Birds to See in Switzerland in October
171 bird species on our list for Switzerland are recorded regularly in October
Of these, the most often recorded are Carrion Crow, Great Tit, Blackbird, European Robin and Blue Tit. New this month: Brambling, Redwing, Hen Harrier and Eurasian Bittern and 8 more.
On the move in October
GBIF · OctArriving
At their peak
From Switzerland’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 171 birds in October
171 birds
Carrion CrowCorvus coroneResidentCommon45–47 cmRecorded all year · 4.13% in Oct
Great TitParus majorResidentCommonRecorded all year · 3.36% in Oct
BlackbirdTurdus merulaResidentCommon24–25 cmRecorded all year · 3.06% in Oct
European RobinErithacus rubeculaResidentCommon13–14 cmRecorded all year · 3.05% in Oct
Blue TitCyanistes caeruleusResidentCommon11–12 cmRecorded all year · 2.91% in Oct
ChaffinchFringilla coelebsResidentCommon14–16 cmRecorded all year · 2.79% in Oct
House SparrowPasser domesticusResidentCommon14–17 cmRecorded all year · 2.55% in Oct
MallardAnas platyrhynchosResidentCommon50–65 cmRecorded all year · 2.33% in Oct
MagpiePica picaResidentCommon44–46 cmRecorded all year · 2.14% in Oct
Pied WagtailMotacilla albaResidentCommon17–19 cmRecorded all year · 2.06% in Oct
Grey HeronArdea cinereaResidentCommon90–98 cmRecorded all year · 1.94% in Oct
BuzzardButeo buteoResidentCommon51–57 cmRecorded all year · 1.90% in Oct
ChiffchaffPhylloscopus collybitaSummer visitorCommon10–12 cmRecorded all year · 1.89% in Oct
WoodpigeonColumba palumbusResidentCommon40–42 cmRecorded all year · 1.78% in Oct
Red KiteMilvus milvusResidentCommon60–66 cmRecorded all year · 1.76% in Oct
Common StarlingSturnus vulgarisResidentCommon21–23 cmRecorded all year · 1.75% in Oct
CootFulica atraResidentCommon36–42 cmRecorded all year · 1.70% in Oct
Black RedstartPhoenicurus ochrurosSummer visitorCommon13–15 cmRecorded all year · 1.61% in Oct
Great CormorantPhalacrocorax carboResidentCommon80–100 cmRecorded all year · 1.60% in Oct
Eurasian JayGarrulus glandariusResidentCommon32–35 cmRecorded all year · 1.56% in Oct
Black-headed GullChroicocephalus ridibundusResidentCommon38–44 cmRecorded all year · 1.53% in Oct
Great Spotted WoodpeckerDendrocopos majorResidentCommon23–26 cmRecorded all year · 1.46% in Oct
Yellow-legged GullLarus michahellisResidentCommon52–68 cmRecorded all year · 1.46% in Oct
European GoldfinchCarduelis carduelisResidentCommon12–13 cmRecorded all year · 1.43% in Oct
Great Crested GrebePodiceps cristatusResidentCommon46–51 cmRecorded all year · 1.41% in Oct
Mute SwanCygnus olorResidentCommon140–160 cmRecorded all year · 1.33% in Oct
KestrelFalco tinnunculusResidentCommon32–39 cmRecorded all year · 1.33% in Oct
Eurasian WrenTroglodytes troglodytesResidentCommon9–10 cmRecorded all year · 1.20% in Oct
European Green WoodpeckerPicus viridisResidentCommon30–36 cmRecorded all year · 1.19% in Oct
Eurasian SiskinSpinus spinusWinter visitorCommon11–13 cmRecorded all year · 1.16% in Oct
Rock DoveColumba liviaResidentCommon31–34 cmRecorded all year · 1.14% in Oct
Grey WagtailMotacilla cinereaResidentCommon17–20 cmRecorded all year · 1.03% in Oct
