Birds to See in West Virginia in September
114 bird species on our list for West Virginia are recorded regularly in September
Of these, the most often recorded are Blue Jay, American Crow, Northern Cardinal, Tufted Titmouse and Turkey Vulture. New this month: Yellow-rumped Warbler, Ruby-crowned Kinglet, Pied-billed Grebe and Yellow-bellied Sapsucker and 17 more.
On the move in September
GBIF · SepArriving
At their peak
Magnolia WarblerBusiest month of the year · May–Oct
Black-throated Green WarblerBusiest month of the year · Apr–Oct
Cape May WarblerBusiest month of the year · May
Tennessee WarblerBusiest month of the year · May
Bay-breasted WarblerBusiest month of the year · May
Broad-winged HawkBusiest month of the year · Apr–Oct
From West Virginia’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 114 birds in September
114 birds
Blue JayCyanocitta cristataResidentCommon25–30 cmRecorded all year · 4.53% in Sep
American CrowCorvus brachyrhynchosResidentCommon41–53 cmRecorded all year · 3.58% in Sep
Northern CardinalCardinalis cardinalisResidentCommon21–23 cmRecorded all year · 3.32% in Sep
Tufted TitmouseBaeolophus bicolorResidentCommon14–17 cmRecorded all year · 2.67% in Sep
Turkey VultureCathartes auraResidentCommon62–81 cmRecorded all year · 2.67% in Sep
White-breasted NuthatchSitta carolinensisResidentCommon13–14 cmRecorded all year · 2.65% in Sep
Mourning DoveZenaida macrouraResidentCommon23–34 cmRecorded all year · 2.65% in Sep
Red-bellied WoodpeckerMelanerpes carolinusResidentCommon23–26 cmRecorded all year · 2.54% in Sep
Downy WoodpeckerDryobates pubescensResidentCommon14–18 cmRecorded all year · 2.23% in Sep
Gray CatbirdDumetella carolinensisSummer visitorCommon20–24 cmRegularly Apr–Oct · 2.01% in Sep
American RobinTurdus migratoriusResidentCommon20–28 cmRecorded all year · 1.97% in Sep
Cedar WaxwingBombycilla cedrorumSummer visitorCommon15–18 cmRegularly May–Feb · 1.90% in Sep
Northern FlickerColaptes auratusResidentCommon28–31 cmRecorded all year · 1.79% in Sep
Song SparrowMelospiza melodiaResidentCommon12–17 cmRecorded all year · 1.77% in Sep
Ruby-throated HummingbirdArchilochus colubrisSummer visitorCommon7–9 cmRegularly Apr–Sep · 1.75% in Sep
Common StarlingSturnus vulgarisResidentCommon21–23 cmRecorded all year · 1.61% in Sep
Common RavenCorvus coraxResidentCommon54–67 cmRecorded all year · 1.58% in Sep
Pileated WoodpeckerDryocopus pileatusResidentCommon40–49 cmRecorded all year · 1.55% in Sep
Eastern BluebirdSialia sialisResidentCommon16–21 cmRecorded all year · 1.41% in Sep
Canada GooseBranta canadensisResidentCommon76–110 cmRecorded all year · 1.19% in Sep
House FinchHaemorhous mexicanusResidentCommon13–15 cmRecorded all year · 1.16% in Sep
House SparrowPasser domesticusResidentCommon14–17 cmRecorded all year · 0.97% in Sep
Common YellowthroatGeothlypis trichasSummer visitorCommon11–13 cmRegularly Apr–Oct · 0.91% in Sep
Northern MockingbirdMimus polyglottosResidentCommon21–26 cmRecorded all year · 0.90% in Sep- Magnolia WarblerSetophaga magnoliaSummer visitorCommon11–13 cmRegularly May–Oct · 0.90% in Sep
- Black-throated Green WarblerSetophaga virensSummer visitorCommon11–12 cmRegularly Apr–Oct · 0.88% in Sep
Great Blue HeronArdea herodiasResidentCommon91–137 cmRecorded all year · 0.87% in Sep
Hairy WoodpeckerLeuconotopicus villosusResidentCommon18–26 cmRecorded all year · 0.83% in Sep- Cape May WarblerSetophaga tigrinaPassage migrantCommon12–14 cmRegularly May–Oct · 0.82% in Sep
Scarlet TanagerPiranga olivaceaSummer visitorCommon16–19 cmRegularly Apr–Oct · 0.77% in Sep
American RedstartSetophaga ruticillaSummer visitorCommon11–14 cmRegularly Apr–Oct · 0.76% in Sep
Chipping SparrowSpizella passerinaSummer visitorCommon12–15 cmRegularly Mar–Nov · 0.74% in Sep
Red-tailed HawkButeo jamaicensisResidentCommon45–65 cmRecorded all year · 0.73% in Sep
