The last seven days on iNaturalist, checked against five years

Rare Birds in Alabama This Week

Q: What rare birds are in Alabama this week?

The lists above, read live from iNaturalist: first the birds within 25 miles of Birmingham, then the whole state. Each species is checked against five years of confirmed sightings, and the most unusual come first.

Q: How many bird species are seen in Alabama?

384 bird species in 108,765 confirmed iNaturalist sightings between 2021-10-09 and 2026-10-01. 53 of those species have 3 or fewer confirmed sightings in the state, so a new one of them is news.

Q: What counts as rare in Alabama?

Near Birmingham or your own ZIP, a species with 3 or fewer confirmed sightings within 25 miles in five years, or one that is seen there but almost never in these weeks of the year. On the statewide list, a species with 3 or fewer confirmed sightings anywhere in Alabama.

Q: Who confirms rare bird records in Alabama?

The Alabama Bird Records Committee. From its page: “The Alabama Bird Records Committee (ABRC) is the arm of AOS that reviews species sightings for admission to the official state records list, in order to assure the credibility and scientific value of the records.”

Q: How do I see rare birds near me in Alabama?

Enter your ZIP on the rare bird alert for a list around your own spot, and check it each week in spring and fall migration, when most strays turn up. Each bird links to its iNaturalist species page with photographs and a range map.

Q: Are needs ID sightings included?

Yes, for this week only, because confirmation takes days and a rare bird may be gone by then. The five year record the week is checked against counts research grade sightings only.

Alabama logged 108,765 confirmed bird sightings across 384 species on iNaturalist in five years, and 53 of those species have 3 or fewer confirmed sightings. The live list near Birmingham covers 25 miles around the city. The Alabama Bird Records Committee reviews rare bird records here.

Near Birmingham

Rare birds near Birmingham this week

Every bird posted within 25 miles of Birmingham in the last seven days, with the ones that are rare there, out of season or uncommon first and the reason for each.

Reading this week's bird sightings within 25 miles of Birmingham from iNaturalist.

Somewhere else in Alabama? Enter your ZIP for the circle around it.

Alabama birds on the record

iNaturalist, research grade

108,765

Confirmed bird sightings

research grade iNaturalist records, five years

384

Bird species on record

seen and confirmed in Alabama

Species seen 3 times or fewer

14 percent of the state list, the birds that make news

25 mi

Live circle

around Birmingham, or any ZIP you enter

Counted from iNaturalist’s research grade bird records in Alabama from October 9, 2021 to October 1, 2026, read October 9, 2026.

Across Alabama

The whole state this week

Every bird reported anywhere in Alabama in the last seven days, checked against the state’s own five year record: Rare here means 3 or fewer confirmed sightings in the whole state.

Reading this week's bird sightings across Alabama from iNaturalist.

What turns up here

Who confirms a rare bird in Alabama

384 bird species have confirmed iNaturalist records in Alabama over five years, and 53 of them were confirmed 3 times or fewer. A sighting of one of those is the kind a state records committee reviews before it joins the official list.

Alabama Bird Records Committee

The committee reviews rare bird records in Alabama.

“The Alabama Bird Records Committee (ABRC) is the arm of AOS that reviews species sightings for admission to the official state records list, in order to assure the credibility and scientific value of the records.”

Alabama Bird Records Committee, read October 9, 2026.

Nine birders and photographers on a wooden boardwalk over a marsh, with long lenses, a spotting scope and binoculars all pointed to the left, under spring trees — Birders and photographers setting up on an overlook. Word of an unusual bird travels this way: one person posts a photograph, and the people nearby go and look. “Birdwatchers stop to set up equipment at overlook”, Steve Hillebrand, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Public domain

Alabama rare bird questions

What rare birds are in Alabama this week?

How many bird species are seen in Alabama?

What counts as rare in Alabama?

Who confirms rare bird records in Alabama?

How do I see rare birds near me in Alabama?

Are needs ID sightings included?

More for Alabama birders

Rare birds near any ZIPEnter a ZIP for this week’s unusual birds around it.Alabama fall migrationWhen the big flights pass over.Alabama hummingbird migrationWhen they arrive and when they leave.Alabama eagle watchingWhere bald eagles gather in winter.Alabama sandhill crane migrationWhere the cranes stage and when.Alabama winter birdsWhat comes to the feeder when it snows.

Rare birds in other states

Sightings and records from iNaturalist, read live for this week. The lists are built from counts per species, and each bird links to its species page. For your own spot, enter a ZIP on the rare bird alert.