Birds to See in Washington in September
169 bird species on our list for Washington are recorded regularly in September
Of these, the most often recorded are American Crow, Song Sparrow, Northern Flicker, American Robin and Great Blue Heron. New this month: Ruby-crowned Kinglet, Fox Sparrow, Cackling Goose and Snow Goose and 13 more.
On the move in September
GBIF · SepArriving
At their peak
From Washington’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 169 birds in September
169 birds
American CrowCorvus brachyrhynchosResidentCommon41–53 cmRecorded all year · 3.15% in Sep
Song SparrowMelospiza melodiaResidentCommon12–17 cmRecorded all year · 2.77% in Sep
Northern FlickerColaptes auratusResidentCommon28–31 cmRecorded all year · 2.59% in Sep
American RobinTurdus migratoriusResidentCommon20–28 cmRecorded all year · 2.24% in Sep
Great Blue HeronArdea herodiasResidentCommon91–137 cmRecorded all year · 1.98% in Sep
MallardAnas platyrhynchosResidentCommon50–65 cmRecorded all year · 1.96% in Sep
House FinchHaemorhous mexicanusResidentCommon13–15 cmRecorded all year · 1.93% in Sep
White-crowned SparrowZonotrichia leucophrysResidentCommon15–16 cmRecorded all year · 1.67% in Sep
Common StarlingSturnus vulgarisResidentCommon21–23 cmRecorded all year · 1.64% in Sep
Common RavenCorvus coraxResidentCommon54–67 cmRecorded all year · 1.54% in Sep
Canada GooseBranta canadensisResidentCommon76–110 cmRecorded all year · 1.53% in Sep
Yellow-rumped WarblerSetophaga coronataResidentCommon12–15 cmRecorded all year · 1.06% in Sep
Cedar WaxwingBombycilla cedrorumSummer visitorCommon15–18 cmRegularly May–Feb · 1.03% in Sep
Barn SwallowHirundo rusticaSummer visitorCommon17–19 cmRegularly Apr–Sep · 0.98% in Sep
Red-winged BlackbirdAgelaius phoeniceusResidentCommon17–23 cmRecorded all year · 0.94% in Sep
Downy WoodpeckerDryobates pubescensResidentCommon14–18 cmRecorded all year · 0.94% in Sep
Rock DoveColumba liviaResidentCommon29–37 cmRecorded all year · 0.92% in Sep
Ring-billed GullLarus delawarensisResidentCommon43–54 cmRecorded all year · 0.92% in Sep
Red-tailed HawkButeo jamaicensisResidentCommon45–65 cmRecorded all year · 0.90% in Sep
OspreyPandion haliaetusSummer visitorCommon54–58 cmRegularly Apr–Oct · 0.79% in Sep
Eurasian Collared DoveStreptopelia decaoctoResidentCommon30–32 cmRecorded all year · 0.76% in Sep
Mourning DoveZenaida macrouraResidentCommon23–34 cmRecorded all year · 0.72% in Sep
Turkey VultureCathartes auraSummer visitorCommon62–81 cmRegularly Mar–Oct · 0.69% in Sep
House SparrowPasser domesticusResidentCommon14–17 cmRecorded all year · 0.66% in Sep
Pied-billed GrebePodilymbus podicepsResidentCommon31–38 cmRecorded all year · 0.65% in Sep
Eurasian TealAnas creccaWinter visitorCommon34–38 cmRegularly Aug–Jun · 0.65% in Sep
Common YellowthroatGeothlypis trichasSummer visitorCommon11–13 cmRegularly Apr–Oct · 0.60% in Sep
Bald EagleHaliaeetus leucocephalusResidentCommon70–102 cmRecorded all year · 0.60% in Sep
Pine SiskinSpinus pinusResidentCommon11–14 cmRecorded all year · 0.56% in Sep
Wood DuckAix sponsaResidentCommon47–54 cmRecorded all year · 0.54% in Sep
Northern PintailAnas acutaWinter visitorCommon59–76 cmRegularly Aug–May · 0.53% in Sep
