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 June 14, 2026

	Species		n		N		Jan		Feb		Mar		Apr		May		Jun		Jul		Aug		Sep		Oct		Nov		Dec
Herring Gull	1	7508
Canada Goose	2	7450
American Robin	3	7372
Mallard	4	7225
American Black Duck	5	7212
Black-capped Chickadee	6	7082
Great Black-backed Gull	7	6995
Song Sparrow	8	6972
American Crow	9	6962
Northern Mockingbird	10	6786
Northern Cardinal	11	6481
European Starling	12	6320
Blue Jay	13	6306
Mourning Dove	14	6231
Northern Harrier	15	6009
Gadwall	16	5986
American Goldfinch	17	5755
Ring-billed Gull	18	5649
Green-winged Teal	19	5332
Double-crested Cormorant	20	5300
			Jan	Feb	Mar	Apr	May	Jun	Jul	Aug	Sep	Oct	Nov	Dec
House Sparrow	21	5278
Common Loon	22	5213
Great Egret	23	4952
Greater Yellowlegs	24	4901
Rock Pigeon	25	4864
Gray Catbird	26	4716
Common Eider	27	4706
Downy Woodpecker	28	4705
Great Blue Heron	29	4657
Mute Swan	30	4625
Red-winged Blackbird	31	4530
White-winged Scoter	32	4504
House Finch	33	4500
Eastern Towhee	34	4322
Tree Swallow	35	4017
Killdeer	36	4005
Snowy Egret	37	4001
Red-breasted Merganser	38	3980
Common Grackle	39	3958
Osprey	40	3864
			Jan	Feb	Mar	Apr	May	Jun	Jul	Aug	Sep	Oct	Nov	Dec
Cedar Waxwing	41	3819
Black-bellied Plover	42	3785
White-throated Sparrow	43	3671
Long-tailed Duck	44	3586
Northern Pintail	45	3578
Black Scoter	46	3505
Sanderling	47	3480
Brown Thrasher	48	3434
Dunlin	49	3379
Savannah Sparrow	50	3374
Bufflehead	51	3339
Purple Finch	52	3296
Semipalmated Plover	53	3287
Semipalmated Sandpiper	54	3274
Marsh Wren	55	3250
Common Yellowthroat	56	3139
Yellow-rumped Warbler	57	3129
Red-tailed Hawk	58	3018
Lesser Yellowlegs	59	2999
Peregrine Falcon	59	2999
			Jan	Feb	Mar	Apr	May	Jun	Jul	Aug	Sep	Oct	Nov	Dec
Barn Swallow	61	2982
American Tree Sparrow	62	2959
Northern Flicker	63	2948
Red-throated Loon	64	2912
Eastern Kingbird	65	2839
Horned Grebe	66	2790
Yellow Warbler	67	2780
Northern Gannet	68	2705
Wild Turkey	69	2703
Common Tern	70	2693
Turkey Vulture	71	2648
Red-breasted Nuthatch	72	2638
Least Sandpiper	73	2621
Swamp Sparrow	74	2609
Common Goldeneye	75	2578
Willet	76	2572
Bobolink	77	2538
Brown-headed Cowbird	78	2511
Purple Martin	79	2503
Dark-eyed Junco	80	2483
			Jan	Feb	Mar	Apr	May	Jun	Jul	Aug	Sep	Oct	Nov	Dec
Piping Plover	81	2472
Merlin	82	2467
Field Sparrow	83	2448
Short-billed Dowitcher	84	2434
Hooded Merganser	85	2402
Least Tern	86	2385
Bald Eagle	87	2373
Baltimore Oriole	88	2354
Saltmarsh Sparrow	89	2314
White-rumped Sandpiper	90	2306
Eastern Phoebe	91	2284
American Redstart	92	2248
Surf Scoter	93	2238
Cooper's Hawk	94	2180
American Wigeon	95	2100
Red-eyed Vireo	96	1965
Hermit Thrush	97	1960
Black-crowned Night-Heron	98	1934
Horned Lark	99	1826
Willow Flycatcher	100	1766
			Jan	Feb	Mar	Apr	May	Jun	Jul	Aug	Sep	Oct	Nov	Dec
Bonaparte's Gull	101	1757
Spotted Sandpiper	102	1754
Golden-crowned Kinglet	103	1722
Carolina Wren	104	1705
Red-necked Grebe	105	1679
Snowy Owl	106	1567
Rough-legged Hawk	107	1534
Northern Shoveler	108	1527
Ruby-crowned Kinglet	109	1508
Chipping Sparrow	110	1452
Bank Swallow	111	1449
Great Crested Flycatcher	112	1390
Blue-winged Teal	113	1376
Snow Bunting	114	1374
Brant	115	1344
Common Raven	116	1340
Greater Scaup	117	1301
Black-and-white Warbler	118	1207
Sharp-shinned Hawk	119	1200
Glossy Ibis	120	1181
			Jan	Feb	Mar	Apr	May	Jun	Jul	Aug	Sep	Oct	Nov	Dec
Razorbill	121	1152
American Kestrel	122	1142
Belted Kingfisher	123	1123
Stilt Sandpiper	124	1117
Orchard Oriole	125	1090
Pectoral Sandpiper	126	1075
Least Bittern	127	1066
Seaside Sparrow	128	1049
Blackpoll Warbler	129	1047
Long-billed Dowitcher	130	1037
Northern Parula	131	1026
Ruddy Turnstone	132	1023
White-breasted Nuthatch	133	1004
Laughing Gull	134	1002
Palm Warbler	135	1000
Black-throated Green Warbler	136	999
