Hawks, Warblers, and Waterfowl: 52 Migrating Birds in Pennsylvania
March 18, 2026
Every spring and fall, the skies, forests, and wetlands of Pennsylvania come alive with one of nature’s most breathtaking spectacles — migration. Millions of birds funnel through the Keystone State along the Atlantic Flyway, pausing to rest and refuel in its diverse habitats before continuing their journeys.
From the ridge-top hawk watches at Hawk Mountain Sanctuary to the shorebird-rich mudflats of Middle Creek Wildlife Management Area, Pennsylvania offers birders an extraordinary front-row seat to avian movement on a continental scale.
Pennsylvania’s geography makes it a migration powerhouse. The Appalachian ridges act as leading lines for raptors, the Delaware River corridor channels waterfowl and shorebirds, and the state’s mosaic of forests, wetlands, and agricultural fields provides critical stopover habitat for warblers, sparrows, and songbirds of every description.
Whether a seasoned birder or a curious newcomer, the migrating birds passing through Pennsylvania never disappoint. This guide covers 52 species — warblers, hawks, waterfowl, shorebirds, and more — that make Pennsylvania one of the most exciting migration destinations in eastern North America.
Key Insight: Pennsylvania sits along the Atlantic Flyway, one of North America’s four major migratory corridors. This position makes the state a critical stopover for hundreds of species traveling between their northern breeding grounds and southern wintering areas each spring and fall.
1. Yellow Warbler
Few birds announce the arrival of spring quite like the Yellow Warbler (Setophaga petechia). Males are a rich, sunlit yellow with rusty-red streaking across the breast — a combination that practically glows in morning light. In Pennsylvania, Yellow Warblers are common spring migrants, typically arriving in late April and peaking through mid-May as they move toward breeding grounds across the northern United States and Canada.
They favor shrubby, wetland-edge habitats during migration, and birders often find them in willows, alders, and streamside thickets. Their song — a bright, cheerful “sweet-sweet-sweet, I’m so sweet” — is one of the most recognizable sounds of the spring migration season.
2. Yellow-rumped Warbler
The Yellow-rumped Warbler (Setophaga coronata) is arguably the most abundant warbler migrant in Pennsylvania, and for good reason — it is one of the hardiest members of its family, capable of digesting waxy berries that other warblers cannot.
This adaptability allows it to linger later into fall than most warblers, and it is often among the last to depart in November. Its distinctive yellow rump patch — visible in flight as a bright flash — makes identification straightforward even for beginners. During peak fall migration in October, Yellow-rumped Warblers can appear in remarkable numbers, sometimes moving through in waves of hundreds.
3. Black-throated Green Warbler
The Black-throated Green Warbler (Setophaga virens) is a jewel of the spring forest canopy. Males sport a vivid yellow face framed by an olive-green crown and a bold black throat and breast — a striking combination that rewards a careful look upward into the treetops.
In Pennsylvania, this species is a reliable spring migrant from late April through May, passing through mature deciduous and mixed forests on its way to breeding grounds in the northern boreal zone and Appalachian highlands. Its lazy, buzzy song — often described as “zee-zee-zee-zoo-zee” — drifts down from the canopy and frequently alerts birders to its presence before it is seen.
Pro Tip: During spring warbler migration in Pennsylvania, visit forested areas during the first two hours after sunrise. Warblers are most active and most visible during this window, and the low morning light illuminates their colors beautifully.
4. Blue-winged Warbler
The Blue-winged Warbler (Vermivora cyanoptera) is a bird of shrubby, overgrown fields and forest edges — habitats that have become increasingly patchy across Pennsylvania’s landscape. Males are a clean, bright yellow with a thin black eye stripe and two white wing bars set against slate-blue wings.
Blue-winged Warblers arrive in Pennsylvania in early May and are considered a species of conservation concern in parts of their range due to habitat loss and hybridization with the closely related Golden-winged Warbler. Their distinctive “bee-buzz” song — an inhaled note followed by a lower exhaled buzz — is one of the most unusual sounds in the warbler world.
5. Common Yellowthroat
The Common Yellowthroat (Geothlypis trichas) is one of the most widespread warblers in North America, and Pennsylvania birders encounter it reliably during both spring and fall migration. The male is unmistakable — a bright yellow throat and breast set below a bold black mask edged in white, giving it the appearance of a tiny, feathered bandit.
Yellowthroats prefer dense, low vegetation near water, making cattail marshes, wet meadows, and overgrown stream edges their preferred stopover habitats. Their loud, rolling “witchety-witchety-witchety” song carries well across open wetlands and is one of the most frequently heard warbler songs in the state.
6. American Redstart
The American Redstart (Setophaga ruticilla) is often called the “butterfly of the bird world” for its habit of fanning its tail and drooping its wings as it forages — a behavior that flushes insects from hiding. Adult males are a dramatic black and orange, while females and immature birds show yellow-orange patches on a gray-olive body.
