Birds to See in Belgium in October
195 bird species on our list for Belgium are recorded regularly in October
Of these, the most often recorded are European Robin, Woodpigeon, Carrion Crow, Jackdaw and Great Tit. New this month: Redwing, Greater White-fronted Goose, Brambling and Eurasian Woodcock and 16 more.
On the move in October
GBIF · OctArriving
At their peak
From Belgium’s bird records, 2019–2024: arriving birds are regular this month but not last; leaving birds are regular this month but not next.
Other months
All 195 birds in October
195 birds
European RobinErithacus rubeculaResidentCommon13–14 cmRecorded all year · 3.84% in Oct
WoodpigeonColumba palumbusResidentCommon40–42 cmRecorded all year · 3.42% in Oct
Carrion CrowCorvus coroneResidentCommon45–47 cmRecorded all year · 3.40% in Oct
JackdawColoeus monedulaResidentCommon34–39 cmRecorded all year · 3.08% in Oct
Great TitParus majorResidentCommonRecorded all year · 2.89% in Oct
MagpiePica picaResidentCommon44–46 cmRecorded all year · 2.84% in Oct
Blue TitCyanistes caeruleusResidentCommon11–12 cmRecorded all year · 2.53% in Oct
ChaffinchFringilla coelebsResidentCommon14–16 cmRecorded all year · 2.52% in Oct
BlackbirdTurdus merulaResidentCommon24–25 cmRecorded all year · 2.44% in Oct
Black-headed GullChroicocephalus ridibundusResidentCommon38–44 cmRecorded all year · 2.20% in Oct
MallardAnas platyrhynchosResidentCommon50–65 cmRecorded all year · 1.91% in Oct
Common StarlingSturnus vulgarisResidentCommon21–23 cmRecorded all year · 1.84% in Oct
Great CormorantPhalacrocorax carboResidentCommon80–100 cmRecorded all year · 1.84% in Oct
Eurasian WrenTroglodytes troglodytesResidentCommon9–10 cmRecorded all year · 1.72% in Oct
ChiffchaffPhylloscopus collybitaSummer visitorCommon10–12 cmRecorded all year · 1.69% in Oct
Song ThrushTurdus philomelosResidentCommon20–23 cmRecorded all year · 1.63% in Oct
Meadow PipitAnthus pratensisWinter visitorCommon14–15 cmRecorded all year · 1.58% in Oct
European Herring GullLarus argentatusResidentCommon55–67 cmRecorded all year · 1.54% in Oct
Eurasian JayGarrulus glandariusResidentCommon32–35 cmRecorded all year · 1.53% in Oct
CootFulica atraResidentCommon36–42 cmRecorded all year · 1.50% in Oct
BuzzardButeo buteoResidentCommon51–57 cmRecorded all year · 1.49% in Oct
Grey HeronArdea cinereaResidentCommon90–98 cmRecorded all year · 1.46% in Oct
DunnockPrunella modularisResidentCommon14–15 cmRecorded all year · 1.42% in Oct
MoorhenGallinula chloropusResidentCommon30–38 cmRecorded all year · 1.36% in Oct
RedwingTurdus iliacusWinter visitorCommon20–24 cmRegularly Oct–Apr · 1.23% in Oct
Great Spotted WoodpeckerDendrocopos majorResidentCommon23–26 cmRecorded all year · 1.20% in Oct
KestrelFalco tinnunculusResidentCommon32–39 cmRecorded all year · 1.19% in Oct
House SparrowPasser domesticusResidentCommon14–17 cmRecorded all year · 1.14% in Oct
Pied WagtailMotacilla albaResidentCommon17–19 cmRecorded all year · 1.07% in Oct