Pied-billed Grebe	137	963
American Woodcock	138	934
Magnolia Warbler	139	924
Blue-headed Vireo	140	904
			Jan	Feb	Mar	Apr	May	Jun	Jul	Aug	Sep	Oct	Nov	Dec
House Wren	141	878
Great Cormorant	142	872
Red Knot	143	860
Ruby-throated Hummingbird	144	834
Black-throated Blue Warbler	145	829
Virginia Rail	146	827
Lesser Scaup	147	815
American Bittern	148	810
Brown Creeper	149	808
Hairy Woodpecker	150	800
Pine Warbler	151	799
Whimbrel	152	793
Tufted Titmouse	153	789
Northern Shrike	154	778
American Pipit	155	772
Short-eared Owl	156	745
Northern Waterthrush	157	736
Chimney Swift	158	733
American Golden-Plover	159	730
Rose-breasted Grosbeak	160	729
			Jan	Feb	Mar	Apr	May	Jun	Jul	Aug	Sep	Oct	Nov	Dec
White-crowned Sparrow	161	702
Ovenbird	162	668
Eastern Wood-Pewee	163	656
Roseate Tern	164	649
Yellow-bellied Sapsucker	165	647
Ruddy Duck	166	645
Eastern Meadowlark	167	641
Wilson's Warbler	168	639
Nashville Warbler	169	625
American Coot	170	623
Red-bellied Woodpecker	171	568
Chestnut-sided Warbler	172	562
Snow Goose	173	556
Sora	174	531
Common Merganser	175	530
Purple Sandpiper	176	520
Blackburnian Warbler	177	498
Wilson's Snipe	178	496
Swainson's Thrush	179	493
Wood Duck	180	489
			Jan	Feb	Mar	Apr	May	Jun	Jul	Aug	Sep	Oct	Nov	Dec
Alder Flycatcher	181	465
Yellow-crowned Night-Heron	182	462
Least Flycatcher	183	455
Blue-gray Gnatcatcher	184	451
Canada Warbler	185	447
Veery	186	434
Scarlet Tanager	187	427
Green Heron	188	423
Ring-necked Duck	189	416
Pine Siskin	190	409
Black-legged Kittiwake	191	407
Warbling Vireo	192	406
Hudsonian Godwit	193	405
Black-billed Cuckoo	194	401
Lapland Longspur	195	400
Eastern Whip-poor-will	196	394
Great Horned Owl	197	393
Bay-breasted Warbler	197	393
Baird's Sandpiper	199	391
Prairie Warbler	200	385
			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	334
Forster's Tern	205	326
Eurasian Wigeon	206	317
Cape May Warbler	207	314
Yellow-billed Cuckoo	208	309
Lincoln's Sparrow	209	304
Tricolored Heron	210	303
Lesser Black-backed Gull	211	288
Barred Owl	212	287
Philadelphia Vireo	212	287
Solitary Sandpiper	214	280
Wilson's Phalarope	215	270
Northern Rough-winged Swallow	216	265
Winter Wren	217	257
Clay-colored Sparrow	218	254
American Avocet	219	252
Black Guillemot	220	245
			Jan	Feb	Mar	Apr	May	Jun	Jul	Aug	Sep	Oct	Nov	Dec
Wood Thrush	221	237
Little Blue Heron	222	234
Yellow-bellied Flycatcher	223	219
Red Crossbill	224	218
Buff-breasted Sandpiper	225	217
Tennessee Warbler	226	215
King Rail	227	205
Caspian Tern	228	197
Clapper Rail	229	189
Mourning Warbler	230	188
Indigo Bunting	231	183
Common Gallinule	232	181
Wilson's Storm-Petrel	233	172
Cliff Swallow	234	170
Dickcissel	234	170
Nelson's Sparrow	236	169
Iceland Gull	237	166
Black Tern	238	157
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
King Eider	244	122
Rusty Blackbird	245	121
Blue-winged Warbler	245	121
Yellow-throated Vireo	247	119
American Oystercatcher	248	114
Yellow-breasted Chat	249	112
Marbled Godwit	250	100
Olive-sided Flycatcher	251	98/24
Common Nighthawk	252	96/23
Cory's Shearwater	253	87/14
Ring-necked Pheasant	254	85/13
Black Skimmer	254	85/15
Red-shouldered Hawk	254	85/20
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
Hooded Warbler	263	63/22
Parasitic Jaeger	265	62/21
Vesper Sparrow	266	60/20
Great Shearwater	267	58/15
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	41/17
Black-headed Gull	279	40/13
Royal Tern	279	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
Bohemian Waxwing	286	29/12
Scissor-tailed Flycatcher	287	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	290	26/16
Grasshopper Sparrow	293	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	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
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