Birds to See in Arkansas in October
126 bird species on our list for Arkansas are recorded regularly in October
Of these, the most often recorded are Blue Jay, American Crow, Northern Cardinal, Red-bellied Woodpecker and Tufted Titmouse. New this month: Yellow-rumped Warbler, Song Sparrow, Yellow-bellied Sapsucker and Swamp Sparrow and 24 more.
On the move in October
GBIF · OctArriving
At their peak
Northern FlickerBusiest month of the year · All year
Marsh WrenBusiest month of the year · Sep–May
Orange-crowned WarblerBusiest month of the year · Sep–May
Blue-headed VireoBusiest month of the year · Sep–May
Palm WarblerBusiest month of the year · Sep–May
Vesper SparrowBusiest month of the year · Oct–Apr
Leaving soon
From Arkansas’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 126 birds in October
126 birds
Blue JayCyanocitta cristataResidentCommon25–30 cmRecorded all year · 4.63% in Oct
American CrowCorvus brachyrhynchosResidentCommon41–53 cmRecorded all year · 4.51% in Oct
Northern CardinalCardinalis cardinalisResidentCommon21–23 cmRecorded all year · 4.11% in Oct
Red-bellied WoodpeckerMelanerpes carolinusResidentCommon23–26 cmRecorded all year · 3.65% in Oct
Tufted TitmouseBaeolophus bicolorResidentCommon14–16 cmRecorded all year · 2.98% in Oct
Turkey VultureCathartes auraResidentCommon62–81 cmRecorded all year · 2.78% in Oct
Downy WoodpeckerDryobates pubescensResidentCommon14–18 cmRecorded all year · 2.62% in Oct- Northern FlickerColaptes auratusWinter visitorCommon28–31 cmRecorded all year · 2.62% in Oct
Northern MockingbirdMimus polyglottosResidentCommon21–26 cmRecorded all year · 2.27% in Oct
Mourning DoveZenaida macrouraResidentCommon23–34 cmRecorded all year · 1.97% in Oct
Eastern BluebirdSialia sialisResidentCommon16–21 cmRecorded all year · 1.95% in Oct
Great Blue HeronArdea herodiasResidentCommon91–137 cmRecorded all year · 1.91% in Oct
American RobinTurdus migratoriusResidentCommon20–28 cmRecorded all year · 1.81% in Oct
House FinchHaemorhous mexicanusResidentCommon13–15 cmRecorded all year · 1.71% in Oct
White-breasted NuthatchSitta carolinensisResidentCommon13–14 cmRecorded all year · 1.66% in Oct
Common StarlingSturnus vulgarisResidentCommon21–23 cmRecorded all year · 1.63% in Oct
Yellow-rumped WarblerSetophaga coronataWinter visitorCommon12–15 cmRegularly Oct–May · 1.50% in Oct
Canada GooseBranta canadensisResidentCommon76–110 cmRecorded all year · 1.45% in Oct
Pileated WoodpeckerDryocopus pileatusResidentCommon40–49 cmRecorded all year · 1.31% in Oct
Great White EgretArdea albaSummer visitorCommon80–104 cmRecorded all year · 1.25% in Oct
Red-winged BlackbirdAgelaius phoeniceusResidentCommon17–23 cmRecorded all year · 1.22% in Oct
Ruby-crowned KingletCorthylio calendulaWinter visitorCommon9–11 cmRegularly Sep–May · 1.11% in Oct
Red-tailed HawkButeo jamaicensisResidentCommon45–65 cmRecorded all year · 1.04% in Oct
House SparrowPasser domesticusResidentCommon14–17 cmRecorded all year · 0.80% in Oct
Pied-billed GrebePodilymbus podicepsWinter visitorCommon31–38 cmRegularly Jul–May · 0.78% in Oct
Swamp SparrowMelospiza georgianaWinter visitorCommon12–15 cmRegularly Oct–Apr · 0.77% in Oct