European Green WoodpeckerPicus viridisResidentCommon30–36 cmRecorded all year · 1.04% in Oct
Eurasian SiskinSpinus spinusWinter visitorCommon11–13 cmRegularly Jul–May · 0.97% in Oct
Eurasian SkylarkAlauda arvensisResidentCommon16–18 cmRecorded all year · 0.97% in Oct
Rock DoveColumba liviaResidentCommon29–37 cmRecorded all year · 0.97% in Oct
Eurasian Collared DoveStreptopelia decaoctoResidentCommon30–32 cmRecorded all year · 0.95% in Oct
Long-tailed TitAegithalos caudatusResidentCommon13–16 cmRecorded all year · 0.93% in Oct
Canada GooseBranta canadensisResidentCommon76–110 cmRecorded all year · 0.91% in Oct
Greylag GooseAnser anserResidentCommon75–90 cmRecorded all year · 0.90% in Oct
Egyptian GooseAlopochen aegyptiacaResidentCommon63–73 cmRecorded all year · 0.87% in Oct
Cetti's WarblerCettia cettiResidentCommon13–14 cmRecorded all year · 0.86% in Oct
Lesser Black-backed GullLarus fuscusSummer visitorCommon52–64 cmRecorded all year · 0.84% in Oct
Great White EgretArdea albaResidentCommon80–104 cmRecorded all year · 0.81% in Oct
GoldcrestRegulus regulusWinter visitorCommon9–10 cmRecorded all year · 0.81% in Oct
Great Crested GrebePodiceps cristatusResidentCommon46–51 cmRecorded all year · 0.80% in Oct
European GoldfinchCarduelis carduelisResidentCommon12–13 cmRecorded all year · 0.72% in Oct
Grey WagtailMotacilla cinereaResidentCommon17–20 cmRecorded all year · 0.72% in Oct
Reed BuntingEmberiza schoeniclusResidentCommon14–16 cmRecorded all year · 0.71% in Oct
GadwallMareca streperaResidentCommon46–56 cmRecorded all year · 0.71% in Oct
GreenfinchChloris chlorisResidentCommon15–16 cmRecorded all year · 0.71% in Oct
FirecrestRegulus ignicapillaWinter visitorCommon9–10 cmRecorded all year · 0.68% in Oct
BlackcapSylvia atricapillaSummer visitorCommon13–15 cmRegularly Mar–Nov · 0.68% in Oct
LinnetLinaria cannabinaSummer visitorCommon13–14 cmRecorded all year · 0.65% in Oct
Short-toed TreecreeperCerthia brachydactylaResidentCommon12–14 cmRecorded all year · 0.64% in Oct
Northern LapwingVanellus vanellusResidentCommon28–31 cmRecorded all year · 0.63% in Oct
Northern ShovelerSpatula clypeataWinter visitorCommon44–51 cmRecorded all year · 0.59% in Oct
CurlewNumenius arquataResidentCommon50–60 cmRecorded all year · 0.58% in Oct
SparrowhawkAccipiter nisusResidentCommon28–38 cmRecorded all year · 0.58% in Oct
Common KingfisherAlcedo atthisResidentCommon16–17 cmRecorded all year · 0.58% in Oct
BramblingFringilla montifringillaWinter visitorCommon14–16 cmRegularly Oct–Apr · 0.57% in Oct
Mute SwanCygnus olorResidentCommon140–160 cmRecorded all year · 0.57% in Oct
Stock DoveColumba oenasResidentCommon32–34 cmRecorded all year · 0.53% in Oct
Eurasian OystercatcherHaematopus ostralegusResidentCommon40–45 cmRecorded all year · 0.53% in Oct
Eurasian TealAnas creccaWinter visitorCommon34–38 cmRecorded all year · 0.52% in Oct
Little EgretEgretta garzettaResidentCommon55–65 cmRecorded all year · 0.50% in Oct
Common GullLarus canusWinter visitorCommon40–46 cmRegularly Jul–May · 0.48% in Oct