Redstarts are abundant spring and fall migrants in Pennsylvania, moving through deciduous woodlands and forest edges from late April into May and again from August through October. Their energetic, acrobatic foraging style makes them one of the most entertaining warblers to watch.
7. Blackpoll Warbler
The Blackpoll Warbler (Setophaga striata) is one of migration’s most remarkable athletes. Each fall, many individuals make a nonstop transoceanic flight from the northeastern United States to South America — a journey of up to 2,500 miles over open ocean lasting several days without rest.
In Pennsylvania, Blackpolls are primarily a spring migrant, arriving relatively late — often not until mid-May — when males are in their crisp black-and-white breeding plumage with a distinctive black cap. Fall birds are much drabber and olive-toned, making them one of the more challenging fall warbler identification puzzles. Their high-pitched, thin song — a series of “tsit” notes — is often at the upper limit of human hearing.
Key Insight: The Blackpoll Warbler’s fall migration is one of the longest nonstop overwater flights of any songbird in the world. Before departing, individuals nearly double their body weight to fuel the journey — a feat of biological preparation that continues to astonish researchers.
8. Cape May Warbler
The Cape May Warbler (Setophaga tigrina) is a spruce-top specialist on its breeding grounds, but during Pennsylvania migration it can appear in a variety of wooded habitats. Spring males are among the most beautiful warblers — chestnut cheek patches, yellow neck, streaked breast, and a distinctive yellow rump.
Cape May Warblers have an unusual tubular tongue adapted for sipping nectar, and during migration they are sometimes found at flowering trees or even hummingbird feeders. They pass through Pennsylvania primarily in May during spring migration and again in September and October during fall, often moving in mixed warbler flocks through the forest canopy.
9. Magnolia Warbler
The Magnolia Warbler (Setophaga magnolia) is a showstopper of the spring migration season. Males wear a bold pattern of black, yellow, and white — including a wide black necklace across a bright yellow breast and a distinctive white tail band visible from below.
Despite its name, the Magnolia Warbler has no particular association with magnolia trees; the name comes from the location where Alexander Wilson first collected a specimen in the early 1800s. In Pennsylvania, Magnolia Warblers are common migrants from late April through May and again from August through October, often found in young conifers and mixed woodland edges during their stopovers.
10. Chestnut-sided Warbler
The Chestnut-sided Warbler (Setophaga pensylvanica) carries Pennsylvania’s own name in its scientific designation — a fitting tribute for a species that is a reliable and beloved migrant across the state. Spring males are strikingly patterned with a yellow crown, white face, and rich chestnut streaking along the sides.
Their song — often rendered as “pleased-pleased-pleased to MEET-cha” — is one of the more memorable warbler vocalizations of the spring woods. Chestnut-sided Warblers favor shrubby second-growth habitats and forest edges, and they are one of the few warblers that actually benefited from historical deforestation, which created the brushy habitat they prefer.
11. Black-and-white Warbler
The Black-and-white Warbler (Mniotilta varia) behaves more like a nuthatch than a typical warbler, creeping methodically along tree trunks and large branches in search of insects hidden in bark crevices. Its bold zebra-striped plumage makes it one of the easiest warblers to identify, and it is among the earliest spring migrants to arrive in Pennsylvania — sometimes appearing as early as late April.
This early arrival is possible because its bark-gleaning foraging technique allows it to find food even before insects become abundant in the canopy. Black-and-white Warblers are also one of the more common fall migrants, moving through Pennsylvania from August into October.
Pro Tip: Look for Black-and-white Warblers at eye level on large tree trunks rather than in the canopy. Their habit of creeping along bark puts them in an unusual position for a warbler and makes them surprisingly easy to observe closely.
12. Hooded Warbler
The Hooded Warbler (Setophaga citrina) is a bird of mature forest understory, and its bold appearance matches its preference for shadowy woodland interiors. Males sport a brilliant yellow face framed by a jet-black hood and throat — one of the most dramatic patterns in the warbler family.
In Pennsylvania, Hooded Warblers are spring and fall migrants that also breed in the state’s larger blocks of mature deciduous forest, particularly in the south and west. Their loud, ringing song — “weeta-weeta-wee-tee-o” — carries powerfully through the forest understory, and their habit of flashing white tail spots as they forage makes them relatively easy to track through dense vegetation.
13. Prairie Warbler
Despite its name, the Prairie Warbler (Setophaga discolor) is not a bird of open grasslands — it favors scrubby, open woodland, young pine plantations, and overgrown fields with scattered shrubs. Males are a warm yellow with chestnut streaking on the back and bold black streaking on the sides, along with a distinctive black eye stripe and cheek mark.
In Pennsylvania, Prairie Warblers are migrants and local breeders, particularly in the Ridge and Valley province where suitable scrubby habitat persists. Their song — a rising series of buzzy notes — is one of the most distinctive in the warbler family and a reliable identification tool even when the bird itself is hidden in dense brush.
