Birds to See in Colorado in October
153 bird species on our list for Colorado are recorded regularly in October
Of these, the most often recorded are Northern Flicker, House Finch, American Robin, Mallard and Blue Jay. New this month: Cackling Goose, Hooded Merganser, American Tree Sparrow and Common Loon and 18 more.
On the move in October
GBIF · OctArriving
At their peak
White-crowned SparrowBusiest month of the year · All year
Ruby-crowned KingletBusiest month of the year · All year
Sandhill CraneBusiest month of the year · All year
Long-billed DowitcherBusiest month of the year · Mar–May
Grey PloverBusiest month of the year · May
American Golden-PloverBusiest month of the year · Sep–Nov
From Colorado’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 153 birds in October
153 birds
Northern FlickerColaptes auratusResidentCommon28–31 cmRecorded all year · 3.91% in Oct
House FinchHaemorhous mexicanusResidentCommon13–15 cmRecorded all year · 3.57% in Oct
American RobinTurdus migratoriusResidentCommon20–28 cmRecorded all year · 2.96% in Oct
MallardAnas platyrhynchosResidentCommon50–65 cmRecorded all year · 2.89% in Oct
Blue JayCyanocitta cristataResidentCommon25–30 cmRecorded all year · 2.77% in Oct- White-crowned SparrowZonotrichia leucophrysWinter visitorCommon15–16 cmRecorded all year · 2.70% in Oct
American CrowCorvus brachyrhynchosResidentCommon41–53 cmRecorded all year · 2.67% in Oct
Canada GooseBranta canadensisResidentCommon76–110 cmRecorded all year · 2.30% in Oct
Red-tailed HawkButeo jamaicensisResidentCommon45–65 cmRecorded all year · 2.25% in Oct
Red-winged BlackbirdAgelaius phoeniceusResidentCommon17–23 cmRecorded all year · 2.22% in Oct
Common StarlingSturnus vulgarisResidentCommon21–23 cmRecorded all year · 2.01% in Oct
Ring-billed GullLarus delawarensisWinter visitorCommon43–54 cmRegularly Jul–May · 1.71% in Oct
Common RavenCorvus coraxResidentCommon54–67 cmRecorded all year · 1.64% in Oct
Song SparrowMelospiza melodiaResidentCommon12–17 cmRecorded all year · 1.61% in Oct
Eurasian Collared DoveStreptopelia decaoctoResidentCommon30–32 cmRecorded all year · 1.53% in Oct
White-breasted NuthatchSitta carolinensisResidentCommon13–14 cmRecorded all year · 1.48% in Oct
Yellow-rumped WarblerSetophaga coronataSummer visitorCommon12–15 cmRecorded all year · 1.32% in Oct
Downy WoodpeckerDryobates pubescensResidentCommon14–18 cmRecorded all year · 1.31% in Oct
GadwallMareca streperaWinter visitorCommon46–56 cmRecorded all year · 1.22% in Oct
Rock DoveColumba liviaResidentCommon29–37 cmRecorded all year · 1.10% in Oct
Pied-billed GrebePodilymbus podicepsWinter visitorCommon31–38 cmRecorded all year · 1.07% in Oct
House SparrowPasser domesticusResidentCommon14–17 cmRecorded all year · 1.04% in Oct
Great Blue HeronArdea herodiasResidentCommon91–137 cmRecorded all year · 1.01% in Oct
Western MeadowlarkSturnella neglectaSummer visitorCommon16–26 cmRecorded all year · 0.96% in Oct
