Birds to See in Ireland in October
195 bird species on our list for Ireland are recorded regularly in October
Of these, the most often recorded are Hooded Crow, European Herring Gull, European Robin, Black-headed Gull and Magpie. New this month: Redwing, Fieldfare, Goldeneye and Long-tailed Duck and 19 more.
On the move in October
GBIF · OctArriving
At their peak
From Ireland’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 195 birds in October
195 birds
Hooded CrowCorvus cornixResidentCommon44–51 cmRecorded all year · 3.44% in Oct
European Herring GullLarus argentatusResidentCommon55–67 cmRecorded all year · 3.36% in Oct
European RobinErithacus rubeculaResidentCommon13–14 cmRecorded all year · 3.11% in Oct
Black-headed GullChroicocephalus ridibundusResidentCommon38–44 cmRecorded all year · 2.59% in Oct
MagpiePica picaResidentCommon44–46 cmRecorded all year · 2.56% in Oct
Pied WagtailMotacilla albaResidentCommon17–19 cmRecorded all year · 2.48% in Oct
RookCorvus frugilegusResidentCommon45–47 cmRecorded all year · 2.44% in Oct
JackdawColoeus monedulaResidentCommon34–39 cmRecorded all year · 2.42% in Oct
Common StarlingSturnus vulgarisResidentCommon21–23 cmRecorded all year · 2.39% in Oct
Eurasian WrenTroglodytes troglodytesResidentCommon9–10 cmRecorded all year · 2.28% in Oct
Grey HeronArdea cinereaResidentCommon90–98 cmRecorded all year · 2.14% in Oct
WoodpigeonColumba palumbusResidentCommon40–42 cmRecorded all year · 2.03% in Oct
MallardAnas platyrhynchosResidentCommon50–65 cmRecorded all year · 1.98% in Oct
Great Black-backed GullLarus marinusResidentCommon64–79 cmRecorded all year · 1.97% in Oct
BlackbirdTurdus merulaResidentCommon24–25 cmRecorded all year · 1.91% in Oct
Eurasian OystercatcherHaematopus ostralegusResidentCommon40–45 cmRecorded all year · 1.89% in Oct
CurlewNumenius arquataResidentCommon50–60 cmRecorded all year · 1.85% in Oct
Great CormorantPhalacrocorax carboResidentCommon80–100 cmRecorded all year · 1.79% in Oct
Blue TitCyanistes caeruleusResidentCommon11–12 cmRecorded all year · 1.74% in Oct
Meadow PipitAnthus pratensisResidentCommon14–15 cmRecorded all year · 1.73% in Oct
European GoldfinchCarduelis carduelisResidentCommon12–13 cmRecorded all year · 1.51% in Oct
RedshankTringa totanusResidentCommon27–29 cmRecorded all year · 1.49% in Oct
Little EgretEgretta garzettaResidentCommon55–65 cmRecorded all year · 1.44% in Oct
Mute SwanCygnus olorResidentCommon140–160 cmRecorded all year · 1.41% in Oct
GoldcrestRegulus regulusResidentCommon9–10 cmRecorded all year · 1.38% in Oct
DunnockPrunella modularisResidentCommon14–15 cmRecorded all year · 1.34% in Oct
Rock DoveColumba liviaResidentCommon29–37 cmRecorded all year · 1.32% in Oct
ChaffinchFringilla coelebsResidentCommon14–16 cmRecorded all year · 1.31% in Oct
Common GullLarus canusResidentCommon40–46 cmRecorded all year · 1.29% in Oct
Great TitParus majorResidentCommonRecorded all year · 1.23% in Oct
