Birds to See in Arizona in October
164 bird species on our list for Arizona are recorded regularly in October
Of these, the most often recorded are House Finch, Mourning Dove, Gila Woodpecker, White-crowned Sparrow and Yellow-rumped Warbler. New this month: Sandhill Crane, Hooded Merganser, Red-breasted Merganser and Common Loon and 27 more.
On the move in October
GBIF · OctArriving
At their peak
Orange-crowned WarblerBusiest month of the year · Aug–May
Lincoln's SparrowBusiest month of the year · Sep–May
Red-naped SapsuckerBusiest month of the year · Sep–Apr
Vesper SparrowBusiest month of the year · Sep–Jul
Greater YellowlegsBusiest month of the year · All year
Sharp-shinned HawkBusiest month of the year · Sep–May
From Arizona’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 164 birds in October
164 birds
House FinchHaemorhous mexicanusResidentCommon13–15 cmRecorded all year · 3.16% in Oct
Mourning DoveZenaida macrouraResidentCommon23–34 cmRecorded all year · 2.78% in Oct
Gila WoodpeckerMelanerpes uropygialisResidentCommon20–25 cmRecorded all year · 2.66% in Oct
White-crowned SparrowZonotrichia leucophrysWinter visitorCommon15–16 cmRegularly Sep–May · 2.53% in Oct
Yellow-rumped WarblerSetophaga coronataWinter visitorCommon12–15 cmRecorded all year · 2.22% in Oct
Common RavenCorvus coraxResidentCommon54–67 cmRecorded all year · 2.04% in Oct
Northern FlickerColaptes auratusResidentCommon28–31 cmRecorded all year · 1.41% in Oct
Say's PhoebeSayornis sayaResidentCommon17–20 cmRecorded all year · 1.36% in Oct
Northern MockingbirdMimus polyglottosResidentCommon21–26 cmRecorded all year · 1.30% in Oct
Ruby-crowned KingletCorthylio calendulaWinter visitorCommon9–11 cmRegularly Sep–May · 1.28% in Oct
House SparrowPasser domesticusResidentCommon14–17 cmRecorded all year · 1.22% in Oct
Red-tailed HawkButeo jamaicensisResidentCommon45–65 cmRecorded all year · 1.21% in Oct
MallardAnas platyrhynchosResidentCommon50–65 cmRecorded all year · 1.19% in Oct
Ladder-backed WoodpeckerDryobates scalarisResidentCommon16–19 cmRecorded all year · 1.13% in Oct
Turkey VultureCathartes auraSummer visitorCommon62–81 cmRecorded all year · 1.06% in Oct
Eurasian Collared DoveStreptopelia decaoctoResidentCommon30–32 cmRecorded all year · 0.99% in Oct
Northern CardinalCardinalis cardinalisResidentCommon21–23 cmRecorded all year · 0.97% in Oct
Common StarlingSturnus vulgarisResidentCommon21–23 cmRecorded all year · 0.97% in Oct
Rock DoveColumba liviaResidentCommon29–37 cmRecorded all year · 0.91% in Oct- Orange-crowned WarblerLeiothlypis celataWinter visitorCommon11–14 cmRegularly Aug–May · 0.89% in Oct
- Lincoln's SparrowMelospiza lincolniiWinter visitorCommon13–15 cmRegularly Sep–May · 0.85% in Oct
Chipping SparrowSpizella passerinaResidentCommon12–15 cmRecorded all year · 0.85% in Oct
Song SparrowMelospiza melodiaResidentCommon12–17 cmRecorded all year · 0.84% in Oct
White-breasted NuthatchSitta carolinensisResidentCommon13–14 cmRecorded all year · 0.80% in Oct
Great Blue HeronArdea herodiasResidentCommon91–137 cmRecorded all year · 0.79% in Oct
Red-winged BlackbirdAgelaius phoeniceusResidentCommon17–23 cmRecorded all year · 0.76% in Oct
