Birds to See in British Columbia in October
147 bird species on our list for British Columbia are recorded regularly in October
Of these, the most often recorded are Song Sparrow, Northern Flicker, American Crow, American Robin and Mallard. New this month: Goldeneye, Red-breasted Merganser, Eurasian Wigeon and Bohemian Waxwing and 8 more.
On the move in October
GBIF · OctArriving
At their peak
Red-necked GrebeBusiest month of the year · All year
Snow GooseBusiest month of the year · Sep–May
Cackling GooseBusiest month of the year · Sep–May
Bonaparte's GullBusiest month of the year · All year
Pacific LoonBusiest month of the year · All year
American Herring GullBusiest month of the year · All year
From British Columbia’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 147 birds in October
147 birds
Song SparrowMelospiza melodiaResidentCommon12–17 cmRecorded all year · 3.27% in Oct
Northern FlickerColaptes auratusResidentCommon28–31 cmRecorded all year · 3.19% in Oct
American CrowCorvus brachyrhynchosResidentCommon41–53 cmRecorded all year · 3.11% in Oct
American RobinTurdus migratoriusResidentCommon20–28 cmRecorded all year · 2.74% in Oct
MallardAnas platyrhynchosResidentCommon50–65 cmRecorded all year · 2.51% in Oct
Common RavenCorvus coraxResidentCommon54–67 cmRecorded all year · 2.27% in Oct
Canada GooseBranta canadensisResidentCommon76–110 cmRecorded all year · 2.06% in Oct
House FinchHaemorhous mexicanusResidentCommon13–15 cmRecorded all year · 1.83% in Oct
Bald EagleHaliaeetus leucocephalusResidentCommon70–102 cmRecorded all year · 1.81% in Oct
Common StarlingSturnus vulgarisResidentCommon21–23 cmRecorded all year · 1.69% in Oct
Great Blue HeronArdea herodiasResidentCommon91–137 cmRecorded all year · 1.64% in Oct
White-crowned SparrowZonotrichia leucophrysResidentCommon15–16 cmRecorded all year · 1.33% in Oct
Ruby-crowned KingletCorthylio calendulaResidentCommon9–11 cmRecorded all year · 1.24% in Oct
Fox SparrowPasserella iliacaWinter visitorCommon15–19 cmRegularly Sep–Jul · 1.10% in Oct
Yellow-rumped WarblerSetophaga coronataSummer visitorCommon12–15 cmRegularly Mar–Dec · 1.08% in Oct
Red-winged BlackbirdAgelaius phoeniceusResidentCommon17–23 cmRecorded all year · 1.03% in Oct
Eurasian TealAnas creccaWinter visitorCommon34–38 cmRecorded all year · 1.00% in Oct
Pacific WrenTroglodytes pacificusResidentCommon8–12 cmRecorded all year · 0.98% in Oct
Pine SiskinSpinus pinusResidentCommon11–14 cmRecorded all year · 0.93% in Oct
Downy WoodpeckerDryobates pubescensResidentCommon14–18 cmRecorded all year · 0.92% in Oct
House SparrowPasser domesticusResidentCommon14–17 cmRecorded all year · 0.86% in Oct
Common LoonGavia immerResidentCommon66–91 cmRecorded all year · 0.81% in Oct
Rock DoveColumba liviaResidentCommon29–37 cmRecorded all year · 0.76% in Oct
Red-tailed HawkButeo jamaicensisResidentCommon45–65 cmRecorded all year · 0.76% in Oct
Horned GrebePodiceps auritusWinter visitorCommon31–38 cmRegularly Aug–May · 0.74% in Oct
Ring-billed GullLarus delawarensisResidentCommon43–54 cmRecorded all year · 0.73% in Oct
Varied ThrushIxoreus naeviusWinter visitorCommon20–26 cmRecorded all year · 0.72% in Oct
Northern PintailAnas acutaWinter visitorCommon59–76 cmRegularly Aug–Jun · 0.70% in Oct- Red-necked GrebePodiceps grisegenaWinter visitorCommon40–50 cmRecorded all year · 0.69% in Oct
Surf ScoterMelanitta perspicillataWinter visitorCommon48–60 cmRecorded all year · 0.68% in Oct
Common MerganserMergus merganserResidentCommon58–68 cmRecorded all year · 0.62% in Oct
