Birds to See in Japan in October
132 bird species on our list for Japan are recorded regularly in October
Of these, the most often recorded are Eurasian Tree Sparrow, Pied Wagtail, Grey Heron, Carrion Crow and Great Cormorant. New this month: Dusky Thrush, Gadwall, Red-breasted Merganser and Reed Bunting and 22 more.
On the move in October
GBIF · OctArriving
At their peak
From Japan’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 132 birds in October
132 birds
Eurasian Tree SparrowPasser montanusResidentCommon13–14 cmRecorded all year · 3.93% in Oct
Pied WagtailMotacilla albaResidentCommon17–19 cmRecorded all year · 3.63% in Oct
Grey HeronArdea cinereaResidentCommon90–98 cmRecorded all year · 3.51% in Oct
Carrion CrowCorvus coroneResidentCommon45–47 cmRecorded all year · 3.18% in Oct
Great CormorantPhalacrocorax carboResidentCommon80–100 cmRecorded all year · 2.69% in Oct
Great White EgretArdea albaResidentCommon80–104 cmRecorded all year · 2.58% in Oct
Rock DoveColumba liviaResidentCommon31–34 cmRecorded all year · 2.56% in Oct
Little EgretEgretta garzettaResidentCommon55–65 cmRecorded all year · 2.25% in Oct
Eurasian TealAnas creccaWinter visitorCommon34–38 cmRegularly Sep–May · 1.74% in Oct
Common KingfisherAlcedo atthisResidentCommon16–17 cmRecorded all year · 1.56% in Oct
MallardAnas platyrhynchosResidentCommon50–65 cmRecorded all year · 1.51% in Oct
Little GrebeTachybaptus ruficollisResidentCommon23–29 cmRecorded all year · 1.50% in Oct
Japanese WagtailMotacilla grandisResidentCommon20–23 cmRecorded all year · 1.48% in Oct
Eurasian WigeonMareca penelopeWinter visitorCommon42–51 cmRegularly Sep–Jun · 1.27% in Oct
Grey WagtailMotacilla cinereaResidentCommon17–20 cmRecorded all year · 1.12% in Oct
Long-tailed TitAegithalos caudatusResidentCommon13–16 cmRecorded all year · 1.08% in Oct
CootFulica atraWinter visitorCommon36–42 cmRecorded all year · 1.03% in Oct
Common SandpiperActitis hypoleucosWinter visitorCommon18–20 cmRecorded all year · 1.02% in Oct
Blue Rock-thrushMonticola solitariusResidentCommon21–23 cmRecorded all year · 0.95% in Oct
Black-tailed GullLarus crassirostrisSummer visitorCommon43–51 cmRecorded all year · 0.80% in Oct
OspreyPandion haliaetusResidentCommon54–58 cmRecorded all year · 0.73% in Oct
Northern PintailAnas acutaWinter visitorCommon59–76 cmRecorded all year · 0.66% in Oct
Eurasian JayGarrulus glandariusResidentCommon32–35 cmRecorded all year · 0.60% in Oct
Tufted DuckAythya fuligulaWinter visitorCommon40–47 cmRegularly Sep–Jun · 0.58% in Oct
Northern ShovelerSpatula clypeataWinter visitorCommon44–51 cmRegularly Sep–Jun · 0.57% in Oct
Eurasian SkylarkAlauda arvensisResidentCommon16–18 cmRecorded all year · 0.47% in Oct
PochardAythya ferinaWinter visitorCommon42–49 cmRecorded all year · 0.46% in Oct
MoorhenGallinula chloropusResidentUncommon30–38 cmRecorded all year · 0.44% in Oct
Great Spotted WoodpeckerDendrocopos majorResidentCommon23–26 cmRecorded all year · 0.40% in Oct
Black-headed GullChroicocephalus ridibundusWinter visitorCommon38–44 cmRegularly Aug–Jun · 0.36% in Oct
