Birds in California in September: What to Photograph (60 Species)

60 birds were recorded seen in California in September in our iNaturalist sample; 5 of the top 50 are at their peak this month. The list is ranked by number of research-grade observations.

Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec

Top birds in September

Red-tailed Hawk7,164 obs.

Western Gull6,187 obs.

Black Phoebe6,171 obs.

Great Blue Heron5,825 obs.

Great Egret5,577 obs.

Mallard5,538 obs.

Anna's Hummingbird5,536 obs.

California Scrub-Jay5,335 obs.

Snowy Egret5,016 obs.

Turkey Vulture4,559 obs.

Brown Pelican4,506 obs.

Acorn Woodpecker4,475 obs.

All birds seen in California in September

#	Species	Scientific name	Family	Obs.	Peak in state
1	Red-tailed Hawk	Buteo jamaicensis	Hawks, Eagles, and Kites	7,164	Jan (past peak)
2	Western Gull	Larus occidentalis	Gulls, Terns, and Skimmers	6,187	Aug (past peak)
3	Black Phoebe	Sayornis nigricans	Tyrant Flycatchers	6,171	Apr (past peak)
4	Great Blue Heron	Ardea herodias	Herons, Egrets, and Bitterns	5,825	Jan (past peak)
5	Great Egret	Ardea alba	Herons, Egrets, and Bitterns	5,577	Jan (past peak)
6	Mallard	Anas platyrhynchos	Ducks, Geese, and Swans	5,538	Apr (past peak)
7	Anna's Hummingbird	Calypte anna	Hummingbirds	5,536	Apr (past peak)
8	California Scrub-Jay	Aphelocoma californica	Crows, Jays, and Magpies	5,335	Apr (past peak)
9	Snowy Egret	Egretta thula	Herons, Egrets, and Bitterns	5,016	Jan (past peak)
10	Turkey Vulture	Cathartes aura	New World Vultures	4,559	Apr (past peak)
11	Brown Pelican	Pelecanus occidentalis	Pelicans	4,506	Sep (peak)
12	Acorn Woodpecker	Melanerpes formicivorus	Woodpeckers	4,475	Apr (past peak)
13	House Finch	Haemorhous mexicanus	Finches, Euphonias, and Allies	4,287	Apr (past peak)
14	California Towhee	Melozone crissalis	New World Sparrows	4,253	Apr (past peak)
15	Lesser Goldfinch	Spinus psaltria	Finches, Euphonias, and Allies	3,905	Apr (past peak)
16	Western Bluebird	Sialia mexicana	Thrushes	3,808	Apr (past peak)
17	Mourning Dove	Zenaida macroura	Pigeons and Doves	3,798	Apr (past peak)
18	Red-shouldered Hawk	Buteo lineatus	Hawks, Eagles, and Kites	3,634	Jan (past peak)
19	Dark-eyed Junco	Junco hyemalis	New World Sparrows	3,578	Apr (past peak)
20	Wild Turkey	Meleagris gallopavo	Pheasants, Grouse, and Allies	3,494	Apr (past peak)
21	Double-crested Cormorant	Nannopterum auritum	Cormorants and Shags	3,312	Jan (past peak)
22	Song Sparrow	Melospiza melodia	New World Sparrows	3,310	Apr (past peak)
23	Cooper's Hawk	Astur cooperii	Hawks, Eagles, and Kites	3,305	Jul (past peak)
24	Black-crowned Night Heron	Nycticorax nycticorax	Herons, Egrets, and Bitterns	3,231	Apr (past peak)
25	American Crow	Corvus brachyrhynchos	Crows, Jays, and Magpies	3,085	Apr (past peak)
26	White-crowned Sparrow	Zonotrichia leucophrys	New World Sparrows	3,007	Jan (past peak)
27	Northern Yellow Warbler	Setophaga aestiva	New World Warblers	2,940	Sep (peak)
28	Common Raven	Corvus corax	Crows, Jays, and Magpies	2,939	Apr (past peak)
29	Canada Goose	Branta canadensis	Ducks, Geese, and Swans	2,769	Apr (past peak)
30	Heermann's Gull	Larus heermanni	Gulls, Terns, and Skimmers	2,637	Aug (past peak)
31	Great Horned Owl	Bubo virginianus	Typical Owls	2,616	Apr (past peak)
32	Willet	Tringa semipalmata	Sandpipers and Allies	2,518	Jan (past peak)
33	Steller's Jay	Cyanocitta stelleri	Crows, Jays, and Magpies	2,375	Jul (past peak)
34	California Quail	Callipepla californica	New World Quails	2,323	Apr (past peak)
35	Least Sandpiper	Calidris minutilla	Sandpipers and Allies	2,295	Sep (peak)
36	Bushtit	Psaltriparus minimus	Long-tailed Tits and Bushtits	2,269	Apr (past peak)
37	Brewer's Blackbird	Euphagus cyanocephalus	New World Blackbirds and Orioles	2,267	Apr (past peak)
38	Osprey	Pandion haliaetus	Ospreys	2,212	Jul (past peak)
39	American Coot	Fulica americana	Rails, Gallinules, and Coots	2,131	Jan (past peak)
40	Marbled Godwit	Limosa fedoa	Sandpipers and Allies	2,125	Sep (peak)
41	Orange-crowned Warbler	Leiothlypis celata	New World Warblers	2,115	Apr (past peak)
42	American Kestrel	Falco sparverius	Falcons and Caracaras	2,084	Jan (past peak)
43	Northern Mockingbird	Mimus polyglottos	Mockingbirds and Thrashers	2,019	Apr (past peak)
44	Black-necked Stilt	Himantopus mexicanus	Stilts and Avocets	1,980	Jan (past peak)
45	Pied-billed Grebe	Podilymbus podiceps	Grebes	1,965	Jan (past peak)
46	Long-billed Curlew	Numenius americanus	Sandpipers and Allies	1,927	Sep (peak)
47	American White Pelican	Pelecanus erythrorhynchos	Pelicans	1,882	Jan (past peak)
48	Killdeer	Charadrius vociferus	Plovers and Lapwings	1,806	Apr (past peak)
49	Greater Yellowlegs	Tringa melanoleuca	Sandpipers and Allies	1,750	Jan (past peak)
50	Savannah Sparrow	Passerculus sandwichensis	New World Sparrows	1,656	Oct (rising)

Birds Seen in California in September

Top birds in September

All birds seen in California in September