Hooded MerganserLophodytes cucullatusWinter visitorCommon40–49 cmRecorded all year · 0.59% in Oct
Northern ShovelerSpatula clypeataResidentCommon44–51 cmRecorded all year · 0.58% in Oct
Pied-billed GrebePodilymbus podicepsResidentCommon31–38 cmRecorded all year · 0.57% in Oct- Snow GooseAnser caerulescensWinter visitorCommon69–84 cmRegularly Sep–May · 0.56% in Oct
- Cackling GooseBranta hutchinsiiWinter visitorCommon53–76 cmRegularly Sep–May · 0.52% in Oct
Eurasian Collared DoveStreptopelia decaoctoResidentCommon30–32 cmRecorded all year · 0.48% in Oct
GadwallMareca streperaResidentCommon46–56 cmRecorded all year · 0.47% in Oct
Pileated WoodpeckerDryocopus pileatusResidentCommon40–49 cmRecorded all year · 0.46% in Oct
Hairy WoodpeckerLeuconotopicus villosusResidentCommon18–26 cmRecorded all year · 0.46% in Oct
Wood DuckAix sponsaResidentCommon47–54 cmRecorded all year · 0.44% in Oct
Lincoln's SparrowMelospiza lincolniiSummer visitorCommon13–15 cmRegularly Apr–Feb · 0.42% in Oct
MerlinFalco columbariusResidentUncommon24–33 cmRecorded all year · 0.38% in Oct- Bonaparte's GullChroicocephalus philadelphiaSummer visitorUncommon28–38 cmRecorded all year · 0.38% in Oct
Cedar WaxwingBombycilla cedrorumSummer visitorCommon15–18 cmRegularly May–Dec · 0.37% in Oct
Marsh WrenCistothorus palustrisResidentUncommon10–14 cmRecorded all year · 0.37% in Oct- Pacific LoonGavia pacificaWinter visitorUncommon58–74 cmRecorded all year · 0.34% in Oct
Turkey VultureCathartes auraSummer visitorCommon62–81 cmRecorded all year · 0.33% in Oct
Red CrossbillLoxia curvirostraResidentCommon15–17 cmRecorded all year · 0.31% in Oct
Greater YellowlegsTringa melanoleucaSummer visitorCommon29–40 cmRecorded all year · 0.27% in Oct
Hermit ThrushCatharus guttatusSummer visitorUncommon14–18 cmRecorded all year · 0.26% in Oct
Sharp-shinned HawkAccipiter striatusWinter visitorUncommon24–34 cmRecorded all year · 0.25% in Oct- American Herring GullLarus smithsonianusWinter visitorUncommon53–65 cmRecorded all year · 0.24% in Oct
Long-billed DowitcherLimnodromus scolopaceusWinter visitorUncommon27–30 cmRegularly Jul–May · 0.24% in Oct
Iceland GullLarus glaucoidesWinter visitorUncommon52–60 cmRegularly Sep–Apr · 0.23% in Oct
Greater ScaupAythya marilaWinter visitorUncommon39–56 cmRecorded all year · 0.23% in Oct
Trumpeter SwanCygnus buccinatorWinter visitorCommon139–157 cmRecorded all year · 0.23% in Oct
Greater White-fronted GooseAnser albifronsWinter visitorUncommon64–81 cmRegularly Sep–May · 0.21% in Oct
DunlinCalidris alpinaWinter visitorUncommon16–22 cmRegularly Aug–May · 0.21% in Oct
Red-breasted MerganserMergus serratorWinter visitorCommon52–58 cmRegularly Oct–May · 0.21% in Oct
Grey PloverPluvialis squatarolaWinter visitorUncommon27–30 cmRecorded all year · 0.20% in Oct
Orange-crowned WarblerLeiothlypis celataSummer visitorCommon11–14 cmRegularly Apr–Oct · 0.19% in Oct
Peregrine FalconFalco peregrinusResidentUncommon34–58 cmRecorded all year · 0.18% in Oct
Virginia RailRallus limicolaResidentUncommon20–27 cmRecorded all year · 0.17% in Oct
Red-breasted SapsuckerSphyrapicus ruberResidentUncommon19–22 cmRecorded all year · 0.15% in Oct
Barred OwlStrix variaResidentUncommon43–50 cmRecorded all year · 0.15% in Oct
Western MeadowlarkSturnella neglectaSummer visitorUncommon16–26 cmRecorded all year · 0.15% in Oct
Ruddy DuckOxyura jamaicensisResidentUncommon35–43 cmRecorded all year · 0.15% in Oct
Common YellowthroatGeothlypis trichasSummer visitorCommon11–13 cmRegularly Apr–Oct · 0.13% in Oct
Evening GrosbeakHesperiphona vespertinaResidentUncommon16–22 cmRecorded all year · 0.12% in Oct
