Birds to See in Alaska in October
124 bird species on our list for Alaska are recorded regularly in October
Of these, the most often recorded are Common Raven, Bald Eagle, Mallard, Song Sparrow and American Crow. New this month: Bohemian Waxwing, Wood Duck, Black Guillemot and Palm Warbler and 5 more.
On the move in October
GBIF · OctArriving
At their peak
From Alaska’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 124 birds in October
124 birds
Common RavenCorvus coraxResidentCommon54–67 cmRecorded all year · 4.56% in Oct
Bald EagleHaliaeetus leucocephalusResidentCommon70–102 cmRecorded all year · 3.60% in Oct
MallardAnas platyrhynchosResidentCommon50–65 cmRecorded all year · 3.51% in Oct
Song SparrowMelospiza melodiaResidentCommon12–17 cmRecorded all year · 1.99% in Oct
American CrowCorvus brachyrhynchosResidentCommon41–53 cmRecorded all year · 1.70% in Oct
KittiwakeRissa tridactylaSummer visitorCommon37–41 cmRegularly Feb–Nov · 1.56% in Oct
Common MerganserMergus merganserWinter visitorCommon58–68 cmRecorded all year · 1.47% in Oct
Pacific WrenTroglodytes pacificusResidentCommon8–12 cmRecorded all year · 1.33% in Oct
Horned GrebePodiceps auritusWinter visitorCommon31–38 cmRecorded all year · 1.20% in Oct
Common RedpollAcanthis flammeaResidentCommon12–14 cmRecorded all year · 1.17% in Oct
Eurasian TealAnas creccaSummer visitorCommon34–38 cmRecorded all year · 1.12% in Oct
GoldeneyeBucephala clangulaWinter visitorCommon40–51 cmRecorded all year · 1.08% in Oct
Greater ScaupAythya marilaResidentCommon39–56 cmRecorded all year · 1.04% in Oct
Downy WoodpeckerDryobates pubescensWinter visitorCommon14–18 cmRecorded all year · 0.90% in Oct
Canada GooseBranta canadensisSummer visitorCommon76–110 cmRecorded all year · 0.88% in Oct
American Herring GullLarus smithsonianusSummer visitorCommon53–65 cmRecorded all year · 0.88% in Oct
Northern PintailAnas acutaSummer visitorCommon59–76 cmRecorded all year · 0.88% in Oct
Long-tailed DuckClangula hyemalisResidentCommon37–60 cmRecorded all year · 0.87% in Oct
Glaucous GullLarus hyperboreusSummer visitorCommon62–68 cmRecorded all year · 0.86% in Oct
Red-necked GrebePodiceps grisegenaResidentCommon40–50 cmRecorded all year · 0.86% in Oct
Rock DoveColumba liviaResidentCommon29–37 cmRecorded all year · 0.85% in Oct
Hairy WoodpeckerLeuconotopicus villosusWinter visitorCommon18–26 cmRecorded all year · 0.82% in Oct
Common LoonGavia immerResidentCommon66–91 cmRecorded all year · 0.81% in Oct
Trumpeter SwanCygnus buccinatorResidentCommon139–157 cmRecorded all year · 0.79% in Oct
Surf ScoterMelanitta perspicillataWinter visitorCommon48–60 cmRecorded all year · 0.76% in Oct
Red-breasted MerganserMergus serratorResidentCommon52–58 cmRecorded all year · 0.72% in Oct
American RobinTurdus migratoriusSummer visitorCommon20–28 cmRecorded all year · 0.71% in Oct
Varied ThrushIxoreus naeviusResidentCommon20–26 cmRecorded all year · 0.70% in Oct
Pacific LoonGavia pacificaResidentCommon58–74 cmRecorded all year · 0.68% in Oct
Pine SiskinSpinus pinusResidentCommon11–14 cmRecorded all year · 0.67% in Oct
Great Blue HeronArdea herodiasWinter visitorCommon91–137 cmRecorded all year · 0.65% in Oct
Northern ShovelerSpatula clypeataSummer visitorCommon44–51 cmRegularly Mar–Dec · 0.61% in Oct
Ruby-crowned KingletCorthylio calendulaSummer visitorCommon9–11 cmRegularly Mar–Dec · 0.56% in Oct
EiderSomateria mollissimaSummer visitorCommon50–71 cmRegularly May–Mar · 0.56% in Oct
Snow BuntingPlectrophenax nivalisResidentCommon15–18 cmRecorded all year · 0.54% in Oct
White-crowned SparrowZonotrichia leucophrysSummer visitorCommon15–16 cmRecorded all year · 0.54% in Oct
Common StarlingSturnus vulgarisWinter visitorCommon21–23 cmRecorded all year · 0.53% in Oct
King EiderSomateria spectabilisSummer visitorCommon46–64 cmRegularly May–Mar · 0.51% in Oct
Lapland LongspurCalcarius lapponicusSummer visitorCommon15–16 cmRegularly Mar–Oct · 0.51% in Oct
Iceland GullLarus glaucoidesWinter visitorCommon52–60 cmRegularly Aug–Apr · 0.51% in Oct
Northern FlickerColaptes auratusResidentCommon28–31 cmRecorded all year · 0.49% in Oct
Bonaparte's GullChroicocephalus philadelphiaSummer visitorCommon28–38 cmRegularly Apr–Nov · 0.47% in Oct
Fox SparrowPasserella iliacaSummer visitorCommon15–19 cmRecorded all year · 0.39% in Oct
Tundra SwanCygnus columbianusSummer visitorCommon120–150 cmRegularly Mar–Nov · 0.37% in Oct
Red CrossbillLoxia curvirostraWinter visitorCommon15–17 cmRecorded all year · 0.36% in Oct
GadwallMareca streperaResidentCommon46–56 cmRecorded all year · 0.35% in Oct
Cackling GooseBranta hutchinsiiSummer visitorCommon53–76 cmRegularly Apr–Nov · 0.32% in Oct
Pacific Golden-PloverPluvialis fulvaSummer visitorCommon23–26 cmRegularly Apr–Oct · 0.31% in Oct
Brent GooseBranta berniclaSummer visitorCommon55–66 cmRegularly Feb–Oct · 0.29% in Oct
Hooded MerganserLophodytes cucullatusWinter visitorUncommon40–49 cmRegularly Aug–May · 0.28% in Oct
Eurasian WigeonMareca penelopeWinter visitorUncommon42–51 cmRegularly Sep–Jun · 0.28% in Oct
Snow GooseAnser caerulescensSummer visitorUncommon69–84 cmRegularly Apr–Nov · 0.27% in Oct
Sharp-shinned HawkAccipiter striatusWinter visitorUncommon24–34 cmRecorded all year · 0.26% in Oct
Grey PhalaropePhalaropus fulicariusSummer visitorCommon20–22 cmRegularly May–Oct · 0.25% in Oct
Greater YellowlegsTringa melanoleucaSummer visitorCommon29–40 cmRegularly Apr–Oct · 0.24% in Oct
Hermit ThrushCatharus guttatusSummer visitorCommon14–18 cmRegularly Apr–Oct · 0.22% in Oct
Sharp-tailed SandpiperCalidris acuminataPassage migrantUncommon17–22 cmRegularly Aug–Nov · 0.21% in Oct
MerlinFalco columbariusSummer visitorCommon24–33 cmRecorded all year · 0.20% in Oct
FulmarFulmarus glacialisSummer visitorCommon45–50 cmRegularly May–Oct · 0.20% in Oct
American Tree SparrowSpizelloides arboreaSummer visitorCommon14–17 cmRecorded all year · 0.20% in Oct
Ruddy TurnstoneArenaria interpresSummer visitorUncommon21–24 cmRegularly May–Oct · 0.19% in Oct
Eurasian Collared DoveStreptopelia decaoctoWinter visitorUncommon30–32 cmRecorded all year · 0.19% in Oct
Peregrine FalconFalco peregrinusSummer visitorCommon34–58 cmRegularly Apr–Jan · 0.19% in Oct
American Three-toed WoodpeckerPicoides dorsalisResidentUncommon21–24 cmRecorded all year · 0.18% in Oct
Red-throated LoonGavia stellataSummer visitorCommon53–69 cmRecorded all year · 0.18% in Oct
Bohemian WaxwingBombycilla garrulusWinter visitorCommon19–23 cmRegularly Oct–Aug · 0.17% in Oct
Yellow-rumped WarblerSetophaga coronataSummer visitorCommon12–15 cmRegularly Apr–Oct · 0.17% in Oct
Pectoral SandpiperCalidris melanotosSummer visitorCommon19–23 cmRegularly May–Oct · 0.16% in Oct
Greater White-fronted GooseAnser albifronsSummer visitorCommon64–81 cmRegularly Apr–Oct · 0.16% in Oct
Orange-crowned WarblerLeiothlypis celataSummer visitorCommon11–14 cmRegularly Apr–Nov · 0.15% in Oct
Lincoln's SparrowMelospiza lincolniiSummer visitorCommon13–15 cmRecorded all year · 0.15% in Oct
Long-billed DowitcherLimnodromus scolopaceusSummer visitorCommon27–30 cmRegularly May–Oct · 0.13% in Oct
Short-eared OwlAsio flammeusResidentUncommon34–43 cmRecorded all year · 0.12% in Oct
Vega GullLarus vegaeSummer visitorUncommon55–67 cmRegularly May–Nov · 0.12% in Oct
BramblingFringilla montifringillaWinter visitorUncommon14–16 cmRegularly Sep–Jun · 0.12% in Oct
DunlinCalidris alpinaResidentCommon16–22 cmRecorded all year · 0.12% in Oct
Great Horned OwlBubo virginianusWinter visitorUncommon46–63 cmRecorded all year · 0.12% in Oct
Rock PtarmiganLagopus mutaSummer visitorUncommon34–36 cmRecorded all year · 0.11% in Oct
Ruffed GrouseBonasa umbellusWinter visitorUncommon41–50 cmRegularly Jul–May · 0.11% in Oct
Snowy OwlBubo scandiacusSummer visitorUncommon52–71 cmRegularly Mar–Jan · 0.11% in Oct
Red-breasted SapsuckerSphyrapicus ruberSummer visitorUncommon19–22 cmRecorded all year · 0.09% in Oct
Black-backed WoodpeckerPicoides arcticusWinter visitorUncommon21–24 cmRecorded all year · 0.09% in Oct
Northern Yellow WarblerSetophaga aestivaSummer visitorCommon12–13 cmRegularly May–Oct · 0.08% in Oct
Pomarine JaegerStercorarius pomarinusSummer visitorUncommon46–51 cmRegularly May–Oct · 0.08% in Oct
Cedar WaxwingBombycilla cedrorumPassage migrantUncommon15–18 cmRegularly Jun–Dec · 0.07% in Oct
Pied-billed GrebePodilymbus podicepsWinter visitorUncommon31–38 cmRegularly Sep–Apr · 0.07% in Oct
Sabine's GullXema sabiniSummer visitorUncommon27–33 cmRegularly May–Oct · 0.07% in Oct
Rough-legged HawkButeo lagopusSummer visitorUncommon46–59 cmRegularly Apr–Oct · 0.07% in Oct
Tufted DuckAythya fuligulaWinter visitorUncommon40–47 cmRegularly Sep–Jun · 0.07% in Oct
Grey PloverPluvialis squatarolaSummer visitorUncommon27–30 cmRegularly Apr–Oct · 0.06% in Oct
SanderlingCalidris albaWinter visitorUncommon18–20 cmRecorded all year · 0.06% in Oct
Red-tailed HawkButeo jamaicensisSummer visitorUncommon45–65 cmRegularly Mar–Dec · 0.05% in Oct
Western SandpiperCalidris mauriSummer visitorCommon14–17 cmRegularly Apr–Oct · 0.05% in Oct
Common PheasantPhasianus colchicusWinter visitorUncommon50–90 cmRecorded all year · 0.05% in Oct
Arctic JaegerStercorarius parasiticusSummer visitorCommon41–46 cmRegularly May–Oct · 0.05% in Oct
Mourning DoveZenaida macrouraResidentRare23–34 cmRegularly Sep–Oct · 0.05% in Oct
Golden EagleAquila chrysaetosSummer visitorUncommon66–102 cmRegularly Feb–Nov · 0.04% in Oct
Northern Pygmy-owlGlaucidium gnomaWinter visitorUncommon15–17 cmRegularly Aug–Apr · 0.04% in Oct
Wood DuckAix sponsaWinter visitorUncommon47–54 cmRegularly Jul–Apr · 0.04% in Oct
Leach's Storm-petrelHydrobates leucorhousSummer visitorUncommon18–21 cmRegularly May–Oct · 0.04% in Oct
Black GuillemotCepphus grylleSummer visitorUncommon30–32 cmRegularly May–Dec · 0.03% in Oct
Common SnipeGallinago gallinagoSummer visitorUncommon25–27 cmRegularly May–Oct · 0.03% in Oct
Palm WarblerSetophaga palmarumPassage migrantRare12–14 cmRegularly Oct–Nov · 0.03% in Oct
Red-winged BlackbirdAgelaius phoeniceusResidentUncommon17–23 cmRecorded all year · 0.03% in Oct
OspreyPandion haliaetusSummer visitorUncommon54–58 cmRegularly Apr–Oct · 0.02% in Oct
Northern Saw-whet OwlAegolius acadicusWinter visitorUncommon17–21 cmRegularly Sep–May · 0.02% in Oct
Sooty ShearwaterArdenna griseaSummer visitorUncommon40–51 cmRegularly May–Oct · 0.02% in Oct
GarganeySpatula querquedulaPassage migrantUncommon37–41 cmRegularly May–Oct · 0.02% in Oct
Song ThrushTurdus philomelosPassage migrantRare20–23 cmRegularly Oct · 0.02% in Oct
Ruddy DuckOxyura jamaicensisSummer visitorRare35–43 cmRegularly May–Nov · 0.02% in Oct
Horned LarkEremophila alpestrisSummer visitorUncommon16–20 cmRegularly Mar–Nov · 0.02% in Oct
Boreal OwlAegolius funereusWinter visitorUncommon21–28 cmRegularly Sep–Jun · 0.02% in Oct
Eurasian SkylarkAlauda arvensisPassage migrantRare16–18 cmRegularly May–Oct · 0.02% in Oct
Ring-billed GullLarus delawarensisPassage migrantRare43–54 cmRegularly Apr–Oct · 0.02% in Oct
Tennessee WarblerLeiothlypis peregrinaPassage migrantRare10–13 cmRegularly Jun–Nov · 0.01% in Oct
Arctic LoonGavia arcticaSummer visitorUncommon58–77 cmRegularly May–Dec · 0.01% in Oct
Swamp SparrowMelospiza georgianaResidentRare12–15 cmRegularly Oct–Dec · 0.01% in Oct
Barred OwlStrix variaSummer visitorRare43–50 cmRegularly Jan–Nov · 0.01% in Oct
Common YellowthroatGeothlypis trichasSummer visitorUncommon11–13 cmRegularly May–Oct · 0.01% in Oct
Mountain BluebirdSialia currucoidesPassage migrantUncommon15–18 cmRegularly Sep–May · 0.01% in Oct
Western Screech-owlMegascops kennicottiiWinter visitorUncommon19–25 cmRegularly Jul–Apr · 0.01% in Oct
Evening GrosbeakHesperiphona vespertinaResidentRare16–22 cmRegularly Oct · 0.01% in Oct
Chipping SparrowSpizella passerinaSummer visitorUncommon12–15 cmRegularly May–Oct · 0.01% in Oct
Black-headed GullChroicocephalus ridibundusPassage migrantRare38–44 cmRegularly May–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