Mourning DoveZenaida macrouraSummer visitorCommon23–34 cmRecorded all year · 0.89% in Oct- Ruby-crowned KingletCorthylio calendulaSummer visitorCommon9–11 cmRecorded all year · 0.82% in Oct
Eurasian TealAnas creccaWinter visitorCommon34–38 cmRegularly Aug–Jun · 0.82% in Oct
Northern ShovelerSpatula clypeataWinter visitorCommon44–51 cmRegularly Aug–Jun · 0.78% in Oct
Bald EagleHaliaeetus leucocephalusWinter visitorCommon70–102 cmRecorded all year · 0.69% in Oct
Mountain BluebirdSialia currucoidesSummer visitorCommon15–18 cmRecorded all year · 0.63% in Oct
Ruddy DuckOxyura jamaicensisWinter visitorCommon35–43 cmRecorded all year · 0.59% in Oct
Common GrackleQuiscalus quisculaSummer visitorCommon28–34 cmRegularly Mar–Oct · 0.55% in Oct
Hairy WoodpeckerLeuconotopicus villosusResidentCommon18–26 cmRecorded all year · 0.53% in Oct
Pine SiskinSpinus pinusResidentCommon11–14 cmRecorded all year · 0.51% in Oct
Chipping SparrowSpizella passerinaSummer visitorCommon12–15 cmRegularly Apr–Oct · 0.51% in Oct
Horned LarkEremophila alpestrisResidentCommon16–20 cmRecorded all year · 0.47% in Oct- Sandhill CraneAntigone canadensisWinter visitorUncommon80–122 cmRecorded all year · 0.39% in Oct
Common MerganserMergus merganserWinter visitorCommon58–68 cmRecorded all year · 0.38% in Oct
Black-necked GrebePodiceps nigricollisSummer visitorCommon28–34 cmRecorded all year · 0.35% in Oct
Orange-crowned WarblerLeiothlypis celataSummer visitorCommon11–14 cmRegularly Apr–Oct · 0.33% in Oct
Say's PhoebeSayornis sayaSummer visitorCommon17–20 cmRecorded all year · 0.33% in Oct
Hooded MerganserLophodytes cucullatusWinter visitorCommon40–49 cmRegularly Oct–Apr · 0.32% in Oct
Lincoln's SparrowMelospiza lincolniiSummer visitorCommon13–15 cmRegularly Mar–Dec · 0.30% in Oct
Great Horned OwlBubo virginianusResidentUncommon46–63 cmRecorded all year · 0.30% in Oct
Wild TurkeyMeleagris gallopavoResidentUncommon100–125 cmRecorded all year · 0.29% in Oct
Hermit ThrushCatharus guttatusSummer visitorUncommon14–18 cmRegularly Apr–Dec · 0.28% in Oct
Northern PintailAnas acutaWinter visitorUncommon59–76 cmRegularly Aug–Jun · 0.28% in Oct
Wood DuckAix sponsaResidentUncommon47–54 cmRecorded all year · 0.27% in Oct
Cedar WaxwingBombycilla cedrorumResidentCommon15–18 cmRecorded all year · 0.25% in Oct- Long-billed DowitcherLimnodromus scolopaceusPassage migrantUncommon27–30 cmRegularly Mar–Nov · 0.24% in Oct
Turkey VultureCathartes auraSummer visitorCommon62–81 cmRegularly Mar–Oct · 0.22% in Oct
OspreyPandion haliaetusSummer visitorCommon54–58 cmRegularly Mar–Oct · 0.21% in Oct
American Herring GullLarus smithsonianusWinter visitorUncommon53–65 cmRegularly Sep–Apr · 0.19% in Oct
Golden EagleAquila chrysaetosResidentUncommon66–102 cmRecorded all year · 0.19% in Oct
Barn SwallowHirundo rusticaSummer visitorCommon17–19 cmRegularly Apr–Oct · 0.18% in Oct
Vesper SparrowPooecetes gramineusSummer visitorCommon13–17 cmRegularly Apr–Oct · 0.17% in Oct
Sharp-shinned HawkAccipiter striatusWinter visitorUncommon24–34 cmRecorded all year · 0.17% in Oct
Horned GrebePodiceps auritusWinter visitorUncommon31–38 cmRegularly Oct–May · 0.16% in Oct
