Birds to See in Delaware in October
132 bird species on our list for Delaware are recorded regularly in October
Of these, the most often recorded are Blue Jay, Turkey Vulture, Northern Cardinal, Canada Goose and Red-bellied Woodpecker. New this month: Surf Scoter, Common Loon, Red-throated Loon and Northern Gannet and 11 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 · Sep–Apr
Sharp-shinned HawkBusiest month of the year · Sep–Apr
Palm WarblerBusiest month of the year · Apr
Peregrine FalconBusiest month of the year · Jul–May
Yellow-bellied SapsuckerBusiest month of the year · Sep–Apr
From Delaware’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 132 birds in October
132 birds
Blue JayCyanocitta cristataResidentCommon25–30 cmRecorded all year · 2.68% in Oct
Turkey VultureCathartes auraResidentCommon62–81 cmRecorded all year · 2.53% in Oct
Northern CardinalCardinalis cardinalisResidentCommon21–23 cmRecorded all year · 2.49% in Oct
Canada GooseBranta canadensisResidentCommon76–110 cmRecorded all year · 2.02% in Oct
Red-bellied WoodpeckerMelanerpes carolinusResidentCommon23–26 cmRecorded all year · 2.01% in Oct- Yellow-rumped WarblerSetophaga coronataWinter visitorCommon12–15 cmRegularly Sep–May · 1.93% in Oct
Northern FlickerColaptes auratusResidentCommon28–31 cmRecorded all year · 1.93% in Oct
American RobinTurdus migratoriusResidentCommon20–28 cmRecorded all year · 1.84% in Oct
Downy WoodpeckerDryobates pubescensResidentCommon14–18 cmRecorded all year · 1.74% in Oct
Tufted TitmouseBaeolophus bicolorResidentCommon14–17 cmRecorded all year · 1.73% in Oct
Mourning DoveZenaida macrouraResidentCommon23–34 cmRecorded all year · 1.70% in Oct
Song SparrowMelospiza melodiaResidentCommon12–17 cmRecorded all year · 1.69% in Oct
Great Blue HeronArdea herodiasResidentCommon91–137 cmRecorded all year · 1.67% in Oct
Bald EagleHaliaeetus leucocephalusResidentCommon70–102 cmRecorded all year · 1.64% in Oct
Northern MockingbirdMimus polyglottosResidentCommon21–26 cmRecorded all year · 1.63% in Oct
Red-winged BlackbirdAgelaius phoeniceusResidentCommon17–23 cmRecorded all year · 1.62% in Oct
American CrowCorvus brachyrhynchosResidentCommon41–53 cmRecorded all year · 1.56% in Oct
House FinchHaemorhous mexicanusResidentCommon13–15 cmRecorded all year · 1.53% in Oct
Common StarlingSturnus vulgarisResidentCommon21–23 cmRecorded all year · 1.52% in Oct
Gray CatbirdDumetella carolinensisSummer visitorCommon20–24 cmRecorded all year · 1.37% in Oct- Ruby-crowned KingletCorthylio calendulaWinter visitorCommon9–11 cmRegularly Sep–Apr · 1.32% in Oct
American Herring GullLarus smithsonianusResidentCommon53–65 cmRecorded all year · 1.15% in Oct
Eastern BluebirdSialia sialisResidentCommon16–21 cmRecorded all year · 1.14% in Oct
Great White EgretArdea albaSummer visitorCommon80–104 cmRecorded all year · 1.08% in Oct
White-breasted NuthatchSitta carolinensisResidentCommon13–14 cmRecorded all year · 1.00% in Oct
MallardAnas platyrhynchosResidentCommon50–65 cmRecorded all year · 0.96% in Oct
Swamp SparrowMelospiza georgianaWinter visitorCommon12–15 cmRecorded all year · 0.94% in Oct
Ring-billed GullLarus delawarensisWinter visitorCommon43–54 cmRecorded all year · 0.91% in Oct
Great Black-backed GullLarus marinusResidentCommon64–79 cmRecorded all year · 0.82% in Oct