Pied-billed GrebePodilymbus podicepsWinter visitorCommon31–38 cmRecorded all year · 0.69% in Oct- Red-naped SapsuckerSphyrapicus nuchalisWinter visitorCommon19–21 cmRegularly Sep–Apr · 0.65% in Oct
Acorn WoodpeckerMelanerpes formicivorusResidentCommon20–24 cmRecorded all year · 0.64% in Oct
Great White EgretArdea albaWinter visitorCommon80–104 cmRecorded all year · 0.61% in Oct
Greater RoadrunnerGeococcyx californianusResidentCommon52–54 cmRecorded all year · 0.58% in Oct
Ruddy DuckOxyura jamaicensisWinter visitorCommon35–43 cmRecorded all year · 0.53% in Oct
Barn SwallowHirundo rusticaSummer visitorCommon17–19 cmRegularly Mar–Nov · 0.52% in Oct
White-winged DoveZenaida asiaticaSummer visitorCommon27–30 cmRecorded all year · 0.47% in Oct
Northern ShovelerSpatula clypeataWinter visitorCommon44–51 cmRegularly Aug–May · 0.44% in Oct
Common YellowthroatGeothlypis trichasResidentCommon11–13 cmRecorded all year · 0.44% in Oct
Eurasian TealAnas creccaWinter visitorCommon34–38 cmRegularly Aug–May · 0.43% in Oct
American RobinTurdus migratoriusResidentCommon20–28 cmRecorded all year · 0.42% in Oct
Hermit ThrushCatharus guttatusResidentCommon14–18 cmRecorded all year · 0.42% in Oct
Lark SparrowChondestes grammacusResidentCommon15–17 cmRecorded all year · 0.40% in Oct- Vesper SparrowPooecetes gramineusWinter visitorUncommon13–17 cmRegularly Sep–Jul · 0.40% in Oct
Marsh WrenCistothorus palustrisWinter visitorUncommon10–14 cmRegularly Sep–Apr · 0.33% in Oct
Western MeadowlarkSturnella neglectaWinter visitorUncommon16–26 cmRecorded all year · 0.33% in Oct
Northern PintailAnas acutaWinter visitorCommon59–76 cmRegularly Sep–Mar · 0.31% in Oct
Least SandpiperCalidris minutillaWinter visitorUncommon13–15 cmRegularly Jul–May · 0.31% in Oct
Canada GooseBranta canadensisResidentUncommon76–110 cmRecorded all year · 0.29% in Oct
OspreyPandion haliaetusResidentUncommon54–58 cmRecorded all year · 0.27% in Oct
Gilded FlickerColaptes chrysoidesResidentUncommon28–31 cmRecorded all year · 0.27% in Oct
Pine SiskinSpinus pinusResidentCommon11–14 cmRecorded all year · 0.27% in Oct
Cinnamon TealSpatula cyanopteraWinter visitorCommon36–43 cmRecorded all year · 0.26% in Oct- Greater YellowlegsTringa melanoleucaWinter visitorUncommon29–40 cmRecorded all year · 0.26% in Oct
Great Horned OwlBubo virginianusResidentUncommon46–63 cmRecorded all year · 0.24% in Oct- Sharp-shinned HawkAccipiter striatusWinter visitorUncommon24–34 cmRegularly Sep–May · 0.24% in Oct
Black-crowned Night-heronNycticorax nycticoraxResidentUncommon58–65 cmRecorded all year · 0.24% in Oct
Long-billed DowitcherLimnodromus scolopaceusWinter visitorUncommon27–30 cmRegularly Jul–May · 0.23% in Oct
GadwallMareca streperaWinter visitorCommon46–56 cmRegularly Sep–Jul · 0.22% in Oct
Western KingbirdTyrannus verticalisSummer visitorCommon20–24 cmRegularly Mar–Oct · 0.21% in Oct
Hairy WoodpeckerLeuconotopicus villosusResidentUncommon18–26 cmRecorded all year · 0.21% in Oct
Horned LarkEremophila alpestrisResidentUncommon16–20 cmRecorded all year · 0.19% in Oct
Black-necked GrebePodiceps nigricollisWinter visitorUncommon28–34 cmRecorded all year · 0.18% in Oct
American CrowCorvus brachyrhynchosResidentUncommon41–53 cmRecorded all year · 0.18% in Oct
