Birds to See in China in October
182 bird species on our list for China are recorded regularly in October
Of these, the most often recorded are Eurasian Tree Sparrow, Pied Wagtail, Little Egret, Little Grebe and Grey Heron. New this month: Brambling, Red-flanked Bluetail, Dusky Thrush and Tufted Duck and 28 more.
On the move in October
GBIF · OctArriving
At their peak
SparrowhawkBusiest month of the year · All year
Peregrine FalconBusiest month of the year · All year
Oriental Honey-buzzardBusiest month of the year · All year
OspreyBusiest month of the year · Jul–May
Eurasian SkylarkBusiest month of the year · All year
Northern GoshawkBusiest month of the year · Sep–Jul
From China’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 182 birds in October
182 birds
Eurasian Tree SparrowPasser montanusResidentCommon13–14 cmRecorded all year · 2.14% in Oct
Pied WagtailMotacilla albaResidentCommon17–19 cmRecorded all year · 1.87% in Oct
Little EgretEgretta garzettaResidentCommon55–65 cmRecorded all year · 1.87% in Oct
Little GrebeTachybaptus ruficollisResidentCommon23–29 cmRecorded all year · 1.56% in Oct
Grey HeronArdea cinereaResidentCommon90–98 cmRecorded all year · 1.38% in Oct
MoorhenGallinula chloropusResidentCommon30–38 cmRecorded all year · 1.11% in Oct
KestrelFalco tinnunculusResidentCommon32–39 cmRecorded all year · 1.08% in Oct
Yellow-browed WarblerPhylloscopus inornatusWinter visitorCommon10–11 cmRegularly Aug–May · 1.05% in Oct
Crested MynaAcridotheres cristatellusResidentCommon24–27 cmRecorded all year · 0.99% in Oct
MallardAnas platyrhynchosResidentCommon50–65 cmRecorded all year · 0.95% in Oct
Common KingfisherAlcedo atthisResidentCommon16–17 cmRecorded all year · 0.91% in Oct
Black-crowned Night-heronNycticorax nycticoraxResidentCommon58–65 cmRecorded all year · 0.91% in Oct
Barn SwallowHirundo rusticaSummer visitorCommon17–19 cmRecorded all year · 0.86% in Oct
Great White EgretArdea albaResidentCommon80–104 cmRecorded all year · 0.84% in Oct
Great CormorantPhalacrocorax carboResidentCommon80–100 cmRecorded all year · 0.79% in Oct
CootFulica atraResidentCommon36–42 cmRecorded all year · 0.74% in Oct- SparrowhawkAccipiter nisusWinter visitorCommon28–38 cmRecorded all year · 0.66% in Oct
Great Crested GrebePodiceps cristatusResidentCommon46–51 cmRecorded all year · 0.61% in Oct
HoopoeUpupa epopsResidentCommon25–32 cmRecorded all year · 0.58% in Oct
Great Spotted WoodpeckerDendrocopos majorResidentCommon23–26 cmRecorded all year · 0.55% in Oct
GreenshankTringa nebulariaResidentCommon30–35 cmRecorded all year · 0.55% in Oct
Common PheasantPhasianus colchicusResidentCommon50–90 cmRecorded all year · 0.52% in Oct
Marsh TitPoecile palustrisResidentCommon12–13 cmRecorded all year · 0.50% in Oct
Eurasian TealAnas creccaWinter visitorCommon34–38 cmRegularly Sep–May · 0.50% in Oct
HobbyFalco subbuteoSummer visitorCommon28–35 cmRegularly May–Oct · 0.49% in Oct- Peregrine FalconFalco peregrinusWinter visitorUncommon34–58 cmRecorded all year · 0.47% in Oct
- Oriental Honey-buzzardPernis ptilorhynchusSummer visitorUncommon52–68 cmRecorded all year · 0.43% in Oct
Grey WagtailMotacilla cinereaResidentCommon17–20 cmRecorded all year · 0.40% in Oct
BramblingFringilla montifringillaWinter visitorCommon14–16 cmRegularly Oct–May · 0.35% in Oct
Black-headed GullChroicocephalus ridibundusResidentCommon38–44 cmRecorded all year · 0.35% in Oct
Rock DoveColumba liviaResidentUncommon31–34 cmRecorded all year · 0.33% in Oct
