The last seven days on iNaturalist, checked against five years

Rare Birds in Pennsylvania This Week

Q: What rare birds are in Pennsylvania this week?

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

406 bird species in 309,013 confirmed iNaturalist sightings between 2021-10-09 and 2026-10-01. 49 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 Pennsylvania?

Near Philadelphia 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 Pennsylvania.

Q: Who confirms rare bird records in Pennsylvania?

The Pennsylvania Ornithological Records Committee. From its page: “The Records Committee requests details including full descriptions, photographs, video, or sound recordings for review and possible inclusion on the state’s Official List.”

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

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.

Pennsylvania logged 309,013 confirmed bird sightings across 406 species on iNaturalist in five years, and 49 of those species have 3 or fewer confirmed sightings. The live list near Philadelphia covers 25 miles around the city. The Pennsylvania Ornithological Records Committee reviews rare bird records here.

Near Philadelphia

Rare birds near Philadelphia this week

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

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

Pennsylvania birds on the record

iNaturalist, research grade

309,013

Confirmed bird sightings

research grade iNaturalist records, five years

406

Bird species on record

seen and confirmed in Pennsylvania

Species seen 3 times or fewer

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

25 mi

Live circle

around Philadelphia, or any ZIP you enter

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

Across Pennsylvania

The whole state this week

Every bird reported anywhere in Pennsylvania 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 Pennsylvania from iNaturalist.

What turns up here

Who confirms a rare bird in Pennsylvania

406 bird species have confirmed iNaturalist records in Pennsylvania over five years, and 49 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.

Pennsylvania Ornithological Records Committee

The committee reviews rare bird records in Pennsylvania.

“The Records Committee requests details including full descriptions, photographs, video, or sound recordings for review and possible inclusion on the state’s Official List.”

Pennsylvania Ornithological 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

Pennsylvania rare bird questions

What rare birds are in Pennsylvania this week?

How many bird species are seen in Pennsylvania?

What counts as rare in Pennsylvania?

Who confirms rare bird records in Pennsylvania?

How do I see rare birds near me in Pennsylvania?

Are needs ID sightings included?

More for Pennsylvania birders

Rare birds near any ZIPEnter a ZIP for this week’s unusual birds around it.Pennsylvania fall migrationWhen the big flights pass over.Pennsylvania hummingbird migrationWhen they arrive and when they leave.Pennsylvania eagle watchingWhere bald eagles gather in winter.Pennsylvania snowy owlsWhere the winter irruptions reach.Pennsylvania 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.