Birds to See in Alberta in October
121 bird species on our list for Alberta are recorded regularly in October
Of these, the most often recorded are Common Raven, Mallard, Canada Goose, Blue Jay and Ring-billed Gull. New this month: Common Redpoll, Bohemian Waxwing, Snow Bunting and Rough-legged Hawk and 10 more.
On the move in October
GBIF · OctArriving
At their peak
From Alberta’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 121 birds in October
121 birds
Common RavenCorvus coraxWinter visitorCommon54–67 cmRecorded all year · 4.07% in Oct
MallardAnas platyrhynchosResidentCommon50–65 cmRecorded all year · 3.92% in Oct
Canada GooseBranta canadensisResidentCommon76–110 cmRecorded all year · 3.70% in Oct
Blue JayCyanocitta cristataWinter visitorCommon25–30 cmRecorded all year · 3.18% in Oct
Ring-billed GullLarus delawarensisSummer visitorCommon43–54 cmRegularly Mar–Nov · 2.98% in Oct
Northern FlickerColaptes auratusResidentCommon28–31 cmRecorded all year · 2.85% in Oct
Downy WoodpeckerDryobates pubescensWinter visitorCommon14–18 cmRecorded all year · 2.73% in Oct
House SparrowPasser domesticusResidentCommon14–17 cmRecorded all year · 2.68% in Oct
American CrowCorvus brachyrhynchosSummer visitorCommon41–53 cmRecorded all year · 2.58% in Oct
American RobinTurdus migratoriusSummer visitorCommon20–28 cmRecorded all year · 2.53% in Oct
White-breasted NuthatchSitta carolinensisWinter visitorCommon13–14 cmRecorded all year · 1.95% in Oct
House FinchHaemorhous mexicanusResidentCommon13–15 cmRecorded all year · 1.73% in Oct
Common StarlingSturnus vulgarisSummer visitorCommon21–23 cmRecorded all year · 1.70% in Oct
Rock DoveColumba liviaWinter visitorCommon29–37 cmRecorded all year · 1.45% in Oct
GoldeneyeBucephala clangulaResidentCommon40–51 cmRecorded all year · 1.37% in Oct
Bald EagleHaliaeetus leucocephalusWinter visitorCommon70–102 cmRecorded all year · 1.19% in Oct
Hairy WoodpeckerLeuconotopicus villosusWinter visitorCommon18–26 cmRecorded all year · 1.16% in Oct
Common MerganserMergus merganserResidentCommon58–68 cmRecorded all year · 1.10% in Oct
American Tree SparrowSpizelloides arboreaWinter visitorCommon14–17 cmRegularly Sep–Apr · 1.00% in Oct
GadwallMareca streperaSummer visitorCommon46–56 cmRegularly Mar–Dec · 0.94% in Oct
Snow GooseAnser caerulescensPassage migrantCommon69–84 cmRegularly Sep–May · 0.87% in Oct
Greater YellowlegsTringa melanoleucaSummer visitorCommon29–40 cmRegularly Apr–Nov · 0.86% in Oct
Pine SiskinSpinus pinusResidentCommon11–14 cmRecorded all year · 0.86% in Oct
Eurasian TealAnas creccaSummer visitorCommon34–38 cmRegularly Mar–Jan · 0.80% in Oct
Northern ShovelerSpatula clypeataSummer visitorCommon44–51 cmRegularly Mar–Nov · 0.76% in Oct
Northern PintailAnas acutaSummer visitorCommon59–76 cmRegularly Mar–Jan · 0.68% in Oct
MerlinFalco columbariusResidentCommon24–33 cmRecorded all year · 0.67% in Oct
Hooded MerganserLophodytes cucullatusWinter visitorCommon40–49 cmRecorded all year · 0.63% in Oct
