The last seven days on iNaturalist, checked against five years

Rare Birds in New Jersey This Week

Q: What rare birds are in New Jersey this week?

The lists above, read live from iNaturalist: first the birds within 25 miles of Newark, 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 New Jersey?

421 bird species in 185,593 confirmed iNaturalist sightings between 2021-10-09 and 2026-10-01. 47 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 New Jersey?

Near Newark 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 New Jersey.

Q: Who confirms rare bird records in New Jersey?

The New Jersey Bird Records Committee. From its page: “The New Jersey Bird Records Committee (NJBRC) collects records of rare birds reported in the state of New Jersey, and maintains a State List of all species seen in the state.”

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

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.

New Jersey logged 185,593 confirmed bird sightings across 421 species on iNaturalist in five years, and 47 of those species have 3 or fewer confirmed sightings. The live list near Newark covers 25 miles around the city. The New Jersey Bird Records Committee reviews rare bird records here.

Near Newark

Rare birds near Newark this week

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

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

New Jersey birds on the record

iNaturalist, research grade

185,593

Confirmed bird sightings

research grade iNaturalist records, five years

421

Bird species on record

seen and confirmed in New Jersey

Species seen 3 times or fewer

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

25 mi

Live circle

around Newark, or any ZIP you enter

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

Across New Jersey

The whole state this week

Every bird reported anywhere in New Jersey 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 New Jersey from iNaturalist.

What turns up here

Who confirms a rare bird in New Jersey

421 bird species have confirmed iNaturalist records in New Jersey over five years, and 47 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.

New Jersey Bird Records Committee

The committee reviews rare bird records in New Jersey.

“The New Jersey Bird Records Committee (NJBRC) collects records of rare birds reported in the state of New Jersey, and maintains a State List of all species seen in the state.”

New Jersey 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

New Jersey rare bird questions

What rare birds are in New Jersey this week?

How many bird species are seen in New Jersey?

What counts as rare in New Jersey?

Who confirms rare bird records in New Jersey?

How do I see rare birds near me in New Jersey?

Are needs ID sightings included?

More for New Jersey birders

Rare birds near any ZIPEnter a ZIP for this week’s unusual birds around it.New Jersey fall migrationWhen the big flights pass over.New Jersey hummingbird migrationWhen they arrive and when they leave.New Jersey snowy owlsWhere the winter irruptions reach.New Jersey winter birdsWhat comes to the feeder when it snows.New Jersey 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.