Little GrebeTachybaptus ruficollisResidentCommon23–29 cmRecorded all year · 0.48% in Oct
Rose-ringed ParakeetPsittacula krameriResidentCommon38–42 cmRecorded all year · 0.48% in Oct
Tufted DuckAythya fuligulaResidentCommon40–47 cmRecorded all year · 0.48% in Oct
Black RedstartPhoenicurus ochrurosSummer visitorCommon13–15 cmRegularly Feb–Dec · 0.46% in Oct
Eurasian NuthatchSitta europaeaResidentCommon12–15 cmRecorded all year · 0.42% in Oct
RookCorvus frugilegusResidentCommon45–47 cmRecorded all year · 0.40% in Oct
Yellow-browed WarblerPhylloscopus inornatusPassage migrantUncommon10–11 cmRegularly Sep–Nov · 0.39% in Oct
Common PheasantPhasianus colchicusResidentCommon50–90 cmRecorded all year · 0.36% in Oct
Common ShelduckTadorna tadornaResidentCommon58–67 cmRecorded all year · 0.35% in Oct
Greater White-fronted GooseAnser albifronsWinter visitorCommon64–81 cmRegularly Oct–Mar · 0.35% in Oct
Eurasian SpoonbillPlatalea leucorodiaSummer visitorCommon80–90 cmRecorded all year · 0.33% in Oct
PochardAythya ferinaResidentCommon42–49 cmRecorded all year · 0.32% in Oct
Great Black-backed GullLarus marinusResidentUncommon64–79 cmRecorded all year · 0.32% in Oct
Eurasian WigeonMareca penelopeWinter visitorCommon42–51 cmRegularly Aug–Apr · 0.31% in Oct
Common SnipeGallinago gallinagoWinter visitorCommon25–27 cmRegularly Jul–May · 0.30% in Oct
FieldfareTurdus pilarisWinter visitorCommon22–27 cmRegularly Sep–Jul · 0.29% in Oct
WoodlarkLullula arboreaSummer visitorUncommon15–17 cmRegularly Jan–Nov · 0.29% in Oct
Barnacle GooseBranta leucopsisResidentCommon58–70 cmRecorded all year · 0.29% in Oct
Ruddy TurnstoneArenaria interpresWinter visitorUncommon21–24 cmRecorded all year · 0.29% in Oct
Eurasian Tree SparrowPasser montanusWinter visitorCommon13–14 cmRecorded all year · 0.28% in Oct
Water RailRallus aquaticusWinter visitorUncommon23–28 cmRecorded all year · 0.27% in Oct
Cattle EgretArdea ibisResidentUncommon46–56 cmRecorded all year · 0.27% in Oct
StonechatSaxicola rubicolaResidentUncommon12–13 cmRecorded all year · 0.26% in Oct
Peregrine FalconFalco peregrinusResidentUncommon34–58 cmRecorded all year · 0.25% in Oct
RedshankTringa totanusResidentCommon27–29 cmRecorded all year · 0.21% in Oct
Barn SwallowHirundo rusticaSummer visitorCommon17–19 cmRegularly Mar–Oct · 0.20% in Oct
DunlinCalidris alpinaResidentUncommon16–22 cmRecorded all year · 0.20% in Oct
Grey PloverPluvialis squatarolaResidentUncommon27–30 cmRecorded all year · 0.20% in Oct
Mistle ThrushTurdus viscivorusResidentUncommon26–29 cmRecorded all year · 0.20% in Oct
Western Marsh-harrierCircus aeruginosusSummer visitorCommon48–56 cmRecorded all year · 0.19% in Oct
Crested TitLophophanes cristatusResidentUncommon11–12 cmRecorded all year · 0.17% in Oct
Coal TitPeriparus aterResidentUncommon10–12 cmRecorded all year · 0.17% in Oct
Northern PintailAnas acutaWinter visitorUncommon59–76 cmRegularly Sep–May · 0.17% in Oct
WheatearOenanthe oenanthePassage migrantCommon15–16 cmRegularly Apr–Oct · 0.17% in Oct