Ruddy DuckOxyura jamaicensisSummer visitorCommon35–43 cmRecorded all year · 0.62% in Oct
Yellow-rumped WarblerSetophaga coronataSummer visitorCommon12–15 cmRegularly Apr–Oct · 0.61% in Oct
Tundra SwanCygnus columbianusWinter visitorCommon120–150 cmRegularly Sep–May · 0.60% in Oct
Trumpeter SwanCygnus buccinatorWinter visitorCommon139–157 cmRecorded all year · 0.57% in Oct
Red-tailed HawkButeo jamaicensisSummer visitorCommon45–65 cmRegularly Mar–Nov · 0.54% in Oct
Rough-legged HawkButeo lagopusWinter visitorCommon46–59 cmRegularly Oct–Apr · 0.50% in Oct
Pileated WoodpeckerDryocopus pileatusWinter visitorCommon40–49 cmRecorded all year · 0.50% in Oct
American Herring GullLarus smithsonianusSummer visitorCommon53–65 cmRegularly Mar–Nov · 0.50% in Oct
Horned GrebePodiceps auritusSummer visitorUncommon31–38 cmRegularly Apr–Dec · 0.49% in Oct
Greater White-fronted GooseAnser albifronsPassage migrantCommon64–81 cmRegularly Apr–Nov · 0.45% in Oct
Red-necked GrebePodiceps grisegenaSummer visitorCommon40–50 cmRegularly Apr–Nov · 0.43% in Oct
Bonaparte's GullChroicocephalus philadelphiaSummer visitorUncommon28–38 cmRegularly Apr–Nov · 0.43% in Oct
Pied-billed GrebePodilymbus podicepsSummer visitorCommon31–38 cmRegularly May–Dec · 0.41% in Oct
White-crowned SparrowZonotrichia leucophrysSummer visitorCommon15–16 cmRegularly Apr–Oct · 0.40% in Oct
Bohemian WaxwingBombycilla garrulusWinter visitorCommon19–23 cmRegularly Oct–Apr · 0.38% in Oct
Great Blue HeronArdea herodiasSummer visitorCommon91–137 cmRegularly Apr–Oct · 0.37% in Oct
Black-necked GrebePodiceps nigricollisSummer visitorUncommon28–34 cmRegularly Apr–Nov · 0.36% in Oct
Ruby-crowned KingletCorthylio calendulaSummer visitorCommon9–11 cmRegularly Apr–Oct · 0.34% in Oct
Long-billed DowitcherLimnodromus scolopaceusPassage migrantUncommon27–30 cmRegularly May–Oct · 0.34% in Oct
Common LoonGavia immerSummer visitorUncommon66–91 cmRegularly Apr–Nov · 0.33% in Oct
Cackling GooseBranta hutchinsiiWinter visitorUncommon53–76 cmRegularly Sep–Apr · 0.31% in Oct
Sharp-shinned HawkAccipiter striatusWinter visitorUncommon24–34 cmRecorded all year · 0.30% in Oct
Wood DuckAix sponsaResidentUncommon47–54 cmRecorded all year · 0.28% in Oct
Ruffed GrouseBonasa umbellusResidentUncommon41–50 cmRecorded all year · 0.28% in Oct
Song SparrowMelospiza melodiaSummer visitorCommon12–17 cmRegularly Mar–Oct · 0.26% in Oct
Great Horned OwlBubo virginianusWinter visitorCommon46–63 cmRecorded all year · 0.25% in Oct
Common GrackleQuiscalus quisculaSummer visitorCommon28–34 cmRegularly Apr–Dec · 0.24% in Oct
Eurasian Collared DoveStreptopelia decaoctoResidentCommon30–32 cmRecorded all year · 0.22% in Oct
Common RedpollAcanthis flammeaWinter visitorCommon12–14 cmRegularly Oct–Apr · 0.22% in Oct
Grey PartridgePerdix perdixWinter visitorCommon28–32 cmRecorded all year · 0.22% in Oct
Lapland LongspurCalcarius lapponicusPassage migrantUncommon15–16 cmRegularly Sep–May · 0.20% in Oct