Franklin's GullLeucophaeus pipixcanPassage migrantUncommon32–36 cmRegularly Mar–Nov · 0.16% in Oct
American Tree SparrowSpizelloides arboreaWinter visitorCommon14–17 cmRegularly Oct–Mar · 0.16% in Oct
Evening GrosbeakHesperiphona vespertinaResidentUncommon16–22 cmRecorded all year · 0.16% in Oct
Greater YellowlegsTringa melanoleucaPassage migrantCommon29–40 cmRegularly Mar–Nov · 0.16% in Oct
Cackling GooseBranta hutchinsiiWinter visitorCommon53–76 cmRegularly Oct–Mar · 0.15% in Oct
Red CrossbillLoxia curvirostraResidentUncommon15–17 cmRecorded all year · 0.15% in Oct
Marsh WrenCistothorus palustrisResidentUncommon10–14 cmRecorded all year · 0.13% in Oct
American AvocetRecurvirostra americanaSummer visitorCommon43–51 cmRegularly Mar–Oct · 0.12% in Oct
Common LoonGavia immerWinter visitorUncommon66–91 cmRegularly Oct–Apr · 0.12% in Oct
Gray CatbirdDumetella carolinensisSummer visitorCommon20–24 cmRegularly May–Oct · 0.10% in Oct
MerlinFalco columbariusWinter visitorUncommon24–33 cmRegularly Sep–Apr · 0.10% in Oct
Least SandpiperCalidris minutillaPassage migrantUncommon13–15 cmRegularly Apr–Nov · 0.09% in Oct
Virginia RailRallus limicolaResidentUncommon20–27 cmRecorded all year · 0.09% in Oct
Baird's SandpiperCalidris bairdiiPassage migrantUncommon14–17 cmRegularly Apr–Oct · 0.09% in Oct
Pectoral SandpiperCalidris melanotosPassage migrantUncommon19–23 cmRegularly Aug–Nov · 0.08% in Oct
Lesser Black-backed GullLarus fuscusWinter visitorUncommon52–64 cmRegularly Sep–Apr · 0.08% in Oct
Bonaparte's GullChroicocephalus philadelphiaPassage migrantUncommon28–38 cmRegularly Oct–May · 0.08% in Oct
Snow GooseAnser caerulescensWinter visitorUncommon69–84 cmRegularly Oct–Apr · 0.07% in Oct
Black-crowned Night-heronNycticorax nycticoraxSummer visitorUncommon58–65 cmRecorded all year · 0.07% in Oct
Red-naped SapsuckerSphyrapicus nuchalisSummer visitorUncommon19–21 cmRegularly Apr–Oct · 0.07% in Oct
Lesser YellowlegsTringa flavipesPassage migrantUncommon23–27 cmRegularly Apr–Oct · 0.06% in Oct- Grey PloverPluvialis squatarolaPassage migrantUncommon27–30 cmRegularly May–Nov · 0.05% in Oct
Great White EgretArdea albaSummer visitorUncommon80–104 cmRegularly Apr–Oct · 0.05% in Oct
White-winged DoveZenaida asiaticaResidentUncommon27–30 cmRecorded all year · 0.05% in Oct
Lewis's WoodpeckerMelanerpes lewisResidentUncommon26–28 cmRecorded all year · 0.05% in Oct
Common YellowthroatGeothlypis trichasSummer visitorCommon11–13 cmRegularly May–Oct · 0.05% in Oct
Surf ScoterMelanitta perspicillataPassage migrantUncommon48–60 cmRegularly Oct–Dec · 0.05% in Oct
Pacific LoonGavia pacificaPassage migrantUncommon58–74 cmRegularly Oct–Jan · 0.05% in Oct
Swamp SparrowMelospiza georgianaWinter visitorUncommon12–15 cmRegularly Oct–Apr · 0.04% in Oct
Sabine's GullXema sabiniPassage migrantUncommon27–33 cmRegularly Aug–Oct · 0.04% in Oct
Clay-colored SparrowSpizella pallidaPassage migrantUncommon13–15 cmRegularly May–Oct · 0.04% in Oct