StonechatSaxicola rubicolaResidentCommon12–13 cmRecorded all year · 1.22% in Oct
LinnetLinaria cannabinaResidentCommon13–14 cmRecorded all year · 1.14% in Oct
House SparrowPasser domesticusResidentCommon14–17 cmRecorded all year · 1.13% in Oct
Eurasian TealAnas creccaWinter visitorCommon34–38 cmRecorded all year · 1.10% in Oct
European ShagGulosus aristotelisResidentCommon65–80 cmRecorded all year · 0.96% in Oct
MoorhenGallinula chloropusResidentCommon30–38 cmRecorded all year · 0.92% in Oct
Rock PipitAnthus petrosusResidentCommon16–18 cmRecorded all year · 0.92% in Oct
Common RavenCorvus coraxResidentCommon54–67 cmRecorded all year · 0.91% in Oct
Ruddy TurnstoneArenaria interpresWinter visitorCommon21–24 cmRecorded all year · 0.90% in Oct
Little GrebeTachybaptus ruficollisResidentCommon23–29 cmRecorded all year · 0.87% in Oct
GreenshankTringa nebulariaWinter visitorCommon30–35 cmRegularly Jun–Apr · 0.85% in Oct
Eurasian WigeonMareca penelopeWinter visitorCommon42–51 cmRegularly Aug–Apr · 0.84% in Oct
BuzzardButeo buteoResidentCommon51–57 cmRecorded all year · 0.84% in Oct
DunlinCalidris alpinaResidentCommon16–22 cmRecorded all year · 0.81% in Oct
Northern LapwingVanellus vanellusResidentCommon28–31 cmRecorded all year · 0.80% in Oct
Black-tailed GodwitLimosa limosaResidentCommon40–44 cmRecorded all year · 0.77% in Oct
Northern GannetMorus bassanusSummer visitorCommon87–100 cmRecorded all year · 0.75% in Oct
Lesser Black-backed GullLarus fuscusResidentCommon52–64 cmRecorded all year · 0.70% in Oct
Long-tailed TitAegithalos caudatusResidentCommon13–16 cmRecorded all year · 0.68% in Oct
Ringed PloverCharadrius hiaticulaResidentCommon17–19 cmRecorded all year · 0.67% in Oct
KestrelFalco tinnunculusResidentCommon32–39 cmRecorded all year · 0.66% in Oct
Song ThrushTurdus philomelosResidentCommon20–23 cmRecorded all year · 0.64% in Oct
Coal TitPeriparus aterResidentCommon10–12 cmRecorded all year · 0.64% in Oct
Grey WagtailMotacilla cinereaResidentCommon17–20 cmRecorded all year · 0.62% in Oct
Golden PloverPluvialis apricariaWinter visitorCommon26–29 cmRegularly Aug–Apr · 0.59% in Oct
Common SnipeGallinago gallinagoResidentCommon25–27 cmRecorded all year · 0.59% in Oct
Mistle ThrushTurdus viscivorusResidentCommon26–29 cmRecorded all year · 0.55% in Oct
Eurasian SkylarkAlauda arvensisSummer visitorCommon16–18 cmRecorded all year · 0.53% in Oct
Brent GooseBranta berniclaWinter visitorCommon55–66 cmRegularly Sep–Apr · 0.52% in Oct
SparrowhawkAccipiter nisusResidentCommon28–38 cmRecorded all year · 0.51% in Oct
Bar-tailed GodwitLimosa lapponicaWinter visitorCommon37–41 cmRecorded all year · 0.50% in Oct
Barn SwallowHirundo rusticaSummer visitorCommon17–19 cmRegularly Apr–Oct · 0.48% in Oct
Eurasian Collared DoveStreptopelia decaoctoResidentCommon30–32 cmRecorded all year · 0.47% in Oct
Whooper SwanCygnus cygnusWinter visitorCommon140–165 cmRegularly Jun–Apr · 0.45% in Oct