Common SnipeGallinago gallinagoWinter visitorUncommon25–27 cmRegularly Aug–Jun · 0.32% in Oct
Common SandpiperActitis hypoleucosResidentCommon18–20 cmRecorded all year · 0.32% in Oct
Kentish PloverCharadrius alexandrinusResidentUncommon15–17 cmRecorded all year · 0.31% in Oct
Scaly-breasted MuniaLonchura punctulataResidentUncommon11–12 cmRecorded all year · 0.31% in Oct
DunlinCalidris alpinaWinter visitorUncommon16–22 cmRegularly Jul–May · 0.30% in Oct- OspreyPandion haliaetusWinter visitorUncommon54–58 cmRegularly Jul–May · 0.30% in Oct
- Eurasian SkylarkAlauda arvensisWinter visitorUncommon16–18 cmRecorded all year · 0.29% in Oct
Green SandpiperTringa ochropusWinter visitorUncommon21–24 cmRecorded all year · 0.29% in Oct
Red-flanked BluetailTarsiger cyanurusWinter visitorCommon13–14 cmRegularly Oct–Apr · 0.29% in Oct- Northern GoshawkAstur gentilisWinter visitorUncommon46–61 cmRegularly Sep–Jul · 0.28% in Oct
Hen HarrierCircus cyaneusWinter visitorUncommon41–52 cmRegularly Sep–May · 0.28% in Oct
Carrion CrowCorvus coroneResidentCommon45–47 cmRecorded all year · 0.27% in Oct
Spotted RedshankTringa erythropusResidentUncommon29–31 cmRecorded all year · 0.26% in Oct
GadwallMareca streperaWinter visitorCommon46–56 cmRecorded all year · 0.24% in Oct
Eurasian WigeonMareca penelopeWinter visitorUncommon42–51 cmRegularly Sep–May · 0.24% in Oct
Ruddy ShelduckTadorna ferrugineaResidentCommon58–70 cmRecorded all year · 0.24% in Oct
AvocetRecurvirostra avosettaResidentUncommon42–45 cmRecorded all year · 0.24% in Oct
Eurasian SpoonbillPlatalea leucorodiaWinter visitorUncommon80–90 cmRecorded all year · 0.24% in Oct
Wood SandpiperTringa glareolaSummer visitorUncommon19–21 cmRecorded all year · 0.21% in Oct
Mandarin DuckAix galericulataResidentUncommon41–49 cmRecorded all year · 0.21% in Oct
Black-tailed GodwitLimosa limosaSummer visitorUncommon40–44 cmRecorded all year · 0.20% in Oct
Plumbeous Water-redstartPhoenicurus fuliginosusResidentUncommon12–15 cmRecorded all year · 0.19% in Oct
Black-tailed GullLarus crassirostrisSummer visitorUncommon43–51 cmRecorded all year · 0.18% in Oct
Little Ringed PloverThinornis dubiusSummer visitorCommon14–17 cmRecorded all year · 0.18% in Oct
Grey PloverPluvialis squatarolaResidentUncommon27–30 cmRecorded all year · 0.17% in Oct
Greater White-fronted GooseAnser albifronsWinter visitorUncommon64–81 cmRegularly Oct–Apr · 0.17% in Oct
Eurasian JayGarrulus glandariusResidentUncommon32–35 cmRecorded all year · 0.17% in Oct
Northern PintailAnas acutaWinter visitorUncommon59–76 cmRegularly Sep–Apr · 0.16% in Oct
Northern ShovelerSpatula clypeataWinter visitorUncommon44–51 cmRegularly Sep–Jun · 0.16% in Oct
Tufted DuckAythya fuligulaWinter visitorUncommon40–47 cmRegularly Jun–Apr · 0.16% in Oct
PochardAythya ferinaWinter visitorUncommon42–49 cmRecorded all year · 0.15% in Oct
WhimbrelNumenius phaeopusSummer visitorUncommon40–46 cmRegularly Apr–Jan · 0.15% in Oct
RookCorvus frugilegusResidentUncommon45–47 cmRecorded all year · 0.14% in Oct
Gull-billed TernGelochelidon niloticaSummer visitorUncommon33–42 cmRegularly Apr–Oct · 0.14% in Oct
Water PipitAnthus spinolettaWinter visitorUncommon15–17 cmRegularly Oct–Apr · 0.14% in Oct
Eurasian Collared DoveStreptopelia decaoctoResidentUncommon30–32 cmRecorded all year · 0.14% in Oct
Coal TitPeriparus aterResidentUncommon10–12 cmRecorded all year · 0.14% in Oct
