Birds of the Refuge Inn

Live and historical species data

A BirdWeather listening station on the grounds of the Refuge Inn records bird song around the clock and identifies it using BirdNET, developed by the Cornell Lab of Ornithology. Over the past twelve months it has recorded 142 species on the property, a quarter mile from the entrance to Chincoteague National Wildlife Refuge.

The list below is what the station actually heard, month by month. Use it to plan a trip around the birds you want, or to work out what you heard from your balcony this morning.

142 species · past 12 months · recorded on the property

Heard on the property this week

Species the station is picking up far more often this week than in recent weeks: Osprey. Ospreys are on the move now, funneling south down the Eastern Shore’s Atlantic Flyway on their way to South American wintering grounds.

Updated September 7, 2026.

What you can hear, by month

Nine species dominate the recordings in most months — Carolina Wren, Brown-headed Nuthatch, American Robin, House Finch, House Sparrow, Mourning Dove, Common Grackle, Red-bellied Woodpecker and Northern Cardinal. Setting those aside, here is what changes month to month:

JANUARY: White-throated Sparrow, Northern Flicker, Yellow-rumped Warbler, Brown Creeper, Golden-crowned Kinglet, Canada Goose, Dunlin, Herring Gull, Winter Wren, American Goldfinch.

FEBRUARY: Canada Goose, Yellow-rumped Warbler, White-throated Sparrow, Brown Creeper, Herring Gull, Dunlin, Golden-crowned Kinglet, American Goldfinch, Carolina Chickadee, Northern Flicker.

MARCH: Pine Warbler, Dunlin, White-throated Sparrow, Brown-headed Cowbird, Fish Crow, Chipping Sparrow, Canada Goose, Laughing Gull, White-breasted Nuthatch, Pileated Woodpecker.

APRIL: Laughing Gull, Fish Crow, Chipping Sparrow, Broad-winged Hawk, Brown-headed Cowbird, Dunlin, Pine Warbler, Red-breasted Nuthatch, Blue Jay, Canada Goose.

MAY: Laughing Gull, Pine Warbler, Chipping Sparrow, Chimney Swift, Fish Crow, Cedar Waxwing, Summer Tanager, Red-shouldered Hawk, Cooper's Hawk, Red-breasted Nuthatch.

JUNE: Laughing Gull, Chipping Sparrow, Fish Crow, American Goldfinch, Cedar Waxwing, Carolina Chickadee, Pine Warbler, Eastern Wood-Pewee, Eastern Kingbird, Eastern Bluebird.

JULY: Laughing Gull, Fish Crow, Chipping Sparrow, American Goldfinch, Cedar Waxwing, Northern Flicker, Purple Martin, Pine Warbler, Carolina Chickadee, Eastern Kingbird.

AUGUST: Fish Crow, Laughing Gull, Eastern Wood-Pewee, Chipping Sparrow, Carolina Chickadee, Downy Woodpecker, American Goldfinch, Eastern Kingbird, Black-crowned Night-Heron, Northern Flicker.

SEPTEMBER: Northern Flicker, Laughing Gull, Cedar Waxwing, Pileated Woodpecker, Carolina Chickadee, Pine Warbler, Caspian Tern, Downy Woodpecker, Red-breasted Nuthatch, Ruby-throated Hummingbird.

OCTOBER: Dunlin, Northern Flicker, Golden-crowned Kinglet, Brown Creeper, Yellow-rumped Warbler, Carolina Chickadee, White-breasted Nuthatch, White-throated Sparrow, Mallard, Red-breasted Nuthatch.

NOVEMBER: Northern Flicker, Golden-crowned Kinglet, White-throated Sparrow, Brown Creeper, Dunlin, Canada Goose, Yellow-rumped Warbler, Cedar Waxwing, Pileated Woodpecker, White-breasted Nuthatch.

DECEMBER: Golden-crowned Kinglet, Brown Creeper, Dunlin, White-throated Sparrow, Herring Gull, Canada Goose, Yellow-rumped Warbler, Winter Wren, Mallard, Downy Woodpecker.

Every species recorded, and when

Narrow the list to a single month, a season, or species beginning with one letter, and choose how it is ordered. “Most heard” and “Least heard” follow the chosen month when one is selected. Last-heard dates were current on 1 Sep 2026 and are refreshed once a month, so a bird may well have been heard since.

By month

All yearJanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec

By season

AllYear-roundSpring & summerFall & winterPassing through

By first letter

AllABCDEFGHIKLMNOPRSTWY

Sort by

Most heardLeast heardRecently heardNameScientific namePeak monthSeason

All 142 species recorded in the past twelve months.

