Birds to See in Galway in October
135 bird species on our list for Galway are recorded regularly in October
Of these, the most often recorded are Hooded Crow, European Herring Gull, European Robin, Pied Wagtail and Grey Heron. New this month: Redwing, Fieldfare, Long-tailed Duck and Greater Scaup and 11 more.
On the move in October
GBIF · OctArriving
At their peak
From Galway’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 135 birds in October
135 birds
Hooded CrowCorvus cornixResidentCommon44–51 cmRecorded all year · 3.31% in Oct
European Herring GullLarus argentatusResidentCommon55–67 cmRecorded all year · 3.20% in Oct
European RobinErithacus rubeculaResidentCommon13–14 cmRecorded all year · 2.97% in Oct
Pied WagtailMotacilla albaResidentCommon17–18 cmRecorded all year · 2.68% in Oct
Grey HeronArdea cinereaResidentCommon90–98 cmRecorded all year · 2.45% in Oct
Black-headed GullChroicocephalus ridibundusResidentCommon38–44 cmRecorded all year · 2.42% in Oct
Common StarlingSturnus vulgarisResidentCommon21–23 cmRecorded all year · 2.41% in Oct
CurlewNumenius arquataResidentCommon50–60 cmRecorded all year · 2.39% in Oct
MallardAnas platyrhynchosResidentCommon50–65 cmRecorded all year · 2.33% in Oct
JackdawColoeus monedulaResidentCommon34–39 cmRecorded all year · 2.25% in Oct
Eurasian OystercatcherHaematopus ostralegusResidentCommon40–45 cmRecorded all year · 2.15% in Oct
Eurasian WrenTroglodytes troglodytesResidentCommon9–10 cmRecorded all year · 2.14% in Oct
RookCorvus frugilegusResidentCommon45–47 cmRecorded all year · 2.13% in Oct
Great Black-backed GullLarus marinusResidentCommon64–79 cmRecorded all year · 2.06% in Oct
Common GullLarus canusResidentCommon40–46 cmRecorded all year · 1.93% in Oct
MagpiePica picaResidentCommon44–46 cmRecorded all year · 1.87% in Oct
RedshankTringa totanusWinter visitorCommon27–29 cmRecorded all year · 1.86% in Oct
Mute SwanCygnus olorResidentCommon140–160 cmRecorded all year · 1.84% in Oct
Great CormorantPhalacrocorax carboResidentCommon80–100 cmRecorded all year · 1.81% in Oct
BlackbirdTurdus merulaResidentCommon24–25 cmRecorded all year · 1.79% in Oct
Meadow PipitAnthus pratensisResidentCommon14–15 cmRecorded all year · 1.79% in Oct
StonechatSaxicola rubicolaResidentCommon12–13 cmRecorded all year · 1.49% in Oct
European GoldfinchCarduelis carduelisResidentCommon12–13 cmRecorded all year · 1.48% in Oct
European ShagGulosus aristotelisResidentCommon65–80 cmRecorded all year · 1.40% in Oct
Little EgretEgretta garzettaResidentCommon55–65 cmRecorded all year · 1.39% in Oct
DunnockPrunella modularisResidentCommon14–15 cmRecorded all year · 1.38% in Oct
Rock DoveColumba liviaResidentCommon31–34 cmRecorded all year · 1.31% in Oct
WoodpigeonColumba palumbusResidentCommon40–42 cmRecorded all year · 1.29% in Oct
Rock PipitAnthus petrosusResidentCommon16–18 cmRecorded all year · 1.26% in Oct
Ruddy TurnstoneArenaria interpresWinter visitorCommon21–24 cmRegularly Jul–May · 1.22% in Oct
Eurasian TealAnas creccaWinter visitorCommon34–38 cmRecorded all year · 1.22% in Oct