Orange-crowned WarblerLeiothlypis celataSummer visitorCommon11–14 cmRecorded all year · 0.52% in Sep
Common LoonGavia immerWinter visitorCommon66–91 cmRecorded all year · 0.51% in Sep
Western SandpiperCalidris mauriPassage migrantCommon14–17 cmRegularly Apr–Nov · 0.51% in Sep
Northern ShovelerSpatula clypeataWinter visitorCommon44–51 cmRecorded all year · 0.50% in Sep
GadwallMareca streperaResidentCommon46–56 cmRecorded all year · 0.50% in Sep
Surf ScoterMelanitta perspicillataWinter visitorCommon48–60 cmRecorded all year · 0.49% in Sep
Greater YellowlegsTringa melanoleucaResidentCommon29–40 cmRecorded all year · 0.48% in Sep
Ruby-crowned KingletCorthylio calendulaWinter visitorCommon9–11 cmRegularly Sep–May · 0.44% in Sep
Hairy WoodpeckerLeuconotopicus villosusResidentUncommon18–26 cmRecorded all year · 0.44% in Sep
Pacific WrenTroglodytes pacificusResidentCommon8–12 cmRecorded all year · 0.43% in Sep
Pileated WoodpeckerDryocopus pileatusResidentUncommon40–49 cmRecorded all year · 0.41% in Sep
Least SandpiperCalidris minutillaWinter visitorCommon13–15 cmRegularly Apr–Feb · 0.41% in Sep
Lincoln's SparrowMelospiza lincolniiWinter visitorUncommon13–15 cmRecorded all year · 0.37% in Sep
Marsh WrenCistothorus palustrisResidentCommon10–14 cmRecorded all year · 0.33% in Sep
Horned GrebePodiceps auritusWinter visitorCommon31–38 cmRegularly Aug–May · 0.30% in Sep
Northern Yellow WarblerSetophaga aestivaSummer visitorCommon12–13 cmRegularly May–Sep · 0.30% in Sep
Red CrossbillLoxia curvirostraResidentUncommon15–17 cmRecorded all year · 0.30% in Sep
Swainson's ThrushCatharus ustulatusSummer visitorCommon16–20 cmRegularly May–Sep · 0.29% in Sep
Common MerganserMergus merganserWinter visitorCommon58–68 cmRecorded all year · 0.29% in Sep
Red-necked GrebePodiceps grisegenaWinter visitorUncommon40–50 cmRegularly Jul–May · 0.29% in Sep
Hooded MerganserLophodytes cucullatusWinter visitorCommon40–49 cmRecorded all year · 0.27% in Sep
Fox SparrowPasserella iliacaWinter visitorCommon15–19 cmRegularly Jul–Apr · 0.27% in Sep
Great White EgretArdea albaResidentUncommon80–104 cmRecorded all year · 0.27% in Sep
MerlinFalco columbariusWinter visitorUncommon24–33 cmRecorded all year · 0.23% in Sep
Peregrine FalconFalco peregrinusResidentUncommon34–58 cmRecorded all year · 0.22% in Sep
Red-breasted SapsuckerSphyrapicus ruberResidentUncommon19–22 cmRecorded all year · 0.22% in Sep
Virginia RailRallus limicolaResidentUncommon20–27 cmRecorded all year · 0.21% in Sep
Grey PloverPluvialis squatarolaWinter visitorUncommon27–30 cmRecorded all year · 0.21% in Sep
Sooty ShearwaterArdenna griseaSummer visitorUncommon40–51 cmRegularly Mar–Oct · 0.20% in Sep
Sharp-shinned HawkAccipiter striatusWinter visitorUncommon24–34 cmRecorded all year · 0.20% in Sep
Varied ThrushIxoreus naeviusWinter visitorCommon20–26 cmRecorded all year · 0.20% in Sep
Red-necked PhalaropePhalaropus lobatusPassage migrantUncommon18–19 cmRegularly May–Sep · 0.19% in Sep
Cackling GooseBranta hutchinsiiWinter visitorCommon53–76 cmRegularly Sep–May · 0.19% in Sep
Pectoral SandpiperCalidris melanotosPassage migrantUncommon19–23 cmRegularly Aug–Oct · 0.18% in Sep
Long-billed DowitcherLimnodromus scolopaceusWinter visitorUncommon27–30 cmRegularly Jul–May · 0.17% in Sep
SanderlingCalidris albaWinter visitorUncommon18–20 cmRegularly Jul–May · 0.16% in Sep
Hermit ThrushCatharus guttatusResidentUncommon14–18 cmRecorded all year · 0.16% in Sep
Arctic JaegerStercorarius parasiticusPassage migrantUncommon41–46 cmRegularly May–Oct · 0.16% in Sep
Semipalmated PloverCharadrius semipalmatusPassage migrantUncommon17–19 cmRegularly Apr–Jan · 0.16% in Sep
Bonaparte's GullChroicocephalus philadelphiaWinter visitorUncommon28–38 cmRecorded all year · 0.15% in Sep
Great Horned OwlBubo virginianusResidentUncommon46–63 cmRecorded all year · 0.15% in Sep
Evening GrosbeakHesperiphona vespertinaSummer visitorUncommon16–22 cmRecorded all year · 0.15% in Sep
Western MeadowlarkSturnella neglectaResidentUncommon16–26 cmRecorded all year · 0.15% in Sep
Marbled GodwitLimosa fedoaWinter visitorUncommon40–50 cmRegularly Jul–May · 0.15% in Sep
Lesser YellowlegsTringa flavipesPassage migrantUncommon23–27 cmRegularly Apr–Oct · 0.14% in Sep
White-breasted NuthatchSitta carolinensisResidentUncommon13–14 cmRecorded all year · 0.14% in Sep
Greater White-fronted GooseAnser albifronsWinter visitorUncommon64–81 cmRegularly Aug–May · 0.13% in Sep
Short-billed DowitcherLimnodromus griseusPassage migrantUncommon23–32 cmRegularly Apr–Oct · 0.13% in Sep
Barred OwlStrix variaResidentUncommon43–50 cmRecorded all year · 0.13% in Sep
Pacific LoonGavia pacificaWinter visitorUncommon58–74 cmRecorded all year · 0.13% in Sep
American Herring GullLarus smithsonianusWinter visitorUncommon53–65 cmRegularly Aug–May · 0.12% in Sep
Sabine's GullXema sabiniPassage migrantUncommon27–33 cmRegularly May–Oct · 0.12% in Sep
Chipping SparrowSpizella passerinaSummer visitorCommon12–15 cmRegularly Apr–Sep · 0.12% in Sep
Ruddy DuckOxyura jamaicensisResidentUncommon35–43 cmRecorded all year · 0.12% in Sep
Red-throated LoonGavia stellataWinter visitorUncommon53–69 cmRegularly Aug–May · 0.10% in Sep
Wild TurkeyMeleagris gallopavoResidentUncommon100–125 cmRecorded all year · 0.10% in Sep
Horned LarkEremophila alpestrisResidentUncommon16–20 cmRecorded all year · 0.10% in Sep
FulmarFulmarus glacialisSummer visitorUncommon45–50 cmRegularly Mar–Dec · 0.09% in Sep
Sandhill CraneAntigone canadensisWinter visitorUncommon80–122 cmRecorded all year · 0.09% in Sep
Baird's SandpiperCalidris bairdiiPassage migrantUncommon14–17 cmRegularly Aug–Sep · 0.09% in Sep
Purple MartinProgne subisSummer visitorCommon18–20 cmRegularly Apr–Sep · 0.09% in Sep
Common PheasantPhasianus colchicusResidentUncommon50–90 cmRecorded all year · 0.09% in Sep
Cinnamon TealSpatula cyanopteraSummer visitorUncommon36–43 cmRegularly Jan–Oct · 0.08% in Sep
Willow FlycatcherEmpidonax trailliiSummer visitorCommon13–17 cmRegularly May–Sep · 0.08% in Sep
WilletTringa semipalmataWinter visitorUncommon33–41 cmRegularly Jul–May · 0.08% in Sep
Pomarine JaegerStercorarius pomarinusPassage migrantUncommon46–51 cmRegularly Mar–Oct · 0.08% in Sep
Say's PhoebeSayornis sayaSummer visitorUncommon17–20 cmRegularly Feb–Sep · 0.08% in Sep
WhimbrelNumenius phaeopusSummer visitorUncommon40–46 cmRegularly Apr–Oct · 0.08% in Sep
Common TernSterna hirundoPassage migrantUncommon31–35 cmRegularly May–Sep · 0.06% in Sep
