EARLIEST AND LATEST MIGRATION DATES FOR NORTHEAST INDIANA BIRDS
Based on Gary Tieben et al, “A Checklist of the Birds of Northeastern Indiana with Migration Dates,” Indiana Audubon Quarterly, Nov. 1978, expanded and updated with records through August 1, 2017. Records included go back to 1969.
Counties covered: Steuben, Lagrange, Noble, DeKalb, Allen, Whitley, Huntington, eastern Wabash (to include all of Salamonie Reservoir and State Forest), Wells, Adams, and the Jay County portion of Limberlost Swamp Wetland Preserve.
Permanent resident species, or migratory species that are expected year round, are not included. In the table below, WR=winter resident, SR=summer resident; casual=not regularly occurring, out of range or peripheral to range, but shows up occasionally; accidental=unexpected, may never recur


                                          Spring                            Fall 
                                         Early Late                 Early Late                            Comments, unseasonal dates

WHISTLING DUCK, Black-bellied (16 Jul-25 Aug) accidental

GOOSE, Gr White-front 11 Feb 23 Apr 16 Oct 27 Dec 1 Feb, 4 Jan, Jan 2017 (7 records)
Snow 18 Feb 10 May 19 Sep 22 Dec 22 Jul; WR rare
Ross’ 3Mar 7 Apr 23 Nov 2 Dec 17-18 May, 4, 21, 25 Jan, 13 Feb
Cackling WR 25 Mar 11 Oct WR 13 Sep

SWAN, Trumpeter 27 Jan 2 Mar 16 Nov 4 Dec introduced birds; 22, 25 Oct
Tundra 1 Feb 11 May 19 Oct 28 Dec WR rare

DUCK, Wood 19 Feb SR SR 21 Nov WR rare
Gadwall WR 17 May 1 Sep WR
Eurasian Wigeon 9 Mar 13 Apr no fall records Casual
Am. Wigeon 1 Feb 17 May 25 Aug 13 Dec WR rare
TEAL, Blue-winged 7 Mar SR SR 14 Nov WR very rare
Cinnamon 2 Apr 1 May no fall records Casual; 3 records
Shoveler, Northern WR 29 May 19 Aug WR
Pintail, Northern 1 Feb 12 May 15 Sep 13 Dec WR rare; 4 Jun, 28 Jul
TEAL, Green-winged 1 Feb 31 May 22 Jul 12 Dec WR rare, SR very rare
Canvasback WR 21 May 13 Oct WR
Redhead WR 29 May 6 Oct WR 6. 17 Sep; 3 Jun records
Ring-necked Duck 1 Feb 19 May 19 Sep 20 Dec WR rare, casual in summer
Scaup, Greater 4 Feb 9 May 22 Oct 13 Dec 25 May, 5 Oct; WR rare
Scaup, Lesser 9 Feb 6 Jun 22 Sep 19 Dec WR rare; 23 Jun

SCOTER, Surf 25 Feb 23 May 22 Oct 18 Dec 20 Jan
White-winged 6 Mar 8 May 22 Oct 8 Dec WSR rare
Black 19 Mar 19 Mar 28 Oct 17 Dec one spring record
Long-tailed Duck 13 Feb 21 Apr 22 Oct 18 Dec 27 Dec-7 Jan
Bufflehead WR 15 May 15 Oct WR
Common Goldeneye WR 24 Apr 7 Oct WR

MERGANSER, Common WR 17 Apr 31 Oct WR 28 May
Red-breasted WR 22 May 6 Oct WR 23 Jul
Ruddy Duck 22 Feb 6 Jun 13 Sep 18 Dec WR rare,casual in summer

LOON, Red-throated 27 Mar 18 Apr 25 Oct 9 Dec
Pacific no spring records 22 Oct 11 Dec casual; 28 Jun
Common 28 Feb 18 May 30 Sep 28 Dec 1 Sep; casual in summer

GREBE, Pied-billed 21 Feb SR SR 12 Dec WR rare
Horned 16 Feb 23 May 30 Sep 28 Dec 3 Jun, 12 Aug; WR rare
Red-necked 27 Jan 24 Mar 18 Oct 10 Dec
Eared 18 Mar 6 Jun 20 Aug 27 Nov casual
Western 20 Apr 20 Apr 7 Dec 9 Dec accidental; 2 records

