Birds to See in Connecticut in October
142 bird species on our list for Connecticut are recorded regularly in October
Of these, the most often recorded are Blue Jay, Song Sparrow, Red-bellied Woodpecker, Tufted Titmouse and Northern Cardinal. New this month: Hooded Merganser, Gadwall, Red-throated Loon and Surf Scoter and 21 more.
On the move in October
GBIF · OctArriving
At their peak
Yellow-rumped WarblerBusiest month of the year · Sep–May
Ruby-crowned KingletBusiest month of the year · Apr–May
Swamp SparrowBusiest month of the year · All year
Palm WarblerBusiest month of the year · Apr–May
Sharp-shinned HawkBusiest month of the year · Aug–May
White-crowned SparrowBusiest month of the year · Sep–May
From Connecticut’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 142 birds in October
142 birds
Blue JayCyanocitta cristataResidentCommon25–30 cmRecorded all year · 4.30% in Oct
Song SparrowMelospiza melodiaResidentCommon12–17 cmRecorded all year · 2.93% in Oct
Red-bellied WoodpeckerMelanerpes carolinusResidentCommon23–26 cmRecorded all year · 2.75% in Oct
Tufted TitmouseBaeolophus bicolorResidentCommon14–16 cmRecorded all year · 2.74% in Oct
Northern CardinalCardinalis cardinalisResidentCommon21–23 cmRecorded all year · 2.59% in Oct
Downy WoodpeckerDryobates pubescensResidentCommon14–18 cmRecorded all year · 2.56% in Oct
American CrowCorvus brachyrhynchosResidentCommon41–53 cmRecorded all year · 2.48% in Oct
White-breasted NuthatchSitta carolinensisResidentCommon13–14 cmRecorded all year · 2.45% in Oct- Yellow-rumped WarblerSetophaga coronataWinter visitorCommon12–15 cmRegularly Sep–May · 2.43% in Oct
American RobinTurdus migratoriusResidentCommon20–28 cmRecorded all year · 2.31% in Oct
Mourning DoveZenaida macrouraResidentCommon23–34 cmRecorded all year · 2.14% in Oct
House FinchHaemorhous mexicanusResidentCommon13–15 cmRecorded all year · 1.93% in Oct
Canada GooseBranta canadensisResidentCommon76–110 cmRecorded all year · 1.84% in Oct
Northern FlickerColaptes auratusResidentCommon28–31 cmRecorded all year · 1.65% in Oct
House SparrowPasser domesticusResidentCommon14–17 cmRecorded all year · 1.59% in Oct- Ruby-crowned KingletCorthylio calendulaPassage migrantCommon9–11 cmRegularly Sep–May · 1.57% in Oct
Common StarlingSturnus vulgarisResidentCommon21–23 cmRecorded all year · 1.49% in Oct
Gray CatbirdDumetella carolinensisSummer visitorCommon20–24 cmRegularly Apr–Jan · 1.40% in Oct- Swamp SparrowMelospiza georgianaSummer visitorCommon12–15 cmRecorded all year · 1.32% in Oct
MallardAnas platyrhynchosResidentCommon50–65 cmRecorded all year · 1.30% in Oct
American Herring GullLarus smithsonianusResidentCommon53–65 cmRecorded all year · 1.26% in Oct
Northern MockingbirdMimus polyglottosResidentCommon21–26 cmRecorded all year · 1.25% in Oct
Great Blue HeronArdea herodiasResidentCommon91–137 cmRecorded all year · 1.12% in Oct
Turkey VultureCathartes auraResidentCommon62–81 cmRecorded all year · 1.09% in Oct
Ring-billed GullLarus delawarensisWinter visitorCommon43–54 cmRecorded all year · 1.09% in Oct- Palm WarblerSetophaga palmarumPassage migrantCommon12–14 cmRegularly Apr–Nov · 1.06% in Oct
Red-tailed HawkButeo jamaicensisResidentCommon45–65 cmRecorded all year · 1.05% in Oct
Eastern BluebirdSialia sialisResidentCommon16–21 cmRecorded all year · 1.04% in Oct
Hairy WoodpeckerLeuconotopicus villosusResidentCommon18–26 cmRecorded all year · 0.92% in Oct
Chipping SparrowSpizella passerinaSummer visitorCommon12–15 cmRegularly Apr–Nov · 0.88% in Oct
