Birds to See in Nova Scotia in October
149 bird species on our list for Nova Scotia are recorded regularly in October
Of these, the most often recorded are American Crow, Blue Jay, Song Sparrow, American Herring Gull and Common Starling. New this month: Red-breasted Merganser, Long-tailed Duck, Greater Scaup and Red-throated Loon and 16 more.
On the move in October
GBIF · OctArriving
At their peak
From Nova Scotia’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 149 birds in October
149 birds
American CrowCorvus brachyrhynchosResidentCommon41–53 cmRecorded all year · 5.80% in Oct
Blue JayCyanocitta cristataResidentCommon25–30 cmRecorded all year · 4.95% in Oct
Song SparrowMelospiza melodiaResidentCommon12–17 cmRecorded all year · 4.62% in Oct
American Herring GullLarus smithsonianusResidentCommon53–65 cmRecorded all year · 4.06% in Oct
Common StarlingSturnus vulgarisResidentCommon21–23 cmRecorded all year · 3.17% in Oct
American RobinTurdus migratoriusSummer visitorCommon20–28 cmRecorded all year · 2.81% in Oct
American Black DuckAnas rubripesResidentCommon54–59 cmRecorded all year · 2.36% in Oct
MallardAnas platyrhynchosResidentCommon50–65 cmRecorded all year · 2.20% in Oct
Yellow-rumped WarblerSetophaga coronataSummer visitorCommon12–15 cmRegularly Apr–Dec · 2.07% in Oct
Mourning DoveZenaida macrouraResidentCommon23–34 cmRecorded all year · 1.99% in Oct
Common RavenCorvus coraxResidentCommon54–67 cmRecorded all year · 1.93% in Oct
Great Black-backed GullLarus marinusResidentCommon64–79 cmRecorded all year · 1.79% in Oct
Ring-billed GullLarus delawarensisWinter visitorCommon43–54 cmRecorded all year · 1.68% in Oct
Canada GooseBranta canadensisResidentCommon76–110 cmRecorded all year · 1.52% in Oct
Northern FlickerColaptes auratusResidentCommon28–31 cmRecorded all year · 1.51% in Oct
Bald EagleHaliaeetus leucocephalusResidentCommon70–102 cmRecorded all year · 1.43% in Oct
Rock DoveColumba liviaResidentCommon29–37 cmRecorded all year · 1.39% in Oct
Northern CardinalCardinalis cardinalisResidentCommon21–23 cmRecorded all year · 1.33% in Oct
Great Blue HeronArdea herodiasSummer visitorCommon91–137 cmRegularly Apr–Dec · 1.27% in Oct
EiderSomateria mollissimaResidentCommon50–71 cmRecorded all year · 1.05% in Oct
Greater YellowlegsTringa melanoleucaPassage migrantCommon29–40 cmRegularly Apr–Nov · 1.05% in Oct
Swamp SparrowMelospiza georgianaSummer visitorCommon12–15 cmRegularly Apr–Feb · 1.03% in Oct
Downy WoodpeckerDryobates pubescensResidentCommon14–18 cmRecorded all year · 1.01% in Oct
Common PheasantPhasianus colchicusResidentCommon50–90 cmRecorded all year · 1.01% in Oct
Hairy WoodpeckerLeuconotopicus villosusResidentCommon18–26 cmRecorded all year · 0.93% in Oct
White-breasted NuthatchSitta carolinensisResidentCommon13–14 cmRecorded all year · 0.92% in Oct
Eurasian TealAnas creccaWinter visitorCommon34–38 cmRecorded all year · 0.90% in Oct