Great Horned OwlBubo virginianusResidentUncommon46–63 cmRecorded all year · 0.12% in Oct
Sandhill CraneAntigone canadensisResidentUncommon80–122 cmRecorded all year · 0.12% in Oct
Ruffed GrouseBonasa umbellusResidentUncommon41–50 cmRecorded all year · 0.11% in Oct
GoldeneyeBucephala clangulaWinter visitorCommon40–51 cmRegularly Aug–May · 0.11% in Oct
Mourning DoveZenaida macrouraResidentUncommon23–34 cmRecorded all year · 0.11% in Oct
Eurasian WigeonMareca penelopeWinter visitorUncommon42–51 cmRegularly Oct–Apr · 0.11% in Oct
Common PheasantPhasianus colchicusResidentUncommon50–90 cmRecorded all year · 0.09% in Oct
Blue JayCyanocitta cristataResidentUncommon25–30 cmRecorded all year · 0.09% in Oct
Lapland LongspurCalcarius lapponicusPassage migrantUncommon15–16 cmRegularly Sep–May · 0.09% in Oct
Red-throated LoonGavia stellataWinter visitorUncommon53–69 cmRecorded all year · 0.09% in Oct
Western SandpiperCalidris mauriPassage migrantCommon14–17 cmRegularly Apr–Oct · 0.08% in Oct
OspreyPandion haliaetusSummer visitorCommon54–58 cmRegularly Apr–Oct · 0.07% in Oct
Long-tailed DuckClangula hyemalisWinter visitorUncommon37–60 cmRegularly Oct–May · 0.06% in Oct
Pectoral SandpiperCalidris melanotosPassage migrantUncommon19–23 cmRegularly May–Oct · 0.06% in Oct
Rough-legged HawkButeo lagopusWinter visitorUncommon46–59 cmRegularly Oct–Apr · 0.06% in Oct
Snow BuntingPlectrophenax nivalisWinter visitorUncommon15–18 cmRegularly Oct–Apr · 0.05% in Oct
Northern Pygmy-owlGlaucidium gnomaWinter visitorUncommon15–17 cmRecorded all year · 0.05% in Oct
American Tree SparrowSpizelloides arboreaWinter visitorUncommon14–17 cmRegularly Sep–Jul · 0.05% in Oct
White-breasted NuthatchSitta carolinensisResidentUncommon13–14 cmRecorded all year · 0.05% in Oct
Mute SwanCygnus olorResidentUncommon140–160 cmRecorded all year · 0.04% in Oct
Mountain BluebirdSialia currucoidesSummer visitorUncommon15–18 cmRegularly Jan–Nov · 0.04% in Oct
Northern Saw-whet OwlAegolius acadicusWinter visitorUncommon17–21 cmRegularly Aug–Jun · 0.04% in Oct
Marbled GodwitLimosa fedoaResidentRare40–50 cmRecorded all year · 0.04% in Oct
Lesser YellowlegsTringa flavipesSummer visitorUncommon23–27 cmRegularly Apr–Oct · 0.04% in Oct
Horned LarkEremophila alpestrisSummer visitorUncommon16–20 cmRegularly Mar–Nov · 0.04% in Oct
SanderlingCalidris albaWinter visitorUncommon18–20 cmRegularly Jul–May · 0.04% in Oct
Bohemian WaxwingBombycilla garrulusWinter visitorUncommon19–23 cmRegularly Oct–Mar · 0.03% in Oct
Golden EagleAquila chrysaetosResidentUncommon66–102 cmRecorded all year · 0.03% in Oct
Black-necked GrebePodiceps nigricollisResidentUncommon28–34 cmRecorded all year · 0.03% in Oct
Tundra SwanCygnus columbianusWinter visitorUncommon120–150 cmRegularly Oct–May · 0.03% in Oct
Short-eared OwlAsio flammeusWinter visitorUncommon34–43 cmRegularly Oct–Apr · 0.03% in Oct
Wild TurkeyMeleagris gallopavoResidentRare100–125 cmRecorded all year · 0.03% in Oct
KittiwakeRissa tridactylaPassage migrantRare37–41 cmRegularly Jul–Apr · 0.03% in Oct
Arctic JaegerStercorarius parasiticusPassage migrantUncommon41–46 cmRegularly May–Nov · 0.03% in Oct
Swamp SparrowMelospiza georgianaResidentRare12–15 cmRecorded all year · 0.03% in Oct
Common RedpollAcanthis flammeaWinter visitorUncommon12–14 cmRegularly Oct–Apr · 0.03% in Oct
Short-billed DowitcherLimnodromus griseusPassage migrantUncommon23–32 cmRegularly Apr–Oct · 0.03% in Oct
Black-crowned Night-heronNycticorax nycticoraxWinter visitorUncommon58–65 cmRegularly Aug–Mar · 0.02% in Oct