Bar-tailed GodwitLimosa lapponicaWinter visitorUncommon37–41 cmRegularly Apr–Feb · 0.16% in Oct
HawfinchCoccothraustes coccothraustesResidentUncommon17–18 cmRecorded all year · 0.15% in Oct
Rock PipitAnthus petrosusWinter visitorUncommon16–18 cmRegularly Sep–Mar · 0.15% in Oct
Water PipitAnthus spinolettaWinter visitorUncommon15–17 cmRegularly Oct–Apr · 0.15% in Oct
YellowhammerEmberiza citrinellaResidentUncommon16–17 cmRecorded all year · 0.14% in Oct
Ring OuzelTurdus torquatusPassage migrantUncommon23–24 cmRegularly Apr–Oct · 0.13% in Oct
Ringed PloverCharadrius hiaticulaSummer visitorUncommon17–19 cmRecorded all year · 0.13% in Oct
Marsh TitPoecile palustrisResidentUncommon12–13 cmRecorded all year · 0.11% in Oct
Tawny OwlStrix alucoResidentUncommon37–43 cmRecorded all year · 0.11% in Oct
Brent GooseBranta berniclaWinter visitorUncommon55–66 cmRegularly Sep–May · 0.11% in Oct
MerlinFalco columbariusWinter visitorUncommon24–33 cmRegularly Sep–May · 0.11% in Oct
Short-eared OwlAsio flammeusWinter visitorUncommon34–43 cmRegularly Sep–May · 0.11% in Oct
Green SandpiperTringa ochropusSummer visitorCommon21–24 cmRegularly Jan–Nov · 0.10% in Oct
Red CrossbillLoxia curvirostraResidentUncommon15–17 cmRecorded all year · 0.10% in Oct
Red KiteMilvus milvusSummer visitorUncommon60–66 cmRecorded all year · 0.10% in Oct
Hen HarrierCircus cyaneusWinter visitorUncommon41–52 cmRegularly Aug–May · 0.10% in Oct
Lesser WhitethroatCurruca currucaSummer visitorUncommon11–13 cmRegularly Apr–Oct · 0.10% in Oct
Willow WarblerPhylloscopus trochilusSummer visitorCommon11–13 cmRegularly Mar–Oct · 0.09% in Oct
Northern GannetMorus bassanusWinter visitorUncommon87–100 cmRegularly Jul–Feb · 0.09% in Oct
BullfinchPyrrhula pyrrhulaResidentUncommon15–17 cmRecorded all year · 0.09% in Oct
Golden PloverPluvialis apricariaWinter visitorUncommon26–29 cmRegularly Jul–May · 0.09% in Oct
Spotted RedshankTringa erythropusSummer visitorUncommon29–31 cmRecorded all year · 0.08% in Oct
Eurasian WoodcockScolopax rusticolaWinter visitorUncommon33–38 cmRegularly Oct–Jul · 0.08% in Oct
Northern GoshawkAstur gentilisResidentUncommon46–61 cmRecorded all year · 0.08% in Oct
OspreyPandion haliaetusPassage migrantUncommon54–58 cmRegularly Mar–Oct · 0.08% in Oct
Pink-footed GooseAnser brachyrhynchusWinter visitorUncommon60–75 cmRegularly Oct–Feb · 0.08% in Oct
GreenshankTringa nebulariaSummer visitorCommon30–35 cmRegularly Apr–Oct · 0.08% in Oct
Common RavenCorvus coraxResidentUncommon54–67 cmRecorded all year · 0.07% in Oct
SanderlingCalidris albaWinter visitorUncommon18–20 cmRegularly Jul–May · 0.07% in Oct
Grey PartridgePerdix perdixResidentUncommon28–32 cmRecorded all year · 0.07% in Oct
Common RedpollAcanthis flammeaWinter visitorUncommon12–14 cmRegularly Oct–Jul · 0.06% in Oct
Lesser Spotted WoodpeckerDryobates minorResidentUncommon14–16 cmRecorded all year · 0.06% in Oct
RuffCalidris pugnaxResidentUncommon20–32 cmRecorded all year · 0.06% in Oct
