This page was last updated:
Top ~ Spring/Summer/Fall ~ Winter ~ Semi-migratory ~ Resident ~ Misc.
NOTE: The tables below, which remain incomplete, show the first arrival dates for migratory bird species typically seen in Virginia. They exclude sightings of uncommon birds and apparent "vagrants." Most migratory birds are considered uncommon, except as noted. See color key at end of table.
| Shorebirds, Raptors, etc. | 1997 | 1998 | 1999 | 2000 | 2001 | 2002 | 2003 | 2004 | 2005 | 2006 | 2007 | 2008 | 2009 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Green heron  |
Sep. 7 | May 16 | Apr. 25 | . | . | . | May 30 | May 26 | May 12 | May 4 | June 13 | Apr. 25 | Apr. 25 |
| Great egret |
. | . | . | . | . | Mar. 30 | . | July 22 | . | Oct. 1 | May 13 | Aug. 15 | |
| Snowy egret | . | . | . | . | . | . | . | . | . | . | . | . | |
| Spotted sandpiper |
May 18? | . | Apr. 18 | May 6 | . | Apr. 30 | . | May 15 | Apr. 27 | May 7 | May 6 | . | |
| Solitary sandpiper | - | - | Apr. 27 | Apr. 30 | . | . | . | May 2 | Apr. 27 | . | May 20 | . | Apr. 24 |
| Greater yellowlegs | . | . | . | Apr. 30 | . | . | . | . | Apr. 27 | . | Apr. 4 | . | |
| Lesser yellowlegs | . | . | . | May 6 | . | . | Sep. 3 | . | . | . | . | . | |
| Semipalmated sandpiper | - | - | . | . | . | . | . | . | . | . | . | . | |
| Least sandpiper | - | - | . | . | . | . | . | . | . | . | May 6 | . | |
| Wilson's snipe | - | - | . | . | . | . | . | . | . | . | . | Feb. 23 | Mar. 24 |
| Broad-winged hawk | - | Sep. 20 | Sep. 24 | Apr. 10 | . | . | Apr. 24 | (Aug. 12) | Apr. 9 | Apr. 13 | . | Apr. 24 | Apr. 28 |
| Osprey | . | . | . | Apr. 15 | . | . | Apr. 24 | (Aug. 12) | May 1 | (July 12) | Aug. 6 | May 30 | Apr. 21 |
| Common nighthawk | . | May 16 | May 9 | Aug. 19 | May 18 | . | June 22 | May 15 | Apr. 30 | (July 7) | Aug. 27 | . | |
| Swallows, Flycatchers, etc. | 1997 | 1998 | 1999 | 2000 | 2001 | 2002 | 2003 | 2004 | 2005 | 2006 | 2007 | 2008 | 2009 |
| Tree swallow |
Apr. 13 | . | . | . | Apr. 15 | . | Apr. 1 | Mar. 20 | Mar. 18 | Mar. 26 | Mar. 25 | Mar. 5? | Mar. 12 |
| Barn swallow |
?? | May 3 | Apr. 10 | Apr. 5 | Apr. 13 | Apr. 5 | Apr. 11 | May 5 | Apr. 27 | Apr. 25 | Apr. 4 | Apr. 11 | Apr. 5 |
| Northern rough-winged swallow |
- | - | May 4 | Apr. 23 | . | . | Apr. 11 | Apr. 10 | Apr. 2 | Mar. 26 | Mar. 30? | Apr. 10 | Mar. 24 |
| Cliff swallow | . | May 24 | . | . | . | . | . | . | . | (July 12) | May 5 | . | Apr. 23 |
| Purple martin |
. | . | . | July 1 | . | May 11 | . | . | . | May 7 | May 20 | . | |
| Chimney swift | Apr. 19 | Apr. 9 | Apr. 6 | Apr. 9 | Apr. 9 | Apr. 17 | Apr. 29 | Apr. 17 | Apr. 18 | Apr. 15 | Apr. 14 | Apr. 18 | Apr. 19 |
| Ruby-throated hummingbird |
July 27 | May 6 | June 6 | May 5 | Apr. 21 | Apr. 26 | Apr. 23 | Apr. 25 | May 4 | Apr. 22 | May 2 | May 9 | Apr. 29 |
