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 July 2, 2025

	Species		n		N		Jan		Feb		Mar		Apr		May		Jun		Jul		Aug		Sep		Oct		Nov		Dec
Herring Gull	1	7172
Canada Goose	2	7119
American Robin	3	7043
Mallard	4	6907
American Black Duck	5	6888
Black-capped Chickadee	6	6755
Great Black-backed Gull	7	6683
American Crow	8	6670
Song Sparrow	9	6655
Northern Mockingbird	10	6473
Northern Cardinal	11	6156
European Starling	12	6018
Blue Jay	13	5998
Mourning Dove	14	5913
Gadwall	15	5722
Northern Harrier	16	5701
American Goldfinch	17	5461
Ring-billed Gull	18	5362
Green-winged Teal	19	5095
Double-crested Cormorant	20	5058
			Jan	Feb	Mar	Apr	May	Jun	Jul	Aug	Sep	Oct	Nov	Dec
House Sparrow	21	5006
Common Loon	22	4953
Great Egret	23	4716
Greater Yellowlegs	24	4691
Rock Pigeon	25	4613
Gray Catbird	26	4507
Great Blue Heron	27	4446
Common Eider	28	4436
Mute Swan	29	4428
Downy Woodpecker	30	4424
Red-winged Blackbird	31	4315
White-winged Scoter	32	4291
House Finch	33	4193
Eastern Towhee	34	4094
Tree Swallow	35	3841
Killdeer	36	3827
Snowy Egret	37	3822
Red-breasted Merganser	38	3779
Common Grackle	39	3775
Osprey	40	3692
			Jan	Feb	Mar	Apr	May	Jun	Jul	Aug	Sep	Oct	Nov	Dec
Black-bellied Plover	41	3620
Cedar Waxwing	42	3589
White-throated Sparrow	43	3447
Northern Pintail	44	3428
Long-tailed Duck	45	3398
Black Scoter	46	3297
Sanderling	47	3285
Brown Thrasher	48	3280
Savannah Sparrow	49	3231
Dunlin	50	3183
Bufflehead	51	3171
Semipalmated Plover	52	3110
Semipalmated Sandpiper	53	3105
Marsh Wren	54	3101
Purple Finch	55	3086
Common Yellowthroat	56	2998
Red-tailed Hawk	57	2909
Yellow-rumped Warbler	58	2904
Peregrine Falcon	59	2877
Lesser Yellowlegs	60	2856
			Jan	Feb	Mar	Apr	May	Jun	Jul	Aug	Sep	Oct	Nov	Dec
Barn Swallow	61	2845
American Tree Sparrow	62	2820
Red-throated Loon	63	2767
Northern Flicker	64	2754
Eastern Kingbird	65	2727
Yellow Warbler	66	2655
Horned Grebe	67	2654
Northern Gannet	68	2593
Common Tern	69	2579
Wild Turkey	70	2510
Turkey Vulture	71	2504
Least Sandpiper	72	2479
Swamp Sparrow	73	2453
Willet	74	2451
Common Goldeneye	75	2448
Bobolink	76	2443
Red-breasted Nuthatch	77	2414
Brown-headed Cowbird	78	2403
Purple Martin	79	2387
Field Sparrow	80	2341
			Jan	Feb	Mar	Apr	May	Jun	Jul	Aug	Sep	Oct	Nov	Dec
Merlin	81	2338
Piping Plover	82	2333
Short-billed Dowitcher	83	2322
Hooded Merganser	84	2313
Dark-eyed Junco	85	2306
Least Tern	86	2293
Baltimore Oriole	87	2242
Bald Eagle	88	2226
Saltmarsh Sparrow	89	2199
Eastern Phoebe	90	2174
White-rumped Sandpiper	91	2165
American Redstart	92	2130
Surf Scoter	93	2082
American Wigeon	94	2027
Cooper's Hawk	94	2027
Red-eyed Vireo	96	1862
Hermit Thrush	97	1858
Black-crowned Night-Heron	98	1846
Horned Lark	99	1728
Bonaparte's Gull	100	1701
			Jan	Feb	Mar	Apr	May	Jun	Jul	Aug	Sep	Oct	Nov	Dec
Willow Flycatcher	101	1695
Spotted Sandpiper	102	1670
Golden-crowned Kinglet	103	1639
Red-necked Grebe	104	1615
Carolina Wren	105	1549
Snowy Owl	106	1524
Rough-legged Hawk	107	1511
Northern Shoveler	108	1465
Ruby-crowned Kinglet	109	1447
Bank Swallow	110	1406
Chipping Sparrow	111	1342
Blue-winged Teal	112	1325
Snow Bunting	113	1313
Great Crested Flycatcher	114	1300
Brant	115	1262
Greater Scaup	116	1218