Short-toed TreecreeperCerthia brachydactylaResidentCommon12–14 cmRecorded all year · 1.02% in Oct
Common KingfisherAlcedo atthisWinter visitorCommon16–17 cmRecorded all year · 1.02% in Oct
Eurasian NuthatchSitta europaeaResidentCommon12–15 cmRecorded all year · 0.98% in Oct
GreenfinchChloris chlorisResidentCommon15–16 cmRecorded all year · 0.96% in Oct
MoorhenGallinula chloropusResidentCommon30–38 cmRecorded all year · 0.96% in Oct
Eurasian Tree SparrowPasser montanusResidentCommon13–14 cmRecorded all year · 0.94% in Oct
Marsh TitPoecile palustrisResidentCommon12–13 cmRecorded all year · 0.87% in Oct
RookCorvus frugilegusResidentCommon45–47 cmRecorded all year · 0.83% in Oct
Long-tailed TitAegithalos caudatusResidentCommon13–16 cmRecorded all year · 0.81% in Oct
BlackcapSylvia atricapillaSummer visitorCommon13–15 cmRegularly Mar–Oct · 0.80% in Oct
Common MerganserMergus merganserResidentCommon58–68 cmRecorded all year · 0.79% in Oct
Coal TitPeriparus aterResidentCommon10–12 cmRecorded all year · 0.77% in Oct
Little GrebeTachybaptus ruficollisResidentCommon23–29 cmRecorded all year · 0.77% in Oct
Meadow PipitAnthus pratensisWinter visitorCommon14–15 cmRegularly Sep–Apr · 0.74% in Oct
Great White EgretArdea albaWinter visitorCommon80–104 cmRecorded all year · 0.73% in Oct
Tufted DuckAythya fuligulaResidentCommon40–47 cmRecorded all year · 0.73% in Oct
Song ThrushTurdus philomelosSummer visitorCommon20–23 cmRecorded all year · 0.72% in Oct
Eurasian Collared DoveStreptopelia decaoctoResidentCommon30–32 cmRecorded all year · 0.71% in Oct
Common RavenCorvus coraxResidentCommon54–67 cmRecorded all year · 0.70% in Oct
GadwallMareca streperaWinter visitorCommon46–56 cmRecorded all year · 0.68% in Oct
Water PipitAnthus spinolettaResidentCommon15–17 cmRecorded all year · 0.68% in Oct
Eurasian TealAnas creccaWinter visitorCommon34–38 cmRecorded all year · 0.62% in Oct
GoldcrestRegulus regulusResidentCommon9–10 cmRecorded all year · 0.61% in Oct
Reed BuntingEmberiza schoeniclusResidentCommon14–16 cmRecorded all year · 0.61% in Oct
Mistle ThrushTurdus viscivorusResidentCommon26–29 cmRecorded all year · 0.58% in Oct
Barn SwallowHirundo rusticaSummer visitorCommon17–19 cmRegularly Mar–Oct · 0.57% in Oct
SparrowhawkAccipiter nisusResidentCommon28–38 cmRecorded all year · 0.57% in Oct
JackdawColoeus monedulaResidentCommon34–39 cmRecorded all year · 0.57% in Oct
BramblingFringilla montifringillaWinter visitorCommon14–16 cmRegularly Oct–Apr · 0.52% in Oct
Water RailRallus aquaticusResidentCommon23–28 cmRecorded all year · 0.52% in Oct
Crested TitLophophanes cristatusResidentCommon11–12 cmRecorded all year · 0.52% in Oct
Red-crested PochardNetta rufinaResidentCommon53–57 cmRecorded all year · 0.52% in Oct
PochardAythya ferinaWinter visitorCommon42–49 cmRecorded all year · 0.51% in Oct
HawfinchCoccothraustes coccothraustesWinter visitorUncommon17–18 cmRecorded all year · 0.49% in Oct
Eurasian SkylarkAlauda arvensisResidentUncommon16–18 cmRecorded all year · 0.49% in Oct
Common SnipeGallinago gallinagoWinter visitorCommon25–27 cmRegularly Jul–May · 0.46% in Oct
