Quarter-Month Status
Birds of Plum Island, Essex County, Massachusetts
Ordered by Number of Sightings

Compiled by Tom Wetmore

This table shows the quarter-month status of the birds of Plum Island. It is based primarily on data I have collected over the past five years. The species are listed in the order of their numbers of sightings. The column labeled ‘n’ orders the species. The column labeled ‘N’ shows the number of different days that each species has been reported on the island over the period of data collection. Birds that have been seen between two and 99 times have a second number in their ‘N’ column. This is the number of years that the species has been seen recorded. Cells in these two columns may be colored. Red cells indicate species that just moved up in the ordering. Blue cells indicate species that just moved down. Yellow cells indicate species that were seen on the last day of sightings.

Quarter-Month Status of the Birds of Plum Island — updated September 19, 2026

	Species		n		N		Jan		Feb		Mar		Apr		May		Jun		Jul		Aug		Sep		Oct		Nov		Dec
Herring Gull	1	7605
Canada Goose	2	7536
American Robin	3	7469
Mallard	4	7322
American Black Duck	5	7289
Black-capped Chickadee	6	7176
Great Black-backed Gull	7	7091
Song Sparrow	8	7069
American Crow	9	7027
Northern Mockingbird	10	6881
Northern Cardinal	11	6577
European Starling	12	6413
Blue Jay	13	6379
Mourning Dove	14	6328
Northern Harrier	15	6102
Gadwall	16	6082
American Goldfinch	17	5852
Ring-billed Gull	18	5740
Green-winged Teal	19	5411
Double-crested Cormorant	20	5397
			Jan	Feb	Mar	Apr	May	Jun	Jul	Aug	Sep	Oct	Nov	Dec
House Sparrow	21	5367
Common Loon	22	5284
Great Egret	23	5049
Greater Yellowlegs	24	4994
Rock Pigeon	25	4919
Gray Catbird	26	4813
Common Eider	27	4786
Downy Woodpecker	28	4765
Great Blue Heron	29	4745
Mute Swan	30	4715
Red-winged Blackbird	31	4618
House Finch	32	4596
White-winged Scoter	33	4538
Eastern Towhee	34	4419
Tree Swallow	35	4113
Snowy Egret	36	4098
Killdeer	37	4095
Red-breasted Merganser	38	4059
Common Grackle	39	4039
Osprey	40	3961
			Jan	Feb	Mar	Apr	May	Jun	Jul	Aug	Sep	Oct	Nov	Dec
Cedar Waxwing	41	3916
Black-bellied Plover	42	3853
White-throated Sparrow	43	3675
Long-tailed Duck	44	3590
Northern Pintail	45	3583
Sanderling	46	3539
Black Scoter	47	3521
Brown Thrasher	48	3504
Dunlin	49	3417
Savannah Sparrow	50	3405
Semipalmated Plover	51	3374
Semipalmated Sandpiper	52	3368
Purple Finch	53	3352
Bufflehead	54	3339
Marsh Wren	55	3333
Common Yellowthroat	56	3230
Yellow-rumped Warbler	57	3141
Lesser Yellowlegs	58	3081
Barn Swallow	59	3073
Peregrine Falcon	60	3051
			Jan	Feb	Mar	Apr	May	Jun	Jul	Aug	Sep	Oct	Nov	Dec
Red-tailed Hawk	61	3034
Northern Flicker	62	2992
American Tree Sparrow	63	2959
Eastern Kingbird	64	2928
Red-throated Loon	65	2921
Yellow Warbler	66	2865
Horned Grebe	67	2790
Common Tern	67	2790
Wild Turkey	69	2776
Northern Gannet	70	2723
Turkey Vulture	71	2708
Least Sandpiper	72	2707
Red-breasted Nuthatch	73	2662
Swamp Sparrow	74	2658
Willet	75	2646
Bobolink	76	2603
Purple Martin	77	2580
Common Goldeneye	78	2578
Piping Plover	79	2564
Brown-headed Cowbird	80	2562
			Jan	Feb	Mar	Apr	May	Jun	Jul	Aug	Sep	Oct	Nov	Dec
Short-billed Dowitcher	81	2527
Merlin	82	2496
Dark-eyed Junco	83	2487
Least Tern	84	2473
Field Sparrow	85	2464
Baltimore Oriole	86	2423
Hooded Merganser	87	2403
Bald Eagle	88	2402
Saltmarsh Sparrow	89	2393
White-rumped Sandpiper	90	2369
Eastern Phoebe	91	2340
American Redstart	92	2332
Surf Scoter	93	2243
Cooper's Hawk	94	2211
American Wigeon	95	2102
Red-eyed Vireo	96	2052
Black-crowned Night-Heron	97	2020
Hermit Thrush	98	1960
Horned Lark	99	1826
Spotted Sandpiper	100	1825
			Jan	Feb	Mar	Apr	May	Jun	Jul	Aug	Sep	Oct	Nov	Dec
Willow Flycatcher	100	1825
Bonaparte's Gull	102	1772
Carolina Wren	103	1739
Golden-crowned Kinglet	104	1725
Red-necked Grebe	105	1680
Snowy Owl	106	1567
Rough-legged Hawk	107	1534
Northern Shoveler	108	1532
Ruby-crowned Kinglet	109	1509
Bank Swallow	110	1493
Chipping Sparrow	111	1490
Great Crested Flycatcher	112	1454
Blue-winged Teal	113	1410
Snow Bunting	114	1374
Common Raven	115	1358
Brant	116	1344
Greater Scaup	117	1302
Glossy Ibis	118	1247
Black-and-white Warbler	119	1225
Sharp-shinned Hawk	120	1202
			Jan	Feb	Mar	Apr	May	Jun	Jul	Aug	Sep	Oct	Nov	Dec
Stilt Sandpiper	121	1169
Razorbill	122	1152
Belted Kingfisher	123	1143
American Kestrel	124	1142
Orchard Oriole	125	1129
Least Bittern	126	1115
Pectoral Sandpiper	127	1096
Long-billed Dowitcher	128	1073
Ruddy Turnstone	129	1068
Laughing Gull	129	1068
Seaside Sparrow	131	1062
Blackpoll Warbler	132	1058
White-breasted Nuthatch	133	1052
Northern Parula	134	1036
Black-throated Green Warbler	135	1007
Palm Warbler	136	1001
Pied-billed Grebe	137	983
American Woodcock	138	936
Magnolia Warbler	139	931
House Wren	140	925
			Jan	Feb	Mar	Apr	May	Jun	Jul	Aug	Sep	Oct	Nov	Dec
Blue-headed Vireo	141	904
Red Knot	142	893
Great Cormorant	143	872
Ruby-throated Hummingbird	144	860
Virginia Rail	145	832
Black-throated Blue Warbler	146	831
Lesser Scaup	147	815
Whimbrel	147	815
American Bittern	149	810
Brown Creeper	150	808
Hairy Woodpecker	151	807
Pine Warbler	152	806
Tufted Titmouse	153	798
Northern Shrike	154	778
American Pipit	155	776
Rose-breasted Grosbeak	156	754
Northern Waterthrush	157	750
Chimney Swift	158	749
American Golden-Plover	158	749
Short-eared Owl	160	745
			Jan	Feb	Mar	Apr	May	Jun	Jul	Aug	Sep	Oct	Nov	Dec
Roseate Tern	161	704
White-crowned Sparrow	162	702
Ovenbird	163	696
Eastern Wood-Pewee	164	680
Yellow-bellied Sapsucker	165	647
Wilson's Warbler	166	646
Ruddy Duck	167	645
Eastern Meadowlark	168	641
Nashville Warbler	169	627
American Coot	170	623
Red-bellied Woodpecker	171	572
Chestnut-sided Warbler	172	570
Snow Goose	173	556
Sora	174	537
Common Merganser	175	530
Purple Sandpiper	176	520
Yellow-crowned Night-Heron	177	512
Blackburnian Warbler	178	502
Wilson's Snipe	179	496
Swainson's Thrush	180	494
			Jan	Feb	Mar	Apr	May	Jun	Jul	Aug	Sep	Oct	Nov	Dec
Wood Duck	181	491
Alder Flycatcher	182	466
Least Flycatcher	183	459
Blue-gray Gnatcatcher	184	458
Canada Warbler	185	448
Veery	186	435
Green Heron	187	432
Scarlet Tanager	188	427
Ring-necked Duck	189	416
Warbling Vireo	190	414
Pine Siskin	191	409
Baird's Sandpiper	192	408
Black-legged Kittiwake	193	407
Hudsonian Godwit	194	405
Black-billed Cuckoo	195	404
Eastern Whip-poor-will	196	400
Lapland Longspur	196	400
Bay-breasted Warbler	196	400
Great Horned Owl	199	395
Prairie Warbler	200	392
			Jan	Feb	Mar	Apr	May	Jun	Jul	Aug	Sep	Oct	Nov	Dec
Western Sandpiper	201	385
Forster's Tern	202	356
Common Redpoll	203	354
Fish Crow	204	338
Fox Sparrow	205	335
Eurasian Wigeon	206	317
Cape May Warbler	206	317
Yellow-billed Cuckoo	208	312
Tricolored Heron	209	304
Lincoln's Sparrow	209	304
Lesser Black-backed Gull	211	300
Philadelphia Vireo	212	296
Solitary Sandpiper	213	294
Barred Owl	214	287
Wilson's Phalarope	215	275
Black Guillemot	216	270
Northern Rough-winged Swallow	217	267
Winter Wren	218	257
Clay-colored Sparrow	219	254
American Avocet	220	252
			Jan	Feb	Mar	Apr	May	Jun	Jul	Aug	Sep	Oct	Nov	Dec
King Rail	221	249
Little Blue Heron	222	243
Buff-breasted Sandpiper	223	238
Wood Thrush	224	237
Wilson's Storm-Petrel	225	226
Yellow-bellied Flycatcher	226	225
Red Crossbill	227	218
Tennessee Warbler	228	216
Clapper Rail	229	205
Caspian Tern	230	200
Mourning Warbler	231	188
Indigo Bunting	232	184
Dickcissel	233	182
Common Gallinule	234	181
Cliff Swallow	235	171
Nelson's Sparrow	235	171
Iceland Gull	237	166
Black Tern	238	165
Redhead	239	153
White-winged Crossbill	240	148
			Jan	Feb	Mar	Apr	May	Jun	Jul	Aug	Sep	Oct	Nov	Dec
Orange-crowned Warbler	241	141
White-eyed Vireo	242	137
Little Gull	243	125
Blue-winged Warbler	243	125
King Eider	245	122
Yellow-throated Vireo	246	121
Rusty Blackbird	246	121
American Oystercatcher	248	120
Yellow-breasted Chat	249	113
Marbled Godwit	250	104
Common Nighthawk	250	104
Olive-sided Flycatcher	252	100
Red-shouldered Hawk	253	95/20
Cory's Shearwater	254	89/15
Black Skimmer	255	87/16
Ring-necked Pheasant	256	85/13
Lark Sparrow	257	84/22
Manx Shearwater	258	80/23
Broad-winged Hawk	259	79/21
Connecticut Warbler	260	74/26
			Jan	Feb	Mar	Apr	May	Jun	Jul	Aug	Sep	Oct	Nov	Dec
Eastern Bluebird	261	72/22
Western Grebe	262	71/7
Harlequin Duck	263	63/14
Hooded Warbler	263	63/22
Parasitic Jaeger	265	62/21
Vesper Sparrow	266	60/20
Great Shearwater	267	59/16
Dovekie	268	55/18
Glaucous Gull	269	53/18
Gray-cheeked Thrush	270	52/20
Thick-billed Murre	271	50/21
Northern Goshawk	272	48/18
Summer Tanager	272	48/15
Red-necked Phalarope	274	46/16
Gull-billed Tern	275	44/8
Northern Saw-whet Owl	276	43/14
Western Kingbird	276	43/11
Arctic Tern	278	42/17
Royal Tern	279	41/14
Black-headed Gull	280	40/13
			Jan	Feb	Mar	Apr	May	Jun	Jul	Aug	Sep	Oct	Nov	Dec
Barrow's Goldeneye	281	35/7
Long-eared Owl	282	34/15
Worm-eating Warbler	283	33/15
Ruff	284	30/12
Red Phalarope	284	30/9
Sooty Shearwater	286	29/16
Bohemian Waxwing	286	29/12
Scissor-tailed Flycatcher	288	28/4
Ross's Goose	289	27/5
Cattle Egret	289	27/9
Greater White-fronted Goose	291	26/2
Curlew Sandpiper	291	26/6
White-faced Ibis	291	26/9
Grasshopper Sparrow	294	25/9
Canvasback	295	22/9
Upland Sandpiper	295	22/12
Black-necked Stilt	297	21/3
Prothonotary Warbler	297	21/11
Kentucky Warbler	297	21/10
Blue Grosbeak	297	21/8
			Jan	Feb	Mar	Apr	May	Jun	Jul	Aug	Sep	Oct	Nov	Dec
Common Murre	301	19/11
Black Rail	302	18/1
Pacific Loon	303	17/8
Pine Grosbeak	303	17/5
Acadian Flycatcher	305	16/12
Evening Grosbeak	305	16/6
Hoary Redpoll	305	16/7
Black Vulture	308	13/9
Eastern Screech-Owl	308	13/9
Ash-throated Flycatcher	308	13/3
Pomarine Jaeger	311	12/8
Green-tailed Towhee	311	12/1
Black-tailed Godwit	313	11/1
Leach's Storm-Petrel	313	11/7
Swainson's Hawk	313	11/3
Cave Swallow	313	11/7
Louisiana Waterthrush	313	11/11
Yellow-throated Warbler	313	11/6
Golden Eagle	319	9/8
Cerulean Warbler	319	9/7
			Jan	Feb	Mar	Apr	May	Jun	Jul	Aug	Sep	Oct	Nov	Dec
Cackling Goose	321	8/3
Common Ringed Plover	321	8/3
American White Pelican	321	8/7
Golden-winged Warbler	321	8/5
Sandhill Crane	325	7/7
Northern Fulmar	325	7/5
Red-headed Woodpecker	325	7/4
Gyrfalcon	325	7/5
Swainson's Warbler	325	7/1
Wilson's Plover	330	6/3
Red-necked Stint	330	6/2
Atlantic Puffin	330	6/4
Sandwich Tern	330	6/2
Say's Phoebe	330	6/4
Yellow-headed Blackbird	330	6/5
Pacific Golden-Plover	336	5/1
Franklin's Gull	336	5/4
Brown Pelican	336	5/1
Pileated Woodpecker	339	4/4
Sedge Wren	339	4/4
			Jan	Feb	Mar	Apr	May	Jun	Jul	Aug	Sep	Oct	Nov	Dec
Northern Wheatear	339	4/2
Chuck-will's-widow	342	3/3
Mississippi Kite	342	3/3
Loggerhead Shrike	342	3/1
Western Tanager	342	3/1
Black-bellied Whistling-Duck	346	2/2
Tundra Swan	346	2/1
Eared Grebe	346	2/1
Ringed Turtle-Dove	346	2/1
Northern Lapwing	346	2/2
Long-tailed Jaeger	346	2/2
Sabine's Gull	346	2/2
Little Egret	346	2/2
Western Meadowlark	346	2/1
White-winged Dove	355	1
Purple Gallinule	355	1
Elegant Tern	355	1
Neotropic Cormorant	355	1
White Ibis	355	1
Prairie Falcon	355	1
			Jan	Feb	Mar	Apr	May	Jun	Jul	Aug	Sep	Oct	Nov	Dec
Monk Parakeet	355	1
Fork-tailed Flycatcher	355	1
Yellow-green Vireo	355	1
Sage Thrasher	355	1
Townsend's Solitaire	355	1
Bicknell's Thrush	355	1
Chestnut-collared Longspur	355	1
Lark Bunting	355	1
Black-throated Gray Warbler	355	1