Common PheasantPhasianus colchicusResidentUncommon50–90 cmRecorded all year · 0.03% in Oct
Nashville WarblerLeiothlypis ruficapillaPassage migrantRare11–13 cmRegularly Apr–Nov · 0.03% in Oct
Eastern BluebirdSialia sialisWinter visitorRare16–21 cmRecorded all year · 0.03% in Oct
American Three-toed WoodpeckerPicoides dorsalisSummer visitorUncommon21–24 cmRecorded all year · 0.03% in Oct- American Golden-PloverPluvialis dominicaPassage migrantRare24–28 cmRegularly Sep–Nov · 0.03% in Oct
Red-breasted MerganserMergus serratorWinter visitorUncommon52–58 cmRegularly Oct–Apr · 0.03% in Oct
DunlinCalidris alpinaWinter visitorRare16–22 cmRegularly Oct–Apr · 0.03% in Oct
Northern Pygmy-owlGlaucidium gnomaResidentRare15–17 cmRecorded all year · 0.02% in Oct
Peregrine FalconFalco peregrinusSummer visitorUncommon34–58 cmRecorded all year · 0.02% in Oct
SanderlingCalidris albaPassage migrantUncommon18–20 cmRegularly May–Oct · 0.02% in Oct
Ladder-backed WoodpeckerDryobates scalarisSummer visitorUncommon16–19 cmRecorded all year · 0.02% in Oct
Yellow-bellied SapsuckerSphyrapicus variusWinter visitorRare19–22 cmRegularly Sep–Mar · 0.02% in Oct
Williamson's SapsuckerSphyrapicus thyroideusSummer visitorUncommon21–25 cmRegularly Apr–Jan · 0.02% in Oct
Stilt SandpiperCalidris himantopusPassage migrantUncommon18–23 cmRegularly May–Oct · 0.02% in Oct
Red-necked PhalaropePhalaropus lobatusPassage migrantUncommon18–19 cmRegularly May–Oct · 0.02% in Oct
Burrowing OwlAthene cuniculariaSummer visitorUncommon19–25 cmRegularly Mar–Oct · 0.02% in Oct
Forster's TernSterna forsteriSummer visitorUncommon33–36 cmRegularly Apr–Oct · 0.02% in Oct
Eastern Screech-owlMegascops asioWinter visitorUncommon16–25 cmRecorded all year · 0.02% in Oct
Red-necked GrebePodiceps grisegenaWinter visitorRare40–50 cmRegularly Jul–Mar · 0.02% in Oct
Black-throated Blue WarblerSetophaga caerulescensPassage migrantRare11–13 cmRegularly May–Dec · 0.02% in Oct
Red-bellied WoodpeckerMelanerpes carolinusResidentRare23–26 cmRecorded all year · 0.02% in Oct
Greater White-fronted GooseAnser albifronsWinter visitorUncommon64–81 cmRegularly Oct–Apr · 0.02% in Oct
Semipalmated PloverCharadrius semipalmatusPassage migrantUncommon17–19 cmRegularly Apr–Oct · 0.01% in Oct
Black-throated Green WarblerSetophaga virensPassage migrantRare11–12 cmRegularly May–Oct · 0.01% in Oct
Northern Saw-whet OwlAegolius acadicusResidentRare17–21 cmRecorded all year · 0.01% in Oct
Red-headed WoodpeckerMelanerpes erythrocephalusSummer visitorUncommon19–23 cmRegularly May–Oct · 0.01% in Oct
Arctic TernSterna paradisaeaPassage migrantRare33–39 cmRegularly Sep–Oct · 0.01% in Oct
Cattle EgretArdea ibisSummer visitorRare46–56 cmRegularly Apr–Nov · 0.01% in Oct
Ross's GooseAnser rossiiWinter visitorUncommon57–64 cmRegularly Oct–Apr · 0.01% in Oct
Red-throated LoonGavia stellataWinter visitorUncommon53–69 cmRegularly Oct–Feb · 0.01% in Oct
American BitternBotaurus lentiginosusSummer visitorRare58–85 cmRegularly Apr–Oct · 0.01% in Oct
Magnolia WarblerSetophaga magnoliaPassage migrantRare11–13 cmRegularly May–Oct · 0.01% in Oct
Northern CardinalCardinalis cardinalisResidentRare21–23 cmRecorded all year · 0.01% in Oct
Blue-headed VireoVireo solitariusPassage migrantRare12–15 cmRegularly Apr–Oct · 0.01% in Oct
Semipalmated SandpiperCalidris pusillaPassage migrantUncommon15–18 cmRegularly Apr–Oct · 0.01% in Oct
Lapland LongspurCalcarius lapponicusWinter visitorUncommon15–16 cmRegularly Oct–Apr · 0.01% in Oct
Fox SparrowPasserella iliacaSummer visitorUncommon15–19 cmRecorded all year · 0.01% in Oct
Western SandpiperCalidris mauriPassage migrantUncommon14–17 cmRegularly Apr–Oct · 0.01% in Oct
Varied ThrushIxoreus naeviusWinter visitorRare20–26 cmRegularly Oct–Mar · 0.01% in Oct
Grey PhalaropePhalaropus fulicariusResidentRare20–22 cmRegularly Sep–Nov · 0.01% in Oct
Common TernSterna hirundoPassage migrantRare31–35 cmRegularly Jun–Oct · 0.01% in Oct
Tundra SwanCygnus columbianusWinter visitorUncommon120–150 cmRegularly Oct–Mar · 0.01% in Oct
Greater RoadrunnerGeococcyx californianusResidentRare52–54 cmRecorded all year · 0.01% in Oct
Iceland GullLarus glaucoidesWinter visitorUncommon52–60 cmRegularly Oct–Apr · 0.01% in Oct
Greater ScaupAythya marilaWinter visitorUncommon39–56 cmRegularly Oct–Apr · 0.01% in Oct
Boreal OwlAegolius funereusSummer visitorRare21–28 cmRegularly Jan–Oct · 0.01% in Oct
Broad-winged HawkButeo platypterusPassage migrantRare34–44 cmRegularly Apr–Oct · 0.01% in Oct
Philadelphia VireoVireo philadelphicusPassage migrantRare11–13 cmRegularly May–Oct · 0.01% in Oct
Palm WarblerSetophaga palmarumPassage migrantRare12–14 cmRegularly Apr–Dec · 0.01% in Oct
Rose-breasted GrosbeakPheucticus ludovicianusPassage migrantUncommon18–22 cmRegularly May–Oct · 0.01% in Oct
Western Screech-owlMegascops kennicottiiWinter visitorRare19–25 cmRecorded all year · 0.01% in Oct
Tennessee WarblerLeiothlypis peregrinaPassage migrantRare10–13 cmRegularly May–Nov · 0.00% in Oct
ChukarAlectoris chukarResidentRare32–38 cmRecorded all year · 0.00% in Oct
Arctic JaegerStercorarius parasiticusPassage migrantRare41–46 cmRegularly Sep–Oct · 0.00% in Oct
Chestnut-sided WarblerSetophaga pensylvanicaPassage migrantRare10–14 cmRegularly May–Oct · 0.00% in Oct
Greylag GooseAnser anserWinter visitorRare75–90 cmRecorded all year · 0.00% in Oct
Short-eared OwlAsio flammeusWinter visitorRare34–43 cmRegularly Oct–Jun · 0.00% in Oct
Swan GooseAnser cygnoidesWinter visitorRare81–94 cmRecorded all year · 0.00% in Oct
Bay-breasted WarblerSetophaga castaneaPassage migrantRare14–14 cmRegularly May–Nov · 0.00% in Oct
Ruby-throated HummingbirdArchilochus colubrisPassage migrantRare7–9 cmRegularly May–Oct · 0.00% in Oct
Muscovy DuckCairina moschataSummer visitorRare66–84 cmRegularly Jan–Nov · 0.00% in Oct
Acorn WoodpeckerMelanerpes formicivorusSummer visitorRare20–24 cmRegularly May–Feb · 0.00% in Oct
Pacific WrenTroglodytes pacificusWinter visitorRare8–12 cmRegularly Jul–Apr · 0.00% in Oct
Mute SwanCygnus olorWinter visitorRare140–160 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