Scissor-tailed FlycatcherTyrannus forficatusSummer visitorCommon28–38 cmRegularly Apr–Oct · 0.75% in Oct
Common GrackleQuiscalus quisculaResidentCommon28–34 cmRecorded all year · 0.69% in Oct
Bald EagleHaliaeetus leucocephalusWinter visitorCommon70–102 cmRecorded all year · 0.64% in Oct
Song SparrowMelospiza melodiaWinter visitorCommon12–17 cmRegularly Oct–Apr · 0.64% in Oct
Fish CrowCorvus ossifragusSummer visitorCommon36–41 cmRecorded all year · 0.60% in Oct
Hairy WoodpeckerLeuconotopicus villosusResidentCommon18–26 cmRecorded all year · 0.59% in Oct
Yellow-bellied SapsuckerSphyrapicus variusWinter visitorCommon19–22 cmRegularly Oct–Apr · 0.58% in Oct
Chipping SparrowSpizella passerinaResidentCommon12–15 cmRecorded all year · 0.58% in Oct
MallardAnas platyrhynchosResidentCommon50–65 cmRecorded all year · 0.56% in Oct
Ruby-throated HummingbirdArchilochus colubrisSummer visitorCommon7–9 cmRegularly Apr–Oct · 0.52% in Oct
Rock DoveColumba liviaResidentUncommon29–37 cmRecorded all year · 0.47% in Oct
Red-headed WoodpeckerMelanerpes erythrocephalusResidentCommon19–23 cmRecorded all year · 0.44% in Oct
Gray CatbirdDumetella carolinensisSummer visitorCommon20–24 cmRegularly Apr–Oct · 0.43% in Oct
Lincoln's SparrowMelospiza lincolniiWinter visitorUncommon13–15 cmRegularly Oct–May · 0.42% in Oct
Wood DuckAix sponsaResidentUncommon47–54 cmRecorded all year · 0.41% in Oct
Common YellowthroatGeothlypis trichasSummer visitorCommon11–13 cmRegularly Apr–Oct · 0.37% in Oct
White-crowned SparrowZonotrichia leucophrysWinter visitorCommon15–16 cmRegularly Oct–May · 0.35% in Oct
GadwallMareca streperaWinter visitorCommon46–56 cmRegularly Jul–Apr · 0.33% in Oct
Eurasian Collared DoveStreptopelia decaoctoResidentCommon30–32 cmRecorded all year · 0.32% in Oct
Northern ShovelerSpatula clypeataWinter visitorCommon44–51 cmRegularly Jul–May · 0.30% in Oct
Greater White-fronted GooseAnser albifronsWinter visitorUncommon64–81 cmRegularly Oct–Mar · 0.30% in Oct- Marsh WrenCistothorus palustrisWinter visitorUncommon10–14 cmRegularly Sep–May · 0.26% in Oct
Nashville WarblerLeiothlypis ruficapillaPassage migrantUncommon11–13 cmRegularly Apr–Oct · 0.26% in Oct
Eurasian TealAnas creccaWinter visitorUncommon34–38 cmRegularly Jul–Apr · 0.24% in Oct- Orange-crowned WarblerLeiothlypis celataWinter visitorUncommon11–14 cmRegularly Sep–May · 0.23% in Oct
Least SandpiperCalidris minutillaPassage migrantCommon13–15 cmRegularly Mar–Jan · 0.22% in Oct
Greater YellowlegsTringa melanoleucaWinter visitorUncommon29–40 cmRegularly Jul–May · 0.22% in Oct
Barred OwlStrix variaResidentUncommon43–50 cmRecorded all year · 0.21% in Oct
Ring-billed GullLarus delawarensisWinter visitorCommon43–54 cmRegularly Sep–Apr · 0.18% in Oct
Sharp-shinned HawkAccipiter striatusWinter visitorUncommon24–34 cmRegularly Aug–May · 0.17% in Oct
OspreyPandion haliaetusSummer visitorUncommon54–58 cmRegularly Mar–Nov · 0.17% in Oct
Northern PintailAnas acutaWinter visitorUncommon59–76 cmRecorded all year · 0.16% in Oct
Ruddy DuckOxyura jamaicensisWinter visitorCommon35–43 cmRegularly Aug–Apr · 0.16% in Oct
Rose-breasted GrosbeakPheucticus ludovicianusPassage migrantCommon18–22 cmRegularly Apr–Oct · 0.16% in Oct