PELICAN, Am. White 14 Mar 23 May 3 Jul 28 Nov 4 June records; casual

CORMORANT,Double-cr11 Mar 4 Jun 16 Aug 15 Dec SR increasing; 17-18 Jan, 5 Feb

BITTERN, American 27 Mar SR SR 10 Oct 1? Nov
Least 28 Apr SR SR 28 Aug

EGRET, Great 15 Mar SR SR 3 Nov 7 records, 5 Nov-3 Jan
Snowy 7 May 9 May 24 Jul 14 Aug casual; 11 Nov

HERON, Little Blue 16 Apr 30 May 24 Jul 3 Sep

EGRET, Cattle 15 Apr 25 May 1 Nov 17 Nov

HERON, Green 28 Mar SR SR 11 Nov 15 Jan
Black-cr. Night 18 Mar 7 May 20 Aug 28 Oct SR rare; 6 Mar, 20 Dec
Yellow-cr Night 18 Apr SR SR 15 Sep SR very rare

IBIS, Glossy 5 Apr 10 May no fall records casual; 1 record of plegadis sp.
White-faced (10 May) c asual; 1 record

VULTURE, Black 24 Mar 30 Mar 12-13 Oct casual; 26 JUn
Turkey 2 Feb SR SR 8 Dec WR rare, increasing
Osprey 17 Mar SR SR 1 Dec

KITE, Mississippi 21 May 10 Jun no fall records casual; 2 records

HAWK, Sharp-shinned WR 18 May 4 Sep WR 10 Aug
Goshawk, Northern WR 15 Mar 13 Nov WR very rare
Hawk, Broad-winged 5 Apr SR SR 6 Oct 16 Mar, 12 Oct, 14 Oct, 19 Oct
Swainson’s 12 May only one record accidental
Rough-legged WR 23 Apr 16 Oct WR 28 Sep, 2 Oct
Eagle, Golden WR 19 Apr 14 Oct WR
Merlin WR 2 May 7 Sep WR one nesting record
Falcon, Peregrine 6 Feb 19 Apr 15 Sep 25 Oct introduced SR
Prairie (30 Nov) accidental

RAIL, Yellow 6 Apr 27 Apr 8 Oct 8 Oct one fall record
King ? Mar 29 May 31 Jul 5 Sep Probably a rare SR
Virginia 1 Apr SR SR 23 Oct 16 Mar; WR rare
Sora 31 Mar SR SR 18 Oct

GALLINULE, Purple 8 May only one record accidental
Common 11 Apr SR SR 5 Nov

COOT, American WR 25 May 11Sep WR SR rare

CRANE, Sandhill 9 Feb SR SR 23 Dec WR rare

PLOVER, Black-bellied 8 May 30 May 8 Aug 28 Oct
Am. Golden 22 Mar 16 May 11Aug 28 Oct
Semipalmated 30 Apr 16 Jun 10 Jul 19 Oct 18 Apr, 21 Jun
Piping 6 Apr 29 Apr 11 Aug 18 Aug very rare; 4 records
Killdeer 3 Feb SR SR 14 Dec WR rare

STILT, Black-necked 14 Apr 24 May 9 Sep 15 Sep casual; 9 records

AVOCET, American 2 May 21 May 7 Jul 28 Aug 28 Oct, 29 Nov-8 Dec

SANDPIPER, Spotted 3 Apr SR SR 29 Oct 5 Dec
Solitary 26 Mar 31 May 27 Jun 16 Oct
Greater Yellowlegs 19 Mar 29 May 9 Jul 17 Nov 27 Nov
Willet 20 Apr 15 May 27 Jun 23 Sep
Lesser Yellowlegs 3 Mar 7 Jun 25 Jun 10 Nov
Sandpiper, Upland 11 Apr SR SR 7 Sep declining; VR in summer
Whimbrel no spring records 17 Sep 21 Sep VR; one record
Godwit, Hudsonian 13 Apr 16 May 13 Aug 21 Sep VR; 6 records; 13 Jun
Marbled 17 Apr 2 May no fall records two records
Turnstone,Ruddy 11 May 24 May 3 Aug 11 Sep
Knot, Red no spring records 5 Aug 5 Aug one record
Sanderling 11 May 25 May 31 Jul 24 Sep
Sandpiper, Semipalmat 26 Apr 8 Jun 2 Jul 4 Nov 16 & 22 Jun
Western 12 May 30 May 15 Aug 24 Sep 4 Jul; rare
Least 31 Mar 30 May 27 Jun 16 Nov 1 Dec
White-rumped 6 May 15 Jun 24 Aug 15 Nov 3-4 Aug
Baird’s 20 Apr 29 May 22 Jul 19 Oct 6 Nov; very rare in spring
Pectoral 5 Mar 28 May 4 Jul 10 Dec 8-16 June, June 13-15
Dunlin 29 Mar 9 Jun 27 Sep 28 Nov
Sandpiper, Stilt 1 May 23 May 9 Jul 16 Oct
Buff-breasted no spring records 6 Aug 22 Sep
Ruff 26 Apr 19 May no fall records casual; 3 records
Dowitcher, Short-billed 7 May 25 May 29 Jun 12 Oct 17 Apr
Long-billed 26 Apr 12 May 5 Sep 12 Nov 8-13 Apr, 13 Jul, 13 Aug
Snipe, Wilson’s 22 Feb 16 May 12 Jul 10 Dec WR rare
Woodcock, American 13 Feb SR SR 19 Nov 20 Dec