Sandwich TernThalasseus sandvicensisSummer visitorUncommon36–41 cmRegularly Apr–Oct · 0.06% in Oct
Yellow-legged GullLarus michahellisResidentUncommon52–68 cmRecorded all year · 0.06% in Oct
Tree PipitAnthus trivialisSummer visitorUncommon14–16 cmRegularly Apr–Oct · 0.05% in Oct
Black-necked GrebePodiceps nigricollisResidentUncommon28–34 cmRecorded all year · 0.05% in Oct
Willow TitPoecile montanusResidentUncommon11–12 cmRecorded all year · 0.05% in Oct
WhinchatSaxicola rubetraPassage migrantUncommon12–14 cmRegularly Apr–Oct · 0.05% in Oct
Common ScoterMelanitta nigraWinter visitorUncommon43–54 cmRecorded all year · 0.05% in Oct
Arctic JaegerStercorarius parasiticusPassage migrantUncommon41–46 cmRegularly Aug–Oct · 0.05% in Oct
Common RedstartPhoenicurus phoenicurusSummer visitorUncommon13–15 cmRegularly Apr–Oct · 0.05% in Oct
Jack SnipeLymnocryptes minimusWinter visitorUncommon17–19 cmRegularly Oct–Apr · 0.04% in Oct
Snow BuntingPlectrophenax nivalisWinter visitorUncommon15–18 cmRegularly Oct–Feb · 0.04% in Oct
Lapland LongspurCalcarius lapponicusPassage migrantRare15–16 cmRegularly Oct–Jan · 0.04% in Oct
Bearded TitPanurus biarmicusResidentRare13–15 cmRecorded all year · 0.04% in Oct
Garden WarblerSylvia borinSummer visitorCommon14–15 cmRegularly Apr–Oct · 0.04% in Oct
Red KnotCalidris canutusWinter visitorUncommon23–26 cmRegularly Jul–May · 0.04% in Oct
SerinSerinus serinusResidentRare11–12 cmRegularly Oct–Jul · 0.04% in Oct
Bar-headed GooseAnser indicusWinter visitorUncommon68–78 cmRegularly Jul–May · 0.04% in Oct
Barn OwlTyto albaResidentUncommon33–39 cmRecorded all year · 0.04% in Oct
Great Grey ShrikeLanius excubitorWinter visitorUncommon22–26 cmRegularly Jul–May · 0.04% in Oct
HobbyFalco subbuteoSummer visitorUncommon28–35 cmRegularly Apr–Oct · 0.04% in Oct
Little OwlAthene noctuaResidentUncommon21–23 cmRecorded all year · 0.04% in Oct
Spotted FlycatcherMuscicapa striataSummer visitorUncommon14–16 cmRegularly Apr–Oct · 0.04% in Oct
Long-eared OwlAsio otusResidentUncommon35–40 cmRecorded all year · 0.04% in Oct
RazorbillAlca tordaPassage migrantUncommon38–43 cmRegularly Sep–Feb · 0.04% in Oct
AvocetRecurvirostra avosettaSummer visitorUncommon42–45 cmRecorded all year · 0.04% in Oct
European Pied FlycatcherFicedula hypoleucaSummer visitorUncommon12–14 cmRegularly Apr–Oct · 0.04% in Oct
Tundra Bean GooseAnser serrirostrisWinter visitorUncommon66–84 cmRegularly Oct–Feb · 0.04% in Oct
Mediterranean GullIchthyaetus melanocephalusSummer visitorUncommon37–40 cmRecorded all year · 0.03% in Oct
Common CraneGrus grusWinter visitorUncommon100–130 cmRegularly Sep–Jun · 0.03% in Oct
Grey PhalaropePhalaropus fulicariusPassage migrantUncommon20–22 cmRegularly Oct · 0.03% in Oct
Little GullHydrocoloeus minutusSummer visitorUncommon25–30 cmRegularly Mar–Jan · 0.03% in Oct
TreecreeperCerthia familiarisResidentUncommon12–14 cmRecorded all year · 0.03% in Oct
Black SwanCygnus atratusWinter visitorRare110–142 cmRegularly Sep–Jun · 0.03% in Oct