Common Grackle Quiscalus quiscula — Frequently heard · Jan-Nov · peak in April Last heard 1 Sep 2026
American Robin Turdus migratorius — Frequently heard · Year-round · peak in June Last heard 29 Aug 2026
House Sparrow Passer domesticus — Frequently heard · Year-round · peak in June Last heard 24 Aug 2026
Carolina Wren Thryothorus ludovicianus — Frequently heard · Year-round · peak in July Last heard 1 Sep 2026
Mourning Dove Zenaida macroura — Frequently heard · Jan-Oct · peak in May Last heard 27 Aug 2026
Laughing Gull Leucophaeus atricilla — Frequently heard · Mar-Oct · peak in May Last heard 1 Sep 2026
Fish Crow Corvus ossifragus — Frequently heard · Mar-Nov · peak in August Last heard 1 Sep 2026
House Finch Haemorhous mexicanus — Frequently heard · Year-round · peak in June Last heard 1 Sep 2026
Northern Cardinal Cardinalis cardinalis — Frequently heard · Year-round · peak in May Last heard 1 Sep 2026
Brown-headed Nuthatch Sitta pusilla — Frequently heard · Year-round · peak in June Last heard 1 Sep 2026
Red-bellied Woodpecker Melanerpes carolinus — Regularly heard · Year-round · peak in November Last heard 1 Sep 2026
Chipping Sparrow Spizella passerina — Regularly heard · Mar-Aug · peak in June Last heard 1 Sep 2026
Northern Flicker Colaptes auratus — Regularly heard · Year-round · peak in November Last heard 1 Sep 2026
Pine Warbler Setophaga pinus — Regularly heard · Mar-Oct · peak in May Last heard 30 Aug 2026
Dunlin Calidris alpina — Regularly heard · Sep-May · peak in October Last heard 16 May 2026
Golden-crowned Kinglet Regulus satrapa — Regularly heard · Oct-Mar · peak in November Last heard 22 Apr 2026
American Goldfinch Spinus tristis — Regularly heard · Year-round · peak in June Last heard 1 Sep 2026
Eastern Wood-Pewee Contopus virens — Regularly heard · May-Aug · peak in August Last heard 28 Aug 2026
Cedar Waxwing Bombycilla cedrorum — Regularly heard · Year-round · peak in June Last heard 31 Aug 2026
Brown Creeper Certhia americana — Regularly heard · Oct-Mar · peak in November Last heard 23 Mar 2026
White-throated Sparrow Zonotrichia albicollis — Regularly heard · Oct-Apr · peak in November Last heard 13 May 2026
Carolina Chickadee Poecile carolinensis — Regularly heard · Year-round · peak in June Last heard 29 Aug 2026
Pileated Woodpecker Dryocopus pileatus — Regularly heard · Feb-Nov · peak in September Last heard 1 Sep 2026
Canada Goose Branta canadensis — Regularly heard · Jul-May · peak in February Last heard 1 Sep 2026
Downy Woodpecker Dryobates pubescens — Regularly heard · Year-round · peak in August Last heard 26 Aug 2026
Yellow-rumped Warbler Setophaga coronata — Occasionally heard · Oct-Feb · peak in January Last heard 8 May 2026
Eastern Kingbird Tyrannus tyrannus — Occasionally heard · Apr-Sep · peak in June Last heard 1 Sep 2026
Eastern Bluebird Sialia sialis — Occasionally heard · Mar-Oct, Dec · peak in June Last heard 20 Aug 2026
White-breasted Nuthatch Sitta carolinensis — Occasionally heard · Year-round · peak in March Last heard 31 Aug 2026
Chimney Swift Chaetura pelagica — Occasionally heard · Apr-Aug, Oct · peak in May Last heard 10 Aug 2026
Brown-headed Cowbird Molothrus ater — Occasionally heard · Feb-Jun · peak in March Last heard 9 Jul 2026
Red-shouldered Hawk Buteo lineatus — Occasionally heard · Year-round · peak in June Last heard 24 Aug 2026
Red-breasted Nuthatch Sitta canadensis — Occasionally heard · Aug-May · peak in May Last heard 31 Aug 2026
Barn Swallow Hirundo rustica — Occasionally heard · Mar-Aug · peak in June Last heard 10 Aug 2026
Herring Gull Larus argentatus — Occasionally heard · Oct-Aug · peak in December Last heard 25 Aug 2026
Purple Martin Progne subis — Occasionally heard · Apr-Aug · peak in July Last heard 24 Aug 2026
