60 birds were recorded seen in Massachusetts in September in our iNaturalist sample; 2 of the top 50 are at their peak this month. The list is ranked by number of research-grade observations.
Top birds in September
Canada Goose
Wild Turkey
Mallard
Great Blue Heron
Double-crested Cormorant
American Herring Gull
Red-tailed Hawk
House Sparrow
Blue Jay
Black-capped Chickadee
Mourning Dove
Mute Swan
All birds seen in Massachusetts in September
| # | Species | Scientific name | Family | Obs. | Peak in state |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Canada Goose | Branta canadensis | Ducks, Geese, and Swans | 1,487 | Apr (past peak) |
| 2 | Wild Turkey | Meleagris gallopavo | Pheasants, Grouse, and Allies | 1,292 | Apr (past peak) |
| 3 | Mallard | Anas platyrhynchos | Ducks, Geese, and Swans | 1,243 | Apr (past peak) |
| 4 | Great Blue Heron | Ardea herodias | Herons, Egrets, and Bitterns | 1,226 | May (past peak) |
| 5 | Double-crested Cormorant | Nannopterum auritum | Cormorants and Shags | 1,025 | Aug (past peak) |
| 6 | American Herring Gull | Larus smithsonianus | Gulls, Terns, and Skimmers | 957 | Aug (past peak) |
| 7 | Red-tailed Hawk | Buteo jamaicensis | Hawks, Eagles, and Kites | 843 | Apr (past peak) |
| 8 | House Sparrow | Passer domesticus | Old World Sparrows | 802 | Apr (past peak) |
| 9 | Blue Jay | Cyanocitta cristata | Crows, Jays, and Magpies | 743 | Apr (past peak) |
| 10 | Black-capped Chickadee | Poecile atricapillus | Tits, Chickadees, and Titmice | 719 | Apr (past peak) |
| 11 | Mourning Dove | Zenaida macroura | Pigeons and Doves | 680 | Apr (past peak) |
| 12 | Mute Swan | Cygnus olor | Ducks, Geese, and Swans | 641 | Apr (past peak) |
| 13 | Eastern Phoebe | Sayornis phoebe | Tyrant Flycatchers | 494 | Apr (past peak) |
| 14 | Semipalmated Plover | Charadrius semipalmatus | Plovers and Lapwings | 490 | Aug (past peak) |
| 15 | American Goldfinch | Spinus tristis | Finches, Euphonias, and Allies | 472 | Aug (past peak) |
| 16 | Downy Woodpecker | Dryobates pubescens | Woodpeckers | 466 | Apr (past peak) |
| 17 | Gray Catbird | Dumetella carolinensis | Mockingbirds and Thrashers | 465 | May (past peak) |
| 18 | Laughing Gull | Leucophaeus atricilla | Gulls, Terns, and Skimmers | 465 | Aug (past peak) |
| 19 | Great Black-backed Gull | Larus marinus | Gulls, Terns, and Skimmers | 461 | Aug (past peak) |
| 20 | Great Egret | Ardea alba | Herons, Egrets, and Bitterns | 451 | Aug (past peak) |
| 21 | Ring-billed Gull | Larus delawarensis | Gulls, Terns, and Skimmers | 391 | Aug (past peak) |
| 22 | Northern Cardinal | Cardinalis cardinalis | Cardinals and Allies | 391 | Apr (past peak) |
| 23 | Sanderling | Calidris alba | Sandpipers and Allies | 384 | Aug (past peak) |
| 24 | American Robin | Turdus migratorius | Thrushes | 364 | Apr (past peak) |
| 25 | Northern Flicker | Colaptes auratus | Woodpeckers | 360 | Apr (past peak) |
| 26 | Song Sparrow | Melospiza melodia | New World Sparrows | 349 | Apr (past peak) |
| 27 | Common Yellowthroat | Geothlypis trichas | New World Warblers | 316 | May (past peak) |
| 28 | Green Heron | Butorides virescens | Herons, Egrets, and Bitterns | 314 | Aug (past peak) |
| 29 | Cooper's Hawk | Astur cooperii | Hawks, Eagles, and Kites | 313 | Dec (rising) |
| 30 | Semipalmated Sandpiper | Calidris pusilla | Sandpipers and Allies | 301 | Aug (past peak) |
| 31 | White-breasted Nuthatch | Sitta carolinensis | Nuthatches | 298 | Apr (past peak) |
| 32 | European Starling | Sturnus vulgaris | Starlings | 298 | Apr (past peak) |
| 33 | Northern Mockingbird | Mimus polyglottos | Mockingbirds and Thrashers | 287 | Apr (past peak) |
| 34 | Wood Duck | Aix sponsa | Ducks, Geese, and Swans | 275 | Apr (past peak) |
| 35 | Turkey Vulture | Cathartes aura | New World Vultures | 267 | Apr (past peak) |
| 36 | Tufted Titmouse | Baeolophus bicolor | Tits, Chickadees, and Titmice | 256 | Apr (past peak) |
| 37 | Black-bellied Plover | Pluvialis squatarola | Plovers and Lapwings | 250 | Sep (peak) |
| 38 | Greater Yellowlegs | Tringa melanoleuca | Sandpipers and Allies | 242 | Aug (past peak) |
| 39 | Osprey | Pandion haliaetus | Ospreys | 238 | Apr (past peak) |
| 40 | Common Eider | Somateria mollissima | Ducks, Geese, and Swans | 236 | Jan (past peak) |
| 41 | Red-bellied Woodpecker | Melanerpes carolinus | Woodpeckers | 233 | Apr (past peak) |
| 42 | Ruby-throated Hummingbird | Archilochus colubris | Hummingbirds | 220 | Aug (past peak) |
| 43 | Chipping Sparrow | Spizella passerina | New World Sparrows | 203 | Apr (past peak) |
| 44 | Carolina Wren | Thryothorus ludovicianus | Wrens | 202 | Apr (past peak) |
| 45 | Snowy Egret | Egretta thula | Herons, Egrets, and Bitterns | 198 | Aug (past peak) |
| 46 | Belted Kingfisher | Megaceryle alcyon | Kingfishers | 195 | Sep (peak) |
| 47 | Bald Eagle | Haliaeetus leucocephalus | Hawks, Eagles, and Kites | 187 | Apr (past peak) |
| 48 | Barred Owl | Strix varia | Typical Owls | 187 | May (past peak) |
| 49 | Common Grackle | Quiscalus quiscula | New World Blackbirds and Orioles | 179 | Apr (past peak) |
| 50 | House Finch | Haemorhous mexicanus | Finches, Euphonias, and Allies | 168 | Apr (past peak) |