Greater YellowlegsTringa melanoleucaResidentCommon29–40 cmRecorded all year · 0.81% in Oct
Forster's TernSterna forsteriSummer visitorCommon33–36 cmRegularly Mar–Jan · 0.81% in Oct
Chipping SparrowSpizella passerinaSummer visitorCommon12–15 cmRegularly Mar–Jan · 0.77% in Oct
House SparrowPasser domesticusResidentCommon14–17 cmRecorded all year · 0.76% in Oct
OspreyPandion haliaetusSummer visitorCommon54–58 cmRegularly Mar–Nov · 0.74% in Oct
Red-tailed HawkButeo jamaicensisResidentCommon45–65 cmRecorded all year · 0.72% in Oct- Sharp-shinned HawkAccipiter striatusWinter visitorCommon24–34 cmRegularly Sep–Apr · 0.70% in Oct
American Black DuckAnas rubripesWinter visitorCommon54–59 cmRecorded all year · 0.60% in Oct
Hairy WoodpeckerLeuconotopicus villosusResidentCommon18–26 cmRecorded all year · 0.59% in Oct- Palm WarblerSetophaga palmarumPassage migrantCommon12–14 cmRegularly Sep–Apr · 0.57% in Oct
Pileated WoodpeckerDryocopus pileatusResidentCommon40–49 cmRecorded all year · 0.57% in Oct
Common GrackleQuiscalus quisculaResidentCommon28–34 cmRecorded all year · 0.56% in Oct
Common YellowthroatGeothlypis trichasSummer visitorCommon11–13 cmRegularly Apr–Oct · 0.54% in Oct
Eurasian TealAnas creccaWinter visitorCommon34–38 cmRegularly Jul–May · 0.54% in Oct
Rock DoveColumba liviaResidentCommon29–37 cmRecorded all year · 0.53% in Oct
Grey PloverPluvialis squatarolaSummer visitorCommon27–30 cmRecorded all year · 0.52% in Oct
American AvocetRecurvirostra americanaResidentCommon43–51 cmRecorded all year · 0.51% in Oct- Peregrine FalconFalco peregrinusWinter visitorUncommon34–58 cmRegularly Jul–May · 0.49% in Oct
Northern ShovelerSpatula clypeataWinter visitorCommon44–51 cmRegularly Aug–Apr · 0.47% in Oct- Yellow-bellied SapsuckerSphyrapicus variusWinter visitorUncommon19–22 cmRegularly Sep–Apr · 0.47% in Oct
Lesser YellowlegsTringa flavipesSummer visitorCommon23–27 cmRecorded all year · 0.46% in Oct
DunlinCalidris alpinaResidentCommon16–22 cmRecorded all year · 0.45% in Oct
Northern PintailAnas acutaWinter visitorCommon59–76 cmRegularly Sep–Apr · 0.43% in Oct
MerlinFalco columbariusWinter visitorUncommon24–33 cmRegularly Sep–May · 0.41% in Oct
Cedar WaxwingBombycilla cedrorumResidentCommon15–18 cmRecorded all year · 0.37% in Oct
Fish CrowCorvus ossifragusResidentCommon36–41 cmRecorded all year · 0.35% in Oct
Mute SwanCygnus olorResidentCommon140–160 cmRecorded all year · 0.35% in Oct
Pied-billed GrebePodilymbus podicepsWinter visitorUncommon31–38 cmRecorded all year · 0.32% in Oct
Lesser Black-backed GullLarus fuscusWinter visitorUncommon52–64 cmRecorded all year · 0.31% in Oct
Semipalmated SandpiperCalidris pusillaSummer visitorCommon15–18 cmRegularly May–Oct · 0.29% in Oct
Semipalmated PloverCharadrius semipalmatusSummer visitorCommon17–19 cmRegularly May–Nov · 0.28% in Oct
SanderlingCalidris albaWinter visitorCommon18–20 cmRecorded all year · 0.27% in Oct
Pine SiskinSpinus pinusWinter visitorUncommon11–14 cmRegularly Oct–May · 0.26% in Oct
Wood DuckAix sponsaSummer visitorCommon47–54 cmRecorded all year · 0.24% in Oct
GadwallMareca streperaWinter visitorCommon46–56 cmRegularly Aug–Apr · 0.23% in Oct
Hermit ThrushCatharus guttatusWinter visitorCommon14–18 cmRegularly Oct–Apr · 0.22% in Oct