Cooper's Hawk Accipiter cooperii — Occasionally heard · Mar-May, Jul-Sep, Nov-Dec · peak in May Last heard 31 Aug 2026
Black-crowned Night-Heron Nycticorax nycticorax — Occasionally heard · Jul-Oct · peak in August Last heard 25 Aug 2026
Summer Tanager Piranga rubra — Occasionally heard · Apr-Aug, Oct · peak in May Last heard 5 Aug 2026
Mallard Anas platyrhynchos — Occasionally heard · Apr-Feb · peak in October Last heard 30 Aug 2026
Dark-eyed Junco Junco hyemalis — Occasionally heard · Feb-Jul, Nov · peak in June Last heard 9 Jul 2026
Black-capped Chickadee Poecile atricapillus — Occasionally heard · Jan, Mar, May-Sep · peak in June Last heard 28 Aug 2026
Blue Jay Cyanocitta cristata — Occasionally heard · Mar-Oct · peak in April Last heard 22 Aug 2026
Savannah Sparrow Passerculus sandwichensis — Occasionally heard · Oct-Jun · peak in November Last heard 18 Jul 2026
Ruby-throated Hummingbird Archilochus colubris — Occasionally heard · May-Oct · peak in August Last heard 31 Aug 2026
Black-bellied Plover Pluvialis squatarola — Occasionally heard · Feb-Sep, Nov-Dec · peak in July Last heard 22 Aug 2026
Broad-winged Hawk Buteo platypterus — Occasionally heard · Apr-May · peak in April Last heard 9 May 2026
Yellow-billed Cuckoo Coccyzus americanus — Occasionally heard · May-Oct · peak in July Last heard 31 Aug 2026
Whimbrel Numenius phaeopus — Occasionally heard · Jul-Oct · peak in August Last heard 30 Aug 2026
Great Crested Flycatcher Myiarchus crinitus — Occasionally heard · May-Jun · peak in May Last heard 21 Jun 2026
Ruddy Turnstone Arenaria interpres — Occasionally heard · Apr-May, Jul-Nov · peak in July Last heard 1 Sep 2026
Yellow-throated Vireo Vireo flavifrons — Occasionally heard · May-Jul, Sep-Oct · peak in June Last heard 20 Aug 2026
Red-winged Blackbird Agelaius phoeniceus — Occasionally heard · Mar-May · peak in March Last heard 25 May 2026
Ring-billed Gull Larus delawarensis — Occasionally heard · Feb-Oct, Dec · peak in August Last heard 31 Aug 2026
Winter Wren Troglodytes hiemalis — Occasionally heard · Dec-Apr, Oct · peak in December Last heard 8 Apr 2026
Blue-gray Gnatcatcher Polioptila caerulea — Occasionally heard · Mar-Sep · peak in June Last heard 1 Sep 2026
American Kestrel Falco sparverius — Occasionally heard · Jan-Apr, Jul-Nov · peak in March Last heard 30 Aug 2026
Killdeer Charadrius vociferus — Occasionally heard · Mar-Apr, Jun, Aug-Nov · peak in September Last heard 15 Aug 2026
Royal Tern Thalasseus maximus — Occasionally heard · Apr-Oct · peak in July Last heard 14 Aug 2026
Yellow-bellied Sapsucker Sphyrapicus varius — Occasionally heard · Mar-Jun · peak in May Last heard 4 Jun 2026
Caspian Tern Hydroprogne caspia — Occasionally heard · Apr, Jul-Sep · peak in September Last heard 31 Aug 2026
Tree Swallow Tachycineta bicolor — Occasionally heard · Mar-Jul, Sep-Oct · peak in June Last heard 16 Jul 2026
Eastern Phoebe Sayornis phoebe — Occasionally heard · Apr, Jun-Oct · peak in July Last heard 21 Aug 2026
Greater Yellowlegs Tringa melanoleuca — Occasionally heard · Apr-May, Jul-Oct, Dec · peak in May Last heard 25 Aug 2026
Least Sandpiper Calidris minutilla — Occasionally heard · Aug-Oct · peak in October Last heard 29 Aug 2026
Orchard Oriole Icterus spurius — Occasionally heard · May-Jul · peak in July Last heard 17 Jul 2026
Green Heron Butorides virescens — Occasionally heard · May-Sep · peak in July Last heard 18 Aug 2026
Hairy Woodpecker Dryobates villosus — Occasionally heard · Feb-Sep · peak in March Last heard 24 Aug 2026
Bald Eagle Haliaeetus leucocephalus — Occasionally heard · Jan, Jun, Aug-Nov · peak in November Last heard 30 Aug 2026
Tundra Swan Cygnus columbianus — Occasionally heard · Nov-Feb · peak in November Last heard 29 Mar 2026