| Eastern phoebe |
(Sep. 15) | May 29 | Jan. 1 | X ? | Apr. 27 | . | Apr. 14 | Mar. 19 | Feb. 6 | Apr. 1 | Mar. 13 | Jan. 9 | Jan. 20 |
| Great crested flycatcher |
May 7 | May 16 | May 10 | May 10 | May 1 | May 4 | Apr. 24 | May 5 | Apr. 22 | Apr. 30 | Apr. 29 | May 2 | |
| Acadian flycatcher | - | July 19 | May 8 | May 7 | June 29 | May 15 | May 29 | May 20 | May 26 | Sept. 13 | May 10 | ||
| Eastern kingbird |
. | July 18 | . | . | Apr. 22 | May 13 | . | May 15 | May 23 | May 7 | Apr. 24 | May 3 | Apr. 25 |
| Eastern wood pewee |
May 28 | May 18 | May 8 | May 7 | June 9 | May 4 | . | May 15 | May 14 | May 27 | May 13 | May 24 | May 10 |
| Willow flycatcher | - | - | - | June 18 | . | June 1 | . | May 19 | May 23 | May 23 | May 21 | June 21 | |
| Least flycatcher |
- | - | - | - | June 10 | May 20 | . | . | Sep. 13 | May 5 | . | Aug. 12 | |
| Vireos and Warblers | 1997 | 1998 | 1999 | 2000 | 2001 | 2002 | 2003 | 2004 | 2005 | 2006 | 2007 | 2008 | 2009 |
| Red-eyed vireo |
May 17 | May 6 | May 8 | May 3 | May 5 | Apr. 26 | June 14 | Apr. 24 | May 7 | May 4 | May 5 | Apr. 26 | Apr. 28 |
| White-eyed vireo | - | July 17 | May 8 | May 5 | Apr. 22 | . | June 5 | June 3 | May 1 | . | Aug. 7 | May 12 | |
| Blue-headed (ex-Solitary) vireo |
Apr. 26 | Apr. 29 | May 29 | Mar. 30 | May 5 | Oct. 12 | May 8 | Apr. 24 | Apr. 14 | Apr. 2 | Mar. 31 | Apr. 24 | Mar. 31 |
| Yellow-throated vireo | July 6? | . | . | July 9 | . | May 4 | . | May 15 | May 14 | . | June 16 | . | May 9 |
| Warbling vireo | - | - | - | Aug. 16 | Apr. 22 | . | . | May 15 | . | . | . | . | May 13 |
| Pine warbler | Apr. 6 | Feb. 22 | Mar. 20 | Mar. 4 | May 26 | Mar. 30 | . | May 5 | June 10 | Mar. 19 | Mar. 31 | Apr. 29 | Mar. 19 |
| Tennessee warbler |
Apr. 27 | . | Sep. 10 | Sep. 16 | Sep. 9 | Oct. 4 | Sep. 5? | . | Oct. 2 * | Sep. 23 | . | Sep. 5 | |
| Orange-crowned warbler | - | - | - | - | - | - | (Mar. 2) | . | . | Sep. 9 | . | . | |
| Cerulean warbler | May 3 | Apr. 22 | May 29 | . | . | May 4 | Apr. 27 | . | May 22 | May 29 | May 13 | May 12 | May 1 |
| Worm-eating warbler | - | May 13 | July 27 | . | Aug. 18 | May 10 | June 22 | Apr. 24 | May 12 | Apr. 29 | Apr. 24 | Apr. 20 | Apr. 27 |
| Hooded warbler | July 5 | June 14 | . | Apr. 29 | . | May 4 | June 14 | Apr. 24 | June 5 | Aug. 16 | Apr. 29 | . | Apr. 28 |
| Wilson's warbler | Sep. 5 | Oct. 9 | . | . | May 14 | . | (Feb. 28) | Oct. 10 | May 10 | May 7 | . | May 14 | |
| Prothonotary warbler | - | - | - | Apr 15 | . | . | . | . | . | . | . | May 31 | |
| Kentucky warbler | - | - | July 14 | . | July 1* | Sep. 29 | . | . | . | ||||
| Nashville warbler | Sep. 13 | Aug. 17 | . | . | . | . | (Feb. 28) | . | May 8 | . | May 9 | . | May 2 |
| American redstart |
May 9 | May 6 | May 13 | May 2 | May 24 | Apr. 26 | Apr. 29 | May 19 | May 1 | May 13 | May 10 | May 3 | Apr. 28 |
