The last seven days on iNaturalist, checked against five years

Rare Birds in North Dakota This Week

Q: What rare birds are in North Dakota this week?

The lists above, read live from iNaturalist: first the birds within 25 miles of Fargo, 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 North Dakota?

323 bird species in 11,881 confirmed iNaturalist sightings between 2021-10-09 and 2026-10-01. 61 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 North Dakota?

Near Fargo 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 North Dakota.

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

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.

North Dakota logged 11,881 confirmed bird sightings across 323 species on iNaturalist in five years, and 61 of those species have 3 or fewer confirmed sightings. The live list near Fargo covers 25 miles around the city.

Near Fargo

Rare birds near Fargo this week

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

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

North Dakota birds on the record

iNaturalist, research grade

11,881

Confirmed bird sightings

research grade iNaturalist records, five years

323

Bird species on record

seen and confirmed in North Dakota

Species seen 3 times or fewer

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

25 mi

Live circle

around Fargo, or any ZIP you enter

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

Across North Dakota

The whole state this week

Every bird reported anywhere in North Dakota 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 North Dakota from iNaturalist.

What turns up here

Rare birds on the North Dakota record

323 bird species have confirmed iNaturalist records in North Dakota over five years, and 61 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.

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

North Dakota rare bird questions

What rare birds are in North Dakota this week?

How many bird species are seen in North Dakota?

What counts as rare in North Dakota?

How do I see rare birds near me in North Dakota?

Are needs ID sightings included?

More for North Dakota birders

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