Tufted DuckAythya fuligulaResidentCommon40–47 cmRecorded all year · 0.44% in Oct
Common PheasantPhasianus colchicusResidentCommon50–90 cmRecorded all year · 0.43% in Oct
Reed BuntingEmberiza schoeniclusResidentCommon14–16 cmRecorded all year · 0.42% in Oct
Red-billed ChoughPyrrhocorax pyrrhocoraxSummer visitorUncommon39–43 cmRecorded all year · 0.39% in Oct
Mediterranean GullIchthyaetus melanocephalusResidentCommon37–40 cmRecorded all year · 0.39% in Oct
SanderlingCalidris albaWinter visitorCommon18–20 cmRecorded all year · 0.37% in Oct
ChiffchaffPhylloscopus collybitaSummer visitorCommon10–12 cmRecorded all year · 0.35% in Oct
KittiwakeRissa tridactylaSummer visitorCommon37–41 cmRecorded all year · 0.34% in Oct
Great Crested GrebePodiceps cristatusResidentCommon46–51 cmRecorded all year · 0.34% in Oct
Northern ShovelerSpatula clypeataWinter visitorUncommon44–51 cmRecorded all year · 0.34% in Oct
RazorbillAlca tordaResidentUncommon38–43 cmRecorded all year · 0.33% in Oct
Eurasian SiskinSpinus spinusResidentUncommon11–13 cmRecorded all year · 0.33% in Oct
CootFulica atraResidentUncommon36–42 cmRecorded all year · 0.33% in Oct
RedwingTurdus iliacusWinter visitorCommon20–24 cmRegularly Oct–Mar · 0.30% in Oct
Peregrine FalconFalco peregrinusResidentUncommon34–58 cmRecorded all year · 0.29% in Oct
Red-breasted MerganserMergus serratorWinter visitorCommon52–58 cmRecorded all year · 0.29% in Oct
GreenfinchChloris chlorisResidentCommon15–16 cmRecorded all year · 0.28% in Oct
BullfinchPyrrhula pyrrhulaResidentCommon15–17 cmRecorded all year · 0.28% in Oct
Greylag GooseAnser anserResidentUncommon75–90 cmRecorded all year · 0.26% in Oct
Common RedpollAcanthis flammeaResidentUncommon12–14 cmRecorded all year · 0.26% in Oct
Black GuillemotCepphus grylleResidentCommon30–32 cmRecorded all year · 0.26% in Oct
Common ShelduckTadorna tadornaResidentCommon58–67 cmRecorded all year · 0.25% in Oct
Eurasian JayGarrulus glandariusResidentUncommon32–35 cmRecorded all year · 0.25% in Oct
Red-throated LoonGavia stellataWinter visitorUncommon53–69 cmRegularly Jul–May · 0.25% in Oct
WheatearOenanthe oenantheSummer visitorCommon15–16 cmRegularly Mar–Oct · 0.24% in Oct
Water RailRallus aquaticusResidentUncommon23–28 cmRecorded all year · 0.23% in Oct
Grey PloverPluvialis squatarolaWinter visitorUncommon27–30 cmRegularly Jul–May · 0.22% in Oct
Common LoonGavia immerWinter visitorCommon66–91 cmRegularly Sep–Jun · 0.22% in Oct
Red KnotCalidris canutusWinter visitorUncommon23–26 cmRecorded all year · 0.22% in Oct
MerlinFalco columbariusWinter visitorUncommon24–33 cmRecorded all year · 0.20% in Oct
Common KingfisherAlcedo atthisResidentUncommon16–17 cmRecorded all year · 0.20% in Oct
Sandwich TernThalasseus sandvicensisSummer visitorCommon36–41 cmRegularly Mar–Oct · 0.20% in Oct
GadwallMareca streperaResidentUncommon46–56 cmRecorded all year · 0.18% in Oct
Northern PintailAnas acutaWinter visitorUncommon59–76 cmRegularly Sep–Apr · 0.18% in Oct