Eurasian SiskinSpinus spinusWinter visitorUncommon11–13 cmRegularly Oct–Jul · 0.14% in Oct
Pacific Golden-PloverPluvialis fulvaWinter visitorUncommon23–26 cmRegularly Jul–May · 0.13% in Oct
CurlewNumenius arquataResidentUncommon50–60 cmRecorded all year · 0.13% in Oct
GarganeySpatula querquedulaWinter visitorUncommon37–41 cmRegularly Aug–Jun · 0.13% in Oct
Taiga Bean GooseAnser fabalisWinter visitorUncommon68–88 cmRegularly Oct–Apr · 0.13% in Oct
Northern LapwingVanellus vanellusWinter visitorUncommon28–31 cmRecorded all year · 0.12% in Oct
Red-billed ChoughPyrrhocorax pyrrhocoraxSummer visitorUncommon39–43 cmRecorded all year · 0.12% in Oct
Purple HeronArdea purpureaSummer visitorUncommon78–90 cmRecorded all year · 0.12% in Oct
Swan GooseAnser cygnoidesWinter visitorUncommon81–94 cmRecorded all year · 0.11% in Oct
RedshankTringa totanusSummer visitorUncommon27–29 cmRecorded all year · 0.11% in Oct
Vega GullLarus vegaeWinter visitorUncommon55–67 cmRegularly Jun–Apr · 0.10% in Oct
SanderlingCalidris albaSummer visitorUncommon18–20 cmRecorded all year · 0.09% in Oct
Dusky ThrushTurdus eunomusWinter visitorUncommon23–25 cmRegularly Oct–May · 0.09% in Oct
Bar-tailed GodwitLimosa lapponicaSummer visitorUncommon37–41 cmRecorded all year · 0.09% in Oct
Tundra Bean GooseAnser serrirostrisWinter visitorUncommon66–84 cmRegularly Oct–Apr · 0.09% in Oct
Greylag GooseAnser anserResidentUncommon75–90 cmRecorded all year · 0.09% in Oct
Blue Rock-thrushMonticola solitariusResidentUncommon21–23 cmRecorded all year · 0.08% in Oct
Common RosefinchCarpodacus erythrinusSummer visitorUncommon13–15 cmRecorded all year · 0.08% in Oct
Black EagleIctinaetus malaiensisResidentUncommon65–80 cmRecorded all year · 0.08% in Oct
Common ShelduckTadorna tadornaResidentUncommon58–67 cmRecorded all year · 0.07% in Oct
Eurasian NuthatchSitta europaeaResidentUncommon12–15 cmRecorded all year · 0.07% in Oct
Temminck's StintCalidris temminckiiWinter visitorUncommon13–15 cmRegularly Jul–May · 0.07% in Oct
Long-tailed TitAegithalos caudatusWinter visitorUncommon13–16 cmRecorded all year · 0.07% in Oct
Willow TitPoecile montanusResidentUncommon11–12 cmRecorded all year · 0.07% in Oct
Common StarlingSturnus vulgarisResidentUncommon21–23 cmRecorded all year · 0.07% in Oct
HawfinchCoccothraustes coccothraustesWinter visitorUncommon17–18 cmRegularly Oct–May · 0.06% in Oct
Eurasian WrenTroglodytes troglodytesResidentUncommon9–10 cmRecorded all year · 0.06% in Oct
Sand MartinRiparia ripariaSummer visitorUncommon12–14 cmRegularly Mar–Nov · 0.06% in Oct
GoldeneyeBucephala clangulaWinter visitorUncommon40–51 cmRegularly Oct–Jun · 0.06% in Oct
WryneckJynx torquillaWinter visitorUncommon16–18 cmRecorded all year · 0.06% in Oct
Bearded TitPanurus biarmicusResidentUncommon13–15 cmRecorded all year · 0.06% in Oct
Black SwanCygnus atratusResidentUncommon110–142 cmRecorded all year · 0.06% in Oct
Eurasian BitternBotaurus stellarisResidentUncommon69–81 cmRecorded all year · 0.05% in Oct
Booted EagleHieraaetus pennatusSummer visitorUncommon42–51 cmRegularly Mar–Dec · 0.05% in Oct
Common MerganserMergus merganserWinter visitorCommon58–68 cmRegularly Jun–Apr · 0.05% in Oct
Common RavenCorvus coraxSummer visitorUncommon54–67 cmRecorded all year · 0.05% in Oct
Oriental Scops-owlOtus suniaSummer visitorUncommon16–20 cmRegularly Apr–Oct · 0.05% in Oct
GoldcrestRegulus regulusWinter visitorUncommon9–10 cmRecorded all year · 0.05% in Oct
