Birds to See in Tennessee in September
138 bird species on our list for Tennessee are recorded regularly in September
Of these, the most often recorded are Northern Cardinal, Blue Jay, American Crow, Tufted Titmouse and Red-bellied Woodpecker. New this month: Magnolia Warbler, Tennessee Warbler, Palm Warbler and Swainson's Thrush and 22 more.
On the move in September
GBIF · SepArriving
At their peak
Gray CatbirdBusiest month of the year · Apr–Oct
American RedstartBusiest month of the year · Apr–Oct
Chestnut-sided WarblerBusiest month of the year · Apr–Jun
Philadelphia VireoBusiest month of the year · Apr–May
Gray-cheeked ThrushBusiest month of the year · Apr–May
Least FlycatcherBusiest month of the year · Apr–Jun
From Tennessee’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 138 birds in September
138 birds
Northern CardinalCardinalis cardinalisResidentCommon21–23 cmRecorded all year · 3.98% in Sep
Blue JayCyanocitta cristataResidentCommon25–30 cmRecorded all year · 3.84% in Sep
American CrowCorvus brachyrhynchosResidentCommon41–53 cmRecorded all year · 3.43% in Sep
Tufted TitmouseBaeolophus bicolorResidentCommon14–16 cmRecorded all year · 3.11% in Sep
Red-bellied WoodpeckerMelanerpes carolinusResidentCommon23–26 cmRecorded all year · 2.77% in Sep
Mourning DoveZenaida macrouraResidentCommon23–34 cmRecorded all year · 2.68% in Sep
Downy WoodpeckerDryobates pubescensResidentCommon14–18 cmRecorded all year · 2.58% in Sep
Ruby-throated HummingbirdArchilochus colubrisSummer visitorCommon7–9 cmRegularly Apr–Oct · 2.39% in Sep
White-breasted NuthatchSitta carolinensisResidentCommon13–14 cmRecorded all year · 2.12% in Sep
Northern MockingbirdMimus polyglottosResidentCommon21–26 cmRecorded all year · 1.99% in Sep
Eastern BluebirdSialia sialisResidentCommon16–21 cmRecorded all year · 1.90% in Sep
House FinchHaemorhous mexicanusResidentCommon13–15 cmRecorded all year · 1.77% in Sep
American RobinTurdus migratoriusResidentCommon20–28 cmRecorded all year · 1.67% in Sep
Turkey VultureCathartes auraResidentCommon62–81 cmRecorded all year · 1.55% in Sep
Great Blue HeronArdea herodiasResidentCommon91–137 cmRecorded all year · 1.47% in Sep
Common StarlingSturnus vulgarisResidentCommon21–23 cmRecorded all year · 1.33% in Sep
Pileated WoodpeckerDryocopus pileatusResidentCommon40–49 cmRecorded all year · 1.30% in Sep
Magnolia WarblerSetophaga magnoliaPassage migrantCommon11–13 cmRegularly May–Oct · 1.29% in Sep- Gray CatbirdDumetella carolinensisSummer visitorCommon20–24 cmRegularly Apr–Oct · 1.05% in Sep
- American RedstartSetophaga ruticillaSummer visitorCommon11–14 cmRegularly Apr–Oct · 1.05% in Sep
Canada GooseBranta canadensisResidentCommon76–110 cmRecorded all year · 0.99% in Sep
Tennessee WarblerLeiothlypis peregrinaPassage migrantCommon10–13 cmRegularly Apr–Oct · 0.94% in Sep
Northern FlickerColaptes auratusWinter visitorCommon28–31 cmRecorded all year · 0.93% in Sep
Great White EgretArdea albaSummer visitorCommon80–104 cmRecorded all year · 0.81% in Sep
MallardAnas platyrhynchosResidentCommon50–65 cmRecorded all year · 0.75% in Sep
Swainson's ThrushCatharus ustulatusPassage migrantCommon16–20 cmRegularly Apr–Oct · 0.71% in Sep
Song SparrowMelospiza melodiaResidentCommon12–17 cmRecorded all year · 0.68% in Sep
Red-tailed HawkButeo jamaicensisResidentCommon45–65 cmRecorded all year · 0.58% in Sep
Wood DuckAix sponsaResidentCommon47–54 cmRecorded all year · 0.58% in Sep