Common LoonGavia immerResidentCommon66–91 cmRecorded all year · 0.76% in Oct
Common GrackleQuiscalus quisculaSummer visitorCommon28–34 cmRegularly Mar–Nov · 0.69% in Oct
Cedar WaxwingBombycilla cedrorumSummer visitorCommon15–18 cmRecorded all year · 0.69% in Oct
Grey PloverPluvialis squatarolaSummer visitorCommon27–30 cmRegularly May–Feb · 0.69% in Oct
Northern GannetMorus bassanusSummer visitorCommon87–100 cmRegularly Apr–Dec · 0.67% in Oct
Red-winged BlackbirdAgelaius phoeniceusSummer visitorCommon17–23 cmRegularly Feb–Dec · 0.59% in Oct
Pine SiskinSpinus pinusWinter visitorCommon11–14 cmRecorded all year · 0.54% in Oct
Semipalmated PloverCharadrius semipalmatusPassage migrantCommon17–19 cmRegularly Jul–Oct · 0.52% in Oct
Common YellowthroatGeothlypis trichasSummer visitorCommon11–13 cmRegularly May–Oct · 0.50% in Oct
Blackpoll WarblerSetophaga striataSummer visitorCommon13–15 cmRegularly May–Oct · 0.48% in Oct
Sharp-shinned HawkAccipiter striatusWinter visitorUncommon24–34 cmRecorded all year · 0.47% in Oct
Bonaparte's GullChroicocephalus philadelphiaWinter visitorCommon28–38 cmRegularly Jul–Mar · 0.47% in Oct
Red-tailed HawkButeo jamaicensisWinter visitorCommon45–65 cmRecorded all year · 0.45% in Oct
Ruby-crowned KingletCorthylio calendulaSummer visitorCommon9–11 cmRegularly Apr–Feb · 0.45% in Oct
Hermit ThrushCatharus guttatusSummer visitorCommon14–18 cmRegularly Apr–Nov · 0.45% in Oct
Surf ScoterMelanitta perspicillataWinter visitorCommon48–60 cmRecorded all year · 0.44% in Oct
Black GuillemotCepphus grylleResidentCommon30–32 cmRecorded all year · 0.44% in Oct
MerlinFalco columbariusWinter visitorCommon24–33 cmRecorded all year · 0.43% in Oct
Gray CatbirdDumetella carolinensisSummer visitorCommon20–24 cmRegularly May–Oct · 0.42% in Oct
Palm WarblerSetophaga palmarumSummer visitorCommon12–14 cmRegularly Apr–Nov · 0.41% in Oct
Turkey VultureCathartes auraResidentUncommon62–81 cmRecorded all year · 0.37% in Oct
Hooded MerganserLophodytes cucullatusWinter visitorCommon40–49 cmRecorded all year · 0.36% in Oct
Blue-headed VireoVireo solitariusSummer visitorCommon12–15 cmRegularly May–Oct · 0.31% in Oct
Pileated WoodpeckerDryocopus pileatusResidentUncommon40–49 cmRecorded all year · 0.31% in Oct
Semipalmated SandpiperCalidris pusillaPassage migrantCommon15–18 cmRegularly Jul–Oct · 0.30% in Oct
SanderlingCalidris albaWinter visitorCommon18–20 cmRegularly Jul–Feb · 0.30% in Oct
Chipping SparrowSpizella passerinaSummer visitorUncommon12–15 cmRecorded all year · 0.27% in Oct
Red-breasted MerganserMergus serratorWinter visitorCommon52–58 cmRegularly Oct–May · 0.27% in Oct
Red-throated LoonGavia stellataWinter visitorCommon53–69 cmRegularly Oct–Apr · 0.26% in Oct
DunlinCalidris alpinaWinter visitorUncommon16–22 cmRegularly Sep–May · 0.25% in Oct
Ruffed GrouseBonasa umbellusResidentCommon41–50 cmRecorded all year · 0.24% in Oct