BlackcapSylvia atricapillaSummer visitorCommon13–15 cmRecorded all year · 0.17% in Oct
TreecreeperCerthia familiarisResidentUncommon12–14 cmRecorded all year · 0.16% in Oct
Hen HarrierCircus cyaneusWinter visitorUncommon41–52 cmRecorded all year · 0.15% in Oct
Yellow-browed WarblerPhylloscopus inornatusPassage migrantUncommon10–11 cmRegularly Oct–Nov · 0.14% in Oct
Common ScoterMelanitta nigraWinter visitorUncommon43–54 cmRecorded all year · 0.13% in Oct
DipperCinclus cinclusResidentUncommon17–20 cmRecorded all year · 0.13% in Oct
Pink-footed GooseAnser brachyrhynchusWinter visitorUncommon60–75 cmRegularly Sep–May · 0.12% in Oct
RuffCalidris pugnaxWinter visitorUncommon20–32 cmRegularly Jul–Apr · 0.10% in Oct
Manx ShearwaterPuffinus puffinusSummer visitorCommon30–38 cmRegularly Mar–Oct · 0.10% in Oct
Willow WarblerPhylloscopus trochilusSummer visitorCommon11–13 cmRegularly Mar–Oct · 0.09% in Oct
Stock DoveColumba oenasResidentUncommon32–34 cmRecorded all year · 0.09% in Oct
House MartinDelichon urbicumSummer visitorCommon13–15 cmRegularly Apr–Oct · 0.09% in Oct
Great Spotted WoodpeckerDendrocopos majorResidentUncommon23–26 cmRecorded all year · 0.08% in Oct
Sooty ShearwaterArdenna griseaPassage migrantUncommon40–51 cmRegularly Jul–Oct · 0.08% in Oct
WhimbrelNumenius phaeopusSummer visitorCommon40–46 cmRecorded all year · 0.08% in Oct
Western Marsh-harrierCircus aeruginosusResidentUncommon48–56 cmRecorded all year · 0.08% in Oct
Curlew SandpiperCalidris ferrugineaPassage migrantUncommon18–23 cmRegularly Aug–Oct · 0.08% in Oct
Red KiteMilvus milvusResidentUncommon60–66 cmRecorded all year · 0.07% in Oct
Barnacle GooseBranta leucopsisWinter visitorUncommon58–70 cmRegularly Sep–Apr · 0.07% in Oct
FulmarFulmarus glacialisSummer visitorCommon45–50 cmRegularly Dec–Oct · 0.06% in Oct
Great SkuaStercorarius skuaSummer visitorUncommon50–58 cmRegularly May–Oct · 0.06% in Oct
YellowhammerEmberiza citrinellaResidentUncommon16–17 cmRecorded all year · 0.06% in Oct
Common TernSterna hirundoSummer visitorCommon31–35 cmRegularly Apr–Oct · 0.06% in Oct
FieldfareTurdus pilarisWinter visitorUncommon22–27 cmRegularly Oct–Mar · 0.06% in Oct
Arctic JaegerStercorarius parasiticusPassage migrantUncommon41–46 cmRegularly Jul–Oct · 0.06% in Oct
Great ShearwaterArdenna gravisPassage migrantUncommon43–51 cmRegularly Jul–Oct · 0.06% in Oct
Spotted FlycatcherMuscicapa striataSummer visitorUncommon14–16 cmRegularly May–Oct · 0.05% in Oct
Lesser WhitethroatCurruca currucaPassage migrantRare11–13 cmRegularly May–Oct · 0.05% in Oct
Arctic TernSterna paradisaeaSummer visitorUncommon33–39 cmRegularly Apr–Oct · 0.05% in Oct
Greater ScaupAythya marilaWinter visitorUncommon39–56 cmRegularly Oct–Apr · 0.04% in Oct
Purple SandpiperCalidris maritimaWinter visitorUncommon20–22 cmRegularly Sep–May · 0.04% in Oct
Common SandpiperActitis hypoleucosSummer visitorUncommon18–20 cmRecorded all year · 0.04% in Oct
