The last seven days on iNaturalist, checked against five years

Rare Birds in Delaware This Week

Q: What rare birds are in Delaware this week?

The lists above, read live from iNaturalist: first the birds within 25 miles of Wilmington, 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 Delaware?

355 bird species in 47,381 confirmed iNaturalist sightings between 2021-10-09 and 2026-10-01. 55 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 Delaware?

Near Wilmington 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 Delaware.

Q: Who confirms rare bird records in Delaware?

The Delaware Bird Records Committee. From its page: “The Delaware Bird Records Committee is an independent committee charged with maintaining the official Delaware State List of Bird Species, which consists of all bird species that have been accepted as having occurred in Delaware.”

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

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.

Delaware logged 47,381 confirmed bird sightings across 355 species on iNaturalist in five years, and 55 of those species have 3 or fewer confirmed sightings. The live list near Wilmington covers 25 miles around the city. The Delaware Bird Records Committee reviews rare bird records here.

Near Wilmington

Rare birds near Wilmington this week

Every bird posted within 25 miles of Wilmington 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 Wilmington from iNaturalist.

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

Delaware birds on the record

iNaturalist, research grade

47,381

Confirmed bird sightings

research grade iNaturalist records, five years

355

Bird species on record

seen and confirmed in Delaware

Species seen 3 times or fewer

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

25 mi

Live circle

around Wilmington, or any ZIP you enter

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

Across Delaware

The whole state this week

Every bird reported anywhere in Delaware 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 Delaware from iNaturalist.

What turns up here

Who confirms a rare bird in Delaware

355 bird species have confirmed iNaturalist records in Delaware over five years, and 55 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.

Delaware Bird Records Committee

The committee reviews rare bird records in Delaware.

“The Delaware Bird Records Committee is an independent committee charged with maintaining the official Delaware State List of Bird Species, which consists of all bird species that have been accepted as having occurred in Delaware.”

Delaware 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

Delaware rare bird questions

What rare birds are in Delaware this week?

How many bird species are seen in Delaware?

What counts as rare in Delaware?

Who confirms rare bird records in Delaware?

How do I see rare birds near me in Delaware?

Are needs ID sightings included?

More for Delaware birders

Rare birds near any ZIPEnter a ZIP for this week’s unusual birds around it.Delaware fall migrationWhen the big flights pass over.Delaware hummingbird migrationWhen they arrive and when they leave.Delaware winter birdsWhat comes to the feeder when it snows.Delaware duck migrationWhen the ducks come through.

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.