Barn SwallowHirundo rusticaSummer visitorCommon17–19 cmRegularly Mar–Oct · 0.35% in Oct
Eurasian NuthatchSitta europaeaResidentUncommon12–15 cmRecorded all year · 0.34% in Oct
Coal TitPeriparus aterResidentCommon10–12 cmRecorded all year · 0.33% in Oct
KestrelFalco tinnunculusResidentUncommon32–39 cmRecorded all year · 0.33% in Oct
Black-crowned Night-heronNycticorax nycticoraxResidentCommon58–65 cmRecorded all year · 0.29% in Oct
Greater ScaupAythya marilaResidentCommon39–56 cmRecorded all year · 0.29% in Oct
BramblingFringilla montifringillaWinter visitorUncommon14–16 cmRegularly Oct–May · 0.27% in Oct
GreenshankTringa nebulariaWinter visitorCommon30–35 cmRegularly Jul–May · 0.25% in Oct
Marsh TitPoecile palustrisResidentUncommon12–13 cmRecorded all year · 0.23% in Oct
Great Crested GrebePodiceps cristatusWinter visitorCommon46–51 cmRecorded all year · 0.23% in Oct
DunlinCalidris alpinaWinter visitorUncommon16–22 cmRegularly Aug–May · 0.22% in Oct
Dusky ThrushTurdus eunomusWinter visitorCommon23–25 cmRegularly Oct–May · 0.22% in Oct
Rose-ringed ParakeetPsittacula krameriResidentUncommon38–42 cmRecorded all year · 0.21% in Oct
Common SnipeGallinago gallinagoWinter visitorUncommon25–27 cmRegularly Aug–May · 0.21% in Oct
Willow TitPoecile montanusResidentUncommon11–12 cmRecorded all year · 0.19% in Oct
Little Ringed PloverThinornis dubiusSummer visitorCommon14–17 cmRecorded all year · 0.18% in Oct
SparrowhawkAccipiter nisusWinter visitorUncommon28–38 cmRegularly Aug–May · 0.17% in Oct
Kentish PloverCharadrius alexandrinusResidentUncommon15–17 cmRecorded all year · 0.15% in Oct
Mandarin DuckAix galericulataResidentUncommon41–49 cmRecorded all year · 0.14% in Oct
Whooper SwanCygnus cygnusWinter visitorUncommon140–165 cmRegularly Sep–Jun · 0.14% in Oct
GadwallMareca streperaWinter visitorCommon46–56 cmRegularly Oct–Jun · 0.14% in Oct
Grey PloverPluvialis squatarolaWinter visitorUncommon27–30 cmRecorded all year · 0.13% in Oct
HawfinchCoccothraustes coccothraustesWinter visitorCommon17–18 cmRegularly Aug–Jun · 0.13% in Oct
Eurasian SiskinSpinus spinusResidentUncommon11–13 cmRegularly Sep–Jul · 0.13% in Oct
Eurasian OystercatcherHaematopus ostralegusResidentUncommon40–45 cmRecorded all year · 0.12% in Oct
Greater White-fronted GooseAnser albifronsWinter visitorUncommon64–81 cmRegularly Sep–May · 0.11% in Oct
SanderlingCalidris albaWinter visitorUncommon18–20 cmRegularly Jul–May · 0.11% in Oct
Green SandpiperTringa ochropusWinter visitorUncommon21–24 cmRegularly Jul–May · 0.10% in Oct
Wood SandpiperTringa glareolaPassage migrantUncommon19–21 cmRegularly Feb–Dec · 0.10% in Oct
Mute SwanCygnus olorResidentUncommon140–160 cmRecorded all year · 0.10% in Oct
White-tailed Sea-eagleHaliaeetus albicillaWinter visitorUncommon66–94 cmRegularly Aug–Feb · 0.10% in Oct
Pacific Golden-PloverPluvialis fulvaWinter visitorUncommon23–26 cmRegularly Jul–May · 0.10% in Oct
Tundra SwanCygnus columbianusWinter visitorUncommon120–150 cmRegularly Oct–Apr · 0.10% in Oct
Vega GullLarus vegaeWinter visitorUncommon55–67 cmRegularly Sep–May · 0.10% in Oct
