Birds to See in Wales in October
180 bird species on our list for Wales are recorded regularly in October
Of these, the most often recorded are European Robin, Carrion Crow, Jackdaw, Magpie and European Herring Gull. New this month: Redwing, Fieldfare, Goldeneye and Greater Scaup and 14 more.
On the move in October
GBIF · OctArriving
At their peak
From Wales’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 180 birds in October
180 birds
European RobinErithacus rubeculaResidentCommon13–14 cmRecorded all year · 3.75% in Oct
Carrion CrowCorvus coroneResidentCommon45–47 cmRecorded all year · 3.56% in Oct
JackdawColoeus monedulaResidentCommon34–39 cmRecorded all year · 2.98% in Oct
MagpiePica picaResidentCommon44–46 cmRecorded all year · 2.88% in Oct
European Herring GullLarus argentatusResidentCommon55–67 cmRecorded all year · 2.74% in Oct
WoodpigeonColumba palumbusResidentCommon40–42 cmRecorded all year · 2.56% in Oct
BlackbirdTurdus merulaResidentCommon24–25 cmRecorded all year · 2.55% in Oct
Blue TitCyanistes caeruleusResidentCommon11–12 cmRecorded all year · 2.45% in Oct
Black-headed GullChroicocephalus ridibundusResidentCommon38–44 cmRecorded all year · 2.20% in Oct
Eurasian WrenTroglodytes troglodytesResidentCommon9–10 cmRecorded all year · 2.18% in Oct
MallardAnas platyrhynchosResidentCommon50–65 cmRecorded all year · 1.96% in Oct
Great TitParus majorResidentCommonRecorded all year · 1.92% in Oct
European GoldfinchCarduelis carduelisResidentCommon12–13 cmRecorded all year · 1.90% in Oct
DunnockPrunella modularisResidentCommon14–15 cmRecorded all year · 1.88% in Oct
ChaffinchFringilla coelebsResidentCommon14–16 cmRecorded all year · 1.81% in Oct
Pied WagtailMotacilla albaResidentCommon17–19 cmRecorded all year · 1.69% in Oct
Great CormorantPhalacrocorax carboResidentCommon80–100 cmRecorded all year · 1.66% in Oct
Common StarlingSturnus vulgarisResidentCommon21–23 cmRecorded all year · 1.65% in Oct
House SparrowPasser domesticusResidentCommon14–17 cmRecorded all year · 1.49% in Oct
Eurasian OystercatcherHaematopus ostralegusResidentCommon40–45 cmRecorded all year · 1.44% in Oct
BuzzardButeo buteoResidentCommon51–57 cmRecorded all year · 1.42% in Oct
GoldcrestRegulus regulusResidentCommon9–10 cmRecorded all year · 1.41% in Oct
Meadow PipitAnthus pratensisResidentCommon14–15 cmRecorded all year · 1.37% in Oct
Long-tailed TitAegithalos caudatusResidentCommon13–16 cmRecorded all year · 1.36% in Oct
CurlewNumenius arquataResidentCommon50–60 cmRecorded all year · 1.31% in Oct
StonechatSaxicola rubicolaResidentCommon12–13 cmRecorded all year · 1.24% in Oct
Grey HeronArdea cinereaResidentCommon90–98 cmRecorded all year · 1.22% in Oct
Little EgretEgretta garzettaResidentCommon55–65 cmRecorded all year · 1.21% in Oct
Lesser Black-backed GullLarus fuscusResidentCommon52–64 cmRecorded all year · 1.17% in Oct
Mute SwanCygnus olorResidentCommon140–160 cmRecorded all year · 1.14% in Oct
Common RavenCorvus coraxResidentCommon54–67 cmRecorded all year · 1.09% in Oct
MoorhenGallinula chloropusResidentCommon30–38 cmRecorded all year · 1.07% in Oct
Eurasian JayGarrulus glandariusResidentCommon32–35 cmRecorded all year · 1.03% in Oct
Great Black-backed GullLarus marinusResidentCommon64–79 cmRecorded all year · 0.91% in Oct