PHALAROPE, Wilson’s 22 Apr 22 May 25 Jul 7 Sep SR casual; 3 Nov
Red-necked 15 May 19 May 26 Aug 23 Sep 16 Jul, 12 Aug

KITTIWAKE, Black-legged no spring records 29 Oct 8 Dec 4 records

GULL, Sabine’s no spring records 23 Sep 6 Oct 3 records
Bonaparte’s 3 Mar 14 May 7 Aug 20 Dec casual summer, winter
Little no spring records 29 Oct 16 Nov 3 records
Laughing (9 Apr) 19 Jul 18 Oct 16 Dec; 7 records
Franklin’s 8 Apr 8 Apr 16 Sep 2 Dec rare; one spring record
Herring 22 Mar 25 May 6 Nov 6 Dec SR and WR, rare
Thayer’s 23 Mar 23 Mar no fall records one record
Lesser Blk-backed12 Mar 7 Apr 11 Nov 4 Dec 8 records
Glaucous 2 records, 12 Dec-2 Jan, 6-7 Feb
Great Blk-backed 15 Apr 15 Apr no fall records one record

TERN, Caspian 4 Apr 14 May 3 Jul 22 Sep 9 Mar, Jun 6-8, 11-13, 19 Oct
Black 29 Apr 28 May 4 Jul 11 Sep SR extirpated; 12,21 Jun 
Common 22 Apr 7 Jun 12 Aug 8 Oct 7 Nov
Forster’s 11 Apr 29 May 31 Jul 1 Nov 21 Jun, 4 Jul,7 Jul

DOVE, White-winged 14 May 16 May no fall records one record; accidental

CUCKOO, Yellow-billed 6 May SR SR 16 Oct 30 Oct, 6 Nov
Black-billed 26 Apr SR SR 7 Oct

OWL, Snowy WR 14 Apr 28 Oct WR rare and irregular
Burrowing 24 Apr 1 record; accidental
Long-eared WR 13 Apr 16 Oct WR SR casual
Short-eared WR 27 Apr 11 Oct WR SR casual
N. Saw-whet WR 21 Mar 2 Oct WR 23 Apr

NIGHTHAWK, Common 5 May SR SR 15 Oct 10 Apr
Chuck-will’s-Widow 28 Apr SR 3 records; casual
Whip-poor-will 11 Apr SR SR no fall records

SWIFT, Chimney 26 Mar SR SR 21 Oct

HUMMINGBIRD, Ruby-thr26 Apr SR SR 25 Oct
Rufous WR 17 Apr ? to 15 Nov WR accidental; 2 records

SAPSUCKER, Yel-bellied 26 Feb 14 May 14 Sep 26 Nov WR rare;23, 31 May

FLYCATCHER, Olive-sided 8 May 6 Jun 8 Aug 9 Oct 21 Jul
Scissor-tailed (28 May) accidental, 1 record
E. Wood Pewee 23 Apr SR SR 22 Oct
Yellow-bellied 9 May 10 Jun 15 Aug 5 Oct
Acadian 30 Apr SR SR 26 Sep
Alder 11 May SR SR 15 Aug 28 Apr
Willow 4 May SR SR 14 Sep
Least 19 Apr SR SR 4 Oct
Eastern Phoebe 6 Mar SR SR 16 Dec 15-26 Jan
Flycatcher, Great Crested 19 Apr SR SR 30 Sep 24 Oct

KINGBIRD, Western 6 Sep 1 record; accidental
Eastern 21 Apr SR SR 21 Sep

SHRIKE, Loggerhead 11 Mar SR SR 19 Sep 23 Jan; very rare
Northern WR 24 Mar 27 Oct WR