American AvocetRecurvirostra americanaSummer visitorRare43–51 cmRegularly Apr–Dec · 0.02% in Oct
Brent GooseBranta berniclaWinter visitorUncommon55–66 cmRegularly Oct–May · 0.02% in Oct
American Three-toed WoodpeckerPicoides dorsalisResidentRare21–24 cmRecorded all year · 0.02% in Oct
WhimbrelNumenius phaeopusSummer visitorUncommon40–46 cmRegularly Mar–Jan · 0.02% in Oct
American Golden-PloverPluvialis dominicaPassage migrantRare24–28 cmRegularly Aug–Oct · 0.02% in Oct
Sooty ShearwaterArdenna griseaSummer visitorUncommon40–51 cmRegularly May–Nov · 0.02% in Oct
Red-necked PhalaropePhalaropus lobatusPassage migrantUncommon18–19 cmRegularly May–Oct · 0.01% in Oct
American BitternBotaurus lentiginosusResidentRare58–85 cmRecorded all year · 0.01% in Oct
Broad-winged HawkButeo platypterusSummer visitorRare34–44 cmRegularly May–Oct · 0.01% in Oct
FulmarFulmarus glacialisSummer visitorRare45–50 cmRegularly Mar–Dec · 0.01% in Oct
ChukarAlectoris chukarResidentRare32–38 cmRecorded all year · 0.01% in Oct
Pomarine JaegerStercorarius pomarinusPassage migrantRare46–51 cmRegularly Jul–Oct · 0.01% in Oct
Great White EgretArdea albaPassage migrantRare80–104 cmRegularly Apr–Jan · 0.01% in Oct
WilletTringa semipalmataPassage migrantRare33–41 cmRegularly Jun–Apr · 0.01% in Oct
Sabine's GullXema sabiniPassage migrantRare27–33 cmRegularly May–Oct · 0.01% in Oct
Palm WarblerSetophaga palmarumSummer visitorRare12–14 cmRegularly May–Dec · 0.01% in Oct
Franklin's GullLeucophaeus pipixcanSummer visitorRare32–36 cmRegularly May–Nov · 0.01% in Oct
Bar-tailed GodwitLimosa lapponicaPassage migrantRare37–41 cmRegularly May–Oct · 0.01% in Oct
Pacific Golden-PloverPluvialis fulvaSummer visitorRare23–26 cmRegularly Apr–Oct · 0.01% in Oct
Red KnotCalidris canutusSummer visitorRare23–26 cmRegularly May–Feb · 0.01% in Oct
Western Screech-owlMegascops kennicottiiResidentRare19–25 cmRecorded all year · 0.01% in Oct
Black-backed WoodpeckerPicoides arcticusResidentRare21–24 cmRecorded all year · 0.01% in Oct
Northern MockingbirdMimus polyglottosSummer visitorRare21–26 cmRegularly Sep–Jul · 0.01% in Oct
Ruddy TurnstoneArenaria interpresSummer visitorRare21–24 cmRegularly Apr–Oct · 0.01% in Oct
Sharp-tailed SandpiperCalidris acuminataPassage migrantRare17–22 cmRegularly Sep–Nov · 0.00% in Oct
Indian PeafowlPavo cristatusResidentRare86–230 cmRecorded all year · 0.00% in Oct
Mandarin DuckAix galericulataWinter visitorRare41–49 cmRegularly Aug–Jun · 0.00% in Oct
Lewis's WoodpeckerMelanerpes lewisSummer visitorUncommon26–28 cmRegularly May–Oct · 0.00% in Oct
Leach's Storm-petrelHydrobates leucorhousSummer visitorRare18–21 cmRegularly May–Nov · 0.00% in Oct
Glaucous GullLarus hyperboreusWinter visitorRare62–68 cmRegularly Oct–Apr · 0.00% in Oct
RuffCalidris pugnaxPassage migrantRare20–32 cmRegularly Sep–Oct · 0.00% in Oct
Lesser Black-backed GullLarus fuscusPassage migrantRare52–64 cmRegularly Sep–Nov · 0.00% in Oct
Muscovy DuckCairina moschataResidentRare66–84 cmRecorded all year · 0.00% in Oct
Common TernSterna hirundoSummer visitorRare31–35 cmRegularly Apr–Oct · 0.00% in Oct
Grey PhalaropePhalaropus fulicariusPassage migrantRare20–22 cmRegularly May–Jan · 0.00% in Oct
Common GrackleQuiscalus quisculaSummer visitorRare28–34 cmRegularly Apr–Feb · 0.00% in Oct
Boreal OwlAegolius funereusSummer visitorRare21–28 cmRegularly Sep–Jul · 0.00% in Oct
Grey PartridgePerdix perdixSummer visitorRare28–32 cmRegularly Mar–Dec · 0.00% in Oct
American Black DuckAnas rubripesWinter visitorRare54–59 cmRegularly Sep–Feb · 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