Yellow-billed Cuckoo in September
Where yellow-billed cuckoos are in September, whether they are nesting, and the best foods to offer right now.
September in the Yellow-billed Cuckoo's year
September is the peak of fall migration. Huge numbers of birds move south on cold fronts, mixed flocks form, and summer residents slip away almost unnoticed. Young birds making their first migration appear in places the species rarely visits.
For the Yellow-billed Cuckoo specifically, September is a fall month of relative routine, with the species settled into its seasonal pattern across its range. Across the 41 states and provinces where yellow-billed cuckoos occur, what the bird is doing this month depends heavily on latitude — the details below break it down by band.
Where yellow-billed cuckoos are in September
- Southern states
- absent
- Mid-latitudes
- mostly absent (migration only)
- Northern states & Canada
- absent
In September, yellow-billed cuckoos are absent in the South, mostly absent (migration only) across the mid-latitudes, and absent in the northern states and Canada. That north–south split is the defining feature of this month: where you live changes which version of this bird you're looking at.
Nesting in September
Yellow-billed cuckoos are not nesting in September. The season runs May–August at mid-latitudes, and up to a month later in the North.
Outside the nesting season, yellow-billed cuckoos put their energy into feeding and flocking rather than territory and young — which is exactly what makes them easier to watch and attract this month.
What to feed in September
- Tent caterpillars, cicadas, katydids and beetles
Called the 'rain crow' for calling before storms; one of few birds that eats hairy caterpillars in bulk.
Migrants passing through may stop at feeders for a day and never return — September rewards watching closely. Natural seed and fruit crops are abundant, so feeder traffic can be uneven.
Full Yellow-billed Cuckoo diet guide → · Best feeder for yellow-billed cuckoos →
Watching yellow-billed cuckoos this month
Yellow-billed cuckoos are settled and predictable in September, which makes this a good month to learn the bird's routine — same feeders, same perches, same times of day.
The state guides below show exactly where in your region yellow-billed cuckoos are expected this month and which native plants hold them in a yard.
Yellow-billed Cuckoo month by month
Yellow-billed Cuckoo by state
Frequently asked
Where are yellow-billed cuckoos in September?
In September, yellow-billed cuckoos are absent in the South, mostly absent (migration only) across mid-latitudes and absent in the North.
Do yellow-billed cuckoos nest in September?
No — yellow-billed cuckoos typically nest May through August at mid-latitudes.
What do yellow-billed cuckoos eat in September?
Tent caterpillars, cicadas, katydids and beetles.
Sources
- Yellow-billed Cuckoo — All About Birds, Cornell Lab of Ornithology
- Yellow-billed Cuckoo life history — Cornell Lab of Ornithology
- Yellow-billed Cuckoo — Audubon Guide to North American Birds
Timing reflects typical patterns for the region as a whole; local dates vary with elevation and year. Check the linked eBird bar charts for your county.