Coal TitPeriparus aterResidentCommon10–12 cmRecorded all year · 0.89% in Oct
LinnetLinaria cannabinaSummer visitorCommon13–14 cmRecorded all year · 0.88% in Oct
Great Spotted WoodpeckerDendrocopos majorResidentCommon23–26 cmRecorded all year · 0.87% in Oct
ChiffchaffPhylloscopus collybitaSummer visitorCommon10–12 cmRecorded all year · 0.86% in Oct
Grey WagtailMotacilla cinereaResidentCommon17–20 cmRecorded all year · 0.85% in Oct
RedwingTurdus iliacusWinter visitorCommon20–24 cmRegularly Oct–Mar · 0.85% in Oct
Canada GooseBranta canadensisResidentCommon76–110 cmRecorded all year · 0.85% in Oct
Eurasian SkylarkAlauda arvensisSummer visitorCommon16–18 cmRecorded all year · 0.83% in Oct
Rock DoveColumba liviaResidentCommon29–37 cmRecorded all year · 0.83% in Oct
RedshankTringa totanusWinter visitorCommon27–29 cmRecorded all year · 0.81% in Oct
Eurasian WigeonMareca penelopeWinter visitorCommon42–51 cmRegularly Aug–Apr · 0.81% in Oct
CootFulica atraResidentCommon36–42 cmRecorded all year · 0.80% in Oct
Eurasian TealAnas creccaWinter visitorCommon34–38 cmRecorded all year · 0.80% in Oct
Song ThrushTurdus philomelosResidentCommon20–23 cmRecorded all year · 0.78% in Oct
RookCorvus frugilegusResidentCommon45–47 cmRecorded all year · 0.78% in Oct
Little GrebeTachybaptus ruficollisResidentCommon23–29 cmRecorded all year · 0.75% in Oct
KestrelFalco tinnunculusResidentCommon32–39 cmRecorded all year · 0.73% in Oct
Eurasian NuthatchSitta europaeaResidentCommon12–15 cmRecorded all year · 0.72% in Oct
Barn SwallowHirundo rusticaSummer visitorCommon17–19 cmRegularly Apr–Oct · 0.65% in Oct
Eurasian SiskinSpinus spinusResidentCommon11–13 cmRecorded all year · 0.60% in Oct
Great Crested GrebePodiceps cristatusResidentCommon46–51 cmRecorded all year · 0.58% in Oct
Northern LapwingVanellus vanellusResidentCommon28–31 cmRecorded all year · 0.57% in Oct
Red KiteMilvus milvusResidentCommon60–66 cmRecorded all year · 0.56% in Oct
BullfinchPyrrhula pyrrhulaResidentCommon15–17 cmRecorded all year · 0.55% in Oct
Red-billed ChoughPyrrhocorax pyrrhocoraxSummer visitorCommon39–43 cmRecorded all year · 0.55% in Oct
Tufted DuckAythya fuligulaResidentCommon40–47 cmRecorded all year · 0.55% in Oct
Eurasian Collared DoveStreptopelia decaoctoResidentCommon30–32 cmRecorded all year · 0.54% in Oct
Common SnipeGallinago gallinagoWinter visitorCommon25–27 cmRegularly Jul–Apr · 0.52% in Oct
Rock PipitAnthus petrosusResidentCommon16–18 cmRecorded all year · 0.52% in Oct
Mistle ThrushTurdus viscivorusResidentCommon26–29 cmRecorded all year · 0.52% in Oct
SparrowhawkAccipiter nisusResidentCommon28–38 cmRecorded all year · 0.52% in Oct
Ruddy TurnstoneArenaria interpresWinter visitorCommon21–24 cmRecorded all year · 0.50% in Oct
Reed BuntingEmberiza schoeniclusResidentUncommon14–16 cmRecorded all year · 0.48% in Oct
European ShagGulosus aristotelisResidentCommon65–80 cmRecorded all year · 0.47% in Oct
Water RailRallus aquaticusWinter visitorCommon23–28 cmRecorded all year · 0.46% in Oct
GreenfinchChloris chlorisResidentCommon15–16 cmRecorded all year · 0.45% in Oct
Cetti's WarblerCettia cettiResidentUncommon13–14 cmRecorded all year · 0.42% in Oct
Northern GannetMorus bassanusSummer visitorCommon87–100 cmRegularly Feb–Dec · 0.42% in Oct