LinnetLinaria cannabinaSummer visitorCommon13–14 cmRecorded all year · 0.40% in Oct
DunnockPrunella modularisResidentUncommon14–15 cmRecorded all year · 0.38% in Oct
Greylag GooseAnser anserResidentCommon75–90 cmRecorded all year · 0.36% in Oct
SerinSerinus serinusSummer visitorCommon11–12 cmRegularly Feb–Dec · 0.36% in Oct
FieldfareTurdus pilarisResidentCommon22–27 cmRecorded all year · 0.36% in Oct
Northern ShovelerSpatula clypeataWinter visitorCommon44–51 cmRegularly Aug–May · 0.34% in Oct
FirecrestRegulus ignicapillaResidentCommon9–10 cmRecorded all year · 0.33% in Oct
StonechatSaxicola rubicolaSummer visitorUncommon12–13 cmRecorded all year · 0.31% in Oct
Alpine ChoughPyrrhocorax graculusResidentCommon36–39 cmRecorded all year · 0.31% in Oct
Red CrossbillLoxia curvirostraResidentUncommon15–17 cmRecorded all year · 0.29% in Oct
YellowhammerEmberiza citrinellaResidentCommon16–17 cmRecorded all year · 0.28% in Oct
DunlinCalidris alpinaWinter visitorUncommon16–22 cmRegularly Aug–Apr · 0.26% in Oct
Eurasian WigeonMareca penelopeWinter visitorUncommon42–51 cmRegularly Sep–May · 0.26% in Oct
TreecreeperCerthia familiarisResidentUncommon12–14 cmRecorded all year · 0.25% in Oct
Willow TitPoecile montanusResidentUncommon11–12 cmRecorded all year · 0.25% in Oct
Western Marsh-harrierCircus aeruginosusSummer visitorUncommon48–56 cmRecorded all year · 0.24% in Oct
House MartinDelichon urbicumSummer visitorCommon13–15 cmRegularly Apr–Oct · 0.24% in Oct
BullfinchPyrrhula pyrrhulaResidentUncommon15–17 cmRecorded all year · 0.22% in Oct
CurlewNumenius arquataWinter visitorUncommon50–60 cmRecorded all year · 0.21% in Oct
Egyptian GooseAlopochen aegyptiacaResidentUncommon63–73 cmRecorded all year · 0.20% in Oct
RedwingTurdus iliacusWinter visitorUncommon20–24 cmRegularly Oct–Apr · 0.20% in Oct
DipperCinclus cinclusResidentUncommon17–20 cmRecorded all year · 0.19% in Oct
Ruddy ShelduckTadorna ferrugineaResidentUncommon58–70 cmRecorded all year · 0.19% in Oct
Stock DoveColumba oenasResidentUncommon32–34 cmRecorded all year · 0.19% in Oct
Northern PintailAnas acutaWinter visitorUncommon59–76 cmRegularly Aug–May · 0.19% in Oct
Black-necked GrebePodiceps nigricollisWinter visitorUncommon28–34 cmRegularly Aug–May · 0.17% in Oct
Hooded CrowCorvus cornixResidentUncommon44–51 cmRecorded all year · 0.17% in Oct
Golden EagleAquila chrysaetosResidentUncommon66–102 cmRecorded all year · 0.17% in Oct
Peregrine FalconFalco peregrinusResidentUncommon34–58 cmRecorded all year · 0.15% in Oct
Northern LapwingVanellus vanellusResidentUncommon28–31 cmRecorded all year · 0.15% in Oct
WoodlarkLullula arboreaSummer visitorUncommon15–17 cmRegularly Oct–Jul · 0.14% in Oct
Yellow WagtailMotacilla flavaPassage migrantCommon15–17 cmRegularly Mar–Oct · 0.12% in Oct
Common RedstartPhoenicurus phoenicurusSummer visitorUncommon13–15 cmRegularly Mar–Oct · 0.12% in Oct
Common SandpiperActitis hypoleucosWinter visitorCommon18–20 cmRegularly Jul–May · 0.12% in Oct
Tree PipitAnthus trivialisSummer visitorUncommon14–16 cmRegularly Apr–Oct · 0.11% in Oct