Evening GrosbeakHesperiphona vespertinaResidentUncommon16–22 cmRecorded all year · 0.20% in Oct
Franklin's GullLeucophaeus pipixcanSummer visitorCommon32–36 cmRegularly Apr–Oct · 0.18% in Oct
Surf ScoterMelanitta perspicillataPassage migrantUncommon48–60 cmRegularly May–Nov · 0.18% in Oct
Golden EagleAquila chrysaetosWinter visitorUncommon66–102 cmRecorded all year · 0.17% in Oct
Lesser YellowlegsTringa flavipesSummer visitorCommon23–27 cmRegularly Apr–Oct · 0.17% in Oct
Western MeadowlarkSturnella neglectaSummer visitorCommon16–26 cmRegularly Mar–Oct · 0.17% in Oct
Common PheasantPhasianus colchicusResidentUncommon50–90 cmRecorded all year · 0.17% in Oct
Red-winged BlackbirdAgelaius phoeniceusSummer visitorCommon17–23 cmRegularly Apr–Oct · 0.16% in Oct
Cedar WaxwingBombycilla cedrorumSummer visitorCommon15–18 cmRegularly May–Oct · 0.14% in Oct
Snow BuntingPlectrophenax nivalisWinter visitorCommon15–18 cmRegularly Oct–Apr · 0.13% in Oct
Red CrossbillLoxia curvirostraResidentUncommon15–17 cmRecorded all year · 0.13% in Oct
Grey PloverPluvialis squatarolaSummer visitorUncommon27–30 cmRegularly May–Oct · 0.12% in Oct
Lincoln's SparrowMelospiza lincolniiSummer visitorCommon13–15 cmRegularly Apr–Oct · 0.11% in Oct
Greater ScaupAythya marilaWinter visitorUncommon39–56 cmRegularly Oct–May · 0.10% in Oct
Sandhill CraneAntigone canadensisSummer visitorUncommon80–122 cmRegularly Apr–Oct · 0.09% in Oct
Horned LarkEremophila alpestrisResidentUncommon16–20 cmRecorded all year · 0.09% in Oct
American Three-toed WoodpeckerPicoides dorsalisResidentUncommon21–24 cmRecorded all year · 0.09% in Oct
Varied ThrushIxoreus naeviusSummer visitorUncommon20–26 cmRecorded all year · 0.09% in Oct
Hermit ThrushCatharus guttatusSummer visitorUncommon14–18 cmRegularly Apr–Oct · 0.08% in Oct
Pectoral SandpiperCalidris melanotosPassage migrantUncommon19–23 cmRegularly May–Oct · 0.08% in Oct
Northern Saw-whet OwlAegolius acadicusWinter visitorUncommon17–21 cmRegularly Sep–Jun · 0.07% in Oct
Pacific LoonGavia pacificaPassage migrantUncommon58–74 cmRegularly Oct–Nov · 0.07% in Oct
Red-breasted MerganserMergus serratorWinter visitorUncommon52–58 cmRegularly Oct–May · 0.07% in Oct
Marsh WrenCistothorus palustrisSummer visitorUncommon10–14 cmRegularly Apr–Oct · 0.06% in Oct
Orange-crowned WarblerLeiothlypis celataSummer visitorCommon11–14 cmRegularly May–Oct · 0.06% in Oct
American AvocetRecurvirostra americanaSummer visitorCommon43–51 cmRegularly Apr–Oct · 0.06% in Oct
Ross's GooseAnser rossiiPassage migrantUncommon57–64 cmRegularly Sep–May · 0.05% in Oct
Red-throated LoonGavia stellataPassage migrantRare53–69 cmRegularly Oct · 0.05% in Oct
Lesser Black-backed GullLarus fuscusPassage migrantRare52–64 cmRegularly Aug–Apr · 0.05% in Oct
Mourning DoveZenaida macrouraSummer visitorCommon23–34 cmRegularly Apr–Oct · 0.04% in Oct
Swamp SparrowMelospiza georgianaSummer visitorUncommon12–15 cmRegularly May–Oct · 0.04% in Oct
