Birds to See in South Africa in October
100 bird species on our list for South Africa are recorded regularly in October
Of these, the most often recorded are Egyptian Goose, Pied Crow, Helmeted Guineafowl, Fork-tailed Drongo and Southern Masked Weaver. New this month: Barn Swallow, Spotted Flycatcher, Willow Warbler and Marsh Warbler and 12 more.
On the move in October
GBIF · OctArriving
At their peak
From South Africa’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 100 birds in October
100 birds
Egyptian GooseAlopochen aegyptiacaResidentCommon63–73 cmRecorded all year · 1.59% in Oct
Pied CrowCorvus albusResidentCommon46–52 cmRecorded all year · 1.02% in Oct
Helmeted GuineafowlNumida meleagrisResidentCommon53–63 cmRecorded all year · 0.95% in Oct
Fork-tailed DrongoDicrurus adsimilisResidentCommon23–26 cmRecorded all year · 0.90% in Oct
Southern Masked WeaverPloceus velatusResidentCommon13–15 cmRecorded all year · 0.88% in Oct
Cape SparrowPasser melanurusResidentCommon14–16 cmRecorded all year · 0.84% in Oct
Cape StarlingLamprotornis nitensResidentCommon25–28 cmRecorded all year · 0.66% in Oct
House SparrowPasser domesticusResidentCommon14–17 cmRecorded all year · 0.62% in Oct
Cattle EgretArdea ibisResidentCommon46–56 cmRecorded all year · 0.60% in Oct
Grey HeronArdea cinereaResidentCommon90–98 cmRecorded all year · 0.55% in Oct
Lesser Striped SwallowCecropis abyssinicaSummer visitorCommon15–19 cmRegularly Jul–May · 0.51% in Oct
HoopoeUpupa epopsResidentCommon25–32 cmRecorded all year · 0.49% in Oct
Common StarlingSturnus vulgarisResidentCommon21–23 cmRecorded all year · 0.49% in Oct
Spur-winged GoosePlectropterus gambensisResidentUncommon75–115 cmRecorded all year · 0.41% in Oct
Barn SwallowHirundo rusticaSummer visitorCommon17–19 cmRegularly Oct–Apr · 0.40% in Oct
Great CormorantPhalacrocorax carboResidentCommon80–100 cmRecorded all year · 0.40% in Oct
MoorhenGallinula chloropusResidentCommon30–38 cmRecorded all year · 0.38% in Oct
Little GrebeTachybaptus ruficollisResidentUncommon23–29 cmRecorded all year · 0.36% in Oct
Little EgretEgretta garzettaResidentUncommon55–65 cmRecorded all year · 0.35% in Oct
Rock DoveColumba liviaResidentCommon31–34 cmRecorded all year · 0.34% in Oct
European Bee-eaterMerops apiasterSummer visitorUncommon27–29 cmRegularly Sep–Apr · 0.32% in Oct
Magpie ShrikeUrolestes melanoleucusResidentUncommon35–50 cmRecorded all year · 0.31% in Oct
African JacanaActophilornis africanusResidentUncommon23–31 cmRecorded all year · 0.26% in Oct
Common OstrichStruthio camelusResidentUncommon210–275 cmRecorded all year · 0.26% in Oct
Glossy IbisPlegadis falcinellusResidentUncommon48–66 cmRecorded all year · 0.23% in Oct
GreenshankTringa nebulariaSummer visitorUncommon30–35 cmRecorded all year · 0.21% in Oct
Great White EgretArdea albaResidentUncommon80–104 cmRecorded all year · 0.21% in Oct
Wood SandpiperTringa glareolaSummer visitorUncommon19–21 cmRegularly Aug–Apr · 0.20% in Oct
Greater FlamingoPhoenicopterus roseusResidentUncommon120–145 cmRecorded all year · 0.20% in Oct
Common SandpiperActitis hypoleucosSummer visitorUncommon18–20 cmRegularly Jul–Apr · 0.17% in Oct