Northern Yellow WarblerSetophaga aestivaSummer visitorCommon12–13 cmRegularly Mar–Oct · 0.16% in Oct
American AvocetRecurvirostra americanaResidentUncommon43–51 cmRecorded all year · 0.16% in Oct
Peregrine FalconFalco peregrinusResidentUncommon34–58 cmRecorded all year · 0.15% in Oct
Wild TurkeyMeleagris gallopavoResidentUncommon100–125 cmRecorded all year · 0.14% in Oct
Cedar WaxwingBombycilla cedrorumWinter visitorUncommon15–18 cmRegularly Sep–May · 0.14% in Oct
Arizona WoodpeckerPicoides arizonaeResidentUncommon19–21 cmRecorded all year · 0.12% in Oct
Bald EagleHaliaeetus leucocephalusResidentUncommon70–102 cmRecorded all year · 0.11% in Oct
Virginia RailRallus limicolaWinter visitorUncommon20–27 cmRecorded all year · 0.09% in Oct
MerlinFalco columbariusWinter visitorUncommon24–33 cmRegularly Sep–Apr · 0.09% in Oct
Ring-billed GullLarus delawarensisWinter visitorUncommon43–54 cmRegularly Aug–May · 0.09% in Oct
Sandhill CraneAntigone canadensisWinter visitorUncommon80–122 cmRegularly Oct–Mar · 0.08% in Oct
Snow GooseAnser caerulescensWinter visitorUncommon69–84 cmRecorded all year · 0.07% in Oct
Western SandpiperCalidris mauriPassage migrantUncommon14–17 cmRegularly Apr–Nov · 0.07% in Oct
Western Screech-owlMegascops kennicottiiResidentUncommon19–25 cmRecorded all year · 0.07% in Oct
Wood DuckAix sponsaResidentUncommon47–54 cmRecorded all year · 0.07% in Oct
Lesser YellowlegsTringa flavipesWinter visitorUncommon23–27 cmRegularly Jul–Apr · 0.06% in Oct
Nashville WarblerLeiothlypis ruficapillaPassage migrantUncommon11–13 cmRegularly Apr–Oct · 0.05% in Oct
Mountain BluebirdSialia currucoidesResidentUncommon15–18 cmRecorded all year · 0.04% in Oct
Red CrossbillLoxia curvirostraResidentUncommon15–17 cmRecorded all year · 0.04% in Oct
Burrowing OwlAthene cuniculariaResidentUncommon19–25 cmRecorded all year · 0.04% in Oct
Pectoral SandpiperCalidris melanotosPassage migrantUncommon19–23 cmRegularly Aug–Oct · 0.04% in Oct
Williamson's SapsuckerSphyrapicus thyroideusResidentRare21–25 cmRecorded all year · 0.04% in Oct
Lewis's WoodpeckerMelanerpes lewisResidentRare26–28 cmRecorded all year · 0.04% in Oct
California CondorGymnogyps californianusSummer visitorRare109–140 cmRecorded all year · 0.03% in Oct
Clay-colored SparrowSpizella pallidaWinter visitorRare13–15 cmRegularly Sep–Apr · 0.03% in Oct
Greater White-fronted GooseAnser albifronsWinter visitorUncommon64–81 cmRegularly Aug–Apr · 0.03% in Oct
Baird's SandpiperCalidris bairdiiPassage migrantUncommon14–17 cmRegularly Apr–Oct · 0.03% in Oct
Yellow-bellied SapsuckerSphyrapicus variusWinter visitorRare19–22 cmRegularly Oct–Mar · 0.03% in Oct
Common MerganserMergus merganserWinter visitorUncommon58–68 cmRegularly Sep–May · 0.03% in Oct
Golden EagleAquila chrysaetosResidentUncommon66–102 cmRecorded all year · 0.03% in Oct
DunlinCalidris alpinaWinter visitorRare16–22 cmRegularly Sep–Mar · 0.03% in Oct
Swainson's ThrushCatharus ustulatusPassage migrantUncommon16–20 cmRegularly Apr–Oct · 0.03% in Oct
DickcisselSpiza americanaPassage migrantUncommon14–16 cmRegularly Aug–Oct · 0.03% in Oct
Muscovy DuckCairina moschataWinter visitorUncommon66–84 cmRecorded all year · 0.03% in Oct
Evening GrosbeakHesperiphona vespertinaWinter visitorRare16–22 cmRecorded all year · 0.02% in Oct
Fox SparrowPasserella iliacaWinter visitorRare15–19 cmRegularly Sep–Apr · 0.02% in Oct
Northern Pygmy-owlGlaucidium gnomaSummer visitorUncommon15–17 cmRecorded all year · 0.02% in Oct
Cattle EgretArdea ibisResidentRare46–56 cmRecorded all year · 0.02% in Oct
Stilt SandpiperCalidris himantopusPassage migrantUncommon18–23 cmRegularly May–Oct · 0.02% in Oct
Rose-breasted GrosbeakPheucticus ludovicianusSummer visitorRare18–22 cmRegularly Apr–Nov · 0.02% in Oct
Red-necked PhalaropePhalaropus lobatusPassage migrantUncommon18–19 cmRegularly Apr–Oct · 0.02% in Oct
Tennessee WarblerLeiothlypis peregrinaPassage migrantRare10–13 cmRegularly Oct–Dec · 0.02% in Oct
Downy WoodpeckerDryobates pubescensResidentRare14–18 cmRecorded all year · 0.02% in Oct
Gray CatbirdDumetella carolinensisResidentRare20–24 cmRecorded all year · 0.02% in Oct
Black-throated Blue WarblerSetophaga caerulescensPassage migrantRare11–13 cmRegularly Oct–Feb · 0.02% in Oct
Painted BuntingPasserina cirisPassage migrantUncommon12–14 cmRegularly Jul–Oct · 0.01% in Oct
Common LoonGavia immerWinter visitorUncommon66–91 cmRegularly Oct–Jun · 0.01% in Oct
Eastern BluebirdSialia sialisResidentRare16–21 cmRecorded all year · 0.01% in Oct
Willow FlycatcherEmpidonax trailliiSummer visitorUncommon13–17 cmRegularly May–Oct · 0.01% in Oct
Surf ScoterMelanitta perspicillataPassage migrantRare48–60 cmRegularly Oct–Apr · 0.01% in Oct
Wilson's PhalaropePhalaropus tricolorSummer visitorUncommon22–24 cmRegularly Apr–Oct · 0.01% in Oct
Palm WarblerSetophaga palmarumPassage migrantRare12–14 cmRegularly Oct–Apr · 0.01% in Oct
Hooded MerganserLophodytes cucullatusWinter visitorUncommon40–49 cmRegularly Oct–Mar · 0.01% in Oct
Sand MartinRiparia ripariaPassage migrantUncommon12–14 cmRegularly Apr–Oct · 0.01% in Oct
American RedstartSetophaga ruticillaSummer visitorRare11–14 cmRecorded all year · 0.01% in Oct
Solitary SandpiperTringa solitariaPassage migrantUncommon19–23 cmRegularly Apr–Oct · 0.01% in Oct
Magnolia WarblerSetophaga magnoliaPassage migrantRare11–13 cmRegularly Oct · 0.01% in Oct
Whiskered Screech-owlMegascops trichopsisSummer visitorUncommon18–23 cmRecorded all year · 0.01% in Oct
Marbled GodwitLimosa fedoaSummer visitorRare40–50 cmRegularly Apr–Oct · 0.01% in Oct
Swan GooseAnser cygnoidesResidentRare81–94 cmRecorded all year · 0.01% in Oct
Sabine's GullXema sabiniPassage migrantRare27–33 cmRegularly Sep–Oct · 0.01% in Oct
Red-breasted SapsuckerSphyrapicus ruberWinter visitorRare19–22 cmRegularly Oct–Feb · 0.01% in Oct
Grey PloverPluvialis squatarolaPassage migrantRare27–30 cmRegularly Mar–Oct · 0.01% in Oct
Lesser Black-backed GullLarus fuscusPassage migrantRare52–64 cmRegularly Oct–Dec · 0.01% in Oct
RuffCalidris pugnaxPassage migrantRare20–32 cmRegularly Oct · 0.01% in Oct
American Herring GullLarus smithsonianusWinter visitorRare53–65 cmRegularly Sep–Apr · 0.01% in Oct
Forster's TernSterna forsteriPassage migrantRare33–36 cmRegularly Apr–Oct · 0.01% in Oct
Sharp-tailed SandpiperCalidris acuminataPassage migrantRare17–22 cmRegularly Oct · 0.01% in Oct
Bonaparte's GullChroicocephalus philadelphiaPassage migrantRare28–38 cmRegularly Oct–May · 0.01% in Oct
Broad-winged HawkButeo platypterusPassage migrantRare34–44 cmRegularly Apr–Oct · 0.01% in Oct
Ross's GooseAnser rossiiWinter visitorRare57–64 cmRegularly Oct–Mar · 0.01% in Oct
Prothonotary WarblerProtonotaria citreaPassage migrantRare13–14 cmRegularly Aug–Oct · 0.01% in Oct
Chestnut-sided WarblerSetophaga pensylvanicaWinter visitorRare10–14 cmRegularly Sep–Feb · 0.00% in Oct
American BitternBotaurus lentiginosusWinter visitorRare58–85 cmRegularly Sep–May · 0.00% in Oct
Scarlet TanagerPiranga olivaceaPassage migrantRare16–19 cmRegularly Oct–Nov · 0.00% in Oct
Greylag GooseAnser anserResidentRare75–90 cmRecorded all year · 0.00% in Oct
Red-breasted MerganserMergus serratorWinter visitorUncommon52–58 cmRegularly Oct–Apr · 0.00% in Oct
Common TernSterna hirundoPassage migrantRare31–35 cmRegularly Aug–Oct · 0.00% in Oct
SanderlingCalidris albaPassage migrantRare18–20 cmRegularly Apr–Oct · 0.00% in Oct
Philadelphia VireoVireo philadelphicusPassage migrantRare11–13 cmRegularly Oct · 0.00% in Oct
Semipalmated PloverCharadrius semipalmatusPassage migrantRare17–19 cmRegularly Apr–Oct · 0.00% in Oct
Swamp SparrowMelospiza georgianaWinter visitorRare12–15 cmRegularly Oct–Apr · 0.00% in Oct
Black-throated Green WarblerSetophaga virensPassage migrantRare11–12 cmRegularly Oct · 0.00% in Oct
Franklin's GullLeucophaeus pipixcanPassage migrantRare32–36 cmRegularly Mar–Oct · 0.00% in Oct
Varied ThrushIxoreus naeviusPassage migrantRare20–26 cmRegularly Oct–Mar · 0.00% in Oct
Lapland LongspurCalcarius lapponicusWinter visitorRare15–16 cmRegularly Oct–Feb · 0.00% in Oct
Mandarin DuckAix galericulataWinter visitorRare41–49 cmRegularly Sep–May · 0.00% in Oct
Northern Saw-whet OwlAegolius acadicusResidentRare17–21 cmRecorded all year · 0.00% in Oct
Monk ParakeetMyiopsitta monachusResidentRare29–31 cmRecorded all year · 0.00% in Oct
BudgerigarMelopsittacus undulatusPassage migrantRare18–20 cmRegularly Mar–Dec · 0.00% in Oct
American Three-toed WoodpeckerPicoides dorsalisSummer visitorRare21–24 cmRegularly Apr–Jan · 0.00% in Oct
Grey PhalaropePhalaropus fulicariusPassage migrantRare20–22 cmRegularly Oct–Jan · 0.00% in Oct
OvenbirdSeiurus aurocapillaPassage migrantRare12–15 cmRegularly Apr–Dec · 0.00% in Oct
Horned GrebePodiceps auritusWinter visitorRare31–38 cmRegularly Oct–Mar · 0.00% in Oct
Pacific WrenTroglodytes pacificusWinter visitorRare8–12 cmRegularly Jul–Apr · 0.00% in Oct
American Golden-PloverPluvialis dominicaPassage migrantRare24–28 cmRegularly Oct–Apr · 0.00% in Oct
Mute SwanCygnus olorResidentRare140–160 cmRecorded all year · 0.00% in Oct
Short-billed DowitcherLimnodromus griseusPassage migrantRare23–32 cmRegularly Jul–Oct · 0.00% in Oct
Pacific LoonGavia pacificaWinter visitorRare58–74 cmRegularly Oct–Feb · 0.00% in Oct
Red-necked GrebePodiceps grisegenaWinter visitorRare40–50 cmRegularly Oct–Feb · 0.00% in Oct
Rough-legged HawkButeo lagopusWinter visitorRare46–59 cmRegularly Oct–Mar · 0.00% in Oct
Cape May WarblerSetophaga tigrinaPassage migrantRare12–14 cmRegularly Oct–Apr · 0.00% in Oct
Indian PeafowlPavo cristatusResidentRare86–230 cmRecorded all year · 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