Fox SparrowPasserella iliacaSummer visitorUncommon15–19 cmRegularly Apr–Jan · 0.04% in Oct
Mountain BluebirdSialia currucoidesSummer visitorUncommon15–18 cmRegularly Mar–Oct · 0.04% in Oct
OspreyPandion haliaetusSummer visitorCommon54–58 cmRegularly Apr–Oct · 0.04% in Oct
Long-tailed DuckClangula hyemalisPassage migrantUncommon37–60 cmRegularly Oct–Apr · 0.03% in Oct
Iceland GullLarus glaucoidesPassage migrantRare52–60 cmRegularly Oct–May · 0.03% in Oct
Palm WarblerSetophaga palmarumPassage migrantUncommon12–14 cmRegularly May–Oct · 0.03% in Oct
Black-backed WoodpeckerPicoides arcticusWinter visitorUncommon21–24 cmRecorded all year · 0.03% in Oct
Northern Pygmy-owlGlaucidium gnomaWinter visitorUncommon15–17 cmRegularly Sep–Apr · 0.02% in Oct
Peregrine FalconFalco peregrinusSummer visitorUncommon34–58 cmRegularly Mar–Oct · 0.02% in Oct
American Golden-PloverPluvialis dominicaPassage migrantUncommon24–28 cmRegularly May–Oct · 0.02% in Oct
Baird's SandpiperCalidris bairdiiPassage migrantUncommon14–17 cmRegularly May–Oct · 0.02% in Oct
Long-eared OwlAsio otusSummer visitorRare35–40 cmRegularly Feb–Dec · 0.02% in Oct
Black-crowned Night-heronNycticorax nycticoraxSummer visitorUncommon58–65 cmRegularly Apr–Oct · 0.02% in Oct
Glaucous GullLarus hyperboreusPassage migrantRare62–68 cmRegularly Oct–Apr · 0.02% in Oct
Stilt SandpiperCalidris himantopusPassage migrantUncommon18–23 cmRegularly May–Oct · 0.02% in Oct
Short-eared OwlAsio flammeusWinter visitorUncommon34–43 cmRecorded all year · 0.02% in Oct
Broad-winged HawkButeo platypterusSummer visitorUncommon34–44 cmRegularly Apr–Oct · 0.01% in Oct
Great White EgretArdea albaSummer visitorRare80–104 cmRegularly May–Oct · 0.01% in Oct
SanderlingCalidris albaSummer visitorUncommon18–20 cmRegularly May–Oct · 0.01% in Oct
Pacific WrenTroglodytes pacificusSummer visitorUncommon8–12 cmRegularly Apr–Oct · 0.01% in Oct
Barred OwlStrix variaResidentRare43–50 cmRecorded all year · 0.01% in Oct
DunlinCalidris alpinaPassage migrantRare16–22 cmRegularly Apr–Oct · 0.01% in Oct
Wild TurkeyMeleagris gallopavoWinter visitorRare100–125 cmRecorded all year · 0.01% in Oct
Sabine's GullXema sabiniPassage migrantRare27–33 cmRegularly May–Oct · 0.01% in Oct
American BitternBotaurus lentiginosusSummer visitorRare58–85 cmRegularly May–Oct · 0.01% in Oct
Nashville WarblerLeiothlypis ruficapillaSummer visitorRare11–13 cmRegularly May–Oct · 0.00% in Oct
Eastern Screech-owlMegascops asioPassage migrantRare16–25 cmRegularly Oct–Apr · 0.00% in Oct
Boreal OwlAegolius funereusPassage migrantRare21–28 cmRegularly Oct–Apr · 0.00% in Oct
ChukarAlectoris chukarSummer visitorRare32–38 cmRegularly Jan–Oct · 0.00% in Oct
Gray-cheeked ThrushCatharus minimusPassage migrantRare16–17 cmRegularly May–Oct · 0.00% in Oct
Black-throated Blue WarblerSetophaga caerulescensPassage migrantRare11–13 cmRegularly Sep–Oct · 0.00% 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