Red-tailed Hawk Buteo jamaicensis — Occasionally heard · Mar-May, Jul, Sep-Oct · peak in March Last heard 28 Aug 2026
Common Tern Sterna hirundo — Occasionally heard · Apr-Sep · peak in July Last heard 28 Aug 2026
Boat-tailed Grackle Quiscalus major — Occasionally heard · Mar-Jun, Aug-Oct · peak in April Last heard 28 Aug 2026
European Starling Sturnus vulgaris — Rarely heard · Mar-Apr, Jun-Jul · peak in June Last heard 9 Jul 2026
Green-winged Teal Anas crecca — Rarely heard · Feb-Apr, Oct-Dec · peak in April Last heard 24 Apr 2026
Osprey Pandion haliaetus — Rarely heard · Apr-May, Jul-Aug · peak in July Last heard 1 Sep 2026
Palm Warbler Setophaga palmarum — Rarely heard · Apr-May, Oct · peak in October Last heard 22 May 2026
Blue Grosbeak Passerina caerulea — Rarely heard · May-Jul · peak in July Last heard 7 Jul 2026
Red-headed Woodpecker Melanerpes erythrocephalus — Rarely heard · May, Sep-Oct · peak in September Last heard 17 Aug 2026
Belted Kingfisher Megaceryle alcyon — Rarely heard · Apr, Jun-Jul, Sep-Nov · peak in October Last heard 8 Aug 2026
Swamp Sparrow Melospiza georgiana — Rarely heard · May-Jul, Nov · peak in July Last heard 13 Jul 2026
Wood Duck Aix sponsa — Rarely heard · May-Aug, Nov · peak in May Last heard 24 Aug 2026
Scarlet Tanager Piranga olivacea — Rarely heard · May-Jun · peak in May Last heard 9 Jul 2026
Song Sparrow Melospiza melodia — Rarely heard · Nov-Mar · peak in December Last heard 31 Jul 2026
Eastern Towhee Pipilo erythrophthalmus — Rarely heard · Mar, Jul-Aug · peak in July Last heard 28 Aug 2026
Wood Thrush Hylocichla mustelina — Rarely heard · Apr-Jul · peak in May Last heard 13 Jul 2026
Northern Mockingbird Mimus polyglottos — Rarely heard · Feb, Jun-Jul, Sep · peak in February Last heard 29 Aug 2026
Sandwich Tern Thalasseus sandvicensis — Rarely heard · Jul-Sep · peak in August Last heard 1 Sep 2026
American Crow Corvus brachyrhynchos — Rarely heard · Nov-Dec · peak in November Last heard 19 Dec 2025
Short-billed Dowitcher Limnodromus griseus — Rarely heard · May, Jul-Aug · peak in July Last heard 28 Aug 2026
Blackpoll Warbler Setophaga striata — Rarely heard · May, Sep-Oct · peak in September Last heard 23 May 2026
Pine Siskin Spinus pinus — Rarely heard · Feb-Apr, Oct-Nov · peak in March Last heard 24 Apr 2026
Ruby-crowned Kinglet Corthylio calendula — Rarely heard · Nov-Dec · peak in December Last heard 6 Mar 2026
Northern Rough-winged Swallow Stelgidopteryx serripennis — Rarely heard · May-Jul · peak in May Last heard 5 Jul 2026
Wild Turkey Meleagris gallopavo — Rarely heard · Feb, Jul · peak in July Last heard 28 Jul 2026
Gray Catbird Dumetella carolinensis — Rarely heard · Oct · peak in October Last heard 3 Jul 2026
Tufted Titmouse Baeolophus bicolor — Rarely heard · Jun-Jul · peak in June Last heard 7 Aug 2026
Fox Sparrow Passerella iliaca — Rarely heard · Jan-Feb · peak in January Last heard 9 Feb 2026
Semipalmated Plover Charadrius semipalmatus — Rarely heard · May · peak in May Last heard 29 Jul 2026
Eastern Meadowlark Sturnella magna — Rarely heard · Mar-Apr · peak in March Last heard 2 Jul 2026
Merlin Falco columbarius — Rarely heard · Sep · peak in September Last heard 10 Jan 2026
Lesser Yellowlegs Tringa flavipes — Rarely heard · Aug · peak in August Last heard 28 Aug 2026
Forster's Tern Sterna forsteri — Rarely heard · Jun · peak in June Last heard 5 Aug 2026
Cape May Warbler Setophaga tigrina — Rarely heard · Sep-Oct · peak in September Last heard 7 Oct 2025
Solitary Sandpiper Tringa solitaria — Rarely heard · Jul-Aug · peak in July Last heard 21 Aug 2026
Gadwall Mareca strepera — Rarely heard · Nov · peak in November Last heard 17 Mar 2026
Baltimore Oriole Icterus galbula — Rarely heard · Jun · peak in June Last heard 14 Jul 2026