Common Raven	117	1160
Black-and-white Warbler	118	1146
Sharp-shinned Hawk	119	1143
Razorbill	120	1114
			Jan	Feb	Mar	Apr	May	Jun	Jul	Aug	Sep	Oct	Nov	Dec
Glossy Ibis	121	1110
American Kestrel	122	1096
Belted Kingfisher	123	1058
Stilt Sandpiper	124	1050
Orchard Oriole	125	1029
Pectoral Sandpiper	126	1019
Seaside Sparrow	127	1015
Least Bittern	128	1007
Blackpoll Warbler	129	1006
Ruddy Turnstone	130	976
Long-billed Dowitcher	131	975
Northern Parula	132	970
Palm Warbler	133	947
Black-throated Green Warbler	134	946
White-breasted Nuthatch	135	935
Pied-billed Grebe	136	934
Laughing Gull	137	923
American Woodcock	138	873
Magnolia Warbler	139	869
Great Cormorant	140	850
			Jan	Feb	Mar	Apr	May	Jun	Jul	Aug	Sep	Oct	Nov	Dec
Blue-headed Vireo	140	850
Red Knot	142	820
Virginia Rail	143	814
House Wren	144	813
Black-throated Blue Warbler	145	788
American Bittern	146	787
Ruby-throated Hummingbird	147	782
Northern Shrike	148	778
Lesser Scaup	149	776
Pine Warbler	150	771
Whimbrel	151	757
Brown Creeper	152	741
American Pipit	153	724
Northern Waterthrush	154	703
Short-eared Owl	155	702
Chimney Swift	156	695
American Golden-Plover	157	690
Tufted Titmouse	158	687
Rose-breasted Grosbeak	159	684
Hairy Woodpecker	160	682
			Jan	Feb	Mar	Apr	May	Jun	Jul	Aug	Sep	Oct	Nov	Dec
White-crowned Sparrow	161	676
Ruddy Duck	162	644
Eastern Meadowlark	163	635
Yellow-bellied Sapsucker	164	620
Ovenbird	164	620
Eastern Wood-Pewee	166	605
Wilson's Warbler	167	604
American Coot	168	599
Roseate Tern	169	596
Nashville Warbler	170	591
Snow Goose	171	551
Chestnut-sided Warbler	172	528
Sora	173	526
Red-bellied Woodpecker	174	513
Purple Sandpiper	175	491
Common Merganser	176	484
Swainson's Thrush	177	471
Blackburnian Warbler	178	469
Wood Duck	179	466
Wilson's Snipe	180	451
			Jan	Feb	Mar	Apr	May	Jun	Jul	Aug	Sep	Oct	Nov	Dec
Alder Flycatcher	181	445
Canada Warbler	182	431
Least Flycatcher	183	425
Blue-gray Gnatcatcher	184	419
Green Heron	185	417
Veery	186	413
Yellow-crowned Night-Heron	187	409
Scarlet Tanager	187	409
Black-legged Kittiwake	189	405
Hudsonian Godwit	190	397
Black-billed Cuckoo	191	386
Great Horned Owl	191	386
Pine Siskin	191	386
Ring-necked Duck	194	385
Baird's Sandpiper	195	384
Lapland Longspur	196	380
Eastern Whip-poor-will	197	377
Warbling Vireo	197	377
Bay-breasted Warbler	199	364
Western Sandpiper	200	363
			Jan	Feb	Mar	Apr	May	Jun	Jul	Aug	Sep	Oct	Nov	Dec
Prairie Warbler	200	363
Common Redpoll	202	353
Forster's Tern	203	316
Fox Sparrow	204	312
Yellow-billed Cuckoo	205	301
Fish Crow	206	299
Eurasian Wigeon	207	296
Cape May Warbler	208	292
Barred Owl	209	286
Lincoln's Sparrow	210	278
Tricolored Heron	211	273
Solitary Sandpiper	212	270
Philadelphia Vireo	213	269
Lesser Black-backed Gull	214	258
Northern Rough-winged Swallow	215	257
Wilson's Phalarope	216	252
Winter Wren	217	245
Black Guillemot	218	244
Clay-colored Sparrow	219	239
American Avocet	220	234
			Jan	Feb	Mar	Apr	May	Jun	Jul	Aug	Sep	Oct	Nov	Dec
Little Blue Heron	221	222
Red Crossbill	222	218
Buff-breasted Sandpiper	223	215
Yellow-bellied Flycatcher	224	208
Wood Thrush	225	206
Tennessee Warbler	226	196
King Rail	227	188
Caspian Tern	228	187
Common Gallinule	229	181
Mourning Warbler	230	180