Chipping SparrowSpizella passerinaResidentCommon12–15 cmRecorded all year · 0.57% in Sep- Chestnut-sided WarblerSetophaga pensylvanicaPassage migrantCommon10–14 cmRegularly Apr–Oct · 0.56% in Sep
Common YellowthroatGeothlypis trichasSummer visitorCommon11–13 cmRegularly Apr–Oct · 0.55% in Sep
Hairy WoodpeckerLeuconotopicus villosusResidentCommon18–26 cmRecorded all year · 0.53% in Sep
Rose-breasted GrosbeakPheucticus ludovicianusPassage migrantCommon18–22 cmRegularly Apr–Oct · 0.50% in Sep
Rock DoveColumba liviaResidentCommon29–37 cmRecorded all year · 0.49% in Sep
Scarlet TanagerPiranga olivaceaSummer visitorCommon16–19 cmRegularly Apr–Oct · 0.47% in Sep
Cedar WaxwingBombycilla cedrorumResidentCommon15–18 cmRecorded all year · 0.46% in Sep
Black-throated Green WarblerSetophaga virensSummer visitorCommon11–12 cmRegularly Mar–Oct · 0.45% in Sep
Common GrackleQuiscalus quisculaResidentCommon28–34 cmRecorded all year · 0.44% in Sep
Bald EagleHaliaeetus leucocephalusResidentCommon70–102 cmRecorded all year · 0.41% in Sep
OspreyPandion haliaetusSummer visitorCommon54–58 cmRegularly Feb–Nov · 0.40% in Sep
House SparrowPasser domesticusResidentCommon14–17 cmRecorded all year · 0.37% in Sep
Bay-breasted WarblerSetophaga castaneaPassage migrantCommon14–14 cmRegularly Apr–Oct · 0.37% in Sep
Red-headed WoodpeckerMelanerpes erythrocephalusResidentUncommon19–23 cmRecorded all year · 0.37% in Sep
Wild TurkeyMeleagris gallopavoResidentCommon100–125 cmRecorded all year · 0.32% in Sep
Red-winged BlackbirdAgelaius phoeniceusResidentCommon17–23 cmRecorded all year · 0.30% in Sep
Cape May WarblerSetophaga tigrinaPassage migrantUncommon12–14 cmRegularly Apr–Oct · 0.27% in Sep
Palm WarblerSetophaga palmarumWinter visitorCommon12–14 cmRegularly Sep–May · 0.26% in Sep
Barn SwallowHirundo rusticaSummer visitorCommon17–19 cmRegularly Mar–Sep · 0.24% in Sep
Least SandpiperCalidris minutillaPassage migrantUncommon13–15 cmRegularly Mar–Jan · 0.22% in Sep
Barred OwlStrix variaResidentUncommon43–50 cmRecorded all year · 0.21% in Sep
Broad-winged HawkButeo platypterusSummer visitorUncommon34–44 cmRegularly Apr–Oct · 0.20% in Sep
OvenbirdSeiurus aurocapillaSummer visitorUncommon12–15 cmRegularly Apr–Oct · 0.19% in Sep
Pied-billed GrebePodilymbus podicepsWinter visitorCommon31–38 cmRegularly Aug–Apr · 0.19% in Sep- Philadelphia VireoVireo philadelphicusPassage migrantUncommon11–13 cmRegularly Apr–Oct · 0.18% in Sep
Great Crested FlycatcherMyiarchus crinitusSummer visitorCommon17–22 cmRegularly Apr–Sep · 0.18% in Sep- Gray-cheeked ThrushCatharus minimusPassage migrantUncommon16–17 cmRegularly Apr–Oct · 0.18% in Sep
Fish CrowCorvus ossifragusResidentUncommon36–41 cmRecorded all year · 0.17% in Sep
Pectoral SandpiperCalidris melanotosPassage migrantUncommon19–23 cmRegularly Mar–Oct · 0.16% in Sep
Ring-billed GullLarus delawarensisWinter visitorCommon43–54 cmRegularly Aug–Apr · 0.15% in Sep
Eastern Screech-owlMegascops asioResidentUncommon16–25 cmRecorded all year · 0.15% in Sep
Blue-headed VireoVireo solitariusSummer visitorUncommon12–15 cmRegularly Mar–Nov · 0.14% in Sep
Northern Yellow WarblerSetophaga aestivaSummer visitorUncommon12–13 cmRegularly Apr–Sep · 0.13% in Sep- Least FlycatcherEmpidonax minimusPassage migrantUncommon12–14 cmRegularly Apr–Oct · 0.13% in Sep
Solitary SandpiperTringa solitariaPassage migrantUncommon19–23 cmRegularly Mar–Sep · 0.12% in Sep