White-winged TernChlidonias leucopterusSummer visitorUncommon20–27 cmRegularly Apr–Oct · 0.05% in Oct
Common TernSterna hirundoSummer visitorCommon31–35 cmRegularly Apr–Oct · 0.04% in Oct
Red-crested PochardNetta rufinaResidentUncommon53–57 cmRecorded all year · 0.04% in Oct
Ruddy TurnstoneArenaria interpresSummer visitorUncommon21–24 cmRecorded all year · 0.04% in Oct
Tundra SwanCygnus columbianusWinter visitorUncommon120–150 cmRegularly Oct–Apr · 0.04% in Oct
Bar-headed GooseAnser indicusResidentUncommon68–78 cmRecorded all year · 0.04% in Oct
BluethroatLuscinia svecicaResidentUncommon13–14 cmRegularly Sep–Jul · 0.04% in Oct
MerlinFalco columbariusWinter visitorUncommon24–33 cmRegularly Oct–Apr · 0.04% in Oct
Eurasian OystercatcherHaematopus ostralegusSummer visitorUncommon40–45 cmRecorded all year · 0.04% in Oct
Common CraneGrus grusWinter visitorUncommon100–130 cmRegularly Jul–Mar · 0.04% in Oct
Eurasian WoodcockScolopax rusticolaWinter visitorRare33–38 cmRegularly Sep–May · 0.04% in Oct
Reed BuntingEmberiza schoeniclusResidentUncommon14–16 cmRecorded all year · 0.04% in Oct
Horned LarkEremophila alpestrisSummer visitorUncommon16–20 cmRegularly Apr–Feb · 0.04% in Oct
Golden EagleAquila chrysaetosResidentUncommon66–102 cmRecorded all year · 0.03% in Oct
Greater ScaupAythya marilaWinter visitorUncommon39–56 cmRegularly Oct–Mar · 0.03% in Oct
Lapland LongspurCalcarius lapponicusWinter visitorUncommon15–16 cmRegularly Oct–Mar · 0.03% in Oct
Black-necked GrebePodiceps nigricollisResidentUncommon28–34 cmRecorded all year · 0.03% in Oct
Sharp-tailed SandpiperCalidris acuminataSummer visitorUncommon17–22 cmRegularly Apr–Oct · 0.03% in Oct
Red KnotCalidris canutusSummer visitorUncommon23–26 cmRegularly Mar–Jan · 0.03% in Oct
Lesser Black-backed GullLarus fuscusWinter visitorUncommon52–64 cmRegularly Aug–May · 0.03% in Oct
Curlew SandpiperCalidris ferrugineaSummer visitorUncommon18–23 cmRegularly Mar–Oct · 0.03% in Oct
Red-necked PhalaropePhalaropus lobatusPassage migrantUncommon18–19 cmRegularly Apr–Oct · 0.03% in Oct
Short-eared OwlAsio flammeusWinter visitorUncommon34–43 cmRegularly Oct–Apr · 0.03% in Oct
Little OwlAthene noctuaResidentUncommon21–23 cmRecorded all year · 0.03% in Oct
Whooper SwanCygnus cygnusWinter visitorUncommon140–165 cmRecorded all year · 0.03% in Oct
Orange-headed ThrushGeokichla citrinaResidentRare20–23 cmRecorded all year · 0.03% in Oct
Crag MartinPtyonoprogne rupestrisSummer visitorUncommon14–15 cmRegularly Mar–Jan · 0.03% in Oct
House SparrowPasser domesticusSummer visitorUncommon14–17 cmRecorded all year · 0.02% in Oct
Long-billed DowitcherLimnodromus scolopaceusPassage migrantRare27–30 cmRegularly Aug–Apr · 0.02% in Oct
RuffCalidris pugnaxWinter visitorUncommon20–32 cmRegularly Jul–May · 0.02% in Oct
TwiteLinaria flavirostrisSummer visitorUncommon13–14 cmRecorded all year · 0.02% in Oct
White-tailed RobinMyiomela leucuraResidentUncommon16–18 cmRecorded all year · 0.02% in Oct
Long-eared OwlAsio otusWinter visitorUncommon35–40 cmRegularly Sep–Jul · 0.02% in Oct
DipperCinclus cinclusSummer visitorUncommon17–20 cmRecorded all year · 0.02% in Oct
Common GullLarus canusWinter visitorUncommon40–46 cmRegularly Sep–May · 0.02% in Oct
Little TernSternula albifronsSummer visitorUncommon21–25 cmRegularly Apr–Oct · 0.02% in Oct
Red JunglefowlGallus gallusResidentRare42–75 cmRecorded all year · 0.02% in Oct
Alpine ChoughPyrrhocorax graculusSummer visitorUncommon36–39 cmRegularly Apr–Dec · 0.01% in Oct