Northern ShovelerSpatula clypeataResidentUncommon44–51 cmRecorded all year · 0.41% in Oct
Common PheasantPhasianus colchicusResidentCommon50–90 cmRecorded all year · 0.41% in Oct
BlackcapSylvia atricapillaSummer visitorCommon13–15 cmRecorded all year · 0.40% in Oct
Common KingfisherAlcedo atthisResidentUncommon16–17 cmRecorded all year · 0.38% in Oct
Common GullLarus canusWinter visitorCommon40–46 cmRecorded all year · 0.37% in Oct
Greylag GooseAnser anserResidentCommon75–90 cmRecorded all year · 0.37% in Oct
Common ShelduckTadorna tadornaResidentCommon58–67 cmRecorded all year · 0.37% in Oct
Mediterranean GullIchthyaetus melanocephalusResidentUncommon37–40 cmRecorded all year · 0.35% in Oct
DunlinCalidris alpinaResidentCommon16–22 cmRecorded all year · 0.35% in Oct
Common MerganserMergus merganserWinter visitorCommon58–68 cmRecorded all year · 0.32% in Oct
Peregrine FalconFalco peregrinusResidentUncommon34–58 cmRecorded all year · 0.31% in Oct
European Green WoodpeckerPicus viridisResidentUncommon30–36 cmRecorded all year · 0.31% in Oct
Black-tailed GodwitLimosa limosaResidentUncommon40–44 cmRecorded all year · 0.30% in Oct
GadwallMareca streperaResidentUncommon46–56 cmRecorded all year · 0.30% in Oct
GreenshankTringa nebulariaWinter visitorUncommon30–35 cmRecorded all year · 0.28% in Oct
TreecreeperCerthia familiarisResidentUncommon12–14 cmRecorded all year · 0.28% in Oct
WheatearOenanthe oenantheSummer visitorCommon15–16 cmRegularly Mar–Oct · 0.28% in Oct
KittiwakeRissa tridactylaSummer visitorCommon37–41 cmRecorded all year · 0.26% in Oct
Golden PloverPluvialis apricariaWinter visitorUncommon26–29 cmRecorded all year · 0.25% in Oct
FieldfareTurdus pilarisWinter visitorCommon22–27 cmRegularly Oct–Mar · 0.24% in Oct
Ringed PloverCharadrius hiaticulaResidentCommon17–19 cmRecorded all year · 0.24% in Oct
Common ScoterMelanitta nigraWinter visitorUncommon43–54 cmRecorded all year · 0.23% in Oct
MerlinFalco columbariusWinter visitorUncommon24–33 cmRegularly Aug–May · 0.22% in Oct
House MartinDelichon urbicumSummer visitorCommon13–15 cmRegularly Apr–Oct · 0.21% in Oct
RazorbillAlca tordaSummer visitorCommon38–43 cmRecorded all year · 0.20% in Oct
Great White EgretArdea albaResidentUncommon80–104 cmRecorded all year · 0.19% in Oct
Northern PintailAnas acutaWinter visitorUncommon59–76 cmRegularly Sep–May · 0.18% in Oct
DipperCinclus cinclusResidentUncommon17–20 cmRecorded all year · 0.16% in Oct
Red-breasted MerganserMergus serratorResidentUncommon52–58 cmRecorded all year · 0.16% in Oct
Tawny OwlStrix alucoResidentUncommon37–43 cmRecorded all year · 0.15% in Oct
Western Marsh-harrierCircus aeruginosusResidentUncommon48–56 cmRecorded all year · 0.15% in Oct
Brent GooseBranta berniclaWinter visitorUncommon55–66 cmRegularly Sep–Apr · 0.14% in Oct
Stock DoveColumba oenasResidentUncommon32–34 cmRecorded all year · 0.14% in Oct
Red-throated LoonGavia stellataWinter visitorUncommon53–69 cmRegularly Sep–Apr · 0.14% in Oct
Common RedpollAcanthis flammeaResidentUncommon12–14 cmRecorded all year · 0.13% in Oct
Manx ShearwaterPuffinus puffinusSummer visitorCommon30–38 cmRegularly Mar–Nov · 0.12% in Oct
Bar-tailed GodwitLimosa lapponicaResidentUncommon37–41 cmRecorded all year · 0.11% in Oct