14. Broad-winged Hawk
Few migration events in North America rival the spectacle of Broad-winged Hawk (Buteo platypterus) migration in Pennsylvania. Each September, thousands — sometimes tens of thousands — of these compact, crow-sized buteos funnel along the Appalachian ridges in tight flocks called “kettles,” spiraling upward on thermal currents before streaming southward toward their wintering grounds in Central and South America.
Hawk Mountain Sanctuary in Berks County is the most famous vantage point for this spectacle, and a single September day can produce counts of 10,000 or more birds. The peak typically falls between September 10–20, making it one of the most precisely timed migration events in the eastern United States.
Key Insight: Hawk Mountain Sanctuary in Pennsylvania was the world’s first refuge established to protect birds of prey, founded in 1934. Today it remains one of the premier hawk-watching sites on Earth, drawing birders from around the globe each fall migration season.
15. Sharp-shinned Hawk
The Sharp-shinned Hawk (Accipiter striatus) is the smallest accipiter in North America and one of the most numerous raptors counted at Pennsylvania hawk watches each fall. These nimble, short-winged hunters specialize in pursuing songbirds through dense vegetation, and their migration closely follows the movement of warbler and sparrow flocks southward.
At Hawk Mountain and other ridge-top watch sites, Sharp-shinned Hawks are typically the most abundant accipiter counted, with peak numbers occurring in October. Their small size, rapid wingbeats, and tendency to flap-flap-glide in a distinctive pattern help distinguish them from the similar but larger Cooper’s Hawk.
16. Cooper’s Hawk
The Cooper’s Hawk (Accipiter cooperii) is a medium-sized accipiter that has adapted remarkably well to suburban environments, where it preys on birds attracted to backyard feeders. During fall migration in Pennsylvania, Cooper’s Hawks move along the same Appalachian ridges as other raptors, though they are generally less numerous than Sharp-shinned Hawks at hawk watch sites.
Separating Cooper’s from Sharp-shinned Hawks is one of birding’s classic identification challenges — Cooper’s is larger, with a more rounded tail tip and a tendency to hold its head more forward in flight. Pennsylvania’s ridge-top hawk watches provide excellent opportunities to study both species side by side and refine the identification skills needed to tell them apart. For those interested in other distinctive raptors and birds in Pennsylvania, the state offers year-round avian diversity beyond migration season.
17. American Kestrel
The American Kestrel (Falco sparverius) is North America’s smallest and most colorful falcon, and it is a regular fall migrant along Pennsylvania’s ridges and open agricultural areas. Males are particularly striking — rusty back and tail, blue-gray wings, and a bold facial pattern of black and white. Kestrels are often seen hovering over open fields as they hunt for insects and small mammals, a behavior that makes them easy to identify even at a distance.
Sadly, American Kestrel populations have declined significantly across the eastern United States in recent decades, and migration counts at Pennsylvania hawk watches have reflected this troubling trend. Conservation efforts including nest box programs are underway to help stabilize the species.
18. Osprey
The Osprey (Pandion haliaetus) is one of Pennsylvania’s most dramatic migrating raptors — a large, powerful fish-hunter that is almost always found near water. Its bold brown-and-white plumage, distinctive crook in the wing during flight, and spectacular feet-first plunge-diving for fish make it one of the most recognizable birds in the state.
Ospreys migrate through Pennsylvania in both spring and fall, with fall birds moving southward from August through October. The Hawk Mountain Sanctuary and other ridge-top sites count Ospreys regularly during fall migration, and the species has made a remarkable comeback in the state following the banning of DDT in the 1970s.
19. Bald Eagle
The Bald Eagle (Haliaeetus leucocephalus) is a symbol of American wilderness and one of Pennsylvania’s most celebrated conservation success stories. Once nearly extirpated from the state due to DDT contamination and persecution, Bald Eagles have rebounded dramatically and now migrate through Pennsylvania in impressive numbers each fall.
Ridge-top hawk watches count hundreds of Bald Eagles annually, with peak movement occurring from October through December. Immature birds — which lack the white head and tail of adults for their first four years — are particularly numerous during migration.
Pennsylvania’s large rivers and reservoirs also serve as important stopover and wintering areas for migrating Bald Eagles. Birders interested in the largest birds in North America will find Bald Eagles among the most impressive species to observe in the wild.
20. Golden Eagle
The Golden Eagle (Aquila chrysaetos) is the crown jewel of Pennsylvania’s hawk migration — a massive, dark raptor that commands attention whenever it appears over a ridge-top watch site. Golden Eagles migrate primarily in late fall, with peak numbers at Hawk Mountain typically occurring in November and December.
They are far less common than Bald Eagles during migration, and each individual sighting generates considerable excitement among hawk watchers. Adults are dark brown with a distinctive golden-buff wash on the back of the head and neck.