WheatearOenanthe oenantheSummer visitorCommon15–16 cmRegularly Apr–Oct · 0.11% in Oct
RuffCalidris pugnaxPassage migrantUncommon20–32 cmRegularly Mar–Oct · 0.11% in Oct
Crag MartinPtyonoprogne rupestrisSummer visitorCommon14–15 cmRegularly Feb–Oct · 0.11% in Oct
Common Reed-warblerAcrocephalus scirpaceusSummer visitorCommon13–14 cmRegularly Apr–Oct · 0.10% in Oct
Northern GoshawkAstur gentilisResidentUncommon46–61 cmRecorded all year · 0.09% in Oct
Common ShelduckTadorna tadornaWinter visitorUncommon58–67 cmRecorded all year · 0.09% in Oct
Bearded TitPanurus biarmicusResidentUncommon13–15 cmRecorded all year · 0.08% in Oct
Tawny OwlStrix alucoResidentUncommon37–43 cmRecorded all year · 0.08% in Oct
Black GrouseLyrurus tetrixSummer visitorUncommon40–55 cmRecorded all year · 0.08% in Oct
WhinchatSaxicola rubetraSummer visitorUncommon12–14 cmRegularly Apr–Oct · 0.07% in Oct
GreenshankTringa nebulariaPassage migrantUncommon30–35 cmRegularly Apr–Oct · 0.07% in Oct
Lesser Spotted WoodpeckerDryobates minorResidentUncommon14–16 cmRecorded all year · 0.07% in Oct
Lesser Black-backed GullLarus fuscusResidentUncommon52–64 cmRecorded all year · 0.07% in Oct
Great Grey ShrikeLanius excubitorWinter visitorUncommon22–26 cmRegularly Sep–Mar · 0.07% in Oct
Ringed PloverCharadrius hiaticulaPassage migrantUncommon17–19 cmRegularly Apr–Oct · 0.07% in Oct
HobbyFalco subbuteoSummer visitorUncommon28–35 cmRegularly Apr–Oct · 0.06% in Oct
Mediterranean GullIchthyaetus melanocephalusResidentUncommon37–40 cmRecorded all year · 0.06% in Oct
Willow WarblerPhylloscopus trochilusSummer visitorCommon11–13 cmRegularly Mar–Oct · 0.06% in Oct
Green SandpiperTringa ochropusWinter visitorUncommon21–24 cmRegularly Jun–Apr · 0.05% in Oct
Common RedpollAcanthis flammeaSummer visitorUncommon12–14 cmRecorded all year · 0.05% in Oct
Little EgretEgretta garzettaSummer visitorUncommon55–65 cmRecorded all year · 0.05% in Oct
Little StintCalidris minutaPassage migrantUncommon13–15 cmRegularly May–Oct · 0.05% in Oct
MerlinFalco columbariusWinter visitorRare24–33 cmRegularly Sep–Apr · 0.05% in Oct
Citril FinchCarduelis citrinellaSummer visitorUncommon12–13 cmRegularly Feb–Oct · 0.05% in Oct
Grey PloverPluvialis squatarolaPassage migrantRare27–30 cmRegularly May–Oct · 0.05% in Oct
EiderSomateria mollissimaWinter visitorUncommon50–71 cmRecorded all year · 0.05% in Oct
Alpine SwiftTachymarptis melbaSummer visitorCommon20–23 cmRegularly Mar–Oct · 0.04% in Oct
Spotted RedshankTringa erythropusPassage migrantUncommon29–31 cmRegularly Mar–Nov · 0.04% in Oct
Yellow-browed WarblerPhylloscopus inornatusPassage migrantRare10–11 cmRegularly Oct · 0.04% in Oct
Ring OuzelTurdus torquatusSummer visitorUncommon23–24 cmRegularly Mar–Oct · 0.04% in Oct
Mandarin DuckAix galericulataResidentRare41–49 cmRecorded all year · 0.04% in Oct
European Pied FlycatcherFicedula hypoleucaPassage migrantCommon12–14 cmRegularly Apr–Oct · 0.03% in Oct
Sand MartinRiparia ripariaSummer visitorUncommon12–14 cmRegularly Mar–Oct · 0.03% in Oct
Common CraneGrus grusWinter visitorUncommon100–130 cmRegularly Oct–May · 0.03% in Oct