BramblingFringilla montifringillaWinter visitorUncommon14–16 cmRegularly Oct–Apr · 0.10% in Oct
WhimbrelNumenius phaeopusSummer visitorCommon40–46 cmRegularly Mar–Nov · 0.09% in Oct
FirecrestRegulus ignicapillaWinter visitorUncommon9–10 cmRegularly Sep–May · 0.09% in Oct
Willow WarblerPhylloscopus trochilusSummer visitorCommon11–13 cmRegularly Mar–Oct · 0.08% in Oct
PochardAythya ferinaWinter visitorUncommon42–49 cmRecorded all year · 0.08% in Oct
Grey PloverPluvialis squatarolaWinter visitorUncommon27–30 cmRegularly Aug–May · 0.08% in Oct
Great SkuaStercorarius skuaPassage migrantUncommon50–58 cmRegularly Aug–Nov · 0.07% in Oct
Common SandpiperActitis hypoleucosResidentUncommon18–20 cmRecorded all year · 0.07% in Oct
Red KnotCalidris canutusWinter visitorUncommon23–26 cmRegularly Jul–May · 0.07% in Oct
Arctic JaegerStercorarius parasiticusPassage migrantUncommon41–46 cmRegularly Apr–Nov · 0.07% in Oct
GoldeneyeBucephala clangulaWinter visitorUncommon40–51 cmRegularly Oct–Apr · 0.07% in Oct
Pink-footed GooseAnser brachyrhynchusWinter visitorUncommon60–75 cmRegularly Sep–Mar · 0.07% in Oct
EiderSomateria mollissimaResidentUncommon50–71 cmRecorded all year · 0.06% in Oct
Eurasian SpoonbillPlatalea leucorodiaResidentUncommon80–90 cmRecorded all year · 0.06% in Oct
Whooper SwanCygnus cygnusWinter visitorUncommon140–165 cmRegularly Sep–Apr · 0.06% in Oct
FulmarFulmarus glacialisResidentCommon45–50 cmRecorded all year · 0.06% in Oct
Sandwich TernThalasseus sandvicensisSummer visitorCommon36–41 cmRegularly Mar–Oct · 0.06% in Oct
Red CrossbillLoxia curvirostraResidentUncommon15–17 cmRecorded all year · 0.05% in Oct
SanderlingCalidris albaResidentUncommon18–20 cmRecorded all year · 0.05% in Oct
Barnacle GooseBranta leucopsisResidentUncommon58–70 cmRecorded all year · 0.05% in Oct
Hen HarrierCircus cyaneusPassage migrantUncommon41–52 cmRegularly Sep–Jan · 0.05% in Oct
Cattle EgretArdea ibisWinter visitorRare46–56 cmRegularly Jul–Apr · 0.05% in Oct
Snow BuntingPlectrophenax nivalisPassage migrantUncommon15–18 cmRegularly Oct–Mar · 0.04% in Oct
Black RedstartPhoenicurus ochrurosWinter visitorUncommon13–15 cmRegularly Oct–May · 0.04% in Oct
Ring OuzelTurdus torquatusSummer visitorUncommon23–24 cmRegularly Apr–Oct · 0.04% in Oct
Purple SandpiperCalidris maritimaWinter visitorUncommon20–22 cmRegularly Aug–May · 0.04% in Oct
RuffCalidris pugnaxPassage migrantUncommon20–32 cmRegularly Mar–Jan · 0.04% in Oct
Spotted RedshankTringa erythropusWinter visitorUncommon29–31 cmRegularly Jul–Apr · 0.04% in Oct
Grey PhalaropePhalaropus fulicariusPassage migrantRare20–22 cmRegularly Aug–Nov · 0.04% in Oct
Lapland LongspurCalcarius lapponicusPassage migrantRare15–16 cmRegularly Oct–Nov · 0.04% in Oct
Common LoonGavia immerWinter visitorUncommon66–91 cmRegularly Sep–May · 0.03% in Oct
Lesser WhitethroatCurruca currucaSummer visitorUncommon11–13 cmRegularly Apr–Oct · 0.03% in Oct
Short-eared OwlAsio flammeusResidentUncommon34–43 cmRecorded all year · 0.03% in Oct
WhinchatSaxicola rubetraSummer visitorUncommon12–14 cmRegularly Apr–Oct · 0.03% in Oct
Green SandpiperTringa ochropusWinter visitorUncommon21–24 cmRegularly Jul–Apr · 0.03% in Oct