VIREO, White-eyed 11 Apr SR SR 17 Oct 1 Nov
Bell’s 2 May SR SR 16 Sep rare
Yellow-throated 16 Apr SR SR 5 Oct 5 Apr
Blue-headed 14 Apr 25 May 22 Aug 27 Oct SR rare; 8 Apr
Warbling 16 Apr SR SR 4 Oct 16 Oct
Philadelphia 27 Apr 21 May 16 Aug 11 Oct 26 Oct
Red-eyed 14 Apr SR SR 12 Oct 21 & 30 Oct, 1 Nov

MARTIN, Purple 22 Mar SR SR 4 Oct 18 Nov

SWALLOW, Tree 25 Feb SR SR 27 Oct 7 and 25 Nov
N. Rough-winged 28 Mar SR SR 11 Oct 22 Oct
Bank 12 Apr SR SR 23 Sep
Cliff 10 Apr SR SR 20 Sep
Barn 19 Mar SR SR 22 Oct 13, 28, 30 Nov

CHICKADEE, Boreal 8 May 9 May accidental; 1 record 

NUTHATCH, Red-breasted WR 20 May 21 Aug WR SR casual

WREN, Rock (16-19 May) accidental; 1 record
Bewick’s 28 Apr 9 May no fall records 2 records
House 8 Apr SR SR 24 Oct
Winter 22 Feb 11 May 18 Sep 23 Nov WR rare
Sedge 24 Apr SR SR 6 Nov
Marsh 6 Apr SR SR 31 Oct 15 Feb

KINGLET, Golden-crownedWR 11 May 17 Sep WR 22 May, 12 Jun
Ruby-crowned 24 Mar 23 May 9 Sep 26 Nov WR rare

GNATCATCHER, Blue-gray 3 Apr SR SR 27 Sep

SOLITAIRE, Townsend’s 31 Dec-5 Jan; one record, accidental
Veery 20 Apr SR SR 27 Sep

THRUSH, Gray-cheeked 21 Apr 29 May 23 Aug 14 Oct 22 Jun
Swainson’s 18 Apr 8 Jun 21 Aug 25 Oct 16 Dec
Hermit 21 Mar 14 May 19 Sep 26 Nov WR rare; 9 Mar
Wood 18 Apr SR SR 18 Oct
Varied WR 8 Apr 24 Nov WR casual; 6 records

CATBIRD, Gray 6 Apr SR SR 9 Nov WR casual

THRASHER, Brown 22 Mar SR SR 11 Nov WR very rare

PIPIT, American 6 Mar 22 May 12 Sep 3 Dec WR rare

WARBLER, Blue-winged 18 Apr SR SR 28 Sep
Golden-winged 27 Apr 25 May 17 Aug 27 Sep
“Brewster’s” 24 Apr SR SR 22 Sep hybrid; rare
“Lawrence’s” 8 May 12 May 4 Sep 16 Sep 1 Jul; hybrid, VR
Tennessee 21 Apr 2 Jun 4 Aug 18 Oct 27 Oct. 19 Nov, 3 SV
Orange-crowned 17 Apr 23 May 11 Sep 6 Nov 20 Dec, 30 Aug
Nashville 16 Apr 27 May 18 Aug 12 Nov 27 Jun
Northern Parula 5 Apr SR SR 13 Oct
Yellow 13 Apr SR SR 4 Sep 21 Sep, 15 Oct
Chestnut-sided 26 Apr SR SR 11 Oct
Magnolia 29 Apr 5 Jun 13 Aug 15 Oct 18-19 Jun, 3 Jul
Cape May 19 Apr 25 May 19 Aug 12 Oct
Black-thr. Blue 22 Apr 23 May 19 Aug 26 Oct Jun SV,19 Dec.-2 Jan 
Yellow-rumped WR 28 May 23 Aug WR
Yellow-rumped (Audubon’s) (21 Apr) subspecies; accidental
Black-thr. Gray no spring records 31 Aug-29 Sep accidental, 1 record
Black-thr. Green 6 Apr SR rare SR 5 Nov
Blackburnian 17 Apr 7 Jun 12 Aug 9 Oct SR casual
Yellow-throated 5 Apr SR SR 3 Oct
Pine 16 Mar SR SR 9 Oct WR casual
Prairie 14 Apr SR SR 21 Sep
Palm 12 Apr 20 May 1 Sep 30 Oct WR casual; 30 Mar
Bay-breasted 27 Apr 3 Jun 17 Aug 13 Oct
Blackpoll 27 Apr 4 Jun 8 Aug 17 Oct 12-13 JUn
Cerulean 20 Apr SR SR 17 Sep
Black and White 27 Mar 26 May 29 Jul 12 Oct SR very rare
American Redstart 29 Apr SR SR 18 Oct 21 Apr
Prothonotary 19 Apr SR SR 4 Sep
Worm-eating 19 Apr 24 May 19 Aug 20 Aug 2 fall records
Ovenbird 17 Apr SR SR 18 Oct 6 Nov, ? Jan-18 Feb 
N. Waterthrush 3 Apr 24 May 20 Aug 12 Oct
La. Waterthrush 2 Apr SR SR 22 Sep
Kentucky 24 Apr SR SR 13 Sep
Connecticut 8 May 29 May 24 Aug 6 Oct 27 Apr
Mourning 7 May 9 Jun 17 Aug 15 Oct SR very rare
Com Yellowthroat 14 Apr SR SR 26 Nov WR casual
Hooded 18 Apr SR SR 8 Oct 5 & 10 Apr
Wilson’s 1 May 4 Jun 20 Aug 12 Oct
Canada 1 May 5 Jun 12 Aug 15 Oct SR very rare

