncommon24–34 cmRegularly Aug–Apr · 0.19% in Sep
Eastern BluebirdSialia sialisSummer visitorUncommon16–21 cmRecorded all year · 0.18% in Sep
Northern PintailAnas acutaSummer visitorCommon59–76 cmRecorded all year · 0.18% in Sep
MerlinFalco columbariusWinter visitorUncommon24–33 cmRegularly Aug–Apr · 0.17% in Sep
Burrowing OwlAthene cuniculariaSummer visitorUncommon19–25 cmRegularly Apr–Oct · 0.16% in Sep
Red-naped SapsuckerSphyrapicus nuchalisSummer visitorUncommon19–21 cmRegularly Apr–Sep · 0.16% in Sep
American AvocetRecurvirostra americanaSummer visitorUncommon43–51 cmRegularly Apr–Oct · 0.14% in Sep
Broad-winged HawkButeo platypterusSummer visitorUncommon34–44 cmRegularly Apr–Oct · 0.14% in Sep
Long-billed DowitcherLimnodromus scolopaceusPassage migrantUncommon27–30 cmRegularly Apr–Oct · 0.14% in Sep
Blue-headed VireoVireo solitariusPassage migrantUncommon12–15 cmRegularly May–Oct · 0.13% in Sep
Stilt SandpiperCalidris himantopusSummer visitorUncommon18–23 cmRegularly Apr–Oct · 0.13% in Sep
Solitary SandpiperTringa solitariaPassage migrantUncommon19–23 cmRegularly Apr–Oct · 0.13% in Sep
Great Crested FlycatcherMyiarchus crinitusSummer visitorUncommon17–22 cmRegularly May–Sep · 0.12% in Sep
Lark SparrowChondestes grammacusSummer visitorCommon15–17 cmRegularly Apr–Sep · 0.12% in Sep
Baird's SandpiperCalidris bairdiiPassage migrantUncommon14–17 cmRegularly Mar–Oct · 0.11% in Sep
Western KingbirdTyrannus verticalisSummer visitorCommon20–24 cmRegularly May–Sep · 0.11% in Sep
Forster's TernSterna forsteriSummer visitorUncommon33–36 cmRegularly Apr–Oct · 0.10% in Sep
Least FlycatcherEmpidonax minimusSummer visitorCommon12–14 cmRegularly May–Sep · 0.10% in Sep
Semipalmated SandpiperCalidris pusillaSummer visitorUncommon15–18 cmRegularly Apr–Sep · 0.10% in Sep
Swamp SparrowMelospiza georgianaSummer visitorUncommon12–15 cmRegularly Apr–Dec · 0.10% in Sep
Tennessee WarblerLeiothlypis peregrinaPassage migrantUncommon10–13 cmRegularly May–Sep · 0.09% in Sep
Black-crowned Night-heronNycticorax nycticoraxSummer visitorUncommon58–65 cmRegularly Apr–Oct · 0.09% in Sep
Cattle EgretArdea ibisSummer visitorUncommon46–56 cmRegularly Apr–Oct · 0.09% in Sep
Black-necked GrebePodiceps nigricollisSummer visitorUncommon28–34 cmRegularly Apr–Nov · 0.09% in Sep
Rose-breasted GrosbeakPheucticus ludovicianusSummer visitorCommon18–22 cmRegularly May–Sep · 0.08% in Sep
OvenbirdSeiurus aurocapillaSummer visitorUncommon12–15 cmRegularly May–Sep · 0.08% in Sep
Philadelphia VireoVireo philadelphicusPassage migrantUncommon11–13 cmRegularly May–Sep · 0.08% in Sep
Peregrine FalconFalco peregrinusSummer visitorUncommon34–58 cmRegularly Mar–Oct · 0.07% in Sep
Lewis's WoodpeckerMelanerpes lewisSummer visitorUncommon26–28 cmRegularly Jan–Sep · 0.07% in Sep
Eastern Screech-owlMegascops asioWinter visitorUncommon16–25 cmRecorded all year · 0.06% in Sep
Semipalmated PloverCharadrius semipalmatusPassage migrantUncommon17–19 cmRegularly Apr–Oct · 0.06% in Sep
Black TernChlidonias nigerSummer visitorCommon22–26 cmRegularly May–Sep · 0.06% in Sep
Yellow-bellied SapsuckerSphyrapicus variusSummer visitorUncommon19–22 cmRegularly Apr–Oct · 0.05% in Sep
SanderlingCalidris albaSummer visitorUncommon18–20 cmRegularly Apr–Sep · 0.05% in Sep
Sand MartinRiparia ripariaSummer visitorUncommon12–14 cmRegularly Apr–Sep · 0.05% in Sep
Bonaparte's GullChroicocephalus philadelphiaPassage migrantCommon28–38 cmRegularly Sep–Apr · 0.04% in Sep
Sabine's GullXema sabiniPassage migrantUncommon27–33 cmRegularly Sep · 0.04% in Sep
Willow FlycatcherEmpidonax trailliiSummer visitorUncommon13–17 cmRegularly May–Sep · 0.04% in Sep
Bay-breasted WarblerSetophaga castaneaPassage migrantRare14–14 cmRegularly May–Sep · 0.04% in Sep