Immature birds show white patches at the base of the tail and in the wings — field marks that help distinguish them from the similar dark-morph Buteos that also migrate along Pennsylvania’s ridges. The Hawk Mountain Sanctuary’s golden eagle profile offers detailed information on this species’ migration patterns through the region.
21. Northern Harrier
The Northern Harrier (Circus hudsonius) is one of the most distinctive raptors in Pennsylvania’s migration — a long-winged, long-tailed hawk that hunts low over open fields and marshes with a characteristic buoyant, tilting flight. Its owl-like facial disc helps it locate prey by sound as well as sight, and it is one of the few North American raptors that relies heavily on hearing during hunting.
The white rump patch — visible in all plumages — is the most reliable field mark for identification. Northern Harriers migrate through Pennsylvania from September through November, with females and immature birds (“brown harriers”) far outnumbering the striking gray-and-white adult males at hawk watch sites.
Pro Tip: For the best raptor migration viewing in Pennsylvania, visit Hawk Mountain Sanctuary on a clear day following the passage of a cold front from the northwest. These conditions push raptors close to the ridge and produce the highest counts of the season.
22. Canada Goose
The Canada Goose (Branta canadensis) is perhaps the most familiar waterfowl in Pennsylvania — its honking V-formations overhead are a quintessential sound of autumn. While many Canada Geese now reside year-round in Pennsylvania’s parks and suburban areas, migratory populations still move through the state in significant numbers each fall, traveling from breeding grounds in northern Canada toward wintering areas along the Atlantic Coast.
Pennsylvania’s large reservoirs, agricultural fields, and wetlands provide critical staging areas where migrating flocks rest and refuel. The spectacle of thousands of Canada Geese lifting from a field at dawn is one of the most evocative wildlife experiences the state has to offer.
23. Snow Goose
The Snow Goose (Anser caerulescens) migrates through Pennsylvania in massive, noisy flocks that can number in the tens of thousands — a breathtaking display of avian abundance. Two color morphs exist: the classic white form with black wingtips, and the “Blue Goose” dark morph with a white head and dark body.
In Pennsylvania, Snow Geese are most commonly seen during spring migration from February through April and again in fall from October through December, often stopping at large reservoirs and agricultural fields to feed on waste grain. Middle Creek Wildlife Management Area in Lancaster County is one of the premier Snow Goose staging areas in the eastern United States, sometimes hosting over 100,000 birds at peak times.
24. Tundra Swan
The Tundra Swan (Cygnus columbianus) is one of Pennsylvania’s most magnificent waterfowl migrants — a large, all-white swan that breeds on Arctic tundra and winters along the Atlantic Coast. Migrating flocks pass through Pennsylvania primarily in November during fall migration and again in February and March during spring, often stopping at large lakes, reservoirs, and flooded agricultural fields.
The bugling calls of a migrating Tundra Swan flock passing overhead on a crisp November morning is an unforgettable experience. Middle Creek Wildlife Management Area and Pymatuning Reservoir in Crawford County are among the best locations in the state to observe this species during peak migration periods.
25. Wood Duck
The Wood Duck (Aix sponsa) is widely regarded as one of the most beautiful waterfowl in the world, and Pennsylvania hosts both breeding and migrating populations. Males are an extraordinary combination of iridescent green, chestnut, white, and burgundy — a pattern so elaborate it seems almost improbable.
Wood Ducks nest in tree cavities near water and have benefited enormously from nest box programs across Pennsylvania. During fall migration, Wood Ducks move southward from September through November, gathering in wooded swamps, beaver ponds, and slow-moving streams.
Their distinctive squealing call — often heard before the bird is seen — is one of the most evocative sounds of Pennsylvania’s autumn wetlands. Birders interested in water birds across the eastern United States will find Wood Ducks a consistent presence in appropriate habitat.
26. Mallard
The Mallard (Anas platyrhynchos) is the archetypal duck — familiar, abundant, and found across virtually every wetland habitat in Pennsylvania during migration. Males in breeding plumage are handsome birds with an iridescent green head, yellow bill, and chestnut breast separated from the gray body by a white collar.
While Mallards are year-round residents in many parts of Pennsylvania, migratory populations from northern breeding areas move through the state in large numbers each fall, swelling local populations considerably. They are highly adaptable birds, using everything from large reservoirs and river backwaters to flooded agricultural fields and suburban retention ponds during migration stopovers.
27. Blue-winged Teal
The Blue-winged Teal (Spatula discors) is one of the earliest waterfowl migrants to depart in fall, often beginning its southward journey in August — well before most other ducks. Males are distinguished by a bold white crescent in front of the eye and a powder-blue wing patch that flashes brilliantly in flight. Blue-winged Teal are among the longest-distance migrants of any North American duck, with many individuals wintering as far south as South America.