Lesser YellowlegsTringa flavipesPassage migrantUncommon23–27 cmRegularly Mar–Nov · 0.12% in Sep
VeeryCatharus fuscescensSummer visitorUncommon16–19 cmRegularly Apr–Oct · 0.12% in Sep
Northern WaterthrushParkesia noveboracensisPassage migrantUncommon12–15 cmRegularly Apr–Oct · 0.12% in Sep
Nashville WarblerLeiothlypis ruficapillaPassage migrantUncommon11–13 cmRegularly Apr–Oct · 0.12% in Sep
Baltimore OrioleIcterus galbulaSummer visitorUncommon17–19 cmRegularly Jan–Sep · 0.11% in Sep
Semipalmated SandpiperCalidris pusillaSummer visitorUncommon15–18 cmRegularly Apr–Oct · 0.11% in Sep
Great Horned OwlBubo virginianusResidentUncommon46–63 cmRecorded all year · 0.11% in Sep
Semipalmated PloverCharadrius semipalmatusSummer visitorUncommon17–19 cmRegularly Apr–Oct · 0.10% in Sep
Common RavenCorvus coraxResidentUncommon54–67 cmRecorded all year · 0.10% in Sep
Prothonotary WarblerProtonotaria citreaSummer visitorCommon13–14 cmRegularly Apr–Sep · 0.09% in Sep
Greater YellowlegsTringa melanoleucaPassage migrantUncommon29–40 cmRegularly Mar–Nov · 0.09% in Sep
Eurasian Collared DoveStreptopelia decaoctoResidentUncommon30–32 cmRecorded all year · 0.08% in Sep
Stilt SandpiperCalidris himantopusPassage migrantUncommon18–23 cmRegularly Apr–Oct · 0.07% in Sep
Forster's TernSterna forsteriWinter visitorUncommon33–36 cmRegularly Jul–May · 0.07% in Sep
Black-throated Blue WarblerSetophaga caerulescensSummer visitorUncommon11–13 cmRegularly Apr–Oct · 0.07% in Sep
Northern ShovelerSpatula clypeataWinter visitorUncommon44–51 cmRegularly Aug–May · 0.06% in Sep
Sharp-shinned HawkAccipiter striatusWinter visitorUncommon24–34 cmRecorded all year · 0.06% in Sep
SanderlingCalidris albaPassage migrantUncommon18–20 cmRegularly May–Oct · 0.05% in Sep
Black-crowned Night-heronNycticorax nycticoraxResidentUncommon58–65 cmRecorded all year · 0.05% in Sep
American Golden-PloverPluvialis dominicaPassage migrantRare24–28 cmRegularly Aug–Apr · 0.05% in Sep
Purple MartinProgne subisSummer visitorCommon18–20 cmRegularly Mar–Sep · 0.05% in Sep
Black TernChlidonias nigerPassage migrantUncommon22–26 cmRegularly May–Sep · 0.05% in Sep
MerlinFalco columbariusWinter visitorUncommon24–33 cmRegularly Aug–Apr · 0.05% in Sep
Peregrine FalconFalco peregrinusWinter visitorRare34–58 cmRecorded all year · 0.04% in Sep
Sand MartinRiparia ripariaSummer visitorUncommon12–14 cmRegularly Apr–Sep · 0.04% in Sep
DickcisselSpiza americanaSummer visitorUncommon14–16 cmRegularly Apr–Oct · 0.04% in Sep
Cattle EgretArdea ibisSummer visitorUncommon46–56 cmRegularly Mar–Nov · 0.04% in Sep
Western SandpiperCalidris mauriPassage migrantUncommon14–17 cmRegularly Apr–Oct · 0.04% in Sep
Common TernSterna hirundoPassage migrantRare31–35 cmRegularly May–Oct · 0.04% in Sep
Yellow-bellied FlycatcherEmpidonax flaviventrisPassage migrantRare13–15 cmRegularly May–Oct · 0.04% in Sep
Buff-breasted SandpiperCalidris subruficollisPassage migrantRare18–20 cmRegularly Jul–Sep · 0.04% in Sep
Horned LarkEremophila alpestrisWinter visitorUncommon16–20 cmRecorded all year · 0.03% in Sep
Baird's SandpiperCalidris bairdiiPassage migrantRare14–17 cmRegularly Apr–Oct · 0.03% in Sep
American Herring GullLarus smithsonianusWinter visitorUncommon53–65 cmRegularly Sep–Apr · 0.03% in Sep
American AvocetRecurvirostra americanaPassage migrantRare43–51 cmRegularly Apr–Nov · 0.02% in Sep
Lesser Black-backed GullLarus fuscusWinter visitorRare52–64 cmRegularly Aug–Apr · 0.02% in Sep
