Birds to See in Ontario in October
162 bird species on our list for Ontario are recorded regularly in October
Of these, the most often recorded are Blue Jay, American Crow, Canada Goose, American Robin and Ring-billed Gull. New this month: American Tree Sparrow, Goldeneye, Long-tailed Duck and Snow Bunting and 18 more.
On the move in October
GBIF · OctArriving
At their peak
Yellow-rumped WarblerBusiest month of the year · Apr–Nov
Ruby-crowned KingletBusiest month of the year · Apr–Jun
White-crowned SparrowBusiest month of the year · Apr–May
Hermit ThrushBusiest month of the year · Apr–Feb
Eurasian TealBusiest month of the year · All year
Pied-billed GrebeBusiest month of the year · All year
From Ontario’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 162 birds in October
162 birds
Blue JayCyanocitta cristataResidentCommon25–30 cmRecorded all year · 4.31% in Oct
American CrowCorvus brachyrhynchosResidentCommon41–53 cmRecorded all year · 3.37% in Oct
Canada GooseBranta canadensisResidentCommon76–110 cmRecorded all year · 3.19% in Oct
American RobinTurdus migratoriusResidentCommon20–28 cmRecorded all year · 3.08% in Oct
Ring-billed GullLarus delawarensisResidentCommon43–54 cmRecorded all year · 3.01% in Oct
MallardAnas platyrhynchosResidentCommon50–65 cmRecorded all year · 2.66% in Oct
Northern CardinalCardinalis cardinalisResidentCommon21–23 cmRecorded all year · 2.38% in Oct
Song SparrowMelospiza melodiaSummer visitorCommon12–17 cmRecorded all year · 2.22% in Oct
Common StarlingSturnus vulgarisResidentCommon21–23 cmRecorded all year · 2.07% in Oct
Downy WoodpeckerDryobates pubescensResidentCommon14–18 cmRecorded all year · 2.04% in Oct
White-breasted NuthatchSitta carolinensisWinter visitorCommon13–14 cmRecorded all year · 1.96% in Oct
Red-winged BlackbirdAgelaius phoeniceusSummer visitorCommon17–23 cmRegularly Feb–Nov · 1.82% in Oct
Mourning DoveZenaida macrouraResidentCommon23–34 cmRecorded all year · 1.79% in Oct- Yellow-rumped WarblerSetophaga coronataSummer visitorCommon12–15 cmRegularly Apr–Nov · 1.78% in Oct
- Ruby-crowned KingletCorthylio calendulaPassage migrantCommon9–11 cmRegularly Apr–Nov · 1.77% in Oct
Turkey VultureCathartes auraSummer visitorCommon62–81 cmRegularly Feb–Dec · 1.57% in Oct
American Herring GullLarus smithsonianusWinter visitorCommon53–65 cmRecorded all year · 1.34% in Oct- White-crowned SparrowZonotrichia leucophrysWinter visitorCommon15–16 cmRegularly Sep–May · 1.28% in Oct
Great Blue HeronArdea herodiasSummer visitorCommon91–137 cmRecorded all year · 1.20% in Oct
House SparrowPasser domesticusResidentCommon14–17 cmRecorded all year · 1.16% in Oct
Hairy WoodpeckerLeuconotopicus villosusResidentCommon18–26 cmRecorded all year · 1.13% in Oct
Common RavenCorvus coraxResidentCommon54–67 cmRecorded all year · 1.09% in Oct
Common GrackleQuiscalus quisculaSummer visitorCommon28–34 cmRegularly Feb–Nov · 1.07% in Oct
Red-tailed HawkButeo jamaicensisWinter visitorCommon45–65 cmRecorded all year · 0.93% in Oct
Rock DoveColumba liviaResidentCommon29–37 cmRecorded all year · 0.91% in Oct
Red-bellied WoodpeckerMelanerpes carolinusResidentCommon23–26 cmRecorded all year · 0.87% in Oct- Hermit ThrushCatharus guttatusSummer visitorCommon14–18 cmRegularly Apr–Feb · 0.84% in Oct