Swainson's ThrushCatharus ustulatusPassage migrantCommon16–20 cmRegularly May–Oct · 0.65% in Sep
MallardAnas platyrhynchosWinter visitorCommon50–65 cmRecorded all year · 0.62% in Sep
Rock DoveColumba liviaResidentCommon29–37 cmRecorded all year · 0.60% in Sep
Rose-breasted GrosbeakPheucticus ludovicianusSummer visitorCommon18–22 cmRegularly Apr–Oct · 0.60% in Sep- Tennessee WarblerLeiothlypis peregrinaPassage migrantCommon10–13 cmRegularly May–Oct · 0.59% in Sep
Wood DuckAix sponsaSummer visitorCommon47–54 cmRecorded all year · 0.56% in Sep
Bald EagleHaliaeetus leucocephalusWinter visitorCommon70–102 cmRecorded all year · 0.52% in Sep- Bay-breasted WarblerSetophaga castaneaPassage migrantCommon14–14 cmRegularly May–Oct · 0.51% in Sep
Palm WarblerSetophaga palmarumPassage migrantCommon12–14 cmRegularly Apr–Nov · 0.44% in Sep
Blue-headed VireoVireo solitariusSummer visitorCommon12–15 cmRegularly Mar–Oct · 0.41% in Sep
Red-winged BlackbirdAgelaius phoeniceusSummer visitorCommon17–23 cmRecorded all year · 0.39% in Sep
Black-throated Blue WarblerSetophaga caerulescensSummer visitorUncommon11–13 cmRegularly Apr–Oct · 0.37% in Sep- Broad-winged HawkButeo platypterusSummer visitorUncommon34–44 cmRegularly Apr–Oct · 0.36% in Sep
Blackpoll WarblerSetophaga striataPassage migrantUncommon13–15 cmRegularly May–Oct · 0.35% in Sep
Chestnut-sided WarblerSetophaga pensylvanicaSummer visitorUncommon10–14 cmRegularly Apr–Oct · 0.35% in Sep
Common GrackleQuiscalus quisculaSummer visitorCommon28–34 cmRecorded all year · 0.30% in Sep
Red-headed WoodpeckerMelanerpes erythrocephalusResidentUncommon19–23 cmRecorded all year · 0.28% in Sep
OspreyPandion haliaetusSummer visitorUncommon54–58 cmRegularly Mar–Oct · 0.27% in Sep
Wild TurkeyMeleagris gallopavoResidentUncommon100–125 cmRecorded all year · 0.26% in Sep
OvenbirdSeiurus aurocapillaSummer visitorCommon12–15 cmRegularly Apr–Oct · 0.25% in Sep
Yellow-rumped WarblerSetophaga coronataWinter visitorCommon12–15 cmRegularly Sep–Jul · 0.22% in Sep
Barn SwallowHirundo rusticaSummer visitorCommon17–19 cmRegularly Apr–Sep · 0.21% in Sep
Sharp-shinned HawkAccipiter striatusWinter visitorUncommon24–34 cmRecorded all year · 0.20% in Sep
Nashville WarblerLeiothlypis ruficapillaPassage migrantUncommon11–13 cmRegularly Apr–Oct · 0.18% in Sep
Great White EgretArdea albaSummer visitorUncommon80–104 cmRegularly Mar–Nov · 0.17% in Sep
Barred OwlStrix variaResidentUncommon43–50 cmRecorded all year · 0.16% in Sep
Solitary SandpiperTringa solitariaPassage migrantUncommon19–23 cmRegularly Apr–Oct · 0.16% in Sep
Philadelphia VireoVireo philadelphicusPassage migrantUncommon11–13 cmRegularly May–Oct · 0.16% in Sep
Ruby-crowned KingletCorthylio calendulaWinter visitorCommon9–11 cmRegularly Sep–May · 0.15% in Sep
Fish CrowCorvus ossifragusSummer visitorUncommon36–41 cmRegularly Jan–Nov · 0.15% in Sep
Least FlycatcherEmpidonax minimusSummer visitorUncommon12–14 cmRegularly Apr–Oct · 0.15% in Sep
Eastern Screech-owlMegascops asioWinter visitorUncommon16–25 cmRecorded all year · 0.14% in Sep
Great Crested FlycatcherMyiarchus crinitusSummer visitorCommon17–22 cmRegularly Apr–Sep · 0.13% in Sep
Gray-cheeked ThrushCatharus minimusPassage migrantUncommon16–17 cmRegularly May–Oct · 0.12% in Sep
Swamp SparrowMelospiza georgianaResidentCommon12–15 cmRecorded all year · 0.10% in Sep
Common MerganserMergus merganserWinter visitorCommon58–68 cmRecorded all year · 0.09% in Sep
Baltimore OrioleIcterus galbulaSummer visitorCommon17–19 cmRegularly Apr–Sep · 0.09% in Sep
MerlinFalco columbariusResidentUncommon24–33 cmRecorded all year · 0.09% in Sep
Pied-billed GrebePodilymbus podicepsWinter visitorCommon31–38 cmRegularly Sep–Apr · 0.09% in Sep
VeeryCatharus fuscescensSummer visitorUncommon16–19 cmRegularly May–Sep · 0.08% in Sep
