Lincoln's Sparrows mostly pass through District of Columbia: they arrive in the second week of September, peak in early October (3.7% of checklists), and most are gone by mid November.
When to look
First arrivalsSep 8-14the second week of September
Common bySep 8-14the second week of September
PeakOct 1-7early October
Most gone byNov 15-21mid November
Best: early October. First arrivals the second week of September; most are gone by mid November. Peak: on about 3.7% of District of Columbia checklists.
Janrare
Febrare
Marnot usually seen
Apruncommon
Mayuncommon
Junnot usually seen
Julnot usually seen
Augnot usually seen
Sepcommon
Octpeak season
Novuncommon
Decnot usually seen
Darker months: more checklists report it. Outlined: peak month.
Share of complete checklists reporting it, by week (4 per month). Grey bars: fewer than 10 checklists, not counted.
Frequency is the share of complete checklists in District of Columbia that listed the bird, 2016–2025. It is not a head count, and it follows where and when people go birding. How to read it.
JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec
today
0%few checklistsno data
Each county is shaded by the share of complete checklists there that listed the bird, blended with the weeks either side. Darker is more often. It follows where people watch birds, not how many birds there are. How to read it.
Kingman LakeDistrict of Columbia County, best early October · 53 checklists that week, 2,256 in all12%
U.S. Botanic GardenDistrict of Columbia County, best mid January · 38 checklists that week, 2,160 in all11%
Rock Creek ParkDistrict of Columbia County, best the second week of October · 38 checklists that week, 1,907 in all7.5%
Busy spots report more of everything; compare the checklist counts before you drive anywhere.
Best time of day
In District of Columbia, the Lincoln's Sparrow is most often listed on checklists started between 6 and 8 am (1.4% of those checklists).
Share of checklists started in each local hour that reported it. It reflects when people go birding as well as when birds are active. Grey hours have too few checklists (under 2% of the state’s, or under 200) to judge.Week-by-week table
Month
Days 1-7
8-14
15-21
22-end
January
0.1%
0.8%
0.5%
0.1%
February
0.2%
0.1%
0.2%
0%
March
0.1%
0.1%
0.1%
0.1%
April
0.1%
0.1%
0.1%
0.5%
May
1.1%
1.9%
1.0%
0.1%
June
0%
0%
0%
0%
July
0%
0%
0%
0%
August
0%
0%
0%
0%
September
0%
0.2%
1.4%
3.4%
October
2.6%
5.2%
3.2%
2.7%
November
1.0%
0.3%
0.2%
0.1%
December
0.1%
0.2%
0.1%
0%
Neighboring states
Maryland: arrives mid September, 1 week later than District of Columbia
Virginia: arrives late September, 2 weeks later than District of Columbia
Delaware: arrives mid September, 1 week later than District of Columbia
Pennsylvania: arrives mid September, 1 week later than District of Columbia
Common questions
When do Lincoln's Sparrows arrive in District of Columbia?
Lincoln's Sparrows mostly pass through District of Columbia: they arrive in the second week of September, peak in early October (3.7% of checklists), and most are gone by mid November.
When do Lincoln's Sparrows leave District of Columbia?
Most Lincoln's Sparrows have left District of Columbia by mid November, when reports fall below half their usual rate.
When is the best time to see a Lincoln's Sparrow in District of Columbia?
The Lincoln's Sparrow is reported most often in early October, on about 3.7% of District of Columbia checklists.
Where in District of Columbia are Lincoln's Sparrows seen most often?
By county, District of Columbia County have the highest peak reporting rates for the Lincoln's Sparrow (counties with at least 200 checklists).