American Redstart Setophaga ruticilla — Rarely heard · Aug-Sep · peak in August Last heard 31 Aug 2026
Hermit Thrush Catharus guttatus — Rarely heard · Apr · peak in April Last heard 6 Jul 2026
Great Blue Heron Ardea herodias — Rarely heard · Sep · peak in September Last heard 17 Nov 2025
Acadian Flycatcher Empidonax virescens — Rarely heard · Jul · peak in July Last heard 1 Aug 2026
Spotted Sandpiper Actitis macularius — Rarely heard · May · peak in May Last heard 10 Aug 2026
Field Sparrow Spizella pusilla — Rarely heard · Oct · peak in October Last heard 26 Aug 2026
Indigo Bunting Passerina cyanea — Rarely heard · occasional · peak in June Last heard 28 Aug 2026
American Woodcock Scolopax minor — Rarely heard · Mar · peak in March Last heard 23 Mar 2026
Barred Owl Strix varia — Rarely heard · Apr · peak in April Last heard 3 May 2026
Clapper Rail Rallus crepitans — Rarely heard · occasional · peak in July Last heard 19 Jul 2026
Worm-eating Warbler Helmitheros vermivorum — Rarely heard · Jun · peak in June Last heard 28 Jun 2026
Brant Branta bernicla — Rarely heard · Dec · peak in December Last heard 16 Dec 2025
American Tree Sparrow Spizelloides arborea — Rarely heard · Feb · peak in February Last heard 10 Feb 2026
Common Goldeneye Bucephala clangula — Rarely heard · Mar · peak in March Last heard 31 Mar 2026
Brown Thrasher Toxostoma rufum — Rarely heard · occasional · peak in June Last heard 1 Aug 2026
Rose-breasted Grosbeak Pheucticus ludovicianus — Rarely heard · May · peak in May Last heard 29 May 2026
Least Tern Sternula antillarum — Rarely heard · Sep · peak in September Last heard 7 Sep 2025
Northern Harrier Circus hudsonius — Rarely heard · occasional · peak in February Last heard 17 Apr 2026
Purple Finch Haemorhous purpureus — Rarely heard · occasional · peak in April Last heard 22 Apr 2026
Ovenbird Seiurus aurocapilla — Rarely heard · occasional · peak in June Last heard 12 Jul 2026
Mute Swan Cygnus olor — Rarely heard · Jul · peak in July Last heard 22 Jul 2026
Great Black-backed Gull Larus marinus — Rarely heard · occasional · peak in October Last heard 7 Oct 2025
Common Loon Gavia immer — Rarely heard · occasional · peak in October Last heard 8 Nov 2025
Willet Tringa semipalmata — Rarely heard · occasional · peak in April Last heard 12 Jun 2026
Seaside Sparrow Ammospiza maritima — Rarely heard · occasional · peak in May Last heard 30 Jun 2026
Warbling Vireo Vireo gilvus — Rarely heard · occasional · peak in May Last heard 3 Jun 2026
Common Eider Somateria mollissima — Rarely heard · occasional · peak in June Last heard 9 Jul 2026
White-eyed Vireo Vireo griseus — Rarely heard · occasional · peak in October Last heard 6 Oct 2025
Long-tailed Duck Clangula hyemalis — Rarely heard · occasional · peak in December Last heard 14 Dec 2025
Northern Pintail Anas acuta — Rarely heard · occasional · peak in March Last heard 8 Mar 2026
Northern Waterthrush Parkesia noveboracensis — Rarely heard · occasional · peak in April Last heard 26 Apr 2026
Willow Flycatcher Empidonax traillii — Rarely heard · occasional · peak in June Last heard 18 Jun 2026
Blue-headed Vireo Vireo solitarius — Rarely heard · occasional · peak in June Last heard 10 Jun 2026
Prairie Warbler Setophaga discolor — Rarely heard · occasional · peak in July Last heard 16 Jul 2026
Northern Bobwhite Colinus virginianus — Rarely heard · occasional · peak in July Last heard 1 Jul 2026

Data from the Refuge Inn PUC station on BirdWeather. Species identification by BirdNET (Cornell Lab of Ornithology). Acoustic identification is automated and occasionally misidentifies a call.

This page is the raw record. For where to go, what is around in each month, and how to plan a trip, see our guide to birding at the Refuge Inn.