Northern FlickerColaptes auratusSummer visitorCommon28–31 cmRecorded all year · 0.81% in Oct
House FinchHaemorhous mexicanusResidentCommon13–15 cmRecorded all year · 0.78% in Oct
Wood DuckAix sponsaSummer visitorCommon47–54 cmRecorded all year · 0.72% in Oct- Eurasian TealAnas creccaWinter visitorCommon34–38 cmRecorded all year · 0.70% in Oct
Swamp SparrowMelospiza georgianaSummer visitorCommon12–15 cmRegularly Apr–Feb · 0.68% in Oct
Bald EagleHaliaeetus leucocephalusWinter visitorCommon70–102 cmRecorded all year · 0.64% in Oct
American Black DuckAnas rubripesWinter visitorCommon54–59 cmRecorded all year · 0.62% in Oct
Cedar WaxwingBombycilla cedrorumSummer visitorCommon15–18 cmRecorded all year · 0.61% in Oct
Mute SwanCygnus olorResidentCommon140–160 cmRecorded all year · 0.61% in Oct
Common MerganserMergus merganserWinter visitorCommon58–68 cmRecorded all year · 0.61% in Oct
Common LoonGavia immerSummer visitorCommon66–91 cmRegularly Mar–Jan · 0.54% in Oct
Chipping SparrowSpizella passerinaSummer visitorCommon12–15 cmRegularly Apr–Oct · 0.47% in Oct
Hooded MerganserLophodytes cucullatusWinter visitorCommon40–49 cmRecorded all year · 0.46% in Oct
GadwallMareca streperaWinter visitorCommon46–56 cmRecorded all year · 0.45% in Oct
Red-breasted MerganserMergus serratorWinter visitorCommon52–58 cmRegularly Sep–May · 0.42% in Oct
American Tree SparrowSpizelloides arboreaWinter visitorCommon14–17 cmRegularly Oct–Apr · 0.41% in Oct
Great White EgretArdea albaSummer visitorCommon80–104 cmRegularly Apr–Nov · 0.41% in Oct
Sharp-shinned HawkAccipiter striatusWinter visitorUncommon24–34 cmRecorded all year · 0.41% in Oct
MerlinFalco columbariusResidentCommon24–33 cmRecorded all year · 0.39% in Oct
Pileated WoodpeckerDryocopus pileatusResidentCommon40–49 cmRecorded all year · 0.39% in Oct- Pied-billed GrebePodilymbus podicepsSummer visitorUncommon31–38 cmRecorded all year · 0.39% in Oct
Greater YellowlegsTringa melanoleucaSummer visitorUncommon29–40 cmRegularly Apr–Nov · 0.38% in Oct
Pine SiskinSpinus pinusWinter visitorCommon11–14 cmRecorded all year · 0.36% in Oct
Gray CatbirdDumetella carolinensisSummer visitorCommon20–24 cmRegularly May–Oct · 0.36% in Oct
Bonaparte's GullChroicocephalus philadelphiaSummer visitorCommon28–38 cmRegularly Mar–Jan · 0.35% in Oct
Palm WarblerSetophaga palmarumPassage migrantCommon12–14 cmRegularly Apr–Oct · 0.35% in Oct
Yellow-bellied SapsuckerSphyrapicus variusSummer visitorCommon19–22 cmRegularly Apr–Jan · 0.34% in Oct
Trumpeter SwanCygnus buccinatorResidentCommon139–157 cmRecorded all year · 0.33% in Oct
Northern ShovelerSpatula clypeataWinter visitorUncommon44–51 cmRegularly Aug–Jun · 0.30% in Oct
GoldeneyeBucephala clangulaWinter visitorCommon40–51 cmRegularly Oct–Apr · 0.29% in Oct
Eastern BluebirdSialia sialisResidentUncommon16–21 cmRecorded all year · 0.28% in Oct
Greater ScaupAythya marilaWinter visitorCommon39–56 cmRegularly Sep–May · 0.28% in Oct
Blue-headed VireoVireo solitariusSummer visitorUncommon12–15 cmRegularly Apr–Oct · 0.27% in Oct
Fox SparrowPasserella iliacaWinter visitorUncommon15–19 cmRegularly Oct–Jun · 0.25% in Oct