| Black & white warbler |
May 9 | July 18 | . | June 18 | Apr. 21 | Apr. 27 | Apr. 29 | May 30 | May 16 | Apr. 29 | Apr. 21 | Apr. 24 | Apr. 23 |
| Northern parula | May 11 | May 10 | July 20 | Apr. 15* | . | May 10 | May 8 | May 15 | Apr. 14 | Apr. 29 | Apr. 24 | Apr. 27 | Apr. 23 |
| Louisiana waterthrush | - | Sep. 28 | . | Apr. 30 | Apr. 15 | Mar. 30 | Apr. 16 | Aug. 4 | June 12 | May 20 | Mar. 31 | Apr. 23 | Mar. 24 |
| Northern waterthrush | - | - | May 8 | May 17? | May 2 | . | . | . | May 6 | ||||
| Ovenbird | . | . | May 29 | May 3 | June 3 | May 7 | Apr. 24 | May 22 | . | May 5 | . | Apr. 28 | |
| Common yellowthroat |
Apr. 27 | July 26 | Apr. 28 | May 2 | May 13? | May 1 | June 22 | May 14 | May 10 | May 1 | Sep. 3 | Apr. 26 | May 2 |
| Blackburnian warbler | May 9 | Sep. 12 | Oct. 8 | May 23 | June 22 | May 15 | May 29 | Apr. 29 | Apr. 24 | May 24 | May 2 | ||
| Yellow warbler |
May 7 | . | May 5 | May 2 | May 15 | May 16 | May 19 | May 2 | Apr. 27 | Apr. 24 | Apr. 28 | Apr. 22 | |
| Magnolia warbler |
May 9 | Sep. 20 | Sep. 5 | Sep. 5 | May 14 | May 7 | May 20 | Aug. 23 | May 14 | Sep. 3 | Sept. 1 | May 17 | May 2 |
| Chestnut-sided warbler |
May 4 | June 14 | May 29 | May 6 | Aug. 26? | May 10 | July 5 | July 13 | May 14 | May 4 | May 12 | May 3 | May 20 |
| Bay-breasted warbler | - | - | - | - | Sep. 9 | . | . | . | May 14 | May 13 | . | . | |
| Canada warbler | May 18 | . | May 15 | May 2 | . | Sep. 6 | May 20 | July 13 | June 5 | Sep. 3 | May 16 | June 7 | May 18 |
| Cape May warbler | - | - | - | Oct. 3 | . | Oct. 7 | . | . | Sep. 25 | Sep. 10 | . | Apr. 28 | |
| Black-throated green warbler |
Oct. 1 | Sep. 25 | Sep. 12 | May 3 | Sep. 15 | Oct. 12 | May 8 | May 8 | May 29 | Apr. 29 | Apr. 29 | Apr. 26 | Apr. 21 |
| Black-throated blue warbler | - | May 10 | Sep. 22 | May 7 | Sep. 9 | Apr. 27 | . | July 13 | . | May 4 | May 12 | June 7 | May 2 |
| Prairie warbler | July 31 | Apr. 30 | May 18 | Apr. 30 | . | . | . | . | . | Apr. 27 | . | May 12 | Apr. 22 |
| Yellow-throated warbler | - | - | - | - | - | - | May 4 | . | Sep. 27 | . | . | . | |
| Palm warbler |
- | Sep. 13 | . | Apr. 1 | . | Apr. 27 | . | May 19 | May 2 | . | Apr. 22 | . | May 2 |
| Blackpoll warbler |
May 17 | May 9 | May 9 | May 12 | May 16? | May 9 | May 8 | May 8 | May 16 | May 15 | May 13 | May 14 | May 17 |
| Yellow-breasted chat | . | July 11 | . | July 9 | Sep. 12 | May 4 | . | . | . | . | . | May 12 | May 6 |
| Sparrows, other songbirds | 1997 | 1998 | 1999 | 2000 | 2001 | 2002 | 2003 | 2004 | 2005 | 2006 | 2007 | 2008 | 2009 |
| Scarlet tanager |
May 11 | X ? | May 5 | Apr. 30 | May 19 | May 4 | Apr. 29 | May 15 | May 12 | May 29 | Apr. 29 | May 3 | Apr. 28 |
| Baltimore (ex-Northern) oriole |
July 12 | May 3 | May 22 | May 5 | May 6 | May 5 | May 8 | May 21 | * Apr. 27 | May 7 | Apr. 24 | Apr. 29 | May 2 |