White-crowned SparrowZonotrichia leucophrysWinter visitorUncommon15–16 cmRegularly Sep–May · 0.23% in Oct
Peregrine FalconFalco peregrinusWinter visitorUncommon34–58 cmRecorded all year · 0.23% in Oct
Wood DuckAix sponsaResidentUncommon47–54 cmRecorded all year · 0.22% in Oct
Common MerganserMergus merganserWinter visitorCommon58–68 cmRecorded all year · 0.21% in Oct
Lesser YellowlegsTringa flavipesPassage migrantCommon23–27 cmRegularly Jul–Oct · 0.21% in Oct
White-rumped SandpiperCalidris fuscicollisPassage migrantUncommon15–18 cmRegularly Jul–Nov · 0.20% in Oct
Northern PintailAnas acutaWinter visitorUncommon59–76 cmRegularly Aug–May · 0.20% in Oct
Great CormorantPhalacrocorax carboWinter visitorUncommon80–100 cmRecorded all year · 0.20% in Oct
Orange-crowned WarblerLeiothlypis celataWinter visitorUncommon11–14 cmRegularly Oct–Apr · 0.19% in Oct
GadwallMareca streperaResidentUncommon46–56 cmRecorded all year · 0.16% in Oct
Northern MockingbirdMimus polyglottosResidentUncommon21–26 cmRecorded all year · 0.15% in Oct
Pectoral SandpiperCalidris melanotosPassage migrantUncommon19–23 cmRegularly Jul–Nov · 0.15% in Oct
House SparrowPasser domesticusResidentUncommon14–17 cmRecorded all year · 0.14% in Oct
Baltimore OrioleIcterus galbulaResidentUncommon17–19 cmRecorded all year · 0.13% in Oct
American Golden-PloverPluvialis dominicaPassage migrantUncommon24–28 cmRegularly Aug–Nov · 0.12% in Oct
Lapland LongspurCalcarius lapponicusWinter visitorUncommon15–16 cmRegularly Sep–Mar · 0.12% in Oct
DickcisselSpiza americanaWinter visitorUncommon14–16 cmRegularly Aug–Feb · 0.12% in Oct
Horned LarkEremophila alpestrisWinter visitorUncommon16–20 cmRegularly Oct–Mar · 0.12% in Oct
Black-throated Green WarblerSetophaga virensSummer visitorCommon11–12 cmRegularly May–Oct · 0.12% in Oct
Yellow-bellied SapsuckerSphyrapicus variusSummer visitorCommon19–22 cmRegularly Apr–Oct · 0.12% in Oct
Pied-billed GrebePodilymbus podicepsSummer visitorUncommon31–38 cmRecorded all year · 0.11% in Oct
Horned GrebePodiceps auritusWinter visitorUncommon31–38 cmRegularly Sep–Apr · 0.11% in Oct
Lincoln's SparrowMelospiza lincolniiSummer visitorUncommon13–15 cmRecorded all year · 0.10% in Oct
Northern ShovelerSpatula clypeataResidentUncommon44–51 cmRecorded all year · 0.10% in Oct
Nashville WarblerLeiothlypis ruficapillaSummer visitorUncommon11–13 cmRegularly May–Nov · 0.09% in Oct
Ruddy TurnstoneArenaria interpresPassage migrantUncommon21–24 cmRegularly May–Oct · 0.09% in Oct
Lesser Black-backed GullLarus fuscusWinter visitorUncommon52–64 cmRecorded all year · 0.09% in Oct
Barred OwlStrix variaResidentUncommon43–50 cmRecorded all year · 0.08% in Oct
Red-necked GrebePodiceps grisegenaWinter visitorUncommon40–50 cmRegularly Sep–Apr · 0.08% in Oct
Long-tailed DuckClangula hyemalisWinter visitorCommon37–60 cmRegularly Oct–Apr · 0.08% in Oct
