Birds to See in Northern Ireland in October
130 bird species on our list for Northern Ireland are recorded regularly in October
Of these, the most often recorded are European Robin, Hooded Crow, Common Starling, Magpie and Jackdaw. New this month: Redwing, Fieldfare, Purple Sandpiper and Snow Bunting and 11 more.
On the move in October
GBIF · OctArriving
At their peak
From Northern 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 130 birds in October
130 birds
European RobinErithacus rubeculaResidentCommon13–14 cmRecorded all year · 3.49% in Oct
Hooded CrowCorvus cornixResidentCommon44–51 cmRecorded all year · 3.07% in Oct
Common StarlingSturnus vulgarisResidentCommon21–23 cmRecorded all year · 2.75% in Oct
MagpiePica picaResidentCommon44–46 cmRecorded all year · 2.65% in Oct
JackdawColoeus monedulaResidentCommon34–39 cmRecorded all year · 2.56% in Oct
House SparrowPasser domesticusResidentCommon14–17 cmRecorded all year · 2.53% in Oct
European Herring GullLarus argentatusResidentCommon55–67 cmRecorded all year · 2.46% in Oct
Black-headed GullChroicocephalus ridibundusResidentCommon38–44 cmRecorded all year · 2.29% in Oct
RookCorvus frugilegusResidentCommon45–47 cmRecorded all year · 2.19% in Oct
BlackbirdTurdus merulaResidentCommon24–25 cmRecorded all year · 2.14% in Oct
Coal TitPeriparus aterResidentCommon10–12 cmRecorded all year · 2.12% in Oct
Great TitParus majorResidentCommonRecorded all year · 2.07% in Oct
Blue TitCyanistes caeruleusResidentCommon11–12 cmRecorded all year · 2.07% in Oct
WoodpigeonColumba palumbusResidentCommon40–42 cmRecorded all year · 2.03% in Oct
Eurasian WrenTroglodytes troglodytesResidentCommon9–10 cmRecorded all year · 1.99% in Oct
ChaffinchFringilla coelebsResidentCommon14–16 cmRecorded all year · 1.85% in Oct
Pied WagtailMotacilla albaResidentCommon17–19 cmRecorded all year · 1.73% in Oct
Rock DoveColumba liviaResidentCommon29–37 cmRecorded all year · 1.69% in Oct
MallardAnas platyrhynchosResidentCommon50–65 cmRecorded all year · 1.67% in Oct
RedshankTringa totanusWinter visitorCommon27–29 cmRecorded all year · 1.65% in Oct
DunnockPrunella modularisResidentCommon14–15 cmRecorded all year · 1.60% in Oct
Great CormorantPhalacrocorax carboResidentCommon80–100 cmRecorded all year · 1.60% in Oct
Eurasian OystercatcherHaematopus ostralegusResidentCommon40–45 cmRecorded all year · 1.58% in Oct
European GoldfinchCarduelis carduelisResidentCommon12–13 cmRecorded all year · 1.57% in Oct
Grey HeronArdea cinereaResidentCommon90–98 cmRecorded all year · 1.44% in Oct
GoldcrestRegulus regulusResidentCommon9–10 cmRecorded all year · 1.29% in Oct
CurlewNumenius arquataResidentCommon50–60 cmRecorded all year · 1.21% in Oct
Great Black-backed GullLarus marinusResidentCommon64–79 cmRecorded all year · 1.14% in Oct
Common GullLarus canusResidentCommon40–46 cmRecorded all year · 1.12% in Oct
BuzzardButeo buteoResidentCommon51–57 cmRecorded all year · 1.06% in Oct
Greylag GooseAnser anserResidentCommon75–90 cmRecorded all year · 1.05% in Oct
RedwingTurdus iliacusWinter visitorCommon20–24 cmRegularly Oct–Apr · 0.93% in Oct
Eurasian TealAnas creccaWinter visitorCommon34–38 cmRecorded all year · 0.90% in Oct
Ruddy TurnstoneArenaria interpresWinter visitorCommon21–24 cmRecorded all year · 0.89% in Oct
Brent GooseBranta berniclaWinter visitorCommon55–66 cmRegularly Sep–May · 0.88% in Oct
Grey WagtailMotacilla cinereaResidentCommon17–20 cmRecorded all year · 0.87% in Oct
Eurasian Collared DoveStreptopelia decaoctoResidentCommon30–32 cmRecorded all year · 0.85% in Oct
Meadow PipitAnthus pratensisResidentCommon14–15 cmRecorded all year · 0.83% in Oct
Mistle ThrushTurdus viscivorusResidentCommon26–29 cmRecorded all year · 0.82% in Oct
Whooper SwanCygnus cygnusWinter visitorCommon140–165 cmRegularly Aug–Apr · 0.82% in Oct
LinnetLinaria cannabinaResidentCommon13–14 cmRecorded all year · 0.80% in Oct
Lesser Black-backed GullLarus fuscusSummer visitorCommon52–64 cmRecorded all year · 0.79% in Oct
MoorhenGallinula chloropusResidentCommon30–38 cmRecorded all year · 0.79% in Oct
Common RavenCorvus coraxResidentCommon54–67 cmRecorded all year · 0.77% in Oct
European ShagGulosus aristotelisResidentCommon65–80 cmRecorded all year · 0.76% in Oct
Little GrebeTachybaptus ruficollisResidentCommon23–29 cmRecorded all year · 0.75% in Oct
SparrowhawkAccipiter nisusResidentCommon28–38 cmRecorded all year · 0.73% in Oct
Little EgretEgretta garzettaResidentCommon55–65 cmRecorded all year · 0.72% in Oct
Rock PipitAnthus petrosusResidentCommon16–18 cmRecorded all year · 0.72% in Oct
Long-tailed TitAegithalos caudatusResidentCommon13–16 cmRecorded all year · 0.72% in Oct
Mute SwanCygnus olorResidentCommon140–160 cmRecorded all year · 0.70% in Oct
Common RedpollAcanthis flammeaResidentCommon12–14 cmRecorded all year · 0.69% in Oct
Eurasian SiskinSpinus spinusResidentCommon11–13 cmRecorded all year · 0.67% in Oct
StonechatSaxicola rubicolaResidentCommon12–13 cmRecorded all year · 0.63% in Oct
TwiteLinaria flavirostrisSummer visitorCommon13–14 cmRecorded all year · 0.62% in Oct
Eurasian SkylarkAlauda arvensisResidentCommon16–18 cmRecorded all year · 0.60% in Oct
EiderSomateria mollissimaResidentCommon50–71 cmRecorded all year · 0.59% in Oct
CootFulica atraResidentCommon36–42 cmRecorded all year · 0.58% in Oct
Northern GannetMorus bassanusSummer visitorCommon87–100 cmRecorded all year · 0.56% in Oct
Song ThrushTurdus philomelosResidentCommon20–23 cmRecorded all year · 0.56% in Oct
KestrelFalco tinnunculusResidentCommon32–39 cmRecorded all year · 0.56% in Oct
Eurasian WigeonMareca penelopeWinter visitorCommon42–51 cmRegularly Jul–May · 0.53% in Oct
Ringed PloverCharadrius hiaticulaResidentCommon17–19 cmRecorded all year · 0.53% in Oct
Tufted DuckAythya fuligulaResidentCommon40–47 cmRecorded all year · 0.53% in Oct
MerlinFalco columbariusPassage migrantCommon24–33 cmRegularly Sep–May · 0.52% in Oct
DunlinCalidris alpinaResidentCommon16–22 cmRecorded all year · 0.51% in Oct
Northern LapwingVanellus vanellusResidentCommon28–31 cmRecorded all year · 0.49% in Oct
Pink-footed GooseAnser brachyrhynchusPassage migrantUncommon60–75 cmRegularly Mar–Jan · 0.49% in Oct
Reed BuntingEmberiza schoeniclusResidentCommon14–16 cmRecorded all year · 0.49% in Oct
Barn SwallowHirundo rusticaSummer visitorCommon17–19 cmRegularly Apr–Oct · 0.44% in Oct
FieldfareTurdus pilarisWinter visitorCommon22–27 cmRegularly Oct–May · 0.44% in Oct
Black-tailed GodwitLimosa limosaResidentCommon40–44 cmRecorded all year · 0.43% in Oct
Common PheasantPhasianus colchicusResidentCommon50–90 cmRecorded all year · 0.43% in Oct
Great Crested GrebePodiceps cristatusResidentCommon46–51 cmRecorded all year · 0.43% in Oct
GreenfinchChloris chlorisResidentCommon15–16 cmRecorded all year · 0.43% in Oct
Barnacle GooseBranta leucopsisSummer visitorUncommon58–70 cmRegularly Feb–Nov · 0.41% in Oct
BullfinchPyrrhula pyrrhulaResidentCommon15–17 cmRecorded all year · 0.40% in Oct
Golden PloverPluvialis apricariaWinter visitorUncommon26–29 cmRegularly Jul–May · 0.40% in Oct
WheatearOenanthe oenantheSummer visitorCommon15–16 cmRegularly Mar–Oct · 0.39% in Oct
KittiwakeRissa tridactylaSummer visitorCommon37–41 cmRecorded all year · 0.36% in Oct
ChiffchaffPhylloscopus collybitaSummer visitorCommon10–12 cmRegularly Mar–Nov · 0.35% in Oct
Peregrine FalconFalco peregrinusResidentUncommon34–58 cmRecorded all year · 0.34% in Oct
Common ShelduckTadorna tadornaResidentCommon58–67 cmRecorded all year · 0.32% in Oct
Common SnipeGallinago gallinagoResidentUncommon25–27 cmRecorded all year · 0.32% in Oct
Common KingfisherAlcedo atthisResidentUncommon16–17 cmRecorded all year · 0.31% in Oct
RazorbillAlca tordaResidentCommon38–43 cmRecorded all year · 0.29% in Oct
GreenshankTringa nebulariaPassage migrantUncommon30–35 cmRegularly Jul–Apr · 0.27% in Oct
Red-throated LoonGavia stellataResidentUncommon53–69 cmRegularly Aug–May · 0.27% in Oct
Mediterranean GullIchthyaetus melanocephalusSummer visitorUncommon37–40 cmRecorded all year · 0.26% in Oct
Red-breasted MerganserMergus serratorWinter visitorUncommon52–58 cmRecorded all year · 0.26% in Oct
BramblingFringilla montifringillaPassage migrantUncommon14–16 cmRegularly Oct–Apr · 0.25% in Oct
Snow BuntingPlectrophenax nivalisWinter visitorUncommon15–18 cmRegularly Oct–Apr · 0.25% in Oct
Yellow-browed WarblerPhylloscopus inornatusPassage migrantUncommon10–11 cmRegularly Oct · 0.24% in Oct
Black GuillemotCepphus grylleResidentCommon30–32 cmRecorded all year · 0.24% in Oct
Common LoonGavia immerWinter visitorUncommon66–91 cmRegularly Sep–May · 0.22% in Oct
GadwallMareca streperaResidentUncommon46–56 cmRecorded all year · 0.22% in Oct
Water RailRallus aquaticusResidentUncommon23–28 cmRecorded all year · 0.22% in Oct
BlackcapSylvia atricapillaResidentCommon13–15 cmRecorded all year · 0.21% in Oct
Northern ShovelerSpatula clypeataResidentUncommon44–51 cmRecorded all year · 0.21% in Oct
Bar-tailed GodwitLimosa lapponicaWinter visitorUncommon37–41 cmRegularly Jul–May · 0.21% in Oct
Eurasian JayGarrulus glandariusResidentUncommon32–35 cmRecorded all year · 0.19% in Oct
Red KnotCalidris canutusWinter visitorUncommon23–26 cmRegularly May–Feb · 0.19% in Oct
Great White EgretArdea albaResidentUncommon80–104 cmRegularly Oct–Dec · 0.15% in Oct
TreecreeperCerthia familiarisResidentUncommon12–14 cmRecorded all year · 0.15% in Oct
Hen HarrierCircus cyaneusPassage migrantUncommon41–52 cmRegularly Dec–Oct · 0.14% in Oct
Common ScoterMelanitta nigraWinter visitorUncommon43–54 cmRegularly Jul–Apr · 0.13% in Oct
Eurasian Tree SparrowPasser montanusResidentUncommon13–14 cmRecorded all year · 0.12% in Oct
Manx ShearwaterPuffinus puffinusSummer visitorCommon30–38 cmRegularly Mar–Oct · 0.11% in Oct
Arctic JaegerStercorarius parasiticusPassage migrantUncommon41–46 cmRegularly Jul–Oct · 0.10% in Oct
Little GullHydrocoloeus minutusPassage migrantUncommon25–30 cmRegularly May–Dec · 0.10% in Oct
Red CrossbillLoxia curvirostraSummer visitorUncommon15–17 cmRegularly Feb–Dec · 0.09% in Oct
Carrion CrowCorvus coroneWinter visitorUncommon45–47 cmRegularly Aug–May · 0.08% in Oct
Northern PintailAnas acutaWinter visitorUncommon59–76 cmRegularly Oct–Mar · 0.08% in Oct
Short-eared OwlAsio flammeusResidentUncommon34–43 cmRegularly Oct · 0.08% in Oct
PochardAythya ferinaResidentUncommon42–49 cmRecorded all year · 0.08% in Oct
Purple SandpiperCalidris maritimaWinter visitorUncommon20–22 cmRegularly Oct–May · 0.08% in Oct
Arctic LoonGavia arcticaPassage migrantUncommon58–77 cmRegularly Oct–Dec · 0.07% in Oct
Arctic TernSterna paradisaeaSummer visitorUncommon33–39 cmRegularly May–Oct · 0.07% in Oct
DipperCinclus cinclusSummer visitorUncommon17–20 cmRegularly Mar–Jan · 0.07% in Oct
Eurasian WoodcockScolopax rusticolaWinter visitorUncommon33–38 cmRegularly Oct–Mar · 0.07% in Oct
Great Spotted WoodpeckerDendrocopos majorSummer visitorUncommon23–26 cmRegularly Mar–Dec · 0.07% in Oct
Greater White-fronted GooseAnser albifronsWinter visitorUncommon64–81 cmRegularly Oct–Mar · 0.07% in Oct
Grey PloverPluvialis squatarolaPassage migrantUncommon27–30 cmRegularly Sep–Apr · 0.07% in Oct
RuffCalidris pugnaxPassage migrantUncommon20–32 cmRegularly Mar–Oct · 0.07% in Oct
SanderlingCalidris albaResidentUncommon18–20 cmRegularly Mar–Jan · 0.07% in Oct
Great SkuaStercorarius skuaSummer visitorUncommon50–58 cmRegularly Mar–Oct · 0.05% in Oct
Western Marsh-harrierCircus aeruginosusResidentUncommon48–56 cmRegularly May–Nov · 0.04% in Oct
Lapland LongspurCalcarius lapponicusPassage migrantUncommon15–16 cmRegularly Sep–Oct · 0.03% in Oct
Long-tailed DuckClangula hyemalisPassage migrantUncommon37–60 cmRegularly Oct–Nov · 0.03% in Oct
Canada GooseBranta canadensisResidentUncommon76–110 cmRegularly Jan–Oct · 0.02% 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