CHAT, Yellow-breasted 26 Apr SR SR 7 Oct

TOWHEE, Green-tailed (ca. 25 Dec.-28 Mar) accidental; 1 record  
Eastern 5 Mar SR SR 19 Nov WR rare

SPARROW, Cassin’s 12-13 Jun (1 record) accidental
Am. Tree WR 28 Apr 16 Oct WR 14 May
Chipping 16 Mar SR SR 22 Nov WR rare
Clay-colored 13 Apr 17 May no fall records 21 Dec, 2 & 11 Jun 
Field 16 Feb SR SR 31 Oct WR rare
Vesper 24 Mar SR SR 7 Nov WR casual
Lark 14 Apr 8 Jun no fall records SR casual
Savannah 28 Mar SR SR 8 Nov 11 Mar
Grasshopper 12 Apr SR SR 24 Aug
Henslow’s 8 Apr SR SR 13 Aug
LeConte’s 5 Apr 28 Apr 4 Oct 30 Oct rare
Nelson’s 6 May 23 May 3 Sep 8 Oct rare
Fox 21 Feb 27 Apr 2 Oct 3 Dec WR rare, 15 May
Lincoln’s 25 Apr 31 May 11 Sep 30 Oct 7, 8 Jun
White-throated WR 5 Jun 12 Sep WR 3 Jul
Harris’ 7 Mar 2 May 25 Sep 29 Oct very rare; 2 WR
White-crowned WR 22 May 21 Sep WR 30 May, 1 Jun

JUNCO, Dark-eyed WR 27 May 15 Sep WR
Dark-eyed (Oregon) WR 9 Apr 28 Oct WR very rare

LONGSPUR, Lapland WR 9 May 30 Oct WR

BUNTING, Snow WR 17 Mar 21 Oct WR 29 Mar

TANAGER, Summer 20 Apr SR SR 21 Sep 30 Jan, 6 Oct
Scarlet 17 Apr SR SR 1 Nov

GROSBEAK, Rose-breasted 17 Apr SR SR 30 Oct 21 Nov, 4 Jan
Blue 7 May SR SR 19 Sep

BUNTING, Indigo 22 Apr SR SR 23 Oct 18 Nov; 2 winter
Painted 22 Apr (1 record) accidental
Dickcissel 5 May SR SR 7 Sep WR accidental
Bobolink 20 Apr SR SR 16 Sep 29 Sept, 5 Oct
Meadowlark, Western 27 Mar SR SR no fall records; rare

BLACKBIRD, Yellow-headed 23 Mar 23 May 18 Jul 22 Jul very rare
Rusty 12 Feb 10 May 24 Sep 25 Nov WR rare
Brewer’s 23 Feb 20 Apr 14 Oct 25 Nov 25 May (twice), Jun 6

ORIOLE, Orchard 23 Apr SR SR 11 Sep
Baltimore 18 Apr SR SR 19 Sep 8 Apr, WV 2

FINCH, Purple WR 27 May 20 Aug WR

CROSSBILL, Red WR 27 Apr 23 Nov WR
White-winged WR 4 Apr 5 Nov WR

REDPOLL, Common WR 12 Apr 30 Oct WR
Hoary 6 Mar casual

SISKIN, Pine WR 26 May 20 Sep WR SR accidental

GROSBEAK, Evening WR 13 May 27 Oct WR 10-14 Aug