GoldcrestRegulus regulusResidentCommon9–10 cmRecorded all year · 1.19% in Oct
Blue TitCyanistes caeruleusResidentCommon11–12 cmRecorded all year · 1.15% in Oct
Eurasian WigeonMareca penelopeWinter visitorCommon42–51 cmRegularly Aug–Apr · 1.13% in Oct
Ringed PloverCharadrius hiaticulaResidentCommon17–19 cmRecorded all year · 1.12% in Oct
LinnetLinaria cannabinaResidentCommon13–14 cmRecorded all year · 1.09% in Oct
Northern LapwingVanellus vanellusResidentCommon28–31 cmRecorded all year · 1.05% in Oct
House SparrowPasser domesticusResidentCommon14–17 cmRecorded all year · 1.02% in Oct
DunlinCalidris alpinaWinter visitorCommon16–22 cmRecorded all year · 1.01% in Oct
ChaffinchFringilla coelebsResidentCommon14–16 cmRecorded all year · 0.97% in Oct
Common RavenCorvus coraxResidentCommon54–67 cmRecorded all year · 0.97% in Oct
GreenshankTringa nebulariaWinter visitorCommon30–35 cmRegularly Jun–Apr · 0.90% in Oct
Little GrebeTachybaptus ruficollisResidentCommon23–29 cmRecorded all year · 0.87% in Oct
KestrelFalco tinnunculusResidentCommon32–39 cmRecorded all year · 0.85% in Oct
MoorhenGallinula chloropusResidentCommon30–38 cmRecorded all year · 0.85% in Oct
Song ThrushTurdus philomelosResidentCommon20–23 cmRecorded all year · 0.81% in Oct
Golden PloverPluvialis apricariaWinter visitorCommon26–29 cmRecorded all year · 0.80% in Oct
Great TitParus majorResidentCommonRecorded all year · 0.79% in Oct
Northern GannetMorus bassanusSummer visitorCommon87–100 cmRecorded all year · 0.77% in Oct
Bar-tailed GodwitLimosa lapponicaWinter visitorCommon37–41 cmRegularly Jul–May · 0.73% in Oct
Whooper SwanCygnus cygnusWinter visitorCommon140–165 cmRegularly Sep–Jun · 0.72% in Oct
Common PheasantPhasianus colchicusResidentCommon50–90 cmRecorded all year · 0.71% in Oct
SanderlingCalidris albaWinter visitorCommon18–20 cmRegularly Jul–May · 0.63% in Oct
Common SnipeGallinago gallinagoResidentCommon25–27 cmRecorded all year · 0.61% in Oct
RedwingTurdus iliacusWinter visitorCommon20–24 cmRegularly Oct–Apr · 0.54% in Oct
SparrowhawkAccipiter nisusResidentCommon28–38 cmRecorded all year · 0.52% in Oct
Grey WagtailMotacilla cinereaResidentCommon17–20 cmRecorded all year · 0.49% in Oct
Common LoonGavia immerWinter visitorCommon66–91 cmRegularly Sep–Jun · 0.48% in Oct
Long-tailed TitAegithalos caudatusResidentCommon13–16 cmRecorded all year · 0.48% in Oct
Coal TitPeriparus aterResidentCommon10–12 cmRecorded all year · 0.45% in Oct
Black GuillemotCepphus grylleResidentCommon30–32 cmRecorded all year · 0.43% in Oct
Eurasian Collared DoveStreptopelia decaoctoResidentCommon30–32 cmRecorded all year · 0.43% in Oct
KittiwakeRissa tridactylaSummer visitorCommon37–41 cmRecorded all year · 0.43% in Oct
ChiffchaffPhylloscopus collybitaSummer visitorCommon10–12 cmRegularly Mar–Nov · 0.42% in Oct
GreenfinchChloris chlorisResidentCommon15–16 cmRecorded all year · 0.42% in Oct
Greylag GooseAnser anserResidentUncommon75–90 cmRecorded all year · 0.42% in Oct
Red-billed ChoughPyrrhocorax pyrrhocoraxResidentUncommon39–43 cmRecorded all year · 0.41% in Oct
Barn SwallowHirundo rusticaSummer visitorCommon17–19 cmRegularly Apr–Oct · 0.38% in Oct
Mistle ThrushTurdus viscivorusResidentCommon26–29 cmRecorded all year · 0.36% in Oct
Lesser Black-backed GullLarus fuscusSummer visitorCommon52–64 cmRegularly Feb–Oct · 0.36% in Oct
Eurasian SkylarkAlauda arvensisSummer visitorCommon16–18 cmRecorded all year · 0.35% in Oct
Black-tailed GodwitLimosa limosaWinter visitorCommon40–44 cmRecorded all year · 0.34% in Oct
Brent GooseBranta berniclaWinter visitorCommon55–66 cmRegularly Sep–Apr · 0.34% in Oct
BuzzardButeo buteoResidentUncommon51–57 cmRecorded all year · 0.34% in Oct
Red-breasted MerganserMergus serratorWinter visitorCommon52–58 cmRecorded all year · 0.33% in Oct
Northern ShovelerSpatula clypeataWinter visitorCommon44–51 cmRecorded all year · 0.32% in Oct
Reed BuntingEmberiza schoeniclusResidentCommon14–16 cmRecorded all year · 0.31% in Oct
Sandwich TernThalasseus sandvicensisSummer visitorCommon36–41 cmRecorded all year · 0.30% in Oct
Tufted DuckAythya fuligulaResidentCommon40–47 cmRecorded all year · 0.30% in Oct
RazorbillAlca tordaResidentUncommon38–43 cmRegularly Dec–Oct · 0.29% in Oct
Great Crested GrebePodiceps cristatusResidentCommon46–51 cmRecorded all year · 0.28% in Oct
CootFulica atraResidentUncommon36–42 cmRecorded all year · 0.27% in Oct
WheatearOenanthe oenantheSummer visitorCommon15–16 cmRegularly Mar–Oct · 0.26% in Oct
Peregrine FalconFalco peregrinusResidentUncommon34–58 cmRecorded all year · 0.24% in Oct
BullfinchPyrrhula pyrrhulaResidentCommon15–17 cmRecorded all year · 0.24% in Oct
Willow WarblerPhylloscopus trochilusSummer visitorCommon11–13 cmRegularly Mar–Oct · 0.21% in Oct
Yellow-browed WarblerPhylloscopus inornatusPassage migrantUncommon10–11 cmRegularly Oct · 0.21% in Oct
Eurasian SiskinSpinus spinusResidentUncommon11–13 cmRecorded all year · 0.21% in Oct
Hen HarrierCircus cyaneusWinter visitorUncommon41–52 cmRegularly Aug–Mar · 0.21% in Oct
GadwallMareca streperaWinter visitorCommon46–56 cmRecorded all year · 0.20% in Oct
MerlinFalco columbariusWinter visitorUncommon24–33 cmRegularly Sep–Apr · 0.20% in Oct
BlackcapSylvia atricapillaSummer visitorCommon13–15 cmRegularly Dec–Oct · 0.19% in Oct
Northern PintailAnas acutaWinter visitorUncommon59–76 cmRegularly Sep–Apr · 0.19% in Oct
Water RailRallus aquaticusSummer visitorUncommon23–28 cmRegularly Mar–Jan · 0.18% in Oct
Common RedpollAcanthis flammeaResidentUncommon12–14 cmRecorded all year · 0.16% in Oct
TreecreeperCerthia familiarisResidentUncommon12–14 cmRecorded all year · 0.16% in Oct
Common KingfisherAlcedo atthisResidentUncommon16–17 cmRegularly May–Feb · 0.15% in Oct
Manx ShearwaterPuffinus puffinusSummer visitorCommon30–38 cmRegularly Mar–Oct · 0.15% in Oct
Eurasian JayGarrulus glandariusResidentUncommon32–35 cmRecorded all year · 0.13% in Oct
Great White EgretArdea albaWinter visitorUncommon80–104 cmRegularly Sep–Mar · 0.13% in Oct
Western Marsh-harrierCircus aeruginosusWinter visitorUncommon48–56 cmRegularly Jul–Apr · 0.12% in Oct
Common ShelduckTadorna tadornaResidentCommon58–67 cmRecorded all year · 0.12% in Oct
FieldfareTurdus pilarisWinter visitorCommon22–27 cmRegularly Oct–Mar · 0.12% in Oct
Red-throated LoonGavia stellataWinter visitorCommon53–69 cmRegularly Sep–Jun · 0.11% in Oct
Arctic JaegerStercorarius parasiticusSummer visitorUncommon41–46 cmRegularly Apr–Oct · 0.11% in Oct
Grey PloverPluvialis squatarolaWinter visitorUncommon27–30 cmRegularly Aug–Apr · 0.11% in Oct
Greater White-fronted GooseAnser albifronsWinter visitorUncommon64–81 cmRegularly Apr–Feb · 0.09% in Oct
Barnacle GooseBranta leucopsisWinter visitorUncommon58–70 cmRegularly Oct–Apr · 0.08% in Oct
Great SkuaStercorarius skuaSummer visitorUncommon50–58 cmRegularly Apr–Oct · 0.08% in Oct
Pink-footed GooseAnser brachyrhynchusPassage migrantUncommon60–75 cmRegularly Sep–Oct · 0.08% in Oct
WhimbrelNumenius phaeopusPassage migrantCommon40–46 cmRegularly Apr–Oct · 0.08% in Oct
DipperCinclus cinclusWinter visitorUncommon17–20 cmRegularly Jul–May · 0.07% in Oct
European Storm-petrelHydrobates pelagicusSummer visitorUncommon14–18 cmRegularly May–Oct · 0.07% in Oct
Red KnotCalidris canutusWinter visitorUncommon23–26 cmRegularly Aug–Mar · 0.07% in Oct
Ring-billed GullLarus delawarensisWinter visitorUncommon43–54 cmRegularly Oct–Feb · 0.06% in Oct
Spotted FlycatcherMuscicapa striataSummer visitorUncommon14–16 cmRegularly May–Oct · 0.06% in Oct
Curlew SandpiperCalidris ferrugineaPassage migrantUncommon18–23 cmRegularly Sep–Oct · 0.06% in Oct
PochardAythya ferinaWinter visitorUncommon42–49 cmRegularly Aug–Jun · 0.06% in Oct
RuffCalidris pugnaxPassage migrantUncommon20–32 cmRegularly Aug–Oct · 0.06% in Oct
Mediterranean GullIchthyaetus melanocephalusResidentUncommon37–40 cmRegularly Dec–Oct · 0.05% in Oct
Common RosefinchCarpodacus erythrinusPassage migrantRare13–15 cmRegularly Oct · 0.04% in Oct
Greater ScaupAythya marilaWinter visitorUncommon39–56 cmRegularly Oct–Apr · 0.04% in Oct
Long-tailed DuckClangula hyemalisWinter visitorUncommon37–60 cmRegularly Oct–Feb · 0.04% in Oct
Pomarine JaegerStercorarius pomarinusPassage migrantRare46–51 cmRegularly Oct · 0.04% in Oct
Snow BuntingPlectrophenax nivalisPassage migrantRare15–18 cmRegularly Oct · 0.04% in Oct
American Golden-PloverPluvialis dominicaPassage migrantUncommon24–28 cmRegularly Sep–Oct · 0.03% in Oct
FulmarFulmarus glacialisSummer visitorCommon45–50 cmRegularly Mar–Oct · 0.03% in Oct
Lesser WhitethroatCurruca currucaPassage migrantRare11–13 cmRegularly Oct · 0.03% in Oct
Red CrossbillLoxia curvirostraResidentUncommon15–17 cmRegularly Dec–Oct · 0.03% in Oct
Spotted RedshankTringa erythropusPassage migrantUncommon29–31 cmRegularly Aug–Jan · 0.03% in Oct
Little GullHydrocoloeus minutusResidentUncommon25–30 cmRegularly Jan–Oct · 0.03% in Oct
Little StintCalidris minutaPassage migrantUncommon13–15 cmRegularly Sep–Oct · 0.03% in Oct
European Pied FlycatcherFicedula hypoleucaPassage migrantRare12–14 cmRegularly Sep–Oct · 0.02% in Oct
Leach's Storm-petrelHydrobates leucorhousPassage migrantRare18–21 cmRegularly Oct · 0.01% in Oct
Long-eared OwlAsio otusResidentRare35–40 cmRegularly Jul–Oct · 0.01% 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