In Pennsylvania, they are most commonly encountered at shallow wetlands, impoundments, and marshes during August and September in fall and again during April in spring. Their early departure and early return make them useful seasonal markers for Pennsylvania’s birding calendar.
28. Northern Shoveler
The Northern Shoveler (Spatula clypeata) is immediately recognizable by its enormous, spatula-shaped bill — a specialized feeding tool that filters small invertebrates and plant material from the water’s surface. Males are striking birds with an iridescent green head, white breast, and chestnut flanks.
In Pennsylvania, Northern Shovelers are primarily migrants and winter visitors, passing through from October through April in wetlands, shallow impoundments, and flooded fields. They are often seen feeding in tight, spinning groups — a cooperative feeding behavior that concentrates food particles in the center of the circle. Shovelers are more common in western Pennsylvania during migration, where larger wetland complexes provide suitable habitat.
Key Insight: Middle Creek Wildlife Management Area in Lancaster County and Pymatuning Reservoir in Crawford County are two of Pennsylvania’s premier waterfowl migration hotspots. Together they host tens of thousands of geese, swans, and ducks during peak spring and fall migration periods.
29. Northern Pintail
The Northern Pintail (Anas acuta) is one of the most elegant ducks in North America — a slender, long-necked bird with a distinctive pointed tail that gives it an almost aerodynamic silhouette on the water. Males in breeding plumage are particularly refined: chocolate-brown head, white neck stripe, gray body, and those signature elongated central tail feathers.
Pintails are early migrants in both spring and fall, moving through Pennsylvania primarily from September through November and again from February through April. They favor open water, flooded agricultural fields, and large marshes, and are more commonly encountered in the western and central portions of the state during migration.
30. Killdeer
The Killdeer (Charadrius vociferus) is the most familiar shorebird in Pennsylvania — a loud, conspicuous plover found in open fields, gravel parking lots, and shorelines far from water. Its double breast band, rusty-orange rump (visible in flight), and piercing “kill-deer” call make it one of the easiest birds in the state to identify.
Killdeer are among the earliest shorebird migrants to arrive in spring, often appearing in late February or early March, and they linger late into fall. They are also famous for their broken-wing distraction display, used to lead predators away from nests and chicks. During migration, Killdeer gather in loose flocks in agricultural fields and along muddy shorelines across Pennsylvania.
31. Dunlin
The Dunlin (Calidris alpina) is a small, compact shorebird that migrates through Pennsylvania primarily in fall, with peak numbers occurring from October through November — later than most other sandpipers. In breeding plumage, Dunlin sport a distinctive black belly patch and rusty-red back, but fall migrants are drabber gray-brown birds with a characteristic drooped bill tip that is one of the best identification features.
Dunlin often associate with other small sandpipers in mixed shorebird flocks on mudflats and shallow wetland margins. In Pennsylvania, they are most commonly encountered at reservoirs with exposed mudflats, sewage treatment ponds, and large wetland impoundments during their late-season passage.
32. Semipalmated Sandpiper
The Semipalmated Sandpiper (Calidris pusilla) is one of the most abundant shorebird migrants in eastern North America, and Pennsylvania provides important stopover habitat during its long journey between Arctic breeding grounds and South American wintering areas. “Semipalmated” refers to the partial webbing between the toes, a field mark that is rarely visible in the field but helps distinguish this species from the very similar Least Sandpiper.
In Pennsylvania, Semipalmated Sandpipers are primarily fall migrants, moving through from July through September when mudflat habitat is available. They are often found in large, dense flocks that move with remarkable synchrony across exposed mud. Shorebird enthusiasts interested in shorebird migration patterns across the region will find similar species assemblages in neighboring states.
33. Least Sandpiper
The Least Sandpiper (Calidris minutilla) holds the distinction of being the world’s smallest shorebird — a tiny, brown-toned “peep” that can be surprisingly easy to overlook despite its wide distribution. Its yellow legs — in contrast to the black legs of the Semipalmated Sandpiper — are the most reliable field mark for identification, though muddy conditions can obscure this feature.
Least Sandpipers tend to forage slightly higher on mudflats than other peeps, often working through vegetation and wrack lines rather than the open mud preferred by Semipalmated Sandpipers. In Pennsylvania, they migrate through from July through September in fall and April through May in spring, using similar wetland habitats to other small sandpipers.
34. Whimbrel
The Whimbrel (Numenius phaeopus) is a large, impressive shorebird whose long, decurved bill and boldly striped head make it one of the most distinctive migrants to pass through Pennsylvania. It breeds on Arctic tundra and winters along tropical and subtropical coastlines, making Pennsylvania a mid-journey stopover rather than a destination.
Whimbrels are relatively uncommon in the state compared to smaller sandpipers, but they are seen annually at suitable stopover sites — particularly large reservoirs with exposed mudflats and agricultural fields during fall migration from July through September. Their loud, rippling “pip-pip-pip-pip-pip” call — often given in flight — is one of the most evocative sounds of shorebird migration.
