Herons in New Jersey in September

Yes, September is a good month to see herons in New Jersey. It is the 4th busiest month of the year, with 1,960 of the 16,286 sightings logged across the year (12%), based on verified iNaturalist records.

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By Tim, founder of Easy Street Markets. I maintain the wildlife database and verify every animal and source myself. Updated June 28, 2026.

Yellow-crowned Night Heron photographed in New JerseyYellow-crowned Night Heron photographed in New JerseyGreat Blue Heron photographed in New Jersey
Photos by iNaturalist observers, used under Creative Commons.

Good month for herons in New Jersey

12%

of yearly sightings

1,960

records in September

#4

busiest month of 12

16,286

verified records a year

August 14.5%, September 12%, October 9.2%. Busiest month is May at 15.1%.

Best months: May, August, June

16,286 verified observations of herons in New Jersey, recorded across 12 months of the year on iNaturalist.

When herons are recorded in New Jersey

Peak month

May

2,458 records (15.1% of the year)

Quietest month

February

295 records

MonthObservationsShare
January3772.3%
February2951.8%
March5663.5%
April1,68410.3%
Maypeak2,45815.1%
Junepeak2,15813.3%
July1,73910.7%
Augustpeak2,35814.5%
September1,96012%
October1,5029.2%
November7234.4%
December4662.9%

Herons you are most likely to see

SpeciesVerified observations
Great Blue Heron5,949
Great Egret4,090
Snowy Egret1,704
Black-crowned Night Heron1,215
Green Heron1,046
Yellow-crowned Night Heron1,000
Little Blue Heron443
Tricolored Heron327

In New Jersey, September carries 12% of the year's herons sightings, about 3.7 points above an even month-to-month split. That makes it the 4th busiest of the twelve months, out of 12 months with recorded activity.

Activity is easing off from August (14.5%) into September, and it heads toward October (9.2%) after. The busiest month is May (15.1%), so if timing is flexible, that window is the safer bet.

The herons most often recorded in New Jersey are Great Blue Heron, Great Egret and Snowy Egret. Those counts are annual totals rather than a September split, so treat them as which species you are likely to encounter, while the month figures above show how many sightings fall in September itself.

Which herons you are most likely to see

  • Great Blue Heron5,949 records
  • Great Egret4,090 records
  • Snowy Egret1,704 records
  • Black-crowned Night Heron1,215 records
  • Green Heron1,046 records
  • Yellow-crowned Night Heron1,000 records
Plan your tripAppalachian National Scenic Trail

Plan your heron trip in New Jersey

Start with live tours near Appalachian National Scenic Trail, then compare a nearby stay and a broader wildlife backup before you lock in the trip.

Gear to see them

Frequently asked questions

Can you see herons in New Jersey in September?+

Yes. September accounts for 1,960 of the 16,286 verified herons sightings logged in New Jersey across the year, which is 12% of the annual total.

Is September a good time to see herons in New Jersey?+

September is the 4th busiest month. It is workable, though May and August is the stronger window for a reliable sighting.

What month is best for herons in New Jersey?+

May is the single busiest month, with the broader peak running through May, August and June, based on 16,286 verified observations.

Which herons are you most likely to see in New Jersey?+

The most-recorded species in New Jersey are Great Blue Heron, Great Egret and Snowy Egret, based on all-time iNaturalist counts.