Fall Birds in Illinois

Percent of complete checklists in Illinois that reported the bird during these weeks, 2016–2025 (290,669 checklists). It shows how likely you are to list the bird, not how many there are. Methods.

1. 1Northern Cardinal50%
2. 2American Robin47%
3. 3Blue Jay47%
4. 4American Goldfinch44%
5. 5Canada Goose43%
6. 6Downy Woodpecker42%
7. 7Black-capped Chickadee39%
8. 8Red-bellied Woodpecker38%
9. 9House Sparrow35%
10. 10Mallard32%
11. 11Mourning Dove32%
12. 12White-breasted Nuthatch32%
13. 13American Crow31%
14. 14European Starling28%
15. 15House Finch27%
16. 16Dark-eyed Junco26%
17. 17Northern Flicker24%
18. 18Ring-billed Gull23%
19. 19White-throated Sparrow23%
20. 20Great Blue Heron21%
21. 21Yellow-rumped Warbler20%
22. 22Red-winged Blackbird19%
23. 23Song Sparrow19%
24. 24Red-tailed Hawk18%
25. 25Cedar Waxwing16%
26. 26Double-crested Cormorant15%
27. 27Gray Catbird14%
28. 28Killdeer14%
29. 29Hairy Woodpecker13%
30. 30Turkey Vulture13%
31. 31Golden-crowned Kinglet13%
32. 32Chimney Swift12%
33. 33Cooper's Hawk11%
34. 34Tufted Titmouse11%
35. 35Common Grackle11%
36. 36Swainson's Thrush11%
37. 37Great Egret11%
38. 38Carolina Wren11%
39. 39Palm Warbler11%
40. 40Ruby-crowned Kinglet10%
41. 41Eastern Bluebird10%
42. 42Ruby-throated Hummingbird10%
43. 43American Redstart10%
44. 44White-crowned Sparrow10%

• Dark-eyed Juncofirst arrivals late September, peaks the second week of November
• White-throated Sparrowfirst arrivals the second week of September, peaks mid October
• Golden-crowned Kingletfirst arrivals mid September, peaks mid October
• White-crowned Sparrowfirst arrivals mid September, peaks the second week of May
• American Tree Sparrowfirst arrivals mid October, peaks mid January
• Common Goldeneyefirst arrivals the second week of November, peaks mid January
• Swamp Sparrowfirst arrivals the second week of September, peaks the second week of October
• American Herring Gullfirst arrivals early November, peaks the second week of January
• Red-breasted Merganserfirst arrivals late October, peaks mid March
• Hermit Thrushfirst arrivals mid September, peaks mid October
• Buffleheadfirst arrivals late October, peaks mid March
• Common Merganserfirst arrivals the second week of November, peaks early March

• American Goldfinchmost gone by the second week of November
• Gray Catbirdmost gone by early October
• Common Gracklemost gone by mid October
• Barn Swallowmost gone by early September
• Common Yellowthroatmost gone by mid September
• Eastern Wood-Peweemost gone by late September
• Blue-gray Gnatcatchermost gone by early September
• Great Blue Heronmost gone by mid October
• Ruby-throated Hummingbirdmost gone by early October
• Killdeermost gone by late October
• Eastern Warbling Vireomost gone by the second week of September
• American Redstartmost gone by early October

45. 45Rock Pigeon10%
46. 46Wood Duck9.6%
47. 47Red-breasted Nuthatch9.3%
48. 48American Herring Gull9.3%
49. 49Belted Kingfisher9.2%
50. 50Eastern Wood-Pewee9.0%
51. 51Swamp Sparrow8.7%
52. 52Tennessee Warbler8.4%
53. 53Eastern Phoebe8.1%
54. 54Magnolia Warbler7.8%
55. 55Bald Eagle6.8%
56. 56Northern House Wren6.6%
57. 57American Tree Sparrow6.6%
58. 58Red-headed Woodpecker6.6%
59. 59Common Yellowthroat6.5%
60. 60Pied-billed Grebe6.3%