Birds to See in Alabama in October
145 bird species on our list for Alabama are recorded regularly in October
Of these, the most often recorded are Northern Cardinal, Blue Jay, Northern Mockingbird, Red-bellied Woodpecker and Tufted Titmouse. New this month: Yellow-rumped Warbler, Ruby-crowned Kinglet, Cedar Waxwing and Swamp Sparrow and 17 more.
On the move in October
GBIF · OctArriving
At their peak
Gray CatbirdBusiest month of the year · All year
Northern FlickerBusiest month of the year · All year
Tennessee WarblerBusiest month of the year · Apr–May
Bay-breasted WarblerBusiest month of the year · Apr–May
Marsh WrenBusiest month of the year · Sep–May
Philadelphia VireoBusiest month of the year · Apr–May
Leaving soon
From Alabama’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 145 birds in October
145 birds
Northern CardinalCardinalis cardinalisResidentCommon21–23 cmRecorded all year · 4.04% in Oct
Blue JayCyanocitta cristataResidentCommon25–30 cmRecorded all year · 3.94% in Oct
Northern MockingbirdMimus polyglottosResidentCommon21–26 cmRecorded all year · 3.60% in Oct
Red-bellied WoodpeckerMelanerpes carolinusResidentCommon23–26 cmRecorded all year · 3.06% in Oct
Tufted TitmouseBaeolophus bicolorResidentCommon14–17 cmRecorded all year · 2.56% in Oct
Mourning DoveZenaida macrouraResidentCommon23–34 cmRecorded all year · 2.48% in Oct
Downy WoodpeckerDryobates pubescensResidentCommon14–18 cmRecorded all year · 2.32% in Oct
American CrowCorvus brachyrhynchosResidentCommon41–53 cmRecorded all year · 2.27% in Oct
House FinchHaemorhous mexicanusResidentCommon13–15 cmRecorded all year · 2.04% in Oct
Eastern BluebirdSialia sialisResidentCommon16–21 cmRecorded all year · 2.01% in Oct
Great Blue HeronArdea herodiasResidentCommon91–137 cmRecorded all year · 1.71% in Oct- Gray CatbirdDumetella carolinensisSummer visitorCommon20–24 cmRecorded all year · 1.49% in Oct
- Northern FlickerColaptes auratusWinter visitorCommon28–31 cmRecorded all year · 1.46% in Oct
Red-winged BlackbirdAgelaius phoeniceusResidentCommon17–23 cmRecorded all year · 1.29% in Oct
Turkey VultureCathartes auraResidentCommon62–81 cmRecorded all year · 1.20% in Oct
Great White EgretArdea albaResidentCommon80–104 cmRecorded all year · 1.12% in Oct
American RobinTurdus migratoriusResidentCommon20–28 cmRecorded all year · 0.96% in Oct
White-breasted NuthatchSitta carolinensisResidentCommon13–14 cmRecorded all year · 0.96% in Oct
Ruby-crowned KingletCorthylio calendulaWinter visitorCommon9–11 cmRegularly Oct–Apr · 0.92% in Oct- Tennessee WarblerLeiothlypis peregrinaPassage migrantCommon10–13 cmRegularly Apr–Nov · 0.86% in Oct
Yellow-rumped WarblerSetophaga coronataWinter visitorCommon12–15 cmRegularly Oct–Apr · 0.86% in Oct
Common YellowthroatGeothlypis trichasSummer visitorCommon11–13 cmRecorded all year · 0.81% in Oct
Common StarlingSturnus vulgarisResidentCommon21–23 cmRecorded all year · 0.80% in Oct
Ruby-throated HummingbirdArchilochus colubrisSummer visitorCommon7–9 cmRegularly Mar–Oct · 0.80% in Oct
Pileated WoodpeckerDryocopus pileatusResidentCommon40–49 cmRecorded all year · 0.79% in Oct
OspreyPandion haliaetusResidentCommon54–58 cmRecorded all year · 0.75% in Oct
Rose-breasted GrosbeakPheucticus ludovicianusPassage migrantCommon18–22 cmRegularly Apr–Oct · 0.72% in Oct
Magnolia WarblerSetophaga magnoliaPassage migrantCommon11–13 cmRegularly Apr–Oct · 0.68% in Oct
Canada GooseBranta canadensisResidentCommon76–110 cmRecorded all year · 0.66% in Oct
American RedstartSetophaga ruticillaPassage migrantCommon11–14 cmRegularly Apr–Oct · 0.64% in Oct
Palm WarblerSetophaga palmarumWinter visitorCommon12–14 cmRegularly Sep–May · 0.63% in Oct
Yellow-bellied SapsuckerSphyrapicus variusWinter visitorCommon19–22 cmRegularly Oct–Apr · 0.54% in Oct
Common GrackleQuiscalus quisculaResidentCommon28–34 cmRecorded all year · 0.54% in Oct
House SparrowPasser domesticusResidentCommon14–17 cmRecorded all year · 0.53% in Oct
Swamp SparrowMelospiza georgianaWinter visitorCommon12–15 cmRegularly Oct–Apr · 0.51% in Oct
Red-tailed HawkButeo jamaicensisResidentCommon45–65 cmRecorded all year · 0.49% in Oct
Chipping SparrowSpizella passerinaResidentCommon12–15 cmRecorded all year · 0.48% in Oct
Bald EagleHaliaeetus leucocephalusWinter visitorCommon70–102 cmRecorded all year · 0.48% in Oct
Fish CrowCorvus ossifragusResidentCommon36–41 cmRecorded all year · 0.47% in Oct
WilletTringa semipalmataResidentUncommon33–41 cmRecorded all year · 0.43% in Oct
Red-headed WoodpeckerMelanerpes erythrocephalusResidentCommon19–23 cmRecorded all year · 0.41% in Oct
Black-throated Green WarblerSetophaga virensPassage migrantUncommon11–12 cmRegularly Mar–Oct · 0.41% in Oct
Song SparrowMelospiza melodiaWinter visitorCommon12–17 cmRecorded all year · 0.39% in Oct
Forster's TernSterna forsteriResidentUncommon33–36 cmRecorded all year · 0.38% in Oct
SanderlingCalidris albaResidentUncommon18–20 cmRecorded all year · 0.36% in Oct
Pied-billed GrebePodilymbus podicepsWinter visitorCommon31–38 cmRecorded all year · 0.36% in Oct
MallardAnas platyrhynchosResidentCommon50–65 cmRecorded all year · 0.34% in Oct
Swainson's ThrushCatharus ustulatusPassage migrantUncommon16–20 cmRegularly Apr–Oct · 0.32% in Oct
Hairy WoodpeckerLeuconotopicus villosusResidentUncommon18–26 cmRecorded all year · 0.29% in Oct
Eurasian Collared DoveStreptopelia decaoctoResidentUncommon30–32 cmRecorded all year · 0.28% in Oct
Rock DoveColumba liviaResidentUncommon29–37 cmRecorded all year · 0.26% in Oct
Wood DuckAix sponsaResidentUncommon47–54 cmRecorded all year · 0.25% in Oct
Barn SwallowHirundo rusticaSummer visitorCommon17–19 cmRegularly Mar–Oct · 0.23% in Oct- Bay-breasted WarblerSetophaga castaneaPassage migrantUncommon14–14 cmRegularly Apr–Oct · 0.22% in Oct
Scarlet TanagerPiranga olivaceaSummer visitorCommon16–19 cmRegularly Apr–Oct · 0.21% in Oct
Grey PloverPluvialis squatarolaResidentUncommon27–30 cmRecorded all year · 0.21% in Oct
Chestnut-sided WarblerSetophaga pensylvanicaPassage migrantUncommon10–14 cmRegularly Apr–Oct · 0.19% in Oct- Marsh WrenCistothorus palustrisWinter visitorUncommon10–14 cmRegularly Sep–May · 0.19% in Oct
Greater YellowlegsTringa melanoleucaWinter visitorUncommon29–40 cmRegularly Jul–May · 0.18% in Oct
Hermit ThrushCatharus guttatusWinter visitorCommon14–18 cmRegularly Oct–Apr · 0.18% in Oct
Barred OwlStrix variaResidentUncommon43–50 cmRecorded all year · 0.16% in Oct
Orange-crowned WarblerLeiothlypis celataWinter visitorUncommon11–14 cmRegularly Oct–Apr · 0.16% in Oct
Least SandpiperCalidris minutillaWinter visitorUncommon13–15 cmRegularly Jul–May · 0.16% in Oct
Scaly-breasted MuniaLonchura punctulataResidentUncommon11–12 cmRecorded all year · 0.16% in Oct
Ring-billed GullLarus delawarensisWinter visitorCommon43–54 cmRegularly Aug–Apr · 0.16% in Oct
Sandwich TernThalasseus sandvicensisSummer visitorUncommon36–41 cmRegularly Mar–Nov · 0.16% in Oct
American Herring GullLarus smithsonianusWinter visitorUncommon53–65 cmRecorded all year · 0.15% in Oct
Great Horned OwlBubo virginianusResidentUncommon46–63 cmRecorded all year · 0.15% in Oct- Philadelphia VireoVireo philadelphicusPassage migrantUncommon11–13 cmRegularly Apr–Oct · 0.14% in Oct
White-winged DoveZenaida asiaticaResidentUncommon27–30 cmRecorded all year · 0.14% in Oct
Blue-headed VireoVireo solitariusWinter visitorUncommon12–15 cmRecorded all year · 0.14% in Oct
Ruddy TurnstoneArenaria interpresSummer visitorUncommon21–24 cmRecorded all year · 0.13% in Oct
Cattle EgretArdea ibisSummer visitorCommon46–56 cmRegularly Mar–Nov · 0.13% in Oct
Gray-cheeked ThrushCatharus minimusPassage migrantUncommon16–17 cmRegularly Apr–Oct · 0.13% in Oct
Semipalmated PloverCharadrius semipalmatusSummer visitorUncommon17–19 cmRecorded all year · 0.12% in Oct
Northern Yellow WarblerSetophaga aestivaSummer visitorUncommon12–13 cmRegularly Apr–Oct · 0.12% in Oct
Broad-winged HawkButeo platypterusSummer visitorUncommon34–44 cmRegularly Mar–Nov · 0.12% in Oct
OvenbirdSeiurus aurocapillaPassage migrantUncommon12–15 cmRegularly Apr–Oct · 0.11% in Oct
Peregrine FalconFalco peregrinusWinter visitorUncommon34–58 cmRecorded all year · 0.10% in Oct
DunlinCalidris alpinaWinter visitorUncommon16–22 cmRegularly Oct–May · 0.10% in Oct
Northern ShovelerSpatula clypeataWinter visitorUncommon44–51 cmRegularly Sep–Apr · 0.10% in Oct
Western SandpiperCalidris mauriWinter visitorUncommon14–17 cmRegularly Jul–May · 0.10% in Oct
Lesser YellowlegsTringa flavipesWinter visitorUncommon23–27 cmRegularly Jul–May · 0.10% in Oct
MerlinFalco columbariusWinter visitorUncommon24–33 cmRegularly Sep–Apr · 0.10% in Oct
Wild TurkeyMeleagris gallopavoResidentUncommon100–125 cmRecorded all year · 0.10% in Oct
Baltimore OrioleIcterus galbulaWinter visitorUncommon17–19 cmRecorded all year · 0.10% in Oct
GadwallMareca streperaWinter visitorCommon46–56 cmRegularly Oct–Mar · 0.09% in Oct
Northern WaterthrushParkesia noveboracensisPassage migrantUncommon12–15 cmRegularly Apr–Oct · 0.09% in Oct
Muscovy DuckCairina moschataResidentUncommon66–84 cmRecorded all year · 0.08% in Oct
Short-billed DowitcherLimnodromus griseusSummer visitorUncommon23–32 cmRecorded all year · 0.08% in Oct
Sharp-shinned HawkAccipiter striatusWinter visitorUncommon24–34 cmRecorded all year · 0.08% in Oct
Cedar WaxwingBombycilla cedrorumWinter visitorCommon15–18 cmRegularly Oct–May · 0.08% in Oct
Nashville WarblerLeiothlypis ruficapillaPassage migrantUncommon11–13 cmRegularly Apr–Nov · 0.07% in Oct
Piping PloverCharadrius melodusWinter visitorUncommon17–18 cmRegularly Jul–May · 0.07% in Oct
Pectoral SandpiperCalidris melanotosPassage migrantUncommon19–23 cmRegularly Mar–Oct · 0.06% in Oct
Eurasian TealAnas creccaWinter visitorUncommon34–38 cmRegularly Oct–Mar · 0.05% in Oct
Lincoln's SparrowMelospiza lincolniiWinter visitorUncommon13–15 cmRegularly Oct–May · 0.05% in Oct
American AvocetRecurvirostra americanaWinter visitorUncommon43–51 cmRegularly Jul–May · 0.05% in Oct
Eastern Screech-owlMegascops asioResidentUncommon16–25 cmRecorded all year · 0.04% in Oct
Least FlycatcherEmpidonax minimusPassage migrantUncommon12–14 cmRegularly Apr–Oct · 0.04% in Oct
Lesser Black-backed GullLarus fuscusWinter visitorRare52–64 cmRegularly Aug–May · 0.04% in Oct
White-crowned SparrowZonotrichia leucophrysWinter visitorUncommon15–16 cmRegularly Oct–May · 0.04% in Oct
Long-billed DowitcherLimnodromus scolopaceusWinter visitorRare27–30 cmRegularly Aug–May · 0.03% in Oct
Marbled GodwitLimosa fedoaPassage migrantRare40–50 cmRegularly Apr–Jan · 0.03% in Oct
Scissor-tailed FlycatcherTyrannus forficatusSummer visitorUncommon28–38 cmRegularly Apr–Nov · 0.03% in Oct
Great Black-backed GullLarus marinusWinter visitorRare64–79 cmRegularly Jul–May · 0.03% in Oct
Black-crowned Night-heronNycticorax nycticoraxResidentUncommon58–65 cmRecorded all year · 0.03% in Oct
Common TernSterna hirundoSummer visitorUncommon31–35 cmRegularly Apr–Oct · 0.03% in Oct
Semipalmated SandpiperCalidris pusillaSummer visitorUncommon15–18 cmRegularly Apr–Oct · 0.03% in Oct
Ruddy DuckOxyura jamaicensisWinter visitorUncommon35–43 cmRegularly May–Mar · 0.03% in Oct
Northern PintailAnas acutaWinter visitorUncommon59–76 cmRegularly Oct–Mar · 0.03% in Oct
Red KnotCalidris canutusResidentRare23–26 cmRecorded all year · 0.03% in Oct
Sand MartinRiparia ripariaPassage migrantUncommon12–14 cmRegularly Apr–Oct · 0.03% in Oct
Stilt SandpiperCalidris himantopusPassage migrantUncommon18–23 cmRegularly Mar–Oct · 0.03% in Oct
Pine SiskinSpinus pinusWinter visitorUncommon11–14 cmRegularly Oct–May · 0.02% in Oct
VeeryCatharus fuscescensPassage migrantUncommon16–19 cmRegularly Apr–Oct · 0.02% in Oct
Virginia RailRallus limicolaWinter visitorRare20–27 cmRegularly Sep–May · 0.02% in Oct
Greater White-fronted GooseAnser albifronsWinter visitorUncommon64–81 cmRegularly Oct–Feb · 0.02% in Oct
Painted BuntingPasserina cirisResidentUncommon12–14 cmRegularly Oct–Aug · 0.02% in Oct
DickcisselSpiza americanaSummer visitorUncommon14–16 cmRegularly Apr–Oct · 0.02% in Oct
Franklin's GullLeucophaeus pipixcanPassage migrantRare32–36 cmRegularly Oct–Dec · 0.02% in Oct
Solitary SandpiperTringa solitariaPassage migrantUncommon19–23 cmRegularly Mar–Oct · 0.02% in Oct
Glossy IbisPlegadis falcinellusSummer visitorRare48–66 cmRegularly Mar–Dec · 0.02% in Oct
Vesper SparrowPooecetes gramineusWinter visitorUncommon13–17 cmRegularly Oct–Apr · 0.02% in Oct
Lark SparrowChondestes grammacusSummer visitorUncommon15–17 cmRegularly Apr–Oct · 0.02% in Oct
Black-throated Blue WarblerSetophaga caerulescensPassage migrantRare11–13 cmRegularly Apr–Nov · 0.02% in Oct
Cape May WarblerSetophaga tigrinaPassage migrantUncommon12–14 cmRegularly Apr–Oct · 0.02% in Oct
Northern GannetMorus bassanusWinter visitorRare87–100 cmRecorded all year · 0.02% in Oct
Western KingbirdTyrannus verticalisPassage migrantRare20–24 cmRegularly Sep–May · 0.01% in Oct
Black-billed CuckooCoccyzus erythropthalmusPassage migrantRare28–32 cmRegularly Apr–Oct · 0.01% in Oct
Horned LarkEremophila alpestrisResidentUncommon16–20 cmRecorded all year · 0.01% in Oct
American Golden-PloverPluvialis dominicaPassage migrantRare24–28 cmRegularly Aug–Apr · 0.01% in Oct
Clay-colored SparrowSpizella pallidaPassage migrantRare13–15 cmRegularly Sep–Apr · 0.01% in Oct
Greylag GooseAnser anserPassage migrantRare75–90 cmRegularly Jun–Mar · 0.01% in Oct
American BitternBotaurus lentiginosusWinter visitorRare58–85 cmRegularly Aug–May · 0.01% in Oct
Helmeted GuineafowlNumida meleagrisResidentRare53–63 cmRegularly Apr–Jan · 0.01% in Oct
Mute SwanCygnus olorResidentRare140–160 cmRecorded all year · 0.01% in Oct
Red-cockaded WoodpeckerLeuconotopicus borealisResidentRare20–23 cmRecorded all year · 0.01% in Oct
Baird's SandpiperCalidris bairdiiPassage migrantRare14–17 cmRegularly Apr–Oct · 0.00% in Oct
Fox SparrowPasserella iliacaWinter visitorUncommon15–19 cmRegularly Oct–Mar · 0.00% in Oct
Yellow-bellied FlycatcherEmpidonax flaviventrisPassage migrantRare13–15 cmRegularly Aug–Oct · 0.00% in Oct
Willow FlycatcherEmpidonax trailliiPassage migrantRare13–17 cmRegularly May–Oct · 0.00% in Oct
American Black DuckAnas rubripesWinter visitorRare54–59 cmRegularly Aug–Mar · 0.00% in Oct
WhimbrelNumenius phaeopusSummer visitorRare40–46 cmRegularly Mar–Oct · 0.00% in Oct
Wilson's PhalaropePhalaropus tricolorPassage migrantRare22–24 cmRegularly Apr–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