Short-billed DowitcherLimnodromus griseusPassage migrantRare23–32 cmRegularly Apr–Sep · 0.02% in Sep
Eurasian TealAnas creccaWinter visitorUncommon34–38 cmRegularly Sep–Apr · 0.02% in Sep
Wilson's PhalaropePhalaropus tricolorPassage migrantRare22–24 cmRegularly Apr–Sep · 0.02% in Sep
Muscovy DuckCairina moschataResidentRare66–84 cmRecorded all year · 0.02% in Sep
Marsh WrenCistothorus palustrisWinter visitorUncommon10–14 cmRegularly Sep–May · 0.02% in Sep
Red CrossbillLoxia curvirostraResidentRare15–17 cmRecorded all year · 0.02% in Sep
Grey PloverPluvialis squatarolaPassage migrantRare27–30 cmRegularly Apr–Nov · 0.02% in Sep
BobolinkDolichonyx oryzivorusPassage migrantUncommon16–20 cmRegularly Apr–Oct · 0.02% in Sep
Scissor-tailed FlycatcherTyrannus forficatusSummer visitorUncommon28–38 cmRegularly Apr–Oct · 0.02% in Sep
Orange-crowned WarblerLeiothlypis celataWinter visitorUncommon11–14 cmRegularly Sep–Apr · 0.01% in Sep
Northern PintailAnas acutaWinter visitorUncommon59–76 cmRegularly Sep–Mar · 0.01% in Sep
Ruddy TurnstoneArenaria interpresPassage migrantRare21–24 cmRegularly May–Sep · 0.01% in Sep
Alder FlycatcherEmpidonax alnorumSummer visitorRare13–17 cmRegularly May–Sep · 0.01% in Sep
Red-necked PhalaropePhalaropus lobatusPassage migrantRare18–19 cmRegularly May–Sep · 0.01% in Sep
White-rumped SandpiperCalidris fuscicollisPassage migrantUncommon15–18 cmRegularly Apr–Oct · 0.01% in Sep
Mourning WarblerGeothlypis philadelphiaPassage migrantRare10–15 cmRegularly May–Oct · 0.01% in Sep
Mute SwanCygnus olorWinter visitorRare140–160 cmRecorded all year · 0.01% in Sep
Long-billed DowitcherLimnodromus scolopaceusPassage migrantUncommon27–30 cmRegularly Mar–Nov · 0.01% in Sep
WhimbrelNumenius phaeopusResidentRare40–46 cmRegularly May–Sep · 0.01% in Sep
Willow FlycatcherEmpidonax trailliiSummer visitorUncommon13–17 cmRegularly May–Sep · 0.01% in Sep
Common MerganserMergus merganserWinter visitorUncommon58–68 cmRecorded all year · 0.01% in Sep
Franklin's GullLeucophaeus pipixcanPassage migrantRare32–36 cmRegularly Jun–Dec · 0.01% in Sep
Sabine's GullXema sabiniPassage migrantRare27–33 cmRegularly Sep · 0.01% in Sep
Black-billed CuckooCoccyzus erythropthalmusPassage migrantRare28–32 cmRegularly Apr–Oct · 0.01% in Sep
Upland SandpiperBartramia longicaudaPassage migrantRare28–32 cmRegularly Apr–Sep · 0.00% in Sep
Virginia RailRallus limicolaWinter visitorRare20–27 cmRegularly Sep–May · 0.00% in Sep
WilletTringa semipalmataPassage migrantRare33–41 cmRegularly Apr–Sep · 0.00% in Sep
Ruffed GrouseBonasa umbellusSummer visitorRare41–50 cmRegularly Feb–Dec · 0.00% in Sep
Egyptian GooseAlopochen aegyptiacaResidentRare63–73 cmRegularly Mar–Sep · 0.00% in Sep
Northern Saw-whet OwlAegolius acadicusSummer visitorRare17–21 cmRegularly Apr–Jan · 0.00% in Sep
Red KnotCalidris canutusScarceRare23–26 cmRegularly Sep · 0.00% in Sep
Piping PloverCharadrius melodusPassage migrantRare17–18 cmRegularly Aug–Sep · 0.00% in Sep
Greylag GooseAnser anserResidentRare75–90 cmRegularly Mar–Jan · 0.00% in Sep
White-winged DoveZenaida asiaticaSummer visitorRare27–30 cmRegularly Mar–Sep · 0.00% in Sep
Marbled GodwitLimosa fedoaResidentRare40–50 cmRegularly Apr–Sep · 0.00% in Sep
American BitternBotaurus lentiginosusPassage migrantRare58–85 cmRegularly Sep–May · 0.00% in Sep
Lark SparrowChondestes grammacusSummer visitorRare15–17 cmRegularly Apr–Oct · 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