35. Black-bellied Plover
The Black-bellied Plover (Pluvialis squatarola) is the largest plover to migrate through Pennsylvania, and birds in breeding plumage — with their bold black face and underparts contrasting with silver-spangled upperparts — are among the most striking shorebirds of the migration season.
Fall birds are drabber gray-brown, but the distinctive black “armpits” (axillaries) visible in flight provide a reliable identification mark in any plumage. Black-bellied Plovers migrate through Pennsylvania primarily from August through November, often found on mudflats, lake shores, and agricultural fields. They tend to be solitary or found in small groups rather than the dense flocks typical of smaller sandpipers.
36. Semipalmated Plover
The Semipalmated Plover (Charadrius semipalmatus) is a small, compact shorebird that resembles a miniature Killdeer — though with only a single breast band rather than two. It is one of the more common plover migrants through Pennsylvania, passing through from July through October in fall and April through May in spring.
Semipalmated Plovers favor open mudflats and sandy shorelines, where they use the classic plover foraging technique of running, stopping, and tilting forward to pick prey from the surface. Their soft, two-note “too-weet” call is a familiar sound of shorebird migration at Pennsylvania’s reservoir mudflats and wetland impoundments.
37. Eastern Phoebe
The Eastern Phoebe (Sayornis phoebe) is one of Pennsylvania’s earliest spring migrants and latest fall departures — a hardy flycatcher that bridges the gap between winter and the full arrival of spring migration. Its habit of pumping its tail up and down while perched is one of the most reliable identification behaviors of any bird in the state.
Eastern Phoebes are often found near water — bridges, culverts, and stream banks — where they nest and forage for flying insects. They arrive in Pennsylvania as early as late February or early March, well before most other flycatchers, and some individuals linger into November. Their raspy “fee-bee” call — from which the species gets its name — is one of the most welcome sounds of early spring.
38. Barn Swallow
The Barn Swallow (Hirundo rustica) is the most widespread swallow in the world and a familiar sight over Pennsylvania’s fields and water bodies from spring through fall. Its deeply forked tail — the most pronounced of any North American swallow — and its iridescent blue-black upperparts with rusty-orange underparts make it one of the most elegant aerial hunters in the state.
Barn Swallows arrive in Pennsylvania in April and depart by October, with fall migration producing impressive concentrations of birds gathering on utility wires and over wetlands before heading south. They have a close association with human structures, nesting in barns, bridges, and culverts across the state. Birders who enjoy watching aerial masters should also explore the fastest birds in the world — a category in which swallows are notable competitors.
39. Tree Swallow
The Tree Swallow (Tachycineta bicolor) is one of the earliest swallow migrants to arrive in spring and one of the last to depart in fall, often forming massive pre-migration flocks that roost communally in marshes and reed beds. Adults are iridescent blue-green above and clean white below — a crisp, attractive combination.
Tree Swallows are important cavity nesters that readily use nest boxes, and their acceptance of artificial nest structures has made them one of the most studied swallows in North America. During fall migration in Pennsylvania, concentrations of thousands of Tree Swallows can be found at large wetlands, where they feed heavily on bayberries — a waxy fruit that provides essential energy for their southward journey.
Pro Tip: In late summer and early fall, check Pennsylvania’s larger marshes and wetlands at dusk for Tree Swallow roosts. Tens of thousands of birds can gather to roost communally, creating spectacular aerial displays as they swirl into the reeds for the night.
40. Chipping Sparrow
The Chipping Sparrow (Spizella passerina) is a small, trim sparrow with a bright rusty cap, white eyebrow, and black eye stripe that makes it one of the easier sparrows to identify during spring migration. It is a common and widespread migrant through Pennsylvania, arriving in April and departing in October, with fall birds losing much of the distinctive cap color and becoming more challenging to identify.
Chipping Sparrows often migrate in loose flocks with other sparrow species, moving through open woodlands, forest edges, and suburban areas. Their dry, mechanical trill — a rapid series of chip notes delivered in a single pitch — is one of the most commonly heard bird songs in Pennsylvania’s suburbs during spring.
41. Indigo Bunting
The Indigo Bunting (Passerina cyanea) is a bird that seems almost impossibly blue — adult males in full breeding plumage appear to have been dipped in the sky itself, though the color is structural rather than pigment-based and can look black in poor light.
Indigo Buntings are common spring and fall migrants through Pennsylvania, arriving in May and departing in October, often traveling in mixed flocks with other sparrows and finches. They favor shrubby edges, overgrown fields, and forest margins during migration.
Males navigate using the stars during their nocturnal migration — a remarkable adaptation that allows them to recalibrate their orientation based on the night sky. Birders fascinated by blue birds will find the Indigo Bunting among the most stunning examples; a broader look at blue bird species reveals how varied this color appears across different families.