Black-throated Green WarblerSetophaga virensPassage migrantUncommon11–12 cmRegularly Mar–Oct · 0.16% in Oct
Hermit ThrushCatharus guttatusWinter visitorUncommon14–18 cmRegularly Oct–Apr · 0.15% in Oct
Great Horned OwlBubo virginianusResidentUncommon46–63 cmRecorded all year · 0.15% in Oct
Barn SwallowHirundo rusticaSummer visitorCommon17–19 cmRegularly Mar–Oct · 0.14% in Oct
Snow GooseAnser caerulescensWinter visitorCommon69–84 cmRegularly Oct–Mar · 0.12% in Oct- Blue-headed VireoVireo solitariusWinter visitorUncommon12–15 cmRegularly Sep–May · 0.11% in Oct
Cedar WaxwingBombycilla cedrorumWinter visitorCommon15–18 cmRegularly Sep–May · 0.11% in Oct
DickcisselSpiza americanaSummer visitorCommon14–16 cmRegularly Apr–Oct · 0.11% in Oct- Palm WarblerSetophaga palmarumWinter visitorUncommon12–14 cmRegularly Sep–May · 0.10% in Oct
American AvocetRecurvirostra americanaPassage migrantUncommon43–51 cmRegularly Apr–Nov · 0.10% in Oct
Long-billed DowitcherLimnodromus scolopaceusPassage migrantUncommon27–30 cmRegularly Mar–Dec · 0.09% in Oct
Tennessee WarblerLeiothlypis peregrinaPassage migrantUncommon10–13 cmRegularly Apr–Oct · 0.09% in Oct
Pine SiskinSpinus pinusWinter visitorCommon11–14 cmRegularly Oct–May · 0.08% in Oct
Lesser YellowlegsTringa flavipesPassage migrantUncommon23–27 cmRegularly Mar–Nov · 0.08% in Oct
Magnolia WarblerSetophaga magnoliaPassage migrantUncommon11–13 cmRegularly Apr–Oct · 0.07% in Oct
American RedstartSetophaga ruticillaSummer visitorUncommon11–14 cmRegularly Apr–Oct · 0.06% in Oct
Cattle EgretArdea ibisSummer visitorUncommon46–56 cmRegularly Apr–Oct · 0.06% in Oct
Eastern Screech-owlMegascops asioWinter visitorUncommon16–25 cmRecorded all year · 0.06% in Oct
MerlinFalco columbariusWinter visitorUncommon24–33 cmRegularly Sep–Apr · 0.06% in Oct
Horned GrebePodiceps auritusWinter visitorUncommon31–38 cmRegularly Oct–Mar · 0.06% in Oct
Pectoral SandpiperCalidris melanotosPassage migrantCommon19–23 cmRegularly Mar–Oct · 0.06% in Oct
Franklin's GullLeucophaeus pipixcanPassage migrantUncommon32–36 cmRegularly Apr–Dec · 0.06% in Oct- Vesper SparrowPooecetes gramineusWinter visitorUncommon13–17 cmRegularly Oct–Apr · 0.06% in Oct
Muscovy DuckCairina moschataResidentUncommon66–84 cmRecorded all year · 0.06% in Oct
Egyptian GooseAlopochen aegyptiacaSummer visitorUncommon63–73 cmRecorded all year · 0.06% in Oct
Wild TurkeyMeleagris gallopavoResidentUncommon100–125 cmRecorded all year · 0.05% in Oct
Broad-winged HawkButeo platypterusSummer visitorUncommon34–44 cmRegularly Mar–Oct · 0.04% in Oct
Bay-breasted WarblerSetophaga castaneaPassage migrantUncommon14–14 cmRegularly Apr–Oct · 0.04% in Oct
Forster's TernSterna forsteriWinter visitorUncommon33–36 cmRegularly Jul–May · 0.04% in Oct
Common LoonGavia immerWinter visitorUncommon66–91 cmRegularly Oct–May · 0.04% in Oct
Clay-colored SparrowSpizella pallidaPassage migrantRare13–15 cmRegularly Apr–Nov · 0.03% in Oct
Philadelphia VireoVireo philadelphicusPassage migrantUncommon11–13 cmRegularly Apr–Oct · 0.03% in Oct
Western MeadowlarkSturnella neglectaWinter visitorUncommon16–26 cmRegularly Oct–Apr · 0.03% in Oct
Peregrine FalconFalco peregrinusWinter visitorRare34–58 cmRegularly Aug–May · 0.03% in Oct
Hooded MerganserLophodytes cucullatusWinter visitorUncommon40–49 cmRegularly Oct–Jun · 0.03% in Oct
Virginia RailRallus limicolaWinter visitorRare20–27 cmRegularly Oct–May · 0.03% in Oct
Horned LarkEremophila alpestrisWinter visitorUncommon16–20 cmRecorded all year · 0.03% in Oct
Greater RoadrunnerGeococcyx californianusResidentUncommon52–54 cmRecorded all year · 0.03% in Oct
Stilt SandpiperCalidris himantopusPassage migrantUncommon18–23 cmRegularly Apr–Oct · 0.03% in Oct
Solitary SandpiperTringa solitariaPassage migrantUncommon19–23 cmRegularly Mar–Oct · 0.02% in Oct
DunlinCalidris alpinaPassage migrantUncommon16–22 cmRegularly Oct–May · 0.02% in Oct
Ross's GooseAnser rossiiWinter visitorUncommon57–64 cmRegularly Oct–Mar · 0.02% in Oct
Semipalmated SandpiperCalidris pusillaPassage migrantUncommon15–18 cmRegularly Apr–Oct · 0.02% in Oct
White-winged DoveZenaida asiaticaResidentUncommon27–30 cmRecorded all year · 0.02% in Oct
Red-cockaded WoodpeckerLeuconotopicus borealisResidentRare20–23 cmRecorded all year · 0.02% in Oct
Bonaparte's GullChroicocephalus philadelphiaWinter visitorUncommon28–38 cmRegularly Oct–Apr · 0.02% in Oct
Scarlet TanagerPiranga olivaceaSummer visitorUncommon16–19 cmRegularly Apr–Oct · 0.02% in Oct
American Herring GullLarus smithsonianusWinter visitorUncommon53–65 cmRegularly Sep–Mar · 0.02% in Oct
Cackling GooseBranta hutchinsiiWinter visitorUncommon53–76 cmRegularly Oct–Mar · 0.02% in Oct
Black-crowned Night-heronNycticorax nycticoraxSummer visitorUncommon58–65 cmRegularly Apr–Dec · 0.01% in Oct
Chestnut-sided WarblerSetophaga pensylvanicaPassage migrantUncommon10–14 cmRegularly Apr–Oct · 0.01% in Oct
OvenbirdSeiurus aurocapillaSummer visitorUncommon12–15 cmRegularly Apr–Oct · 0.01% in Oct
American Golden-PloverPluvialis dominicaPassage migrantUncommon24–28 cmRegularly Mar–Nov · 0.01% in Oct
Least FlycatcherEmpidonax minimusPassage migrantUncommon12–14 cmRegularly Apr–Oct · 0.01% in Oct
Lesser Black-backed GullLarus fuscusWinter visitorRare52–64 cmRegularly Aug–Mar · 0.01% in Oct
Say's PhoebeSayornis sayaResidentRare17–20 cmRegularly Oct–Dec · 0.01% in Oct
Black-necked GrebePodiceps nigricollisWinter visitorRare28–34 cmRegularly Oct–Apr · 0.01% in Oct
Grey PloverPluvialis squatarolaPassage migrantRare27–30 cmRegularly Apr–Nov · 0.01% in Oct
Northern Saw-whet OwlAegolius acadicusPassage migrantUncommon17–21 cmRegularly Oct–Nov · 0.01% in Oct
American BitternBotaurus lentiginosusPassage migrantRare58–85 cmRegularly Sep–May · 0.01% in Oct
Common TernSterna hirundoPassage migrantRare31–35 cmRegularly Apr–Oct · 0.01% in Oct
Swan GooseAnser cygnoidesSummer visitorRare81–94 cmRegularly Oct–Jul · 0.00% in Oct
Mourning WarblerGeothlypis philadelphiaPassage migrantRare10–15 cmRegularly May–Oct · 0.00% in Oct
Sabine's GullXema sabiniPassage migrantRare27–33 cmRegularly Sep–Oct · 0.00% in Oct
Sandhill CraneAntigone canadensisWinter visitorRare80–122 cmRegularly Oct–Mar · 0.00% in Oct
Yellow-bellied FlycatcherEmpidonax flaviventrisPassage migrantRare13–15 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