Hermit ThrushCatharus guttatusResidentUncommon14–18 cmRecorded all year · 0.08% in Sep
Yellow-bellied SapsuckerSphyrapicus variusWinter visitorCommon19–22 cmRegularly Sep–Jul · 0.08% in Sep
BobolinkDolichonyx oryzivorusSummer visitorUncommon16–20 cmRegularly Apr–Oct · 0.07% in Sep
Lincoln's SparrowMelospiza lincolniiPassage migrantUncommon13–15 cmRegularly Sep–Nov · 0.06% in Sep
Least SandpiperCalidris minutillaPassage migrantUncommon13–15 cmRegularly Apr–Oct · 0.06% in Sep
Greater YellowlegsTringa melanoleucaPassage migrantUncommon29–40 cmRegularly Mar–Nov · 0.05% in Sep
Lesser YellowlegsTringa flavipesPassage migrantUncommon23–27 cmRegularly Apr–Oct · 0.05% in Sep
Peregrine FalconFalco peregrinusWinter visitorUncommon34–58 cmRecorded all year · 0.05% in Sep
Red CrossbillLoxia curvirostraResidentUncommon15–17 cmRecorded all year · 0.04% in Sep
Great Horned OwlBubo virginianusWinter visitorUncommon46–63 cmRecorded all year · 0.04% in Sep
Yellow-bellied FlycatcherEmpidonax flaviventrisPassage migrantRare13–15 cmRegularly Aug–Oct · 0.04% in Sep
Ruffed GrouseBonasa umbellusResidentUncommon41–50 cmRecorded all year · 0.03% in Sep
Pectoral SandpiperCalidris melanotosPassage migrantRare19–23 cmRegularly Mar–Oct · 0.03% in Sep
Black-billed CuckooCoccyzus erythropthalmusSummer visitorUncommon28–32 cmRegularly May–Oct · 0.03% in Sep
Northern WaterthrushParkesia noveboracensisSummer visitorUncommon12–15 cmRegularly Apr–Oct · 0.03% in Sep
Semipalmated PloverCharadrius semipalmatusPassage migrantUncommon17–19 cmRegularly May–Oct · 0.03% in Sep
Semipalmated SandpiperCalidris pusillaPassage migrantUncommon15–18 cmRegularly May–Sep · 0.03% in Sep
Willow FlycatcherEmpidonax trailliiSummer visitorUncommon13–17 cmRegularly May–Sep · 0.02% in Sep
Marsh WrenCistothorus palustrisResidentUncommon10–14 cmRegularly Sep–Apr · 0.02% in Sep
Eurasian TealAnas creccaWinter visitorUncommon34–38 cmRegularly Sep–Apr · 0.02% in Sep
Mourning WarblerGeothlypis philadelphiaSummer visitorUncommon10–15 cmRegularly May–Sep · 0.02% in Sep
Muscovy DuckCairina moschataResidentRare66–84 cmRecorded all year · 0.01% in Sep
Mute SwanCygnus olorResidentRare140–160 cmRecorded all year · 0.01% in Sep
SanderlingCalidris albaResidentRare18–20 cmRegularly Sep · 0.01% in Sep
Common PheasantPhasianus colchicusSummer visitorRare50–90 cmRegularly Mar–Nov · 0.01% in Sep
Northern ShovelerSpatula clypeataWinter visitorUncommon44–51 cmRegularly Aug–Apr · 0.01% in Sep
Horned LarkEremophila alpestrisWinter visitorUncommon16–20 cmRegularly Sep–Jul · 0.01% in Sep
American Herring GullLarus smithsonianusWinter visitorUncommon53–65 cmRegularly Jul–May · 0.01% in Sep
Orange-crowned WarblerLeiothlypis celataResidentRare11–14 cmRegularly Sep–Feb · 0.01% in Sep
Golden EagleAquila chrysaetosWinter visitorUncommon66–102 cmRegularly Sep–Apr · 0.01% in Sep
Stilt SandpiperCalidris himantopusPassage migrantRare18–23 cmRegularly Aug–Sep · 0.01% in Sep
American Golden-PloverPluvialis dominicaPassage migrantRare24–28 cmRegularly Sep–Oct · 0.01% in Sep
Sand MartinRiparia ripariaSummer visitorRare12–14 cmRegularly Apr–Sep · 0.01% in Sep
Black TernChlidonias nigerPassage migrantRare22–26 cmRegularly Aug–Sep · 0.01% in Sep
Vesper SparrowPooecetes gramineusSummer visitorRare13–17 cmRegularly Mar–Nov · 0.01% in Sep
Grey PloverPluvialis squatarolaResidentRare27–30 cmRegularly May–Sep · 0.01% in Sep
Forster's TernSterna forsteriResidentRare33–36 cmRegularly Apr–Sep · 0.00% in Sep
Sandhill CraneAntigone canadensisResidentRare80–122 cmRegularly Jan–Sep · 0.00% in Sep
American BitternBotaurus lentiginosusResidentRare58–85 cmRegularly Apr–Oct · 0.00% in Sep
Prothonotary WarblerProtonotaria citreaSummer visitorRare13–14 cmRegularly Apr–Sep · 0.00% in Sep
Black-crowned Night-heronNycticorax nycticoraxResidentRare58–65 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