Greater ScaupAythya marilaWinter visitorCommon39–56 cmRegularly Oct–Apr · 0.08% in Oct
Clay-colored SparrowSpizella pallidaWinter visitorUncommon13–15 cmRegularly Sep–Apr · 0.07% in Oct
Common TernSterna hirundoSummer visitorCommon31–35 cmRegularly May–Oct · 0.07% in Oct
KittiwakeRissa tridactylaResidentUncommon37–41 cmRecorded all year · 0.07% in Oct
Red CrossbillLoxia curvirostraResidentUncommon15–17 cmRecorded all year · 0.06% in Oct
Hudsonian GodwitLimosa haemasticaPassage migrantUncommon36–42 cmRegularly Jul–Nov · 0.06% in Oct
Evening GrosbeakHesperiphona vespertinaResidentUncommon16–22 cmRegularly Oct–Jul · 0.06% in Oct
Cattle EgretArdea ibisPassage migrantUncommon46–56 cmRegularly Oct–May · 0.06% in Oct
Red KnotCalidris canutusWinter visitorUncommon23–26 cmRegularly Jul–Feb · 0.06% in Oct
OspreyPandion haliaetusSummer visitorCommon54–58 cmRegularly Apr–Oct · 0.06% in Oct
Red-bellied WoodpeckerMelanerpes carolinusWinter visitorUncommon23–26 cmRegularly Oct–Jul · 0.06% in Oct
Great White EgretArdea albaSummer visitorUncommon80–104 cmRegularly Apr–Jan · 0.06% in Oct
Black-headed GullChroicocephalus ridibundusWinter visitorUncommon38–44 cmRegularly Sep–Apr · 0.05% in Oct
BobolinkDolichonyx oryzivorusSummer visitorUncommon16–20 cmRegularly May–Oct · 0.05% in Oct
Snow BuntingPlectrophenax nivalisWinter visitorCommon15–18 cmRegularly Oct–Mar · 0.05% in Oct
Eastern BluebirdSialia sialisResidentUncommon16–21 cmRecorded all year · 0.04% in Oct
RazorbillAlca tordaResidentUncommon38–43 cmRecorded all year · 0.04% in Oct
Short-billed DowitcherLimnodromus griseusPassage migrantCommon23–32 cmRegularly Jul–Oct · 0.04% in Oct
WhimbrelNumenius phaeopusPassage migrantUncommon40–46 cmRegularly Jul–Oct · 0.04% in Oct
Broad-winged HawkButeo platypterusSummer visitorUncommon34–44 cmRegularly Apr–Feb · 0.04% in Oct
Great Horned OwlBubo virginianusResidentUncommon46–63 cmRecorded all year · 0.04% in Oct
Eurasian WigeonMareca penelopeWinter visitorUncommon42–51 cmRegularly Sep–Apr · 0.04% in Oct
Rose-breasted GrosbeakPheucticus ludovicianusSummer visitorUncommon18–22 cmRegularly Apr–Oct · 0.03% in Oct
Pink-footed GooseAnser brachyrhynchusWinter visitorRare60–75 cmRegularly Oct–Mar · 0.03% in Oct
Greater White-fronted GooseAnser albifronsPassage migrantRare64–81 cmRegularly Oct–Apr · 0.03% in Oct
Cape May WarblerSetophaga tigrinaSummer visitorUncommon12–14 cmRegularly May–Oct · 0.03% in Oct
Ruddy DuckOxyura jamaicensisWinter visitorUncommon35–43 cmRegularly Oct–Jun · 0.03% in Oct
Solitary SandpiperTringa solitariaPassage migrantUncommon19–23 cmRegularly Jul–Oct · 0.03% in Oct
Swainson's ThrushCatharus ustulatusSummer visitorUncommon16–20 cmRegularly May–Oct · 0.03% in Oct
Great ShearwaterArdenna gravisPassage migrantUncommon43–51 cmRegularly Jun–Nov · 0.03% in Oct
Lark SparrowChondestes grammacusPassage migrantRare15–17 cmRegularly Aug–Jan · 0.03% in Oct