Great White EgretArdea albaSummer visitorCommon80–104 cmRegularly Mar–Nov · 0.87% in Oct
Common GrackleQuiscalus quisculaSummer visitorCommon28–34 cmRecorded all year · 0.79% in Oct
Red-winged BlackbirdAgelaius phoeniceusSummer visitorCommon17–23 cmRecorded all year · 0.76% in Oct
Common RavenCorvus coraxResidentCommon54–67 cmRecorded all year · 0.71% in Oct
Common YellowthroatGeothlypis trichasSummer visitorCommon11–13 cmRegularly May–Oct · 0.67% in Oct
Rock DoveColumba liviaResidentCommon29–37 cmRecorded all year · 0.66% in Oct
Cedar WaxwingBombycilla cedrorumSummer visitorCommon15–18 cmRecorded all year · 0.64% in Oct
American Black DuckAnas rubripesWinter visitorCommon54–59 cmRecorded all year · 0.62% in Oct
Yellow-bellied SapsuckerSphyrapicus variusResidentCommon19–22 cmRecorded all year · 0.59% in Oct
OspreyPandion haliaetusSummer visitorCommon54–58 cmRegularly Mar–Oct · 0.55% in Oct
Bald EagleHaliaeetus leucocephalusWinter visitorCommon70–102 cmRecorded all year · 0.52% in Oct
Wood DuckAix sponsaSummer visitorCommon47–54 cmRecorded all year · 0.51% in Oct
Great Black-backed GullLarus marinusResidentCommon64–79 cmRecorded all year · 0.48% in Oct- Sharp-shinned HawkAccipiter striatusWinter visitorUncommon24–34 cmRegularly Aug–May · 0.48% in Oct
Greater YellowlegsTringa melanoleucaSummer visitorCommon29–40 cmRegularly Mar–Jan · 0.42% in Oct- White-crowned SparrowZonotrichia leucophrysWinter visitorUncommon15–16 cmRegularly Sep–May · 0.41% in Oct
Hermit ThrushCatharus guttatusResidentUncommon14–18 cmRecorded all year · 0.41% in Oct
Blue-headed VireoVireo solitariusSummer visitorUncommon12–15 cmRegularly Apr–Nov · 0.40% in Oct
Mute SwanCygnus olorResidentCommon140–160 cmRecorded all year · 0.39% in Oct
Pileated WoodpeckerDryocopus pileatusResidentCommon40–49 cmRecorded all year · 0.39% in Oct
MerlinFalco columbariusWinter visitorUncommon24–33 cmRegularly Aug–Apr · 0.31% in Oct
Fish CrowCorvus ossifragusResidentCommon36–41 cmRecorded all year · 0.27% in Oct
Pine SiskinSpinus pinusWinter visitorUncommon11–14 cmRegularly Oct–May · 0.27% in Oct
Grey PloverPluvialis squatarolaSummer visitorUncommon27–30 cmRegularly Apr–Feb · 0.26% in Oct
Lincoln's SparrowMelospiza lincolniiPassage migrantUncommon13–15 cmRegularly May–Nov · 0.25% in Oct
Blackpoll WarblerSetophaga striataPassage migrantUncommon13–15 cmRegularly May–Oct · 0.22% in Oct
Peregrine FalconFalco peregrinusResidentUncommon34–58 cmRecorded all year · 0.21% in Oct
Eurasian TealAnas creccaWinter visitorUncommon34–38 cmRegularly Aug–Apr · 0.20% in Oct
Pied-billed GrebePodilymbus podicepsWinter visitorUncommon31–38 cmRegularly Aug–Apr · 0.20% in Oct
Common LoonGavia immerWinter visitorCommon66–91 cmRecorded all year · 0.18% in Oct
DunlinCalidris alpinaWinter visitorUncommon16–22 cmRegularly Sep–Jun · 0.17% in Oct
Brent GooseBranta berniclaWinter visitorCommon55–66 cmRecorded all year · 0.17% in Oct
Wild TurkeyMeleagris gallopavoResidentUncommon100–125 cmRecorded all year · 0.15% in Oct
Barred OwlStrix variaResidentUncommon43–50 cmRecorded all year · 0.14% in Oct
Vesper SparrowPooecetes gramineusWinter visitorUncommon13–17 cmRegularly Oct–Apr · 0.13% in Oct
American RedstartSetophaga ruticillaSummer visitorCommon11–14 cmRegularly May–Oct · 0.12% in Oct
SanderlingCalidris albaResidentUncommon18–20 cmRecorded all year · 0.12% in Oct
Black-throated Green WarblerSetophaga virensSummer visitorUncommon11–12 cmRegularly Apr–Oct · 0.12% in Oct
Hooded MerganserLophodytes cucullatusWinter visitorCommon40–49 cmRegularly Oct–Apr · 0.11% in Oct
Ruddy DuckOxyura jamaicensisWinter visitorUncommon35–43 cmRegularly Oct–Apr · 0.11% in Oct
Nashville WarblerLeiothlypis ruficapillaPassage migrantUncommon11–13 cmRegularly Apr–Jan · 0.10% in Oct
Great Horned OwlBubo virginianusWinter visitorUncommon46–63 cmRecorded all year · 0.10% in Oct
Semipalmated PloverCharadrius semipalmatusSummer visitorCommon17–19 cmRegularly May–Oct · 0.10% in Oct
Swainson's ThrushCatharus ustulatusPassage migrantUncommon16–20 cmRegularly May–Oct · 0.09% in Oct
Black-crowned Night-heronNycticorax nycticoraxSummer visitorUncommon58–65 cmRecorded all year · 0.09% in Oct
Lesser YellowlegsTringa flavipesPassage migrantUncommon23–27 cmRegularly Mar–Oct · 0.09% in Oct
Semipalmated SandpiperCalidris pusillaSummer visitorCommon15–18 cmRegularly May–Oct · 0.09% in Oct
Black-throated Blue WarblerSetophaga caerulescensSummer visitorUncommon11–13 cmRegularly Apr–Oct · 0.09% in Oct
Magnolia WarblerSetophaga magnoliaSummer visitorUncommon11–13 cmRegularly May–Oct · 0.09% in Oct
Marsh WrenCistothorus palustrisSummer visitorUncommon10–14 cmRegularly Apr–Feb · 0.09% in Oct
American Golden-PloverPluvialis dominicaPassage migrantUncommon24–28 cmRegularly Aug–Oct · 0.08% in Oct
Pectoral SandpiperCalidris melanotosPassage migrantUncommon19–23 cmRegularly Mar–Nov · 0.08% in Oct
Common MerganserMergus merganserWinter visitorCommon58–68 cmRecorded all year · 0.07% in Oct
GadwallMareca streperaWinter visitorCommon46–56 cmRegularly Oct–Apr · 0.07% in Oct
Tennessee WarblerLeiothlypis peregrinaPassage migrantUncommon10–13 cmRegularly May–Jan · 0.07% in Oct
DickcisselSpiza americanaPassage migrantUncommon14–16 cmRegularly Aug–Jan · 0.07% in Oct
BobolinkDolichonyx oryzivorusSummer visitorUncommon16–20 cmRegularly May–Oct · 0.06% in Oct
Broad-winged HawkButeo platypterusSummer visitorUncommon34–44 cmRegularly Apr–Oct · 0.06% in Oct
Red-throated LoonGavia stellataWinter visitorUncommon53–69 cmRegularly Oct–Apr · 0.06% in Oct
Surf ScoterMelanitta perspicillataWinter visitorUncommon48–60 cmRegularly Oct–Apr · 0.06% in Oct
Clay-colored SparrowSpizella pallidaPassage migrantUncommon13–15 cmRegularly Jun–Dec · 0.06% in Oct
Forster's TernSterna forsteriPassage migrantUncommon33–36 cmRegularly Jul–Nov · 0.05% in Oct
Least SandpiperCalidris minutillaPassage migrantCommon13–15 cmRegularly May–Oct · 0.05% in Oct
Horned LarkEremophila alpestrisWinter visitorUncommon16–20 cmRegularly Oct–Mar · 0.05% in Oct
Scarlet TanagerPiranga olivaceaSummer visitorCommon16–19 cmRegularly May–Oct · 0.05% in Oct
Northern PintailAnas acutaWinter visitorUncommon59–76 cmRegularly Sep–Apr · 0.04% in Oct
EiderSomateria mollissimaWinter visitorUncommon50–71 cmRegularly Jun–Apr · 0.04% in Oct
Ruddy TurnstoneArenaria interpresSummer visitorUncommon21–24 cmRecorded all year · 0.04% in Oct
American BitternBotaurus lentiginosusWinter visitorUncommon58–85 cmRecorded all year · 0.04% in Oct
Great CormorantPhalacrocorax carboWinter visitorUncommon80–100 cmRegularly Sep–Mar · 0.03% in Oct
Snow GooseAnser caerulescensWinter visitorUncommon69–84 cmRegularly Oct–Apr · 0.03% in Oct
Lapland LongspurCalcarius lapponicusWinter visitorUncommon15–16 cmRegularly Sep–Apr · 0.03% in Oct
Short-billed DowitcherLimnodromus griseusSummer visitorUncommon23–32 cmRegularly May–Oct · 0.03% in Oct
Bonaparte's GullChroicocephalus philadelphiaWinter visitorUncommon28–38 cmRecorded all year · 0.03% in Oct
Cape May WarblerSetophaga tigrinaPassage migrantUncommon12–14 cmRegularly May–Jan · 0.03% in Oct
Hudsonian GodwitLimosa haemasticaPassage migrantRare36–42 cmRegularly Aug–Nov · 0.03% in Oct
Solitary SandpiperTringa solitariaPassage migrantUncommon19–23 cmRegularly Apr–Oct · 0.03% in Oct
White-rumped SandpiperCalidris fuscicollisSummer visitorUncommon15–18 cmRegularly May–Nov · 0.03% in Oct
Monk ParakeetMyiopsitta monachusResidentUncommon29–31 cmRecorded all year · 0.03% in Oct
Lesser Black-backed GullLarus fuscusWinter visitorUncommon52–64 cmRegularly Sep–Apr · 0.02% in Oct
Orange-crowned WarblerLeiothlypis celataWinter visitorUncommon11–14 cmRegularly Oct–Apr · 0.02% in Oct
Eastern Screech-owlMegascops asioResidentRare16–25 cmRecorded all year · 0.02% in Oct
Northern ShovelerSpatula clypeataWinter visitorUncommon44–51 cmRegularly Sep–Apr · 0.02% in Oct
WhimbrelNumenius phaeopusSummer visitorRare40–46 cmRegularly May–Oct · 0.02% in Oct
Stilt SandpiperCalidris himantopusPassage migrantUncommon18–23 cmRegularly Jul–Oct · 0.02% in Oct
Red-headed WoodpeckerMelanerpes erythrocephalusWinter visitorRare19–23 cmRegularly Sep–May · 0.02% in Oct
Fox SparrowPasserella iliacaWinter visitorUncommon15–19 cmRegularly Oct–Apr · 0.02% in Oct
Sandhill CraneAntigone canadensisSummer visitorRare80–122 cmRegularly Mar–Dec · 0.02% in Oct
Common PheasantPhasianus colchicusWinter visitorRare50–90 cmRegularly Oct–Jun · 0.02% in Oct
Gray-cheeked ThrushCatharus minimusPassage migrantRare16–17 cmRegularly May–Oct · 0.02% in Oct
Virginia RailRallus limicolaSummer visitorUncommon20–27 cmRecorded all year · 0.01% in Oct
Eurasian WigeonMareca penelopeWinter visitorUncommon42–51 cmRegularly Oct–Apr · 0.01% in Oct
Greater White-fronted GooseAnser albifronsWinter visitorUncommon64–81 cmRegularly Oct–Mar · 0.01% in Oct
Lark SparrowChondestes grammacusResidentRare15–17 cmRegularly Sep–Nov · 0.01% in Oct
Bay-breasted WarblerSetophaga castaneaPassage migrantUncommon14–14 cmRegularly May–Oct · 0.01% in Oct
Cackling GooseBranta hutchinsiiWinter visitorRare53–76 cmRegularly Oct–Mar · 0.01% in Oct
Red-necked GrebePodiceps grisegenaWinter visitorRare40–50 cmRegularly Oct–May · 0.01% in Oct
Evening GrosbeakHesperiphona vespertinaPassage migrantRare16–22 cmRegularly Oct–Jan · 0.01% in Oct
Short-eared OwlAsio flammeusWinter visitorRare34–43 cmRegularly Oct–Apr · 0.01% in Oct
Rough-legged HawkButeo lagopusWinter visitorRare46–59 cmRegularly Oct–Mar · 0.01% in Oct
Golden EagleAquila chrysaetosPassage migrantRare66–102 cmRegularly Oct–Feb · 0.01% in Oct
Philadelphia VireoVireo philadelphicusPassage migrantUncommon11–13 cmRegularly Aug–Oct · 0.01% in Oct
Long-billed DowitcherLimnodromus scolopaceusPassage migrantRare27–30 cmRegularly Aug–Nov · 0.01% in Oct
Northern GannetMorus bassanusPassage migrantUncommon87–100 cmRegularly Oct–Apr · 0.01% in Oct
Northern Saw-whet OwlAegolius acadicusWinter visitorRare17–21 cmRegularly Oct–Apr · 0.01% in Oct
Red KnotCalidris canutusSummer visitorRare23–26 cmRegularly May–Oct · 0.00% in Oct
Cattle EgretArdea ibisPassage migrantRare46–56 cmRegularly Apr–Oct · 0.00% in Oct
Red CrossbillLoxia curvirostraPassage migrantRare15–17 cmRegularly Apr–Jan · 0.00% in Oct
Yellow-bellied FlycatcherEmpidonax flaviventrisPassage migrantRare13–15 cmRegularly May–Oct · 0.00% in Oct
Muscovy DuckCairina moschataResidentRare66–84 cmRegularly Mar–Dec · 0.00% in Oct
Mourning WarblerGeothlypis philadelphiaPassage migrantRare10–15 cmRegularly May–Oct · 0.00% in Oct
ChukarAlectoris chukarResidentRare32–38 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