Lewis's WoodpeckerMelanerpes lewisSummer visitorUncommon26–28 cmRecorded all year · 0.06% in Sep
Gray CatbirdDumetella carolinensisSummer visitorUncommon20–24 cmRegularly May–Sep · 0.06% in Sep
Greater ScaupAythya marilaWinter visitorUncommon39–56 cmRegularly Aug–May · 0.05% in Sep
Mountain BluebirdSialia currucoidesSummer visitorUncommon15–18 cmRegularly Mar–Dec · 0.05% in Sep
Black-necked GrebePodiceps nigricollisResidentUncommon28–34 cmRecorded all year · 0.04% in Sep
Sand MartinRiparia ripariaSummer visitorUncommon12–14 cmRegularly Apr–Sep · 0.04% in Sep
DunlinCalidris alpinaWinter visitorUncommon16–22 cmRegularly Sep–May · 0.04% in Sep
Grey PhalaropePhalaropus fulicariusPassage migrantUncommon20–22 cmRegularly May–Nov · 0.04% in Sep
Northern Pygmy-owlGlaucidium gnomaResidentRare15–17 cmRecorded all year · 0.04% in Sep
American BitternBotaurus lentiginosusResidentUncommon58–85 cmRecorded all year · 0.04% in Sep
Ruffed GrouseBonasa umbellusResidentRare41–50 cmRecorded all year · 0.04% in Sep
Vesper SparrowPooecetes gramineusSummer visitorUncommon13–17 cmRegularly Mar–Sep · 0.03% in Sep
Bar-tailed GodwitLimosa lapponicaPassage migrantRare37–41 cmRegularly Jul–Nov · 0.03% in Sep
Long-tailed JaegerStercorarius longicaudusPassage migrantRare48–58 cmRegularly May–Sep · 0.03% in Sep
Snow GooseAnser caerulescensWinter visitorUncommon69–84 cmRegularly Sep–May · 0.03% in Sep
Semipalmated SandpiperCalidris pusillaPassage migrantUncommon15–18 cmRegularly Jul–Sep · 0.03% in Sep
Arctic TernSterna paradisaeaPassage migrantUncommon33–39 cmRegularly May–Sep · 0.03% in Sep
Franklin's GullLeucophaeus pipixcanSummer visitorRare32–36 cmRegularly May–Dec · 0.03% in Sep
Red KnotCalidris canutusPassage migrantRare23–26 cmRegularly Apr–Dec · 0.02% in Sep
American Golden-PloverPluvialis dominicaPassage migrantRare24–28 cmRegularly May–Oct · 0.02% in Sep
Golden EagleAquila chrysaetosResidentUncommon66–102 cmRecorded all year · 0.02% in Sep
Black-crowned Night-heronNycticorax nycticoraxResidentRare58–65 cmRecorded all year · 0.02% in Sep
Solitary SandpiperTringa solitariaPassage migrantUncommon19–23 cmRegularly Apr–Sep · 0.02% in Sep
Lapland LongspurCalcarius lapponicusWinter visitorRare15–16 cmRegularly Sep–Apr · 0.02% in Sep
Pacific Golden-PloverPluvialis fulvaPassage migrantRare23–26 cmRegularly Apr–Nov · 0.02% in Sep
Red-naped SapsuckerSphyrapicus nuchalisSummer visitorUncommon19–21 cmRegularly Apr–Sep · 0.02% in Sep
Ruddy TurnstoneArenaria interpresWinter visitorRare21–24 cmRegularly Jul–May · 0.02% in Sep
Nashville WarblerLeiothlypis ruficapillaSummer visitorUncommon11–13 cmRegularly Apr–Sep · 0.02% in Sep
Stilt SandpiperCalidris himantopusPassage migrantRare18–23 cmRegularly Aug–Sep · 0.02% in Sep
Forster's TernSterna forsteriSummer visitorRare33–36 cmRegularly Apr–Sep · 0.02% in Sep
White-headed WoodpeckerPicoides albolarvatusResidentRare20–23 cmRecorded all year · 0.01% in Sep
ChukarAlectoris chukarResidentRare32–38 cmRecorded all year · 0.01% in Sep
Iceland GullLarus glaucoidesWinter visitorUncommon52–60 cmRegularly Sep–Apr · 0.01% in Sep
Eurasian WigeonMareca penelopeWinter visitorUncommon42–51 cmRegularly Sep–Apr · 0.01% in Sep
Hudsonian GodwitLimosa haemasticaPassage migrantRare36–42 cmRegularly May–Sep · 0.01% in Sep