Ruddy DuckOxyura jamaicensisWinter visitorCommon35–43 cmRegularly Sep–Jul · 0.22% in Oct
Surf ScoterMelanitta perspicillataWinter visitorCommon48–60 cmRegularly Oct–Apr · 0.20% in Oct
Common LoonGavia immerWinter visitorCommon66–91 cmRegularly Oct–May · 0.19% in Oct
American RedstartSetophaga ruticillaPassage migrantCommon11–14 cmRegularly May–Oct · 0.19% in Oct
Short-billed DowitcherLimnodromus griseusSummer visitorCommon23–32 cmRegularly Apr–Oct · 0.19% in Oct
Blue-headed VireoVireo solitariusPassage migrantUncommon12–15 cmRegularly Apr–Nov · 0.18% in Oct
Magnolia WarblerSetophaga magnoliaPassage migrantCommon11–13 cmRegularly May–Oct · 0.17% in Oct
Marbled GodwitLimosa fedoaPassage migrantUncommon40–50 cmRegularly Aug–Dec · 0.17% in Oct
Least SandpiperCalidris minutillaSummer visitorCommon13–15 cmRegularly Apr–Nov · 0.17% in Oct
Common RavenCorvus coraxWinter visitorUncommon54–67 cmRegularly Aug–Jun · 0.16% in Oct
Blackpoll WarblerSetophaga striataPassage migrantUncommon13–15 cmRegularly May–Oct · 0.16% in Oct
Black-throated Blue WarblerSetophaga caerulescensPassage migrantUncommon11–13 cmRegularly Apr–Oct · 0.16% in Oct
Northern GannetMorus bassanusWinter visitorCommon87–100 cmRegularly Oct–Apr · 0.15% in Oct
Marsh WrenCistothorus palustrisSummer visitorCommon10–14 cmRegularly Apr–Jan · 0.14% in Oct
Black-throated Green WarblerSetophaga virensPassage migrantUncommon11–12 cmRegularly Apr–Oct · 0.12% in Oct
Wild TurkeyMeleagris gallopavoSummer visitorUncommon100–125 cmRecorded all year · 0.12% in Oct
White-crowned SparrowZonotrichia leucophrysWinter visitorUncommon15–16 cmRegularly Oct–May · 0.11% in Oct
Long-billed DowitcherLimnodromus scolopaceusPassage migrantUncommon27–30 cmRegularly Jul–Mar · 0.10% in Oct
Hudsonian GodwitLimosa haemasticaPassage migrantUncommon36–42 cmRegularly Aug–Nov · 0.10% in Oct
Great Horned OwlBubo virginianusWinter visitorUncommon46–63 cmRecorded all year · 0.10% in Oct
Ruby-throated HummingbirdArchilochus colubrisSummer visitorCommon7–9 cmRegularly Apr–Oct · 0.09% in Oct
Cape May WarblerSetophaga tigrinaPassage migrantUncommon12–14 cmRegularly May–Oct · 0.09% in Oct
Lincoln's SparrowMelospiza lincolniiPassage migrantUncommon13–15 cmRegularly Sep–Nov · 0.09% in Oct
Horned LarkEremophila alpestrisWinter visitorUncommon16–20 cmRecorded all year · 0.09% in Oct
American Golden-PloverPluvialis dominicaPassage migrantUncommon24–28 cmRegularly Apr–Nov · 0.09% in Oct
Eastern Screech-owlMegascops asioWinter visitorUncommon16–25 cmRecorded all year · 0.09% in Oct
Western SandpiperCalidris mauriPassage migrantUncommon14–17 cmRegularly Jul–Jan · 0.09% in Oct
Swainson's ThrushCatharus ustulatusPassage migrantUncommon16–20 cmRegularly May–Oct · 0.09% in Oct
Broad-winged HawkButeo platypterusPassage migrantUncommon34–44 cmRegularly Apr–Oct · 0.08% in Oct
Black-crowned Night-heronNycticorax nycticoraxResidentUncommon58–65 cmRecorded all year · 0.08% in Oct
WilletTringa semipalmataSummer visitorCommon33–41 cmRegularly Apr–Nov · 0.08% in Oct
Glossy IbisPlegadis falcinellusSummer visitorCommon48–66 cmRegularly Apr–Oct · 0.07% in Oct
Ruddy TurnstoneArenaria interpresResidentUncommon21–24 cmRecorded all year · 0.07% in Oct
Barred OwlStrix variaResidentUncommon43–50 cmRecorded all year · 0.07% in Oct
Pectoral SandpiperCalidris melanotosPassage migrantUncommon19–23 cmRegularly Mar–Nov · 0.07% in Oct
Rose-breasted GrosbeakPheucticus ludovicianusPassage migrantUncommon18–22 cmRegularly Apr–Oct · 0.07% in Oct
Red-throated LoonGavia stellataWinter visitorCommon53–69 cmRegularly Oct–Apr · 0.07% in Oct
Stilt SandpiperCalidris himantopusPassage migrantUncommon18–23 cmRegularly Apr–Oct · 0.07% in Oct
Sandhill CraneAntigone canadensisResidentUncommon80–122 cmRecorded all year · 0.06% in Oct
Nashville WarblerLeiothlypis ruficapillaPassage migrantUncommon11–13 cmRegularly Apr–Oct · 0.06% in Oct
Tennessee WarblerLeiothlypis peregrinaPassage migrantUncommon10–13 cmRegularly May–Oct · 0.05% in Oct
Common TernSterna hirundoSummer visitorUncommon31–35 cmRegularly May–Nov · 0.04% in Oct
Virginia RailRallus limicolaResidentUncommon20–27 cmRecorded all year · 0.04% in Oct
Arctic JaegerStercorarius parasiticusPassage migrantRare41–46 cmRegularly Apr–Nov · 0.04% in Oct
Scarlet TanagerPiranga olivaceaSummer visitorUncommon16–19 cmRegularly Apr–Oct · 0.04% in Oct
White-rumped SandpiperCalidris fuscicollisSummer visitorUncommon15–18 cmRegularly May–Nov · 0.04% in Oct
Chestnut-sided WarblerSetophaga pensylvanicaPassage migrantUncommon10–14 cmRegularly May–Oct · 0.04% in Oct
Gray-cheeked ThrushCatharus minimusPassage migrantRare16–17 cmRegularly May–Oct · 0.04% in Oct
Great CormorantPhalacrocorax carboWinter visitorUncommon80–100 cmRegularly Oct–Mar · 0.03% in Oct
Brent GooseBranta berniclaWinter visitorUncommon55–66 cmRegularly Oct–May · 0.03% in Oct
BobolinkDolichonyx oryzivorusPassage migrantUncommon16–20 cmRegularly May–Oct · 0.03% in Oct
Red-headed WoodpeckerMelanerpes erythrocephalusSummer visitorUncommon19–23 cmRecorded all year · 0.03% in Oct
American BitternBotaurus lentiginosusWinter visitorUncommon58–85 cmRegularly Aug–May · 0.02% in Oct
Vesper SparrowPooecetes gramineusSummer visitorRare13–17 cmRegularly Apr–Nov · 0.02% in Oct
Golden EagleAquila chrysaetosPassage migrantUncommon66–102 cmRegularly Oct–Nov · 0.02% in Oct
Bay-breasted WarblerSetophaga castaneaPassage migrantUncommon14–14 cmRegularly May–Oct · 0.02% in Oct
Greater ScaupAythya marilaWinter visitorUncommon39–56 cmRegularly Oct–Mar · 0.02% in Oct
Cattle EgretArdea ibisSummer visitorUncommon46–56 cmRegularly Apr–Dec · 0.01% in Oct
Cackling GooseBranta hutchinsiiWinter visitorUncommon53–76 cmRegularly Oct–Mar · 0.01% in Oct
Solitary SandpiperTringa solitariaPassage migrantUncommon19–23 cmRegularly Apr–Oct · 0.01% in Oct
Northern WaterthrushParkesia noveboracensisPassage migrantUncommon12–15 cmRegularly Apr–Oct · 0.01% in Oct
DickcisselSpiza americanaSummer visitorUncommon14–16 cmRegularly May–Oct · 0.01% in Oct
Philadelphia VireoVireo philadelphicusPassage migrantUncommon11–13 cmRegularly Sep–Oct · 0.01% in Oct
Clay-colored SparrowSpizella pallidaPassage migrantRare13–15 cmRegularly Oct · 0.01% in Oct
Orange-crowned WarblerLeiothlypis celataWinter visitorUncommon11–14 cmRegularly Oct–Apr · 0.01% in Oct
Black-billed CuckooCoccyzus erythropthalmusSummer visitorRare28–32 cmRegularly May–Oct · 0.00% in Oct
Mourning WarblerGeothlypis philadelphiaPassage migrantRare10–15 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