Grasshopper WarblerLocustella naeviaSummer visitorUncommon12–13 cmRegularly Apr–Oct · 0.03% in Oct
Little StintCalidris minutaSummer visitorUncommon13–15 cmRegularly Apr–Nov · 0.03% in Oct
Purple SandpiperCalidris maritimaWinter visitorUncommon20–22 cmRegularly Sep–May · 0.03% in Oct
Red-throated LoonGavia stellataWinter visitorUncommon53–69 cmRegularly Oct–Mar · 0.03% in Oct
WryneckJynx torquillaPassage migrantUncommon16–18 cmRegularly Apr–Oct · 0.03% in Oct
Mandarin DuckAix galericulataResidentRare41–49 cmRecorded all year · 0.03% in Oct
European ShagGulosus aristotelisPassage migrantRare65–80 cmRegularly Sep–Dec · 0.02% in Oct
Monk ParakeetMyiopsitta monachusResidentRare29–31 cmRecorded all year · 0.02% in Oct
Red-backed ShrikeLanius collurioSummer visitorUncommon16–18 cmRegularly May–Oct · 0.02% in Oct
WhimbrelNumenius phaeopusSummer visitorUncommon40–46 cmRegularly Apr–Oct · 0.02% in Oct
DipperCinclus cinclusResidentUncommon17–20 cmRecorded all year · 0.02% in Oct
Eurasian BitternBotaurus stellarisWinter visitorUncommon69–81 cmRegularly Aug–Jun · 0.02% in Oct
KittiwakeRissa tridactylaWinter visitorUncommon37–41 cmRegularly Aug–Feb · 0.02% in Oct
Pallid SwiftApus pallidusScarceRare16–17 cmRegularly Oct–Nov · 0.02% in Oct
White-tailed Sea-eagleHaliaeetus albicillaWinter visitorRare66–94 cmRegularly Sep–Jun · 0.02% in Oct
Glossy IbisPlegadis falcinellusPassage migrantRare48–66 cmRegularly Feb–Dec · 0.02% in Oct
Horned LarkEremophila alpestrisPassage migrantRare16–20 cmRegularly Oct–Dec · 0.01% in Oct
Red-crested PochardNetta rufinaWinter visitorRare53–57 cmRegularly Aug–May · 0.01% in Oct
Ruddy ShelduckTadorna ferrugineaPassage migrantRare58–70 cmRegularly Feb–Dec · 0.01% in Oct
Tundra SwanCygnus columbianusWinter visitorUncommon120–150 cmRegularly Oct–Feb · 0.01% in Oct
Arctic TernSterna paradisaeaPassage migrantRare33–39 cmRegularly Apr–Oct · 0.01% in Oct
Great SkuaStercorarius skuaPassage migrantRare50–58 cmRegularly Sep–Nov · 0.01% in Oct
Curlew SandpiperCalidris ferrugineaSummer visitorUncommon18–23 cmRegularly Apr–Oct · 0.01% in Oct
Muscovy DuckCairina moschataSummer visitorRare66–84 cmRegularly Jan–Nov · 0.01% in Oct
Common QuailCoturnix coturnixSummer visitorUncommon16–18 cmRegularly May–Nov · 0.01% in Oct
Black TernChlidonias nigerSummer visitorUncommon22–26 cmRegularly Apr–Oct · 0.01% in Oct
Black-crowned Night-heronNycticorax nycticoraxSummer visitorUncommon58–65 cmRegularly May–Jan · 0.01% in Oct
Horned GrebePodiceps auritusPassage migrantRare31–38 cmRegularly Oct–Apr · 0.01% in Oct
Purple HeronArdea purpureaPassage migrantUncommon78–90 cmRegularly Mar–Oct · 0.01% in Oct
EiderSomateria mollissimaWinter visitorRare50–71 cmRegularly Sep–May · 0.01% in Oct
Wood DuckAix sponsaPassage migrantRare47–54 cmRegularly Sep–Apr · 0.01% in Oct
Data: EOD – eBird Observation Dataset (Cornell Lab of Ornithology), accessed via GBIF.org, CC BY 4.0. Records from 2019–2024, aggregated and filtered by Birdfact. How these lists are made