42. Rose-breasted Grosbeak
The Rose-breasted Grosbeak (Pheucticus ludovicianus) is one of the most eagerly anticipated arrivals of the spring migration season in Pennsylvania. Males are unmistakable — jet black and white with a brilliant rose-red triangle on the breast that seems to glow in morning light.
Females are heavily streaked brown birds with a bold white eyebrow, and their large, powerful bill identifies them as grosbeaks even without the male’s dramatic coloration. Rose-breasted Grosbeaks arrive in Pennsylvania in late April and early May, moving through deciduous woodlands and forest edges.
They are enthusiastic feeder visitors during migration, and sunflower seeds reliably attract them to backyard feeding stations. Their rich, melodic song — often compared to a robin that has taken singing lessons — fills Pennsylvania’s spring forests with music.
43. Blue Grosbeak
The Blue Grosbeak (Passerina caerulea) is a large, deep-blue finch that reaches the northern edge of its range in Pennsylvania, making it a sought-after species for state birders. Males are a rich, deep blue with rusty-brown wing bars — a combination that distinguishes them from the smaller Indigo Bunting.
Blue Grosbeaks favor brushy habitats, overgrown fields, and shrubby edges near water, and they are more commonly encountered in the southern counties of Pennsylvania during migration and the breeding season.
Their song is a rich, warbling series of phrases, and they have a distinctive habit of twitching and spreading their tail while perched. Birders interested in the diversity of blue birds will find the Blue Grosbeak one of the most impressive examples in eastern North America.
44. Baltimore Oriole
The Baltimore Oriole (Icterus galbula) is one of the most brilliantly colored birds to migrate through Pennsylvania — adult males are a flaming orange and black combination that is instantly recognizable even to non-birders. Named for the colors of the coat of arms of Lord Baltimore, the colonial proprietor of Maryland, this species is a common spring and fall migrant through Pennsylvania, arriving in late April and departing by October.
Orioles are attracted to nectar, fruit, and insects during migration, and they readily visit backyard feeders offering grape jelly and orange halves. Their rich, flute-like song is one of the most beautiful sounds of the spring migration season. Pennsylvania birders interested in orange birds in Pennsylvania will find the Baltimore Oriole a flagship species.
45. Scarlet Tanager
The Scarlet Tanager (Piranga olivacea) is one of Pennsylvania’s most spectacular migrants — adult males are an almost unreal combination of blazing scarlet body and jet-black wings and tail. Despite this extraordinary coloration, Scarlet Tanagers can be surprisingly difficult to spot as they move through the forest canopy, where their red plumage blends deceptively with dappled light and shadow.
They arrive in Pennsylvania in late April and early May, moving through mature deciduous forests on their way to breeding grounds across the eastern United States. Their song — a hoarse, burry series of phrases — has been described as sounding like a robin with a sore throat.
Fall males molt into a yellow-green plumage before departing, making October birds considerably more challenging to identify. Birders exploring green birds in Pennsylvania may be surprised to encounter fall male Scarlet Tanagers among them.
46. Ruby-throated Hummingbird
The Ruby-throated Hummingbird (Archilochus colubris) is the only hummingbird that regularly breeds in Pennsylvania and one of the most beloved migrants in the state. Males sport an iridescent ruby-red throat gorget that flashes brilliantly in direct light, while females are green above and white below with a spotted throat.
Ruby-throated Hummingbirds arrive in Pennsylvania in late April and early May and depart by October, fueling their migration with nectar from tubular flowers and the insects they catch in the air and at spider webs. They are capable of remarkable feats of endurance — many individuals cross the Gulf of Mexico nonstop during fall migration.
For a deeper look at this species in the state, hummingbirds in Pennsylvania provides detailed information on their habits and habitats. Birders in neighboring states can also explore hummingbirds in Michigan for regional comparison.
47. Bobolink
The Bobolink (Dolichonyx oryzivorus) undertakes one of the most extraordinary migrations of any North American songbird — a round-trip journey of up to 12,500 miles between breeding grounds in North American grasslands and wintering areas in South America. Spring males are one of the most striking birds in Pennsylvania: black below, with a creamy-white back, yellow nape, and white wing patches — a reverse color pattern unlike any other North American songbird.
Their bubbling, electronic-sounding song — a cascade of metallic notes that seems to come from a science fiction film — is one of the most distinctive sounds of Pennsylvania’s spring meadows. Bobolinks migrate through Pennsylvania in May during spring and August through September during fall, favoring grasslands, hayfields, and wet meadows.
Key Insight: The Bobolink navigates its extraordinary 12,500-mile round-trip migration using an internal magnetic compass that detects the Earth’s magnetic field. Research has shown that Bobolinks can even sense magnetic field variations as fine as those produced by geological features on the landscape.