Purple HeronArdea purpureaResidentUncommon78–90 cmRecorded all year · 0.16% in Oct
Little StintCalidris minutaSummer visitorUncommon13–15 cmRegularly Aug–Apr · 0.15% in Oct
Alpine SwiftTachymarptis melbaResidentUncommon20–23 cmRecorded all year · 0.14% in Oct
AvocetRecurvirostra avosettaResidentUncommon42–45 cmRecorded all year · 0.14% in Oct
BuzzardButeo buteoSummer visitorCommon51–57 cmRegularly Aug–Apr · 0.14% in Oct
Common TernSterna hirundoResidentUncommon31–35 cmRecorded all year · 0.13% in Oct
Common Reed-warblerAcrocephalus scirpaceusSummer visitorUncommon13–14 cmRecorded all year · 0.13% in Oct
Ringed PloverCharadrius hiaticulaSummer visitorUncommon17–19 cmRegularly Sep–May · 0.12% in Oct
Squacco HeronArdeola ralloidesResidentUncommon40–49 cmRecorded all year · 0.11% in Oct
African Marsh HarrierCircus ranivorusResidentUncommon44–52 cmRecorded all year · 0.11% in Oct
Sandwich TernThalasseus sandvicensisSummer visitorUncommon36–41 cmRecorded all year · 0.10% in Oct
Curlew SandpiperCalidris ferrugineaSummer visitorUncommon18–23 cmRecorded all year · 0.10% in Oct
SecretarybirdSagittarius serpentariusResidentUncommon112–150 cmRecorded all year · 0.09% in Oct
WhimbrelNumenius phaeopusResidentUncommon40–46 cmRecorded all year · 0.09% in Oct
Rose-ringed ParakeetPsittacula krameriResidentUncommon38–42 cmRecorded all year · 0.08% in Oct
RuffCalidris pugnaxSummer visitorUncommon20–32 cmRegularly Jul–May · 0.08% in Oct
Black-necked GrebePodiceps nigricollisResidentUncommon28–34 cmRecorded all year · 0.08% in Oct
Booted EagleHieraaetus pennatusResidentUncommon42–51 cmRecorded all year · 0.08% in Oct
Willow WarblerPhylloscopus trochilusSummer visitorUncommon11–13 cmRegularly Oct–Apr · 0.07% in Oct
Black-crowned Night-heronNycticorax nycticoraxResidentUncommon58–65 cmRecorded all year · 0.07% in Oct
Lanner FalconFalco biarmicusResidentUncommon43–50 cmRecorded all year · 0.07% in Oct
African PenguinSpheniscus demersusResidentUncommon60–70 cmRecorded all year · 0.07% in Oct
Great Crested GrebePodiceps cristatusResidentUncommon46–51 cmRecorded all year · 0.06% in Oct
Common QuailCoturnix coturnixResidentUncommon16–18 cmRecorded all year · 0.06% in Oct
Grey PloverPluvialis squatarolaSummer visitorUncommon27–30 cmRecorded all year · 0.05% in Oct
Ruddy TurnstoneArenaria interpresSummer visitorRare21–24 cmRecorded all year · 0.05% in Oct
SanderlingCalidris albaSummer visitorUncommon18–20 cmRegularly Jul–May · 0.05% in Oct
Peregrine FalconFalco peregrinusResidentUncommon34–58 cmRecorded all year · 0.04% in Oct
Fulvous Whistling-DuckDendrocygna bicolorResidentUncommon45–53 cmRecorded all year · 0.04% in Oct
House MartinDelichon urbicumSummer visitorUncommon13–15 cmRegularly Sep–May · 0.04% in Oct
Bar-tailed GodwitLimosa lapponicaSummer visitorRare37–41 cmRecorded all year · 0.04% in Oct
White-chinned PetrelProcellaria aequinoctialisResidentUncommon50–58 cmRecorded all year · 0.04% in Oct
ChaffinchFringilla coelebsResidentRare14–16 cmRecorded all year · 0.03% in Oct
OspreyPandion haliaetusResidentUncommon54–58 cmRecorded all year · 0.03% in Oct
Barn OwlTyto albaResidentRare33–39 cmRecorded all year · 0.03% in Oct