Black-throated Blue WarblerSetophaga caerulescensSummer visitorUncommon11–13 cmRegularly May–Oct · 0.03% in Oct
Scarlet TanagerPiranga olivaceaSummer visitorRare16–19 cmRegularly Apr–Oct · 0.03% in Oct
Fox SparrowPasserella iliacaWinter visitorUncommon15–19 cmRegularly Oct–Jul · 0.02% in Oct
Marsh WrenCistothorus palustrisResidentRare10–14 cmRegularly Sep–Jul · 0.02% in Oct
Western KingbirdTyrannus verticalisPassage migrantRare20–24 cmRegularly Sep–Nov · 0.02% in Oct
Sandhill CraneAntigone canadensisSummer visitorRare80–122 cmRegularly Mar–Dec · 0.02% in Oct
Snow GooseAnser caerulescensWinter visitorRare69–84 cmRegularly Sep–May · 0.02% in Oct
Tennessee WarblerLeiothlypis peregrinaSummer visitorUncommon10–13 cmRegularly May–Oct · 0.02% in Oct
Leach's Storm-petrelHydrobates leucorhousSummer visitorUncommon18–21 cmRegularly May–Oct · 0.02% in Oct
Pomarine JaegerStercorarius pomarinusPassage migrantUncommon46–51 cmRegularly Jul–Dec · 0.01% in Oct
Cackling GooseBranta hutchinsiiPassage migrantRare53–76 cmRegularly Oct–Dec · 0.01% in Oct
FulmarFulmarus glacialisSummer visitorRare45–50 cmRegularly May–Nov · 0.01% in Oct
Brent GooseBranta berniclaPassage migrantUncommon55–66 cmRegularly Oct–May · 0.01% in Oct
Philadelphia VireoVireo philadelphicusSummer visitorUncommon11–13 cmRegularly May–Oct · 0.01% in Oct
American BitternBotaurus lentiginosusSummer visitorUncommon58–85 cmRegularly Apr–Nov · 0.01% in Oct
Arctic JaegerStercorarius parasiticusSummer visitorRare41–46 cmRegularly May–Dec · 0.01% in Oct
Gray-cheeked ThrushCatharus minimusPassage migrantRare16–17 cmRegularly Oct · 0.01% in Oct
Long-billed DowitcherLimnodromus scolopaceusPassage migrantRare27–30 cmRegularly Sep–Dec · 0.01% in Oct
House FinchHaemorhous mexicanusResidentRare13–15 cmRecorded all year · 0.01% in Oct
Atlantic PuffinFratercula arcticaSummer visitorUncommon28–34 cmRegularly May–Dec · 0.01% in Oct
Rough-legged HawkButeo lagopusWinter visitorUncommon46–59 cmRegularly Oct–Apr · 0.01% in Oct
Stilt SandpiperCalidris himantopusPassage migrantRare18–23 cmRegularly Jul–Oct · 0.01% in Oct
Baird's SandpiperCalidris bairdiiPassage migrantRare14–17 cmRegularly Aug–Oct · 0.01% in Oct
Northern Saw-whet OwlAegolius acadicusWinter visitorUncommon17–21 cmRegularly Sep–Jul · 0.01% in Oct
Barnacle GooseBranta leucopsisPassage migrantRare58–70 cmRegularly Oct–Jan · 0.01% in Oct
Red-headed WoodpeckerMelanerpes erythrocephalusPassage migrantRare19–23 cmRegularly Oct · 0.01% in Oct
Black-backed WoodpeckerPicoides arcticusResidentRare21–24 cmRecorded all year · 0.01% in Oct
Red-necked PhalaropePhalaropus lobatusPassage migrantUncommon18–19 cmRegularly Apr–Oct · 0.01% in Oct
Sooty ShearwaterArdenna griseaSummer visitorUncommon40–51 cmRegularly May–Oct · 0.01% in Oct
Black-billed CuckooCoccyzus erythropthalmusSummer visitorRare28–32 cmRegularly May–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