48. Eastern Kingbird
The Eastern Kingbird (Tyrannus tyrannus) is one of the most boldly territorial flycatchers in North America — a medium-sized bird that will fearlessly attack crows, hawks, and even eagles that venture too close to its nesting territory. Its clean black-and-white plumage, white-tipped tail, and upright posture make it one of the easier flycatchers to identify.
Eastern Kingbirds are common spring and fall migrants through Pennsylvania, arriving in late April and departing by September. During fall migration, they gather in loose flocks in open habitats — forest edges, agricultural fields, and wetland margins — before heading to South American wintering grounds. A hidden red crown patch — rarely visible in the field — gives the species its “kingbird” name.
49. Red-eyed Vireo
The Red-eyed Vireo (Vireo olivaceus) is arguably the most abundant breeding songbird in Pennsylvania’s forests, and during migration it moves through the state in enormous numbers. Despite its abundance, it is more often heard than seen — its persistent, repetitive song continues throughout the hottest part of summer days when most other birds have fallen silent, earning it the nickname “preacher bird” for its seemingly endless sermonizing.
The red iris that gives the species its name is visible only at close range. Red-eyed Vireos are long-distance migrants that winter in South America, and fall migration through Pennsylvania peaks in September. Their willingness to sing persistently makes them one of the most useful species for learning to identify birds by ear.
50. White-eyed Vireo
The White-eyed Vireo (Vireo griseus) is a secretive bird of dense thickets and shrubby undergrowth — more often heard than seen, and often frustratingly difficult to observe even when its loud, emphatic song is coming from just a few feet away. The white iris — visible at close range — is the source of the species’ name, and the yellow spectacles (eye rings connected to the lores) are a useful field mark when the bird does show itself.
White-eyed Vireos are primarily spring and fall migrants in Pennsylvania, with some breeding in the southern counties. They arrive in May and depart by October, favoring dense shrubby habitats along forest edges, stream corridors, and overgrown fields. Their song — a sharp, emphatic phrase that often begins and ends with a “chick” note — is one of the most distinctive vireo vocalizations.
51. Yellow-throated Vireo
The Yellow-throated Vireo (Vireo flavifrons) is one of the most colorful members of its family — a stocky vireo with a bright yellow throat and breast, bold yellow spectacles, and white wing bars set against olive-green upperparts. It is a bird of mature deciduous forest, particularly favoring tall trees along rivers and streams where it forages methodically through the canopy for insects.
Yellow-throated Vireos are spring and fall migrants through Pennsylvania, arriving in late April and departing by October. Their song — a series of rich, burry phrases with a characteristic pause between each — is slower and lower-pitched than most other vireos, giving it a measured, deliberate quality that stands out in the spring forest chorus. Birders interested in Pennsylvania’s most vocal birds will find vireos among the most persistent singers in the state.
52. Blue-headed Vireo
The Blue-headed Vireo (Vireo solitarius) is one of the earliest vireo migrants to arrive in Pennsylvania each spring, often appearing in late April alongside the first warblers. Its bold white spectacles — the most prominent of any vireo — combined with a blue-gray head, white throat, and greenish sides make it one of the more attractively patterned members of its family. Blue-headed Vireos breed in Pennsylvania’s cooler northern forests, particularly in mixed conifer-deciduous stands, and they are common spring and fall migrants statewide.
Their song is a series of rich, musical phrases delivered with a deliberate, unhurried quality — sweeter and more melodic than the Red-eyed Vireo’s persistent repetition. Fall migration peaks in September and October, when Blue-headed Vireos can be found in a wide variety of wooded habitats across the state.
Conclusion
Pennsylvania’s role in North American bird migration is nothing short of extraordinary. From the ridge-top spectacle of tens of thousands of Broad-winged Hawks streaming southward on a September afternoon to the delicate flash of a Magnolia Warbler in a May forest, the state offers birding experiences that rival any destination on the continent. The 52 species covered in this guide represent just a fraction of the hundreds that pass through Pennsylvania each year, but they capture the remarkable diversity — in size, color, behavior, and ecological role — that makes migration season such a compelling time to be outdoors.
The best way to experience Pennsylvania’s migration is to get outside consistently throughout spring (April–May) and fall (August–November), visit a variety of habitat types, and pay attention to the conditions that concentrate birds — cold fronts in fall, warm southerly winds in spring, and the presence of water and food at stopover sites.
Whether watching from a hawk mountain ridge, scanning a reservoir mudflat for shorebirds, or simply listening for warblers in a neighborhood park, Pennsylvania’s migrating birds reward patience and curiosity in equal measure. Birders looking to expand their knowledge can also explore what birds eat to survive — understanding nutrition and foraging helps explain why certain habitats attract so many migrants during their long journeys.
Pro Tip: Keep a migration journal recording species, dates, locations, and weather conditions each season. Over several years, patterns emerge that dramatically improve your ability to predict when and where specific species will appear — turning each migration season into a richer, more rewarding experience.