Yellow-legged GullLarus michahellisResidentRare52–68 cmRecorded all year · 0.04% in Oct
Greater White-fronted GooseAnser albifronsWinter visitorUncommon64–81 cmRegularly Oct–Mar · 0.04% in Oct
Great White EgretArdea albaWinter visitorRare80–104 cmRecorded all year · 0.04% in Oct
Short-eared OwlAsio flammeusPassage migrantUncommon34–43 cmRegularly Sep–May · 0.03% in Oct
Bearded TitPanurus biarmicusSummer visitorRare13–15 cmRecorded all year · 0.03% in Oct
Cattle EgretArdea ibisWinter visitorRare46–56 cmRegularly Oct–May · 0.03% in Oct
Glossy IbisPlegadis falcinellusWinter visitorRare48–66 cmRegularly Aug–Jun · 0.03% in Oct
Little StintCalidris minutaPassage migrantUncommon13–15 cmRegularly Aug–Oct · 0.03% in Oct
Red CrossbillLoxia curvirostraResidentUncommon15–17 cmRecorded all year · 0.03% in Oct
European Storm-petrelHydrobates pelagicusSummer visitorUncommon14–18 cmRegularly May–Oct · 0.03% in Oct
FirecrestRegulus ignicapillaPassage migrantRare9–10 cmRegularly Oct–Jan · 0.03% in Oct
Lesser YellowlegsTringa flavipesPassage migrantRare23–27 cmRegularly Mar–Oct · 0.03% in Oct
Little GullHydrocoloeus minutusResidentUncommon25–30 cmRecorded all year · 0.03% in Oct
European Pied FlycatcherFicedula hypoleucaPassage migrantRare12–14 cmRegularly Sep–Oct · 0.03% in Oct
Green SandpiperTringa ochropusWinter visitorUncommon21–24 cmRegularly Jul–Apr · 0.03% in Oct
Grey PhalaropePhalaropus fulicariusPassage migrantUncommon20–22 cmRegularly Aug–Oct · 0.03% in Oct
Eurasian Tree SparrowPasser montanusResidentRare13–14 cmRecorded all year · 0.03% in Oct
Snow BuntingPlectrophenax nivalisWinter visitorRare15–18 cmRegularly Oct–Mar · 0.03% in Oct
American Golden-PloverPluvialis dominicaPassage migrantRare24–28 cmRegularly Sep–Nov · 0.02% in Oct
Common Reed-warblerAcrocephalus scirpaceusSummer visitorUncommon13–14 cmRegularly Apr–Oct · 0.02% in Oct
Long-tailed DuckClangula hyemalisWinter visitorUncommon37–60 cmRegularly Oct–Apr · 0.02% in Oct
Atlantic PuffinFratercula arcticaSummer visitorUncommon28–34 cmRegularly Apr–Oct · 0.02% in Oct
PochardAythya ferinaWinter visitorUncommon42–49 cmRecorded all year · 0.02% in Oct
EiderSomateria mollissimaResidentUncommon50–71 cmRecorded all year · 0.02% in Oct
Spotted RedshankTringa erythropusWinter visitorRare29–31 cmRegularly Jul–Apr · 0.02% in Oct
Pomarine JaegerStercorarius pomarinusPassage migrantUncommon46–51 cmRegularly Jul–Oct · 0.02% in Oct
White-tailed Sea-eagleHaliaeetus albicillaResidentRare66–94 cmRecorded all year · 0.02% in Oct
European Turtle-doveStreptopelia turturPassage migrantRare26–28 cmRegularly Jun–Oct · 0.02% in Oct
GoldeneyeBucephala clangulaWinter visitorUncommon40–51 cmRegularly Oct–Apr · 0.02% in Oct
Ring OuzelTurdus torquatusPassage migrantRare23–24 cmRegularly Oct · 0.02% in Oct
Jack SnipeLymnocryptes minimusWinter visitorRare17–19 cmRegularly Sep–Apr · 0.02% in Oct
Canada GooseBranta canadensisResidentRare76–110 cmRecorded all year · 0.02% in Oct
GarganeySpatula querquedulaPassage migrantRare37–41 cmRegularly Apr–Oct · 0.02% in Oct
Black RedstartPhoenicurus ochrurosWinter visitorUncommon13–15 cmRegularly Oct–Apr · 0.02% in Oct
OspreyPandion haliaetusSummer visitorRare54–58 cmRegularly Apr–Oct · 0.01% in Oct
Semipalmated SandpiperCalidris pusillaPassage migrantRare15–18 cmRegularly Sep–Oct · 0.01% in Oct
Carrion CrowCorvus coroneWinter visitorRare45–47 cmRecorded all year · 0.01% in Oct
Barn OwlTyto albaResidentRare33–39 cmRecorded all year · 0.01% in Oct
Common MerganserMergus merganserWinter visitorUncommon58–68 cmRegularly Oct–May · 0.01% in Oct
Mandarin DuckAix galericulataResidentRare41–49 cmRegularly Sep–Jul · 0.01% in Oct
Pectoral SandpiperCalidris melanotosPassage migrantUncommon19–23 cmRegularly Aug–Oct · 0.01% in Oct
BramblingFringilla montifringillaWinter visitorRare14–16 cmRegularly Oct–Mar · 0.01% in Oct
Leach's Storm-petrelHydrobates leucorhousPassage migrantUncommon18–21 cmRegularly Aug–Oct · 0.01% in Oct
Long-eared OwlAsio otusResidentRare35–40 cmRegularly Oct–Aug · 0.01% in Oct
Sabine's GullXema sabiniPassage migrantUncommon27–33 cmRegularly Jul–Oct · 0.01% in Oct
Common RosefinchCarpodacus erythrinusPassage migrantRare13–15 cmRegularly Oct · 0.01% in Oct
Lapland LongspurCalcarius lapponicusPassage migrantRare15–16 cmRegularly Sep–Oct · 0.01% in Oct
Ring-billed GullLarus delawarensisWinter visitorUncommon43–54 cmRegularly Oct–Mar · 0.01% in Oct
Red GrouseLagopus scoticaResidentRare37–42 cmRecorded all year · 0.01% in Oct
Yellow WagtailMotacilla flavaPassage migrantRare15–17 cmRegularly Apr–Oct · 0.01% in Oct
Garden WarblerSylvia borinSummer visitorRare14–15 cmRegularly May–Oct · 0.01% in Oct
White-rumped SandpiperCalidris fuscicollisPassage migrantRare15–18 cmRegularly Jul–Oct · 0.01% in Oct
Buff-breasted SandpiperCalidris subruficollisPassage migrantRare18–20 cmRegularly Sep–Oct · 0.01% in Oct
WryneckJynx torquillaPassage migrantRare16–18 cmRegularly Sep–Oct · 0.01% in Oct
Arctic LoonGavia arcticaWinter visitorRare58–77 cmRegularly Sep–May · 0.01% in Oct
Common RedstartPhoenicurus phoenicurusPassage migrantRare13–15 cmRegularly Sep–Oct · 0.01% in Oct
Black TernChlidonias nigerPassage migrantRare22–26 cmRegularly Aug–Oct · 0.01% in Oct
DotterelEudromias morinellusScarceRare20–22 cmRegularly Oct · 0.01% in Oct
Long-tailed JaegerStercorarius longicaudusPassage migrantUncommon48–58 cmRegularly Jul–Oct · 0.01% in Oct
Pacific LoonGavia pacificaPassage migrantRare58–74 cmRegularly Oct–Nov · 0.01% in Oct
Wood SandpiperTringa glareolaPassage migrantUncommon19–21 cmRegularly Jul–Oct · 0.01% in Oct
TwiteLinaria flavirostrisResidentRare13–14 cmRegularly Oct–Jul · 0.00% in Oct
Eurasian SpoonbillPlatalea leucorodiaResidentRare80–90 cmRegularly Oct–Jul · 0.00% in Oct
Grey PartridgePerdix perdixPassage migrantRare28–32 cmRegularly Apr–Jan · 0.00% in Oct
WhinchatSaxicola rubetraSummer visitorRare12–14 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