Birds to See in District of Columbia in October
101 bird species on our list for District of Columbia are recorded regularly in October
Of these, the most often recorded are Blue Jay, Northern Cardinal, American Robin, Common Starling and American Crow. New this month: American Herring Gull, Swamp Sparrow, Hermit Thrush and Hooded Merganser and 13 more.
On the move in October
GBIF · OctArriving
At their peak
Ruby-crowned KingletBusiest month of the year · Sep–May
Palm WarblerBusiest month of the year · Mar–May
Yellow-bellied SapsuckerBusiest month of the year · Sep–Apr
Nashville WarblerBusiest month of the year · Apr–May
Lincoln's SparrowBusiest month of the year · Jan
Greater YellowlegsBusiest month of the year · Mar–May
From District of Columbia’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 101 birds in October
101 birds
Blue JayCyanocitta cristataResidentCommon25–30 cmRecorded all year · 4.04% in Oct
Northern CardinalCardinalis cardinalisResidentCommon21–23 cmRecorded all year · 3.63% in Oct
American RobinTurdus migratoriusResidentCommon20–28 cmRecorded all year · 3.50% in Oct
Common StarlingSturnus vulgarisResidentCommon21–23 cmRecorded all year · 2.96% in Oct
American CrowCorvus brachyrhynchosResidentCommon41–53 cmRecorded all year · 2.84% in Oct
Song SparrowMelospiza melodiaResidentCommon12–17 cmRecorded all year · 2.72% in Oct
Red-bellied WoodpeckerMelanerpes carolinusResidentCommon23–26 cmRecorded all year · 2.66% in Oct
Northern MockingbirdMimus polyglottosResidentCommon21–26 cmRecorded all year · 2.48% in Oct
Mourning DoveZenaida macrouraResidentCommon23–34 cmRecorded all year · 2.46% in Oct
Northern FlickerColaptes auratusResidentCommon28–31 cmRecorded all year · 2.43% in Oct
Downy WoodpeckerDryobates pubescensResidentCommon14–18 cmRecorded all year · 2.42% in Oct
Tufted TitmouseBaeolophus bicolorResidentCommon14–16 cmRecorded all year · 2.17% in Oct
MallardAnas platyrhynchosResidentCommon50–65 cmRecorded all year · 1.99% in Oct
House SparrowPasser domesticusResidentCommon14–17 cmRecorded all year · 1.94% in Oct- Ruby-crowned KingletCorthylio calendulaWinter visitorCommon9–11 cmRegularly Sep–May · 1.85% in Oct
Gray CatbirdDumetella carolinensisSummer visitorCommon20–24 cmRegularly Apr–Feb · 1.75% in Oct
White-breasted NuthatchSitta carolinensisResidentCommon13–14 cmRecorded all year · 1.73% in Oct
Yellow-rumped WarblerSetophaga coronataWinter visitorCommon12–15 cmRegularly Sep–May · 1.60% in Oct
Canada GooseBranta canadensisResidentCommon76–110 cmRecorded all year · 1.50% in Oct
Fish CrowCorvus ossifragusResidentCommon36–41 cmRecorded all year · 1.46% in Oct
House FinchHaemorhous mexicanusResidentCommon13–15 cmRecorded all year · 1.34% in Oct
Common GrackleQuiscalus quisculaSummer visitorCommon28–34 cmRecorded all year · 1.26% in Oct
Great Blue HeronArdea herodiasResidentCommon91–137 cmRecorded all year · 1.10% in Oct- Palm WarblerSetophaga palmarumPassage migrantCommon12–14 cmRegularly Sep–May · 1.10% in Oct
Red-winged BlackbirdAgelaius phoeniceusResidentCommon17–23 cmRecorded all year · 1.09% in Oct- Yellow-bellied SapsuckerSphyrapicus variusWinter visitorCommon19–22 cmRegularly Sep–Apr · 1.07% in Oct
Ring-billed GullLarus delawarensisWinter visitorCommon43–54 cmRegularly Jul–May · 1.03% in Oct
Great White EgretArdea albaPassage migrantCommon80–104 cmRegularly Jun–Nov · 1.03% in Oct
Swamp SparrowMelospiza georgianaWinter visitorCommon12–15 cmRegularly Oct–May · 1.00% in Oct
Rock DoveColumba liviaResidentCommon29–37 cmRecorded all year · 0.95% in Oct
Common YellowthroatGeothlypis trichasSummer visitorCommon11–13 cmRegularly Apr–Oct · 0.91% in Oct
Turkey VultureCathartes auraResidentCommon62–81 cmRecorded all year · 0.89% in Oct
Eastern BluebirdSialia sialisResidentCommon16–21 cmRecorded all year · 0.80% in Oct
Hairy WoodpeckerLeuconotopicus villosusResidentCommon18–26 cmRecorded all year · 0.79% in Oct
Chipping SparrowSpizella passerinaSummer visitorCommon12–15 cmRecorded all year · 0.75% in Oct
Pileated WoodpeckerDryocopus pileatusResidentCommon40–49 cmRecorded all year · 0.73% in Oct
Wood DuckAix sponsaResidentCommon47–54 cmRecorded all year · 0.62% in Oct
Red-tailed HawkButeo jamaicensisWinter visitorCommon45–65 cmRecorded all year · 0.58% in Oct
Bald EagleHaliaeetus leucocephalusResidentCommon70–102 cmRecorded all year · 0.49% in Oct
Hermit ThrushCatharus guttatusWinter visitorCommon14–18 cmRegularly Oct–May · 0.48% in Oct
Cedar WaxwingBombycilla cedrorumResidentCommon15–18 cmRecorded all year · 0.41% in Oct
Black-throated Blue WarblerSetophaga caerulescensPassage migrantCommon11–13 cmRegularly Apr–Oct · 0.40% in Oct
Magnolia WarblerSetophaga magnoliaPassage migrantCommon11–13 cmRegularly May–Oct · 0.38% in Oct
Swainson's ThrushCatharus ustulatusPassage migrantCommon16–20 cmRegularly May–Oct · 0.37% in Oct
Black-throated Green WarblerSetophaga virensPassage migrantCommon11–12 cmRegularly Apr–Oct · 0.30% in Oct
Tennessee WarblerLeiothlypis peregrinaPassage migrantCommon10–13 cmRegularly May–Oct · 0.28% in Oct
Blackpoll WarblerSetophaga striataPassage migrantCommon13–15 cmRegularly May–Oct · 0.27% in Oct
Rose-breasted GrosbeakPheucticus ludovicianusPassage migrantCommon18–22 cmRegularly Apr–Oct · 0.27% in Oct- Nashville WarblerLeiothