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 May 12, 2026

	Species		n		N		Jan		Feb		Mar		Apr		May		Jun		Jul		Aug		Sep		Oct		Nov		Dec
Herring Gull	1	7475
Canada Goose	2	7417
American Robin	3	7339
Mallard	4	7192
American Black Duck	5	7183
Black-capped Chickadee	6	7050
Great Black-backed Gull	7	6965
Song Sparrow	8	6939
American Crow	9	6932
Northern Mockingbird	10	6753
Northern Cardinal	11	6449
European Starling	12	6287
Blue Jay	13	6276
Mourning Dove	14	6198
Northern Harrier	15	5978
Gadwall	16	5953
American Goldfinch	17	5722
Ring-billed Gull	18	5621
Green-winged Teal	19	5300
Double-crested Cormorant	20	5267
			Jan	Feb	Mar	Apr	May	Jun	Jul	Aug	Sep	Oct	Nov	Dec
House Sparrow	21	5246
Common Loon	22	5191
Great Egret	23	4919
Greater Yellowlegs	24	4871
Rock Pigeon	25	4853
Downy Woodpecker	26	4686
Gray Catbird	27	4683
Common Eider	28	4680
Great Blue Heron	29	4634
Mute Swan	30	4592
Red-winged Blackbird	31	4497
White-winged Scoter	32	4486
House Finch	33	4467
Eastern Towhee	34	4289
Tree Swallow	35	3985
Killdeer	36	3972
Snowy Egret	37	3968
Red-breasted Merganser	38	3956
Common Grackle	39	3925
Osprey	40	3831
			Jan	Feb	Mar	Apr	May	Jun	Jul	Aug	Sep	Oct	Nov	Dec
Cedar Waxwing	41	3791
Black-bellied Plover	42	3756
White-throated Sparrow	43	3650
Northern Pintail	44	3578
Long-tailed Duck	45	3572
Black Scoter	46	3488
Sanderling	47	3466
Brown Thrasher	48	3402
Dunlin	49	3357
Savannah Sparrow	50	3353
Bufflehead	51	3336
Purple Finch	52	3264
Semipalmated Plover	53	3256
Semipalmated Sandpiper	54	3243
Marsh Wren	55	3218
Yellow-rumped Warbler	56	3117
Common Yellowthroat	57	3106
Red-tailed Hawk	58	3005
Peregrine Falcon	59	2997
Lesser Yellowlegs	60	2982
			Jan	Feb	Mar	Apr	May	Jun	Jul	Aug	Sep	Oct	Nov	Dec
American Tree Sparrow	61	2959
Barn Swallow	62	2951
Northern Flicker	63	2939
Red-throated Loon	64	2901
Eastern Kingbird	65	2806
Horned Grebe	66	2790
Yellow Warbler	67	2747
Northern Gannet	68	2702
Wild Turkey	69	2678
Common Tern	70	2660
Red-breasted Nuthatch	71	2630
Turkey Vulture	72	2625
Least Sandpiper	73	2596
Swamp Sparrow	74	2579
Common Goldeneye	75	2578
Willet	76	2539
Bobolink	77	2507
Dark-eyed Junco	78	2482
Brown-headed Cowbird	79	2478
Purple Martin	80	2470
			Jan	Feb	Mar	Apr	May	Jun	Jul	Aug	Sep	Oct	Nov	Dec
Merlin	81	2455
Piping Plover	82	2443
Field Sparrow	83	2429
Short-billed Dowitcher	84	2413
Hooded Merganser	85	2402
Bald Eagle	86	2359
Least Tern	87	2352
Baltimore Oriole	88	2322
Saltmarsh Sparrow	89	2286
White-rumped Sandpiper	90	2281
Eastern Phoebe	91	2278
Surf Scoter	92	2235
American Redstart	93	2215
Cooper's Hawk	94	2163
American Wigeon	95	2099
Hermit Thrush	96	1955
Red-eyed Vireo	97	1937
Black-crowned Night-Heron	98	1924
Horned Lark	99	1826
Bonaparte's Gull	100	1743
			Jan	Feb	Mar	Apr	May	Jun	Jul	Aug	Sep	Oct	Nov	Dec
Willow Flycatcher	101	1739
Spotted Sandpiper	102	1735
Golden-crowned Kinglet	103	1722
Carolina Wren	104	1685
Red-necked Grebe	105	1679
Snowy Owl	106	1567
Rough-legged Hawk	107	1534
Northern Shoveler	108	1527
Ruby-crowned Kinglet	109	1503
Bank Swallow	110	1437
Chipping Sparrow	111	1422
Snow Bunting	112	1374
Great Crested Flycatcher	113	1358
Blue-winged Teal	114	1351
Brant	115	1340
Common Raven	116	1335
Greater Scaup	117	1301
Sharp-shinned Hawk	118	1197
Black-and-white Warbler	119	1186
Glossy Ibis	120	1162
			Jan	Feb	Mar	Apr	May	Jun	Jul	Aug	Sep	Oct	Nov	Dec
Razorbill	121	1152
American Kestrel	122	1139
Stilt Sandpiper	123	1117
Belted Kingfisher	124	1115
Pectoral Sandpiper	125	1070
Orchard Oriole	126	1059
Least Bittern	127	1043
Seaside Sparrow	128	1042
Long-billed Dowitcher	129	1036
Blackpoll Warbler	130	1026
Ruddy Turnstone	131	1010
Northern Parula	132	1004
White-breasted Nuthatch	133	1003
Palm Warbler	134	998
Laughing Gull	135	997
Black-throated Green Warbler	136	976
Pied-billed Grebe	137	963
American Woodcock	138	925
Magnolia Warbler	139	902
Blue-headed Vireo	140	891
			Jan	Feb	Mar	Apr	May	Jun	Jul	Aug	Sep	Oct	Nov	Dec
Great Cormorant	141	872
Red Knot	142	849
House Wren	143	847
Virginia Rail	144	822
Lesser Scaup	145	815
Black-throated Blue Warbler	146	814
Ruby-throated Hummingbird	147	810
American Bittern	148	809
Brown Creeper	149	807
Hairy Woodpecker	150	796
Pine Warbler	150	796
Whimbrel	152	792
Northern Shrike	153	778
American Pipit	154	772
Tufted Titmouse	155	760
Short-eared Owl	156	745
American Golden-Plover	157	730
Northern Waterthrush	158	719
Chimney Swift	159	716
Rose-breasted Grosbeak	160	707
			Jan	Feb	Mar	Apr	May	Jun	Jul	Aug	Sep	Oct	Nov	Dec
White-crowned Sparrow	161	697
Yellow-bellied Sapsucker	162	647
Ruddy Duck	163	645
Eastern Meadowlark	164	641
Ovenbird	165	636
Eastern Wood-Pewee	166	632
Roseate Tern	167	627
American Coot	168	623
Wilson's Warbler	169	621
Nashville Warbler	170	617
Snow Goose	171	556
Red-bellied Woodpecker	172	551
Chestnut-sided Warbler	173	540
Common Merganser	174	530
Sora	174	530
Purple Sandpiper	176	519
Wilson's Snipe	177	494
Wood Duck	178	487
Blackburnian Warbler	179	481
Swainson's Thrush	180	480
			Jan	Feb	Mar	Apr	May	Jun	Jul	Aug	Sep	Oct	Nov	Dec
Alder Flycatcher	181	446
Blue-gray Gnatcatcher	182	445
Least Flycatcher	183	439
Canada Warbler	184	435
Yellow-crowned Night-Heron	185	433
Veery	186	421
Green Heron	187	419
Scarlet Tanager	188	417
Ring-necked Duck	189	416
Pine Siskin	190	409
Black-legged Kittiwake	191	407
Hudsonian Godwit	192	405
Lapland Longspur	193	400
Great Horned Owl	194	393
Baird's Sandpiper	195	391
Warbling Vireo	195	391
Black-billed Cuckoo	197	390
Eastern Whip-poor-will	198	386
Bay-breasted Warbler	199	380
Prairie Warbler	200	376
			Jan	Feb	Mar	Apr	May	Jun	Jul	Aug	Sep	Oct	Nov	Dec
Western Sandpiper	201	368
Common Redpoll	202	354
Fox Sparrow	203	335
Fish Crow	204	329
Forster's Tern	205	325
Eurasian Wigeon	206	317
Cape May Warbler	207	311
Yellow-billed Cuckoo	208	302
Tricolored Heron	209	297
Lincoln's Sparrow	210	296
Lesser Black-backed Gull	211	287