White-crested LaughingthrushGarrulax leucolophusWinter visitorUncommon27–31 cmRegularly Sep–May · 0.01% in Oct
ChiffchaffPhylloscopus collybitaSummer visitorRare10–12 cmRegularly Jan–Oct · 0.01% in Oct
Great TitParus majorSummer visitorUncommonRegularly Feb–Dec · 0.01% in Oct
Golden PheasantChrysolophus pictusSummer visitorUncommon90–105 cmRecorded all year · 0.01% in Oct
MagpiePica picaSummer visitorUncommon44–46 cmRegularly May–Feb · 0.01% in Oct
ChaffinchFringilla coelebsResidentUncommon14–16 cmRegularly Oct–Aug · 0.01% in Oct
Lesser Spotted WoodpeckerDryobates minorResidentRare14–16 cmRegularly May–Mar · 0.01% in Oct
Bonelli's EagleAquila fasciataResidentRare65–72 cmRecorded all year · 0.01% in Oct
Red CrossbillLoxia curvirostraResidentUncommon15–17 cmRecorded all year · 0.01% in Oct
Red-breasted MerganserMergus serratorWinter visitorUncommon52–58 cmRegularly Oct–May · 0.01% in Oct
Chestnut MuniaLonchura atricapillaPassage migrantRare10–11 cmRegularly Oct–May · 0.01% in Oct
Horned GrebePodiceps auritusResidentRare31–38 cmRegularly Apr–Feb · 0.01% in Oct
Little StintCalidris minutaPassage migrantRare13–15 cmRegularly Apr–Oct · 0.01% in Oct
TreecreeperCerthia familiarisResidentUncommon12–14 cmRecorded all year · 0.01% in Oct
BlackbirdTurdus merulaSummer visitorUncommon24–25 cmRegularly Apr–Dec · 0.01% in Oct
Lady Amherst's PheasantChrysolophus amherstiaeSummer visitorUncommon100–120 cmRegularly Dec–Oct · 0.01% in Oct
Rough-legged HawkButeo lagopusWinter visitorRare46–59 cmRegularly Oct–Mar · 0.01% in Oct
White-tailed Sea-eagleHaliaeetus albicillaWinter visitorUncommon66–94 cmRegularly Oct–Mar · 0.01% in Oct
European GoldfinchCarduelis carduelisSummer visitorUncommon12–13 cmRegularly May–Oct · 0.01% in Oct
GreenfinchChloris chlorisSummer visitorRare15–16 cmRegularly May–Oct · 0.01% in Oct
Muscovy DuckCairina moschataResidentRare66–84 cmRecorded all year · 0.01% in Oct
Black GrouseLyrurus tetrixPassage migrantRare40–55 cmRegularly May–Jan · 0.00% in Oct
Mistle ThrushTurdus viscivorusSummer visitorUncommon26–29 cmRegularly May–Dec · 0.00% in Oct
Mute SwanCygnus olorResidentRare140–160 cmRegularly Sep–Jul · 0.00% in Oct
Water RailRallus aquaticusWinter visitorRare23–28 cmRegularly Jun–Mar · 0.00% in Oct
Blue-eared BarbetPsilopogon cyanotisResidentRare20–23 cmRegularly Oct–Aug · 0.00% in Oct
Cinereous VultureAegypius monachusResidentUncommon98–120 cmRegularly Oct–Aug · 0.00% in Oct
Common RedpollAcanthis flammeaWinter visitorUncommon12–14 cmRegularly Oct–Mar · 0.00% in Oct
Greater FlamingoPhoenicopterus roseusPassage migrantRare120–145 cmRegularly Oct–Apr · 0.00% in Oct
Lesser WhitethroatCurruca currucaSummer visitorRare11–13 cmRegularly May–Nov · 0.00% in Oct
ChukarAlectoris chukarResidentRare32–38 cmRecorded all year · 0.00% in Oct
BuzzardButeo buteoSummer visitorRare51–57 cmRegularly May–Jan · 0.00% in Oct
Rose-ringed ParakeetPsittacula krameriPassage migrantRare38–42 cmRegularly Oct–Mar · 0.00% in Oct
BullfinchPyrrhula pyrrhulaWinter visitorRare15–17 cmRegularly Oct–Jun · 0.00% in Oct
Pectoral SandpiperCalidris melanotosPassage migrantRare19–23 cmRegularly Apr–Oct · 0.00% in Oct
YellowhammerEmberiza citrinellaSummer visitorRare16–17 cmRegularly May–Dec · 0.00% in Oct
BudgerigarMelopsittacus undulatusPassage migrantRare18–20 cmRegularly Jul–Nov · 0.00% in Oct
Willow WarblerPhylloscopus trochilusPassage migrantRare11–13 cmRegularly 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