Crowned EagleStephanoaetus coronatusResidentRare80–99 cmRecorded all year · 0.03% in Oct
Pale-winged StarlingOnychognathus nabouroupResidentRare25–28 cmRecorded all year · 0.03% in Oct
Sooty ShearwaterArdenna griseaWinter visitorUncommon40–51 cmRecorded all year · 0.02% in Oct
Little BitternIxobrychus minutusResidentRare33–38 cmRecorded all year · 0.02% in Oct
White-bellied BustardEupodotis senegalensisResidentRare48–61 cmRecorded all year · 0.02% in Oct
MallardAnas platyrhynchosResidentRare50–65 cmRecorded all year · 0.02% in Oct
White-winged TernChlidonias leucopterusSummer visitorRare20–27 cmRegularly Jul–May · 0.02% in Oct
Common SwiftApus apusSummer visitorUncommon16–17 cmRegularly Sep–Apr · 0.02% in Oct
Great ShearwaterArdenna gravisResidentRare43–51 cmRecorded all year · 0.02% in Oct
Little TernSternula albifronsSummer visitorRare21–25 cmRegularly Aug–May · 0.02% in Oct
Spotted FlycatcherMuscicapa striataSummer visitorUncommon14–16 cmRegularly Oct–Apr · 0.02% in Oct
Arctic JaegerStercorarius parasiticusSummer visitorRare41–46 cmRegularly Sep–Jun · 0.01% in Oct
Sabine's GullXema sabiniSummer visitorRare27–33 cmRegularly Sep–Apr · 0.01% in Oct
Indian PeafowlPavo cristatusResidentRare86–230 cmRecorded all year · 0.01% in Oct
Sand MartinRiparia ripariaSummer visitorRare12–14 cmRegularly Oct–Apr · 0.01% in Oct
CurlewNumenius arquataResidentRare50–60 cmRecorded all year · 0.01% in Oct
Arctic TernSterna paradisaeaSummer visitorRare33–39 cmRegularly Aug–Mar · 0.01% in Oct
African Pygmy-falconPolihierax semitorquatusResidentRare19–20 cmRecorded all year · 0.01% in Oct
Marsh WarblerAcrocephalus palustrisSummer visitorUncommon13–14 cmRegularly Oct–Apr · 0.01% in Oct
Garden WarblerSylvia borinSummer visitorRare14–15 cmRegularly Oct–Apr · 0.00% in Oct
Red KnotCalidris canutusSummer visitorRare23–26 cmRegularly Sep–Apr · 0.00% in Oct
Red-necked PhalaropePhalaropus lobatusSummer visitorRare18–19 cmRegularly Aug–Apr · 0.00% in Oct
ChukarAlectoris chukarPassage migrantRare32–38 cmRegularly Jul–Mar · 0.00% in Oct
Eurasian OystercatcherHaematopus ostralegusSummer visitorRare40–45 cmRegularly Oct–Jan · 0.00% in Oct
Green SandpiperTringa ochropusSummer visitorRare21–24 cmRegularly Sep–Jan · 0.00% in Oct
King PenguinAptenodytes patagonicusPassage migrantRare70–100 cmRegularly Oct · 0.00% in Oct
Southern Royal AlbatrossDiomedea epomophoraPassage migrantRare115–123 cmRegularly Jul–Oct · 0.00% in Oct
Damara TernSternula balaenarumSummer visitorRare22–24 cmRegularly Sep–May · 0.00% in Oct
European Storm-petrelHydrobates pelagicusSummer visitorRare14–18 cmRegularly Oct–May · 0.00% in Oct
Pectoral SandpiperCalidris melanotosSummer visitorRare19–23 cmRegularly Oct–Mar · 0.00% in Oct
Yellow WagtailMotacilla flavaSummer visitorRare15–17 cmRegularly Oct–Mar · 0.00% in Oct
Manx ShearwaterPuffinus puffinusPassage migrantRare30–38 cmRegularly Oct–Jul · 0.00% in Oct
Montagu's HarrierCircus pygargusSummer visitorRare43–47 cmRegularly Oct–Mar · 0.00% in Oct
BudgerigarMelopsittacus undulatusPassage migrantRare18–20 cmRegularly Oct · 0.00% in Oct
Pomarine JaegerStercorarius pomarinusPassage migrantRare46–51 cmRegularly Oct–Apr · 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