Long-tailed DuckClangula hyemalisWinter visitorUncommon37–60 cmRegularly Oct–Apr · 0.03% in Oct
Little GullHydrocoloeus minutusPassage migrantRare25–30 cmRegularly Aug–Apr · 0.03% in Oct
Spotted FlycatcherMuscicapa striataSummer visitorUncommon14–16 cmRegularly May–Oct · 0.03% in Oct
GarganeySpatula querquedulaPassage migrantRare37–41 cmRegularly Mar–Oct · 0.02% in Oct
Yellow WagtailMotacilla flavaSummer visitorUncommon15–17 cmRegularly Apr–Oct · 0.02% in Oct
Yellow-browed WarblerPhylloscopus inornatusPassage migrantRare10–11 cmRegularly Feb–Oct · 0.02% in Oct
Red-legged PartridgeAlectoris rufaSummer visitorUncommon32–34 cmRecorded all year · 0.02% in Oct
Barn OwlTyto albaResidentUncommon33–39 cmRecorded all year · 0.02% in Oct
Jack SnipeLymnocryptes minimusWinter visitorUncommon17–19 cmRegularly Sep–Apr · 0.02% in Oct
Mandarin DuckAix galericulataResidentUncommon41–49 cmRecorded all year · 0.02% in Oct
Red GrouseLagopus scoticaResidentUncommon37–42 cmRecorded all year · 0.02% in Oct
Sabine's GullXema sabiniPassage migrantRare27–33 cmRegularly Aug–Oct · 0.02% in Oct
Sooty ShearwaterArdenna griseaPassage migrantRare40–51 cmRegularly Aug–Oct · 0.02% in Oct
Arctic TernSterna paradisaeaSummer visitorUncommon33–39 cmRegularly Apr–Oct · 0.02% in Oct
Balearic ShearwaterPuffinus mauretanicusPassage migrantUncommon35–40 cmRegularly Jul–Oct · 0.02% in Oct
Bearded TitPanurus biarmicusResidentRare13–15 cmRegularly Mar–Nov · 0.02% in Oct
Common RosefinchCarpodacus erythrinusPassage migrantRare13–15 cmRegularly Jun–Oct · 0.02% in Oct
Marsh TitPoecile palustrisResidentUncommon12–13 cmRecorded all year · 0.02% in Oct
Common TernSterna hirundoSummer visitorUncommon31–35 cmRegularly Apr–Oct · 0.02% in Oct
Eurasian BitternBotaurus stellarisResidentUncommon69–81 cmRegularly Oct–Aug · 0.02% in Oct
HobbyFalco subbuteoSummer visitorUncommon28–35 cmRegularly Apr–Oct · 0.02% in Oct
Greater ScaupAythya marilaWinter visitorUncommon39–56 cmRegularly Oct–Apr · 0.01% in Oct
Pomarine JaegerStercorarius pomarinusPassage migrantRare46–51 cmRegularly Aug–Nov · 0.01% in Oct
American Golden-PloverPluvialis dominicaPassage migrantRare24–28 cmRegularly Oct · 0.01% in Oct
Arctic LoonGavia arcticaWinter visitorUncommon58–77 cmRegularly Oct–Feb · 0.01% in Oct
European Storm-petrelHydrobates pelagicusSummer visitorUncommon14–18 cmRegularly Apr–Oct · 0.01% in Oct
Yellow-legged GullLarus michahellisWinter visitorUncommon52–68 cmRegularly Jun–Mar · 0.01% in Oct
Curlew SandpiperCalidris ferrugineaPassage migrantUncommon18–23 cmRegularly Aug–Oct · 0.01% in Oct
Horned GrebePodiceps auritusWinter visitorUncommon31–38 cmRegularly Oct–Mar · 0.01% in Oct
Little OwlAthene noctuaSummer visitorRare21–23 cmRegularly Jan–Oct · 0.01% in Oct
YellowhammerEmberiza citrinellaResidentUncommon16–17 cmRecorded all year · 0.01% in Oct
Egyptian GooseAlopochen aegyptiacaResidentRare63–73 cmRegularly Oct–Apr · 0.01% in Oct
TwiteLinaria flavirostrisResidentRare13–14 cmRegularly Oct–Apr · 0.01% in Oct
Willow TitPoecile montanusResidentRare11–12 cmRecorded all year · 0.01% in Oct
WoodlarkLullula arboreaResidentRare15–17 cmRegularly Oct · 0.01% in Oct
Great ShearwaterArdenna gravisPassage migrantRare43–51 cmRegularly Aug–Oct · 0.01% 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