Northern PintailAnas acutaWinter visitorUncommon59–76 cmRegularly Aug–May · 0.24% in Oct
Great Black-backed GullLarus marinusWinter visitorCommon64–79 cmRegularly Aug–May · 0.23% in Oct
Sandhill CraneAntigone canadensisResidentUncommon80–122 cmRecorded all year · 0.22% in Oct
Nashville WarblerLeiothlypis ruficapillaSummer visitorCommon11–13 cmRegularly Apr–Oct · 0.22% in Oct
Ruffed GrouseBonasa umbellusResidentUncommon41–50 cmRecorded all year · 0.21% in Oct
Wild TurkeyMeleagris gallopavoResidentCommon100–125 cmRecorded all year · 0.21% in Oct
Ruddy DuckOxyura jamaicensisWinter visitorUncommon35–43 cmRecorded all year · 0.20% in Oct
Horned LarkEremophila alpestrisWinter visitorCommon16–20 cmRecorded all year · 0.20% in Oct
Lesser YellowlegsTringa flavipesPassage migrantCommon23–27 cmRegularly Apr–Oct · 0.19% in Oct
Peregrine FalconFalco peregrinusWinter visitorUncommon34–58 cmRecorded all year · 0.19% in Oct
Horned GrebePodiceps auritusWinter visitorUncommon31–38 cmRegularly Sep–May · 0.18% in Oct
Red-necked GrebePodiceps grisegenaSummer visitorUncommon40–50 cmRecorded all year · 0.18% in Oct
DunlinCalidris alpinaPassage migrantUncommon16–22 cmRegularly Apr–Dec · 0.17% in Oct
Pectoral SandpiperCalidris melanotosPassage migrantUncommon19–23 cmRegularly Apr–Nov · 0.16% in Oct
Long-tailed DuckClangula hyemalisWinter visitorCommon37–60 cmRegularly Oct–May · 0.16% in Oct
Surf ScoterMelanitta perspicillataWinter visitorUncommon48–60 cmRegularly Oct–May · 0.16% in Oct
Evening GrosbeakHesperiphona vespertinaWinter visitorUncommon16–22 cmRegularly Aug–May · 0.15% in Oct
Lincoln's SparrowMelospiza lincolniiSummer visitorUncommon13–15 cmRegularly May–Oct · 0.14% in Oct
Common YellowthroatGeothlypis trichasSummer visitorCommon11–13 cmRegularly May–Oct · 0.14% in Oct
Orange-crowned WarblerLeiothlypis celataSummer visitorUncommon11–14 cmRegularly May–Jan · 0.14% in Oct
Swainson's ThrushCatharus ustulatusSummer visitorCommon16–20 cmRegularly May–Oct · 0.13% in Oct
Snow BuntingPlectrophenax nivalisWinter visitorCommon15–18 cmRegularly Oct–Apr · 0.12% in Oct
Grey PloverPluvialis squatarolaPassage migrantUncommon27–30 cmRegularly Apr–Nov · 0.11% in Oct
Cackling GooseBranta hutchinsiiWinter visitorUncommon53–76 cmRegularly Sep–Apr · 0.11% in Oct
Tennessee WarblerLeiothlypis peregrinaSummer visitorUncommon10–13 cmRegularly May–Oct · 0.10% in Oct
Black-throated Green WarblerSetophaga virensSummer visitorCommon11–12 cmRegularly Apr–Oct · 0.09% in Oct
Black-throated Blue WarblerSetophaga caerulescensSummer visitorUncommon11–13 cmRegularly May–Oct · 0.09% in Oct
OspreyPandion haliaetusSummer visitorCommon54–58 cmRegularly Apr–Oct · 0.09% in Oct
Snow GooseAnser caerulescensWinter visitorUncommon69–84 cmRegularly Sep–Apr · 0.09% in Oct
Blackpoll WarblerSetophaga striataPassage migrantUncommon13–15 cmRegularly May–Oct · 0.08% in Oct
Tundra SwanCygnus columbianusWinter visitorUncommon120–150 cmRegularly Oct–Apr · 0.07% in Oct
Black-crowned Night-heronNycticorax nycticoraxSummer visitorUncommon58–65 cmRegularly Apr–Feb · 0.07% in Oct
Rough-legged HawkButeo lagopusWinter visitorUncommon46–59 cmRegularly Oct–Apr · 0.07% in Oct