Barred Owl	211	287
Philadelphia Vireo	213	285
Solitary Sandpiper	214	278
Northern Rough-winged Swallow	215	264
Wilson's Phalarope	216	263
Winter Wren	217	257
Clay-colored Sparrow	218	253
American Avocet	219	252
Black Guillemot	220	245
			Jan	Feb	Mar	Apr	May	Jun	Jul	Aug	Sep	Oct	Nov	Dec
Little Blue Heron	221	234
Red Crossbill	222	218
Buff-breasted Sandpiper	223	217
Yellow-bellied Flycatcher	224	211
Wood Thrush	224	211
Tennessee Warbler	226	205
Caspian Tern	227	195
King Rail	228	188
Mourning Warbler	229	182
Common Gallinule	230	181
Indigo Bunting	231	177
Wilson's Storm-Petrel	232	172
Dickcissel	233	170
Cliff Swallow	234	168
Nelson's Sparrow	234	168
Iceland Gull	236	166
Clapper Rail	237	162
Black Tern	238	155
Redhead	239	153
White-winged Crossbill	240	148
			Jan	Feb	Mar	Apr	May	Jun	Jul	Aug	Sep	Oct	Nov	Dec
Orange-crowned Warbler	241	140
White-eyed Vireo	242	133
Little Gull	243	125
King Eider	244	122
Rusty Blackbird	245	121
Blue-winged Warbler	245	121
Yellow-throated Vireo	247	113
Yellow-breasted Chat	248	110
American Oystercatcher	249	102
Marbled Godwit	250	100
Common Nighthawk	251	96/23
Olive-sided Flycatcher	251	96/23
Cory's Shearwater	253	87/14
Ring-necked Pheasant	254	85/13
Black Skimmer	254	85/15
Red-shouldered Hawk	256	83/20
Broad-winged Hawk	257	79/21
Lark Sparrow	258	77/21
Manx Shearwater	259	76/22
Connecticut Warbler	260	73/25
			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
Parasitic Jaeger	264	62/21
Hooded Warbler	264	62/21
Vesper Sparrow	266	60/20
Great Shearwater	267	58/15
Dovekie	268	55/18
Glaucous Gull	269	52/17
Gray-cheeked Thrush	269	52/20
Thick-billed Murre	271	50/21
Northern Goshawk	272	48/18
Summer Tanager	272	48/15
Red-necked Phalarope	274	45/15
Gull-billed Tern	275	44/8
Northern Saw-whet Owl	276	43/14
Western Kingbird	276	43/11
Black-headed Gull	278	40/13
Arctic Tern	278	40/16
Royal Tern	278	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	32/14
Red Phalarope	284	30/9
Bohemian Waxwing	285	29/12
Ruff	286	28/12
Scissor-tailed Flycatcher	286	28/4
Ross's Goose	288	27/5
Cattle Egret	288	27/9
Greater White-fronted Goose	290	26/2
Curlew Sandpiper	290	26/6
Sooty Shearwater	292	25/15
Grasshopper Sparrow	292	25/9
White-faced Ibis	294	24/9
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	300	20/7
			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
Ash-throated Flycatcher	308	13/3
Pomarine Jaeger	309	12/8
Eastern Screech-Owl	309	12/8
Green-tailed Towhee	309	12/1
Black-tailed Godwit	312	11/1
Leach's Storm-Petrel	312	11/7
Swainson's Hawk	312	11/3
Cave Swallow	312	11/7
Louisiana Waterthrush	312	11/11
Yellow-throated Warbler	312	11/6
Black Vulture	318	10/8
Golden Eagle	319	9/8
Cackling Goose	320	8/3
			Jan	Feb	Mar	Apr	May	Jun	Jul	Aug	Sep	Oct	Nov	Dec
Common Ringed Plover	320	8/3
American White Pelican	320	8/7
Golden-winged Warbler	320	8/5
Cerulean Warbler	320	8/6
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