Birding the Year
Discover what each season has to offer, from month-by-month birding highlights to seasonal summaries (jump to Birding Reports, below), featuring top rarities and notable sightings throughout New Hampshire. A year of birding, all in one place.
Bird by Month
October 10, 2025
A new year brings fresh opportunities for birding. Many birders kick off the year by starting new bird lists, making even the first-of-year (FOY) American Crow a welcome and exciting sighting.
October 10, 2025
As February arrives, subtle signs of seasonal change begin to emerge. Enjoy the beauty of this month and the first signs of spring to come.
October 10, 2025
March marks the beginning of incredible bird movement in New Hampshire! While things may start slowly, signs of migration are all around—especially with waterfowl and early-season displays. Here’s what to watch for this month:
October 10, 2025
Spring migration continues! This April watch for more birds arriving each week from Chipping Sparrows to Pine Warblers there is lots to see. Here’s what to watch for this month:
October 10, 2025
May brings a burst of bird migration to New Hampshire, with warblers, hummingbirds, and colorful songbirds arriving in waves. Look for Ruby-throated Hummingbirds early in the month, followed by Rose-breasted Grosbeaks, Indigo Buntings, and Baltimore Orioles.
October 10, 2025
Summer is a busy season for birds. Many are nesting and working hard to feed hungry young. Watch for nesting activity in your own backyard and consider heading north for some rewarding boreal birding.
October 10, 2025
While we humans are busy enjoying summer, fall migration has already begun for some birds! The first southbound shorebirds start arriving in July, so keep an eye out. Meanwhile, many of our favorite backyard birds are still busy nesting and feeding young.
October 10, 2025
August marks the beginning of fall in the bird world. Migration starts with an influx of shorebirds and swirls of tree swallows staging for migration. Many birds continue to feed their now-fledged young.
October 10, 2025
Fall migration is in full swing! This is a great time to see a diversity of warbler species. Identifying them, on the other hand, can be a challenge.
October 10, 2025
Migration continues into October as the leaves turn and the landscape is awash with color. Look for migrating sparrows and the arrival of waterfowl wintering on the coast. Here are some October birding highlights to watch for:
October 10, 2025
November can seem quiet in comparison to the flurry of fall migration excitement in September and October. Yet there are still good birds to be seen.
October 10, 2025
Winter is the time for Snowy Owls, winter sea ducks, and alcids. The New Hampshire coast offers the most diversity in winter and there is always something to see.
Birding Reports
October 6, 2025
From June through July of 2025 (the summer season) birders reported 251 species of birds in New Hampshire. This was right in line with the last several years of reporting, and the second highest species count for the summer behind 2021 when 253 summer species were reported.
October 5, 2025
This past spring, I decided to challenge myself for the birds and for my curiosity. As a student interested in technology and data, I saw an opportunity to turn my passion for birding into something more structured. Every day for the month of May, I visited the Seabrook Town Forest and documented the experience through a Substack publication.