Western Screech-owlMegascops kennicottiiResidentRare19–25 cmRecorded all year · 0.01% in Sep
Sharp-tailed SandpiperCalidris acuminataPassage migrantRare17–22 cmRegularly Sep–Nov · 0.01% in Sep
KittiwakeRissa tridactylaWinter visitorRare37–41 cmRegularly Sep–Jul · 0.01% in Sep
American AvocetRecurvirostra americanaSummer visitorUncommon43–51 cmRegularly Apr–Dec · 0.01% in Sep
Acorn WoodpeckerMelanerpes formicivorusResidentRare20–24 cmRecorded all year · 0.01% in Sep
American Three-toed WoodpeckerPicoides dorsalisSummer visitorRare21–24 cmRegularly Mar–Oct · 0.01% in Sep
Grey PartridgePerdix perdixResidentRare28–32 cmRecorded all year · 0.01% in Sep
Northern Saw-whet OwlAegolius acadicusWinter visitorRare17–21 cmRecorded all year · 0.01% in Sep
RuffCalidris pugnaxPassage migrantRare20–32 cmRegularly Aug–Sep · 0.01% in Sep
Broad-winged HawkButeo platypterusPassage migrantRare34–44 cmRegularly Apr–Oct · 0.01% in Sep
Lark SparrowChondestes grammacusSummer visitorUncommon15–17 cmRegularly May–Sep · 0.01% in Sep
Muscovy DuckCairina moschataResidentRare66–84 cmRecorded all year · 0.01% in Sep
Black-backed WoodpeckerPicoides arcticusSummer visitorRare21–24 cmRecorded all year · 0.01% in Sep
Manx ShearwaterPuffinus puffinusSummer visitorRare30–38 cmRegularly Mar–Sep · 0.01% in Sep
Northern WaterthrushParkesia noveboracensisResidentRare12–15 cmRegularly May–Feb · 0.01% in Sep
Williamson's SapsuckerSphyrapicus thyroideusSummer visitorRare21–25 cmRegularly Mar–Sep · 0.01% in Sep
American RedstartSetophaga ruticillaSummer visitorUncommon11–14 cmRegularly May–Sep · 0.00% in Sep
Boreal OwlAegolius funereusResidentRare21–28 cmRegularly Sep–Oct · 0.00% in Sep
Wilson's PhalaropePhalaropus tricolorSummer visitorUncommon22–24 cmRegularly May–Sep · 0.00% in Sep
Palm WarblerSetophaga palmarumWinter visitorRare12–14 cmRegularly Sep–Mar · 0.00% in Sep
Clay-colored SparrowSpizella pallidaSummer visitorRare13–15 cmRegularly May–Nov · 0.00% in Sep
Leach's Storm-petrelHydrobates leucorhousSummer visitorRare18–21 cmRegularly May–Nov · 0.00% in Sep
Lesser Black-backed GullLarus fuscusWinter visitorRare52–64 cmRegularly Aug–Mar · 0.00% in Sep
Burrowing OwlAthene cuniculariaSummer visitorRare19–25 cmRegularly Mar–Dec · 0.00% in Sep
Buff-breasted SandpiperCalidris subruficollisPassage migrantRare18–20 cmRegularly Aug–Sep · 0.00% in Sep
Tennessee WarblerLeiothlypis peregrinaPassage migrantRare10–13 cmRegularly Sep · 0.00% in Sep
Rose-breasted GrosbeakPheucticus ludovicianusSummer visitorRare18–22 cmRegularly May–Sep · 0.00% in Sep
Blackpoll WarblerSetophaga striataScarceRare13–15 cmRegularly Sep · 0.00% in Sep
Mandarin DuckAix galericulataPassage migrantRare41–49 cmRegularly Apr–Dec · 0.00% in Sep
Chestnut-sided WarblerSetophaga pensylvanicaPassage migrantRare10–14 cmRegularly Jun–Sep · 0.00% in Sep
Northern MockingbirdMimus polyglottosWinter visitorRare21–26 cmRecorded all year · 0.00% in Sep
Greylag GooseAnser anserWinter visitorRare75–90 cmRegularly Jul–May · 0.00% in Sep
Indian PeafowlPavo cristatusSummer visitorRare86–230 cmRegularly Apr–Sep · 0.00% in Sep
Magnolia WarblerSetophaga magnoliaPassage migrantRare11–13 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