| Orchard oriole |
- | May 17 | May 5 | May 6 | May 13 | May 11 | . | June 7 | * June 18 | May 7 | May 21 | June 7 | Apr. 30 |
| Indigo bunting |
May 8 | Apr. 30 | May 5 | May 6 | May 10 | Apr. 23 | Apr. 29 | May 1 | May 5 | Apr. 22 | Apr. 24 | May 3 | Apr. 26 |
| Field sparrow |
. | . | . | . | . | Mar. 30 | Mar. 25 | Feb. 8 | Apr. 6 | Mar. 12 | Mar. 25 | Jan. 31 | May 2 ? |
| Chipping sparrow |
Apr. 30 | Apr. 16 | Apr. 8 | Mar. 4 | June 3 | Mar. 30 | Mar. 28 | Mar. 26 | Apr. 9 | Apr. 1 | Mar. 26 | Apr. 8 | Apr. 6 |
| Savannah sparrow |
- | - | - | - | Apr. 15 | Mar. 30 | . | Sep. 29 | Apr. 9 | May 7 | . | . | |
| Grasshopper sparrow | - | - | - | - | - | June 1 | May 17 | June 29 | . | (July 11) | . | May 16 | Apr. 25 |
| House wren | X ? | Apr. 27 | May 5 | June 20 | X ? | May 9 | July 14 | May 29 | June 5 | Apr. 16 | Apr. 30 | Apr. 25 | May 6 |
| Blue-gray gnatcatchers | May 24 | Apr. 25 | Apr. 25 | Apr. 15 | Apr. 22 | Apr. 26 | Apr. 11 | Apr. 24 | Apr. 9 | Apr. 22 | Apr. 21 | Apr. 17 | Apr. 13 |
| Brown thrashers | Apr. 10 | Apr. 22 | Apr. 20 | Apr. 8 | Apr. 15 | Apr. 9 | Apr. 11 | Apr. 18 | Apr. 11 | Mar. 27 | Apr. 19 | Apr. 19 | Apr. 25 |
| Gray catbird |
Apr. 22 | Apr. 21 | Apr. 24 | Apr. 21 | Apr. 27 | Apr. 26 | Apr. 29 | Apr. 26 | May 2 | Jan. 8 | Apr. 29 | Apr. 17 | Apr. 26 |
| Yellow-billed cuckoo | July 13 | July 26 | May 8 | May 7 | June 6 | May 9 | June 8 | June 22 | May 14 | Aug. 20 | May 26 | May 24 | May 2 |
| Rose-breasted grosbeak |
May 16 | Sep. 24 | . | May 3 | May 19 | May 4 | . | May 30 | May 12* | (July 9) | Apr. 30 | May 3 | May 1 |
| Blue grosbeak |
. | . | . | . | . | . | . | . | . | . | Aug. 7 | . | |
| Common grackles ** |
. | . | . | . | . | . | Mar. 12 | Feb. 15 | Mar. 18 | Mar. 7 | . | . | Mar. 2 |
| Brown-headed cowbirds ** |
. | . | . | Mar. 4 | . | . | Feb. 15 | Feb. 21 | Mar. 12 | Apr. 20 | . | Mar. 23 | Mar. 30 |
| Red-wing blackbirds ** |
. | . | . | . | . | . | Apr. 1 | Mar. 28 | Mar. 12 | Mar. 7 | . | . | Mar. 23 ? |
| Wood thrush | June 29 | May 3 | May 8 | May 3 | May 12 | May 4 | Apr. 29 | June 25 | May 22 | . | Apr. 30 | Apr. 23 | May 2 |
| Swainson's thrush | - | - | - | - | - | May 7 | . | . | Sep. 25 | Oct. 5 | . | Sep. 20 | May 10 |
| Veery | . | . | May 9 | May 7 | . | . | . | . | June 5 | . | June 16 | . | |
| KEY | |||||||||||||
| . | Transient: Seen in Spring and Fall, but breeds in the highlands or North during the summer; winters in Tropics. | ||||||||||||
| . | Out-of-season sightings, etc. (links to blog posts, where available) | ||||||||||||
| ** | Formerly classified as Year-round resident. | ||||||||||||
| (PARENTHESES): | Denotes sighting outside of Virginia or U.S.A. | ||||||||||||
Top ~ Spring/Summer/Fall ~ Winter ~ Semi-migratory ~ Resident ~ Misc.