Trumpeter SwanCygnus buccinatorWinter visitorUncommon139–157 cmRecorded all year · 0.04% in Sep
Mourning WarblerGeothlypis philadelphiaPassage migrantUncommon10–15 cmRegularly May–Sep · 0.04% in Sep
Magnolia WarblerSetophaga magnoliaPassage migrantUncommon11–13 cmRegularly May–Sep · 0.04% in Sep
Wilson's PhalaropePhalaropus tricolorSummer visitorCommon22–24 cmRegularly Apr–Sep · 0.03% in Sep
Virginia RailRallus limicolaSummer visitorUncommon20–27 cmRegularly Apr–Oct · 0.03% in Sep
Chestnut-sided WarblerSetophaga pensylvanicaPassage migrantUncommon10–14 cmRegularly May–Sep · 0.03% in Sep
Palm WarblerSetophaga palmarumPassage migrantUncommon12–14 cmRegularly Apr–Oct · 0.03% in Sep
American BitternBotaurus lentiginosusSummer visitorUncommon58–85 cmRegularly Apr–Oct · 0.03% in Sep
Northern WaterthrushParkesia noveboracensisPassage migrantUncommon12–15 cmRegularly May–Sep · 0.03% in Sep
Purple MartinProgne subisSummer visitorUncommon18–20 cmRegularly Apr–Sep · 0.03% in Sep
Grey PloverPluvialis squatarolaResidentRare27–30 cmRegularly Apr–Oct · 0.03% in Sep
Scarlet TanagerPiranga olivaceaSummer visitorUncommon16–19 cmRegularly May–Sep · 0.03% in Sep
American Golden-PloverPluvialis dominicaPassage migrantUncommon24–28 cmRegularly Apr–Oct · 0.02% in Sep
Black-backed WoodpeckerPicoides arcticusSummer visitorRare21–24 cmRegularly Apr–Nov · 0.02% in Sep
Black-throated Green WarblerSetophaga virensPassage migrantRare11–12 cmRegularly May–Oct · 0.02% in Sep
Common LoonGavia immerSummer visitorUncommon66–91 cmRegularly Mar–Nov · 0.02% in Sep
Marbled GodwitLimosa fedoaSummer visitorUncommon40–50 cmRegularly Apr–Sep · 0.02% in Sep
Blackpoll WarblerSetophaga striataPassage migrantUncommon13–15 cmRegularly May–Sep · 0.02% in Sep
Horned GrebePodiceps auritusPassage migrantUncommon31–38 cmRegularly Sep–May · 0.02% in Sep
Sandhill CraneAntigone canadensisPassage migrantUncommon80–122 cmRegularly Sep–Apr · 0.02% in Sep
Lesser Black-backed GullLarus fuscusWinter visitorUncommon52–64 cmRegularly Sep–Apr · 0.02% in Sep
Barred OwlStrix variaSummer visitorRare43–50 cmRegularly Dec–Sep · 0.02% in Sep
Red-necked PhalaropePhalaropus lobatusPassage migrantUncommon18–19 cmRegularly May–Sep · 0.02% in Sep
Cinnamon TealSpatula cyanopteraSummer visitorRare36–43 cmRegularly Apr–Sep · 0.01% in Sep
Common TernSterna hirundoSummer visitorRare31–35 cmRegularly Apr–Sep · 0.01% in Sep
White-rumped SandpiperCalidris fuscicollisPassage migrantUncommon15–18 cmRegularly May–Sep · 0.01% in Sep
Grey PartridgePerdix perdixResidentRare28–32 cmRecorded all year · 0.01% in Sep
Buff-breasted SandpiperCalidris subruficollisPassage migrantUncommon18–20 cmRegularly May–Sep · 0.01% in Sep
VeeryCatharus fuscescensSummer visitorUncommon16–19 cmRegularly May–Sep · 0.01% in Sep
American Three-toed WoodpeckerPicoides dorsalisSummer visitorRare21–24 cmRegularly Jan–Oct · 0.01% in Sep
Little GullHydrocoloeus minutusResidentRare25–30 cmRegularly Sep · 0.01% in Sep
Black-throated Blue WarblerSetophaga caerulescensPassage migrantRare11–13 cmRegularly May–Sep · 0.01% in Sep
American Black DuckAnas rubripesPassage migrantRare54–59 cmRegularly Aug–Sep · 0.01% in Sep
DunlinCalidris alpinaPassage migrantUncommon16–22 cmRegularly Apr–Oct · 0.01% in Sep
Short-billed DowitcherLimnodromus griseusPassage migrantRare23–32 cmRegularly Apr–Sep · 0.01% in Sep
Yellow-bellied FlycatcherEmpidonax flaviventrisPassage migrantRare13–15 cmRegularly May–Sep · 0.01% in Sep
Black-billed CuckooCoccyzus erythropthalmusSummer visitorRare28–32 cmRegularly May–Sep · 0.00% in Sep
Hermit ThrushCatharus guttatusPassage migrantUncommon14–18 cmRegularly Apr–Dec · 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