Marsh WrenCistothorus palustrisSummer visitorUncommon10–14 cmRegularly Apr–Oct · 0.07% in Oct
Lapland LongspurCalcarius lapponicusWinter visitorUncommon15–16 cmRegularly Sep–May · 0.07% in Oct
Eastern Screech-owlMegascops asioWinter visitorUncommon16–25 cmRecorded all year · 0.06% in Oct
Lesser Black-backed GullLarus fuscusWinter visitorUncommon52–64 cmRecorded all year · 0.06% in Oct
SanderlingCalidris albaPassage migrantUncommon18–20 cmRegularly May–Nov · 0.06% in Oct
Tufted TitmouseBaeolophus bicolorResidentUncommon14–17 cmRecorded all year · 0.06% in Oct
Red-throated LoonGavia stellataWinter visitorUncommon53–69 cmRegularly Oct–May · 0.06% in Oct
Barred OwlStrix variaResidentUncommon43–50 cmRecorded all year · 0.06% in Oct
Northern MockingbirdMimus polyglottosResidentUncommon21–26 cmRecorded all year · 0.06% in Oct
Golden EagleAquila chrysaetosWinter visitorUncommon66–102 cmRegularly Oct–Apr · 0.06% in Oct
American Golden-PloverPluvialis dominicaPassage migrantUncommon24–28 cmRegularly May–Oct · 0.05% in Oct
Common TernSterna hirundoSummer visitorUncommon31–35 cmRegularly Apr–Oct · 0.05% in Oct
Magnolia WarblerSetophaga magnoliaSummer visitorCommon11–13 cmRegularly May–Oct · 0.05% in Oct
Semipalmated PloverCharadrius semipalmatusSummer visitorUncommon17–19 cmRegularly May–Oct · 0.05% in Oct
Great Horned OwlBubo virginianusWinter visitorUncommon46–63 cmRecorded all year · 0.05% in Oct
White-rumped SandpiperCalidris fuscicollisSummer visitorRare15–18 cmRegularly May–Nov · 0.04% in Oct
Brent GooseBranta berniclaPassage migrantRare55–66 cmRegularly May–Nov · 0.04% in Oct
Gray-cheeked ThrushCatharus minimusPassage migrantUncommon16–17 cmRegularly May–Oct · 0.04% in Oct
Long-billed DowitcherLimnodromus scolopaceusPassage migrantRare27–30 cmRegularly Apr–Nov · 0.04% in Oct
Hudsonian GodwitLimosa haemasticaPassage migrantRare36–42 cmRegularly Jun–Nov · 0.04% in Oct
Semipalmated SandpiperCalidris pusillaSummer visitorUncommon15–18 cmRegularly May–Oct · 0.03% in Oct
Northern Saw-whet OwlAegolius acadicusWinter visitorUncommon17–21 cmRegularly Sep–Apr · 0.03% in Oct
Broad-winged HawkButeo platypterusSummer visitorUncommon34–44 cmRegularly Apr–Oct · 0.03% in Oct
Least SandpiperCalidris minutillaPassage migrantCommon13–15 cmRegularly May–Oct · 0.03% in Oct
Red CrossbillLoxia curvirostraWinter visitorUncommon15–17 cmRecorded all year · 0.03% in Oct
Solitary SandpiperTringa solitariaPassage migrantUncommon19–23 cmRegularly Apr–Oct · 0.02% in Oct
Vesper SparrowPooecetes gramineusSummer visitorUncommon13–17 cmRegularly Apr–Oct · 0.02% in Oct
Little GullHydrocoloeus minutusResidentRare25–30 cmRecorded all year · 0.02% in Oct
Greater White-fronted GooseAnser albifronsWinter visitorUncommon64–81 cmRegularly Sep–Apr · 0.02% in Oct
American BitternBotaurus lentiginosusSummer visitorUncommon58–85 cmRegularly Apr–Oct · 0.02% in Oct
Cattle EgretArdea ibisPassage migrantRare46–56 cmRegularly May–Nov · 0.02% in Oct
Black-backed WoodpeckerPicoides arcticusResidentRare21–24 cmRecorded all year · 0.02% in Oct
Red-headed WoodpeckerMelanerpes erythrocephalusSummer visitorUncommon19–23 cmRegularly Apr–Feb · 0.02% in Oct