NOTE: For wintering migratory birds, the first arrival dates as given below are for the earlier year if the month is Sep.-Dec., and for the latter year if the month is Jan.-Apr.
| Ducks, Raptors, etc. | 1997-98 | 1998-99 | 1999-00 | 2000-01 | 2001-02 | 2002-03 | 2003-04 | 2004-05 | 2005-06 | 2006-07 | 2007-08 | 2008-09 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Green-winged teal | - | - | - | - | - | Jan. 11 | Feb. 1 | Dec. 8 | . | Apr. 1 | Jan. 9 | Feb. 10~ |
| Blue-winged teal | - | Aug 17 | . | . | . | . | . | . | . | Apr. 8 | . | Mar. 30 |
| Ruddy duck |
- | - | - | - | - | Oct. 27 | Dec. 16 | Oct. 30 | Oct. 23 | Oct. 3 | Oct. 27 | Nov. 24 |
| Ring-necked duck | - | - | - | - | - | - | Oct. 25 | Jan. 28 | Nov. 5 | Feb. 27 | Oct. 27 | Nov. 24 |
| Lesser scaup | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | Feb. 24 | . | `Oct. 27 |
| Greater scaup | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | . | . |
| Redhead | - | - | - | - | - | Jan. 25 | . | Feb. 5 | Dec. 8 | Mar. 24 | . | Dec. 3 |
| Shoveler (duck) |
- | - | - | - | - | - | Sep. 3 | . | Dec. 8 | Mar. 24 | Feb. 9 | Jan. 19 |
| Bufflehead (duck) | . | . | . | . | . | . | . | . | Mar. 26 | Feb. 3 | . | . |
| Hooded merganser | - | - | - | Jan. 14 | . | Nov. 23 | Feb. 29 | Dec. 3 | . | Mar. 24 | Feb. 9 | `Oct. 27 |
| Gadwall | - | - | - | Jan. 14 | . | Dec. 28 | . | Jan. 12 | Dec. 8 | Nov. 12 | Feb. 9 | `Oct. 27 |
| Northern pintail | - | - | - | Feb. 9 | . | . | . | . | . | Feb. 3 | . | . |
| Pied-billed grebe | Nov. 16 | Oct. 24 | Oct. 30 | . | Mar. 30 | . | . | . | Nov. 6 | Oct. 3 | Oct. 20 | Apr. 22 |
| Horned grebe | - | - | - | - | Apr. 7 | . | . | . | . | Apr. 1 | . | . |
| American coot |
- | - | - | Jan. 17* | Nov. 10 | . | Nov. 2 | Oct. 30 | Nov. 6 | Oct. 29 | . | `Oct. 27 |
| Herring gull | . | . | . | . | . | . | . | . | . | . | . | . |
| Ring-billed gull | . | . | . | . | . | . | . | . | . | . | . | . |
| Laughing gull | . | . | . | . | . | . | . | . | . | . | Aug. 7 | . |
| Bald eagle | - | - | Jan. 17* | . | *Feb. 17 | . | (Aug. 12) | May 22 | (July 13) | . | . | June 7 |
| Northern harrier | - | - | Aug. 31 | . | . | Jan. 26 | Oct. 12 | Sep. 29 | Nov. 30 | . | Nov. 1 | . |
| Short-eared owl |