Hen HarrierCircus cyaneusWinter visitorUncommon41–52 cmRegularly Oct–Apr · 0.03% in Oct
Cirl BuntingEmberiza cirlusResidentUncommon15–17 cmRecorded all year · 0.03% in Oct
Spotted FlycatcherMuscicapa striataSummer visitorCommon14–16 cmRegularly May–Oct · 0.03% in Oct
Eurasian SpoonbillPlatalea leucorodiaPassage migrantRare80–90 cmRegularly Mar–Oct · 0.03% in Oct
Rock PtarmiganLagopus mutaSummer visitorRare34–36 cmRegularly Feb–Nov · 0.03% in Oct
Common PheasantPhasianus colchicusResidentUncommon50–90 cmRecorded all year · 0.03% in Oct
Corn BuntingEmberiza calandraSummer visitorUncommon16–19 cmRecorded all year · 0.03% in Oct
Barnacle GooseBranta leucopsisWinter visitorUncommon58–70 cmRecorded all year · 0.03% in Oct
Cattle EgretArdea ibisResidentUncommon46–56 cmRecorded all year · 0.02% in Oct
GarganeySpatula querquedulaPassage migrantUncommon37–41 cmRegularly Mar–Oct · 0.02% in Oct
Little GullHydrocoloeus minutusWinter visitorUncommon25–30 cmRegularly Apr–Feb · 0.02% in Oct
Lesser WhitethroatCurruca currucaSummer visitorUncommon11–13 cmRegularly Apr–Oct · 0.02% in Oct
Eurasian WoodcockScolopax rusticolaWinter visitorRare33–38 cmRegularly Sep–Jun · 0.02% in Oct
Red-billed ChoughPyrrhocorax pyrrhocoraxResidentRare39–43 cmRegularly Apr–Feb · 0.02% in Oct
Black SwanCygnus atratusPassage migrantRare110–142 cmRegularly Apr–Jan · 0.01% in Oct
Eurasian BitternBotaurus stellarisWinter visitorUncommon69–81 cmRegularly Oct–Apr · 0.01% in Oct
Bar-headed GooseAnser indicusPassage migrantRare68–78 cmRegularly Mar–Nov · 0.01% in Oct
OspreyPandion haliaetusSummer visitorUncommon54–58 cmRegularly Mar–Oct · 0.01% in Oct
Cetti's WarblerCettia cettiPassage migrantRare13–14 cmRegularly Oct–Jan · 0.01% in Oct
Eurasian OystercatcherHaematopus ostralegusWinter visitorRare40–45 cmRegularly Sep–May · 0.01% in Oct
Arctic LoonGavia arcticaWinter visitorUncommon58–77 cmRegularly Oct–Apr · 0.01% in Oct
Jack SnipeLymnocryptes minimusWinter visitorRare17–19 cmRegularly Oct–Apr · 0.01% in Oct
Red-breasted GooseBranta ruficollisWinter visitorUncommon53–56 cmRegularly Jun–Apr · 0.01% in Oct
European Herring GullLarus argentatusWinter visitorUncommon55–67 cmRegularly Sep–Apr · 0.01% in Oct
Spotted CrakePorzana porzanaPassage migrantUncommon19–23 cmRegularly Mar–Oct · 0.01% in Oct
Black TernChlidonias nigerSummer visitorUncommon22–26 cmRegularly Apr–Oct · 0.01% in Oct
BluethroatLuscinia svecicaPassage migrantUncommon13–14 cmRegularly Mar–Oct · 0.01% in Oct
Barn OwlTyto albaResidentRare33–39 cmRecorded all year · 0.01% in Oct
Greater ScaupAythya marilaWinter visitorUncommon39–56 cmRegularly Oct–Apr · 0.01% in Oct
Bar-tailed GodwitLimosa lapponicaPassage migrantRare37–41 cmRegularly Apr–Oct · 0.01% in Oct
Swan GooseAnser cygnoidesPassage migrantRare81–94 cmRegularly Oct–Jan · 0.01% in Oct
Pallid SwiftApus pallidusSummer visitorRare16–17 cmRegularly Apr–Oct · 0.00% in Oct
Canada GooseBranta canadensisSummer visitorRare76–110 cmRegularly Feb–Nov · 0.00% in Oct
Muscovy DuckCairina moschataResidentRare66–84 cmRegularly Sep–Jul · 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