Ross's GooseAnser rossiiWinter visitorRare57–64 cmRegularly Sep–Apr · 0.02% in Oct
Pacific LoonGavia pacificaPassage migrantRare58–74 cmRegularly Jun–Jan · 0.01% in Oct
Stilt SandpiperCalidris himantopusPassage migrantUncommon18–23 cmRegularly Jul–Oct · 0.01% in Oct
Bohemian WaxwingBombycilla garrulusWinter visitorUncommon19–23 cmRegularly Oct–Apr · 0.01% in Oct
RazorbillAlca tordaPassage migrantRare38–43 cmRegularly Oct–Nov · 0.01% in Oct
Arctic JaegerStercorarius parasiticusPassage migrantRare41–46 cmRegularly Aug–Nov · 0.01% in Oct
Short-eared OwlAsio flammeusWinter visitorUncommon34–43 cmRegularly Oct–Apr · 0.01% in Oct
Purple SandpiperCalidris maritimaPassage migrantRare20–22 cmRegularly Oct–Mar · 0.01% in Oct
Ruddy TurnstoneArenaria interpresSummer visitorUncommon21–24 cmRegularly May–Oct · 0.01% in Oct
Baird's SandpiperCalidris bairdiiPassage migrantUncommon14–17 cmRegularly Aug–Oct · 0.01% in Oct
Virginia RailRallus limicolaSummer visitorUncommon20–27 cmRegularly Apr–Oct · 0.01% in Oct
Fish CrowCorvus ossifragusResidentRare36–41 cmRecorded all year · 0.01% in Oct
Common PheasantPhasianus colchicusResidentRare50–90 cmRecorded all year · 0.01% in Oct
DickcisselSpiza americanaSummer visitorRare14–16 cmRegularly May–Jan · 0.01% in Oct
Forster's TernSterna forsteriSummer visitorUncommon33–36 cmRegularly Apr–Oct · 0.01% in Oct
KittiwakeRissa tridactylaWinter visitorRare37–41 cmRegularly Sep–May · 0.01% in Oct
Pomarine JaegerStercorarius pomarinusPassage migrantRare46–51 cmRegularly Sep–Dec · 0.01% in Oct
Long-eared OwlAsio otusWinter visitorRare35–40 cmRegularly Oct–May · 0.01% in Oct
Barnacle GooseBranta leucopsisPassage migrantRare58–70 cmRegularly Oct–Mar · 0.01% in Oct
American AvocetRecurvirostra americanaPassage migrantRare43–51 cmRegularly Apr–Oct · 0.00% in Oct
Red KnotCalidris canutusPassage migrantRare23–26 cmRegularly May–Oct · 0.00% in Oct
Black-necked GrebePodiceps nigricollisPassage migrantRare28–34 cmRegularly Apr–Dec · 0.00% in Oct
American Three-toed WoodpeckerPicoides dorsalisWinter visitorRare21–24 cmRecorded all year · 0.00% in Oct
Eurasian WigeonMareca penelopePassage migrantRare42–51 cmRegularly Oct–Apr · 0.00% in Oct
Boreal OwlAegolius funereusWinter visitorRare21–28 cmRegularly Sep–Jun · 0.00% in Oct
Muscovy DuckCairina moschataWinter visitorRare66–84 cmRecorded all year · 0.00% in Oct
Sabine's GullXema sabiniPassage migrantRare27–33 cmRegularly Sep–Oct · 0.00% in Oct
Grey PhalaropePhalaropus fulicariusPassage migrantRare20–22 cmRegularly Sep–Dec · 0.00% in Oct
Lark SparrowChondestes grammacusPassage migrantRare15–17 cmRegularly Apr–Oct · 0.00% in Oct
Buff-breasted SandpiperCalidris subruficollisPassage migrantRare18–20 cmRegularly Aug–Oct · 0.00% in Oct
Long-tailed JaegerStercorarius longicaudusPassage migrantRare48–58 cmRegularly Aug–Oct · 0.00% in Oct
Franklin's GullLeucophaeus pipixcanSummer visitorRare32–36 cmRegularly May–Oct · 0.00% in Oct
Western MeadowlarkSturnella neglectaSummer visitorRare16–26 cmRegularly Oct–Jul · 0.00% in Oct
Greylag GooseAnser anserWinter visitorRare75–90 cmRegularly Sep–Jun · 0.00% in Oct
Arctic TernSterna paradisaeaSummer visitorRare33–39 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