- | - | - | - | - | Jan. 20 | . | Feb. 8 | Jan. 8 | . | . | . |
| Sparrows, Finches, other songbirds | 1997-98 | 1998-99 | 1999-00 | 2000-01 | 2001-02 | 2002-03 | 2003-04 | 2004-05 | 2005-06 | 2006-07 | 2007-08 | 2008-09 |
| Yellow-rumped warbler |
Nov. 27 | Oct. 28 | Oct. 13 | Oct. 8 | Oct. 15 | Oct. 6 | Oct. 12 | Oct. 10 | Oct. 12 | Oct. 14 | Oct. 1 | `Oct. 8 |
| White-throated sparrow |
Oct. 19 | Oct. 12 | Oct. 13 | Oct. 13 | Oct. 19 | Oct. 12 | Oct. 19 | Oct. 24 | Sep. 29 | Oct. 9 | Oct. 7 | Sept. 30 |
| White-crowned sparrow |
- | Nov. 27 | . | Oct. 22 | Oct. 15 | Oct. 25 | Oct. 25 | Oct. 25 | Oct. 23 | Oct. 14 | . | Feb. 2 |
| Swamp sparrow |
. | . | May 2 | . | . | Oct. 24 | Oct. 19 | Oct. 23 | Oct. 20 | Oct. 14 | . | Oct. 18 |
| Fox sparrow | Dec. 7 | . | . | . | . | Oct. 27 | Nov. 27 | Nov. 20 | Nov. 27 | Feb. 12 | . | . |
| Dark-eyed junco |
Nov. 9 | Oct. 19 | Oct. 16, 27 | Oct. 19 | Oct. 20 | Oct. 21 | Oct. 26 | Oct. 30 | Oct. 17 | Oct. 26 | Oct. 14 | `Oct. 10 |
| Purple finch |
Jan. 4 | . | Feb. 24 | . | Oct. 20 | . | Oct. 19 | Nov. 8 | Oct. 29 | . | Oct. 6 | Dec. 9 |
| Pine siskin |
- | - | Oct. 27 | . | Apr. 23 | . | . | * Nov. 10 | Apr. 12 | . | Nov. 15 | `Oct. 18 |
| Hermit thrush | . | Nov. 12 | Oct. 31 | Oct. 22 | Nov. 4 | Oct. 19 | Nov. 17 | Nov. 11 | Oct. 31 | Oct. 30 | . | . |
| Winter wren | Dec. 20 | . | . | Oct. 22 | Nov. 4 | . | Nov. 9 | Oct. 10 | Nov. 27 | . | . | (June 8) Feb. 19 |
| Yellow-bellied sapsucker |
Oct. 7 | Nov. 12 | Sep. 26 | Oct. 24 | . | Oct. 4 | Oct. 4 | Oct. 3 | Oct. 4 | Oct. 4 | Oct. 6 | Feb. 10 |
| Brown creeper |
Jan. 13 | Nov. 12 | Oct. 8 | . | Nov. 4 | Oct. 12 | . | # Nov. 21 | Nov. 5 | Mar. 31 | Oct. 11 | . |
| Red-breasted nuthatch | Dec. 20 | . | Oct. 31 | . | Oct. 20? | . | . | Nov. 21 | . | . | Oct. 1 * | May 2 |
| Ruby-crowned kinglet | Nov. 3 | Sep. 30 | Oct. 8 | * Oct. 18 | Sep. 30 | Oct. 4 | Oct. 12 | Oct. 10 | Sep. 29 | Sep. 25 | Oct. 6 | Feb. 11 |
| Golden-crowned kinglet | Oct. 19 | Oct. 10 | Oct. 30 | Oct. 19 | Oct. 19 | Oct. 12 | Oct. 19 | Oct. 30 | Nov. 5 | Nov. 10 | Oct. 30 | . |
| Horned lark | - | - | - | Oct. 3* | . | Jan. 26 | . | . | Jan. 8 | . | Jan. 9 | Jan. 5 |
NOTE: ` = First-of-season sightings away from home (S.D., etc.). * = Other unusual sightings out of season.