Indigo Bunting	231	170
Cliff Swallow	232	166
Wilson's Storm-Petrel	233	162
Nelson's Sparrow	234	160
Iceland Gull	235	158
Black Tern	236	155
Redhead	237	153
Dickcissel	237	153
White-winged Crossbill	239	148
Clapper Rail	240	146
			Jan	Feb	Mar	Apr	May	Jun	Jul	Aug	Sep	Oct	Nov	Dec
Orange-crowned Warbler	241	131
White-eyed Vireo	242	126
Little Gull	243	125
King Eider	244	122
Blue-winged Warbler	245	120
Rusty Blackbird	246	115
Yellow-throated Vireo	247	110
Yellow-breasted Chat	248	107
Marbled Godwit	249	100
Common Nighthawk	250	95/23
Olive-sided Flycatcher	250	95/23
Cory's Shearwater	252	86/13
Ring-necked Pheasant	253	85/13
Black Skimmer	253	85/15
American Oystercatcher	255	79/21
Red-shouldered Hawk	256	78/19
Broad-winged Hawk	256	78/20
Lark Sparrow	258	76/20
Manx Shearwater	259	72/22
Western Grebe	260	71/7
			Jan	Feb	Mar	Apr	May	Jun	Jul	Aug	Sep	Oct	Nov	Dec
Eastern Bluebird	261	67/21
Connecticut Warbler	261	67/24
Parasitic Jaeger	263	61/21
Hooded Warbler	263	61/20
Harlequin Duck	265	59/13
Great Shearwater	266	58/15
Vesper Sparrow	267	57/19
Dovekie	268	54/17
Glaucous Gull	269	52/17
Gray-cheeked Thrush	269	52/20
Summer Tanager	271	46/15
Thick-billed Murre	272	45/20
Gull-billed Tern	273	44/8
Northern Goshawk	273	44/17
Northern Saw-whet Owl	275	43/14
Red-necked Phalarope	276	41/14
Black-headed Gull	277	40/13
Royal Tern	277	40/13
Western Kingbird	277	40/10
Arctic Tern	280	37/16
			Jan	Feb	Mar	Apr	May	Jun	Jul	Aug	Sep	Oct	Nov	Dec
Barrow's Goldeneye	281	35/7
Long-eared Owl	282	33/14
Worm-eating Warbler	283	32/14
Red Phalarope	284	30/9
Cattle Egret	285	27/9
Greater White-fronted Goose	286	26/2
Curlew Sandpiper	286	26/6
Scissor-tailed Flycatcher	286	26/3
Sooty Shearwater	289	25/15
Grasshopper Sparrow	289	25/9
White-faced Ibis	291	23/8
Canvasback	292	21/8
Black-necked Stilt	292	21/3
Kentucky Warbler	292	21/10
Upland Sandpiper	295	20/11
Ruff	295	20/11
Common Murre	297	19/11
Black Rail	298	18/1
Bohemian Waxwing	298	18/11
Pacific Loon	300	17/8
			Jan	Feb	Mar	Apr	May	Jun	Jul	Aug	Sep	Oct	Nov	Dec
Pine Grosbeak	300	17/5
Prothonotary Warbler	300	17/10
Acadian Flycatcher	303	16/12
Evening Grosbeak	303	16/6
Hoary Redpoll	303	16/7
Blue Grosbeak	303	16/6
Ross's Goose	307	14/4
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
Yellow-throated Warbler	312	11/6
Louisiana Waterthrush	317	10/10
Black Vulture	318	9/7
Cackling Goose	319	8/3
Common Ringed Plover	319	8/3
			Jan	Feb	Mar	Apr	May	Jun	Jul	Aug	Sep	Oct	Nov	Dec
American White Pelican	319	8/7
Golden Eagle	319	8/7
Golden-winged Warbler	319	8/5
Cerulean Warbler	319	8/6
Sandhill Crane	325	7/7
Red-headed Woodpecker	325	7/4
Gyrfalcon	325	7/5
Swainson's Warbler	325	7/1
Wilson's Plover	329	6/3
Red-necked Stint	329	6/2
Atlantic Puffin	329	6/4
Sandwich Tern	329	6/2
Northern Fulmar	329	6/4
Say's Phoebe	329	6/4
Yellow-headed Blackbird	329	6/5
Pacific Golden-Plover	336	5/1
Franklin's Gull	336	5/4
Brown Pelican	336	5/1
Sedge Wren	339	4/4
Northern Wheatear	339	4/2
			Jan	Feb	Mar	Apr	May	Jun	Jul	Aug	Sep	Oct	Nov	Dec
Chuck-will's-widow	341	3/3
Mississippi Kite	341	3/3
Pileated Woodpecker	341	3/3
Loggerhead Shrike	341	3/1
Western Tanager	341	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