Eurasian WrenTroglodytes troglodytesResidentUncommon9–10 cmRecorded all year · 0.09% in Oct
GoldcrestRegulus regulusResidentUncommon9–10 cmRecorded all year · 0.09% in Oct
TreecreeperCerthia familiarisResidentUncommon12–14 cmRecorded all year · 0.09% in Oct
Red-flanked BluetailTarsiger cyanurusResidentUncommon13–14 cmRecorded all year · 0.08% in Oct
Common MerganserMergus merganserWinter visitorUncommon58–68 cmRecorded all year · 0.08% in Oct
Bar-tailed GodwitLimosa lapponicaSummer visitorUncommon37–41 cmRegularly Mar–Oct · 0.08% in Oct
Reed BuntingEmberiza schoeniclusResidentUncommon14–16 cmRegularly Oct–Aug · 0.08% in Oct
Temminck's StintCalidris temminckiiWinter visitorUncommon13–15 cmRegularly Aug–May · 0.07% in Oct
Tundra Bean GooseAnser serrirostrisWinter visitorUncommon66–84 cmRegularly Sep–Apr · 0.07% in Oct
Black-necked GrebePodiceps nigricollisWinter visitorUncommon28–34 cmRegularly Sep–Apr · 0.07% in Oct
Sand MartinRiparia ripariaSummer visitorUncommon12–14 cmRegularly Apr–Oct · 0.06% in Oct
Black-tailed GodwitLimosa limosaPassage migrantUncommon40–44 cmRegularly Apr–Nov · 0.06% in Oct
Spotted RedshankTringa erythropusWinter visitorUncommon29–31 cmRegularly Sep–May · 0.06% in Oct
GarganeySpatula querquedulaWinter visitorUncommon37–41 cmRegularly Aug–Jun · 0.06% in Oct
Sharp-tailed SandpiperCalidris acuminataPassage migrantUncommon17–22 cmRegularly Apr–Nov · 0.05% in Oct
Swan GooseAnser cygnoidesWinter visitorUncommon81–94 cmRegularly Jul–May · 0.05% in Oct
Taiga Bean GooseAnser fabalisWinter visitorUncommon68–88 cmRegularly Sep–Apr · 0.05% in Oct
Common GullLarus canusWinter visitorUncommon40–46 cmRegularly Oct–May · 0.05% in Oct
Red CrossbillLoxia curvirostraWinter visitorUncommon15–17 cmRegularly Oct–Jun · 0.05% in Oct
Scaly-breasted MuniaLonchura punctulataResidentUncommon11–12 cmRecorded all year · 0.05% in Oct
RedshankTringa totanusWinter visitorUncommon27–29 cmRecorded all year · 0.04% in Oct
RookCorvus frugilegusWinter visitorUncommon45–47 cmRegularly Oct–Apr · 0.04% in Oct
WhimbrelNumenius phaeopusSummer visitorUncommon40–46 cmRegularly Jan–Oct · 0.04% in Oct
CurlewNumenius arquataWinter visitorUncommon50–60 cmRegularly Jul–May · 0.04% in Oct
Red-breasted MerganserMergus serratorWinter visitorCommon52–58 cmRegularly Oct–May · 0.04% in Oct
BullfinchPyrrhula pyrrhulaResidentUncommon15–17 cmRecorded all year · 0.04% in Oct
Common TernSterna hirundoSummer visitorUncommon31–35 cmRegularly Mar–Dec · 0.04% in Oct
Oriental Honey-buzzardPernis ptilorhynchusPassage migrantUncommon52–68 cmRegularly Sep–Oct · 0.04% in Oct
Glaucous GullLarus hyperboreusWinter visitorUncommon62–68 cmRegularly Oct–Apr · 0.03% in Oct
WryneckJynx torquillaResidentUncommon16–18 cmRecorded all year · 0.03% in Oct
KittiwakeRissa tridactylaResidentUncommon37–41 cmRegularly Sep–Jul · 0.03% in Oct
Yellow-browed WarblerPhylloscopus inornatusWinter visitorRare10–11 cmRegularly Oct–May · 0.03% in Oct
Cackling GooseBranta hutchinsiiWinter visitorRare53–76 cmRegularly Sep–Apr · 0.03% in Oct
RuffCalidris pugnaxPassage migrantUncommon20–32 cmRegularly Apr–Oct · 0.03% in Oct
Lesser Black-backed GullLarus fuscusWinter visitorUncommon52–64 cmRegularly Sep–Apr · 0.03% in Oct
Long-billed DowitcherLimnodromus scolopaceusWinter visitorRare27–30 cmRegularly Aug–Apr · 0.03% in Oct
Ruddy TurnstoneArenaria interpresPassage migrantUncommon21–24 cmRegularly Jan–Oct · 0.03% in Oct
Common RedpollAcanthis flammeaWinter visitorUncommon12–14 cmRegularly Oct–May · 0.03% in Oct
Crested MynaAcridotheres cristatellusResidentRare24–27 cmRecorded all year · 0.02% in Oct
HobbyFalco subbuteoSummer visitorRare28–35 cmRegularly May–Oct · 0.02% in Oct
Red KnotCalidris canutusPassage migrantUncommon23–26 cmRegularly Apr–Nov · 0.02% in Oct
Common StarlingSturnus vulgarisWinter visitorUncommon21–23 cmRegularly Sep–May · 0.02% in Oct
Snow GooseAnser caerulescensWinter visitorRare69–84 cmRegularly Oct–Apr · 0.02% in Oct
Pectoral SandpiperCalidris melanotosPassage migrantRare19–23 cmRegularly Aug–Oct · 0.02% in Oct
FulmarFulmarus glacialisSummer visitorRare45–50 cmRegularly Feb–Nov · 0.02% in Oct
Pomarine JaegerStercorarius pomarinusSummer visitorUncommon46–51 cmRegularly Feb–Dec · 0.01% in Oct
Red-necked GrebePodiceps grisegenaWinter visitorUncommon40–50 cmRegularly Oct–Jul · 0.01% in Oct
Japanese WaxwingBombycilla japonicaWinter visitorUncommon18–21 cmRegularly Oct–May · 0.01% in Oct
Eurasian SpoonbillPlatalea leucorodiaWinter visitorUncommon80–90 cmRegularly Jul–May · 0.01% in Oct
MerlinFalco columbariusWinter visitorUncommon24–33 cmRegularly Oct–Apr · 0.01% in Oct
Ringed PloverCharadrius hiaticulaWinter visitorRare17–19 cmRegularly Aug–Apr · 0.01% in Oct
Eurasian WoodcockScolopax rusticolaResidentRare33–38 cmRegularly Oct–Aug · 0.01% in Oct
Hen HarrierCircus cyaneusWinter visitorUncommon41–52 cmRegularly Oct–Apr · 0.01% in Oct
Horned GrebePodiceps auritusWinter visitorUncommon31–38 cmRegularly Oct–Apr · 0.01% in Oct
Arctic JaegerStercorarius parasiticusPassage migrantRare41–46 cmRegularly Apr–Nov · 0.01% in Oct
Rock PtarmiganLagopus mutaSummer visitorRare34–36 cmRegularly Apr–Oct · 0.01% in Oct
Leach's Storm-petrelHydrobates leucorhousSummer visitorRare18–21 cmRegularly Apr–Nov · 0.01% in Oct
Muscovy DuckCairina moschataResidentRare66–84 cmRecorded all year · 0.01% in Oct
Bohemian WaxwingBombycilla garrulusWinter visitorUncommon19–23 cmRegularly Oct–May · 0.01% in Oct
Brent GooseBranta berniclaWinter visitorRare55–66 cmRegularly Oct–May · 0.01% in Oct
Lesser Spotted WoodpeckerDryobates minorSummer visitorRare14–16 cmRegularly Oct–Jul · 0.01% in Oct
Little StintCalidris minutaPassage migrantRare13–15 cmRegularly Apr–Jan · 0.01% in Oct
Sooty ShearwaterArdenna griseaSummer visitorUncommon40–51 cmRegularly Apr–Oct · 0.01% in Oct
Pacific LoonGavia pacificaWinter visitorRare58–74 cmRegularly Oct–Jun · 0.01% in Oct
Tree PipitAnthus trivialisPassage migrantRare14–16 cmRegularly Oct · 0.01% in Oct
Red-necked PhalaropePhalaropus lobatusSummer visitorUncommon18–19 cmRegularly Apr–Oct · 0.00% in Oct
AvocetRecurvirostra avosettaWinter visitorRare42–45 cmRegularly Oct–May · 0.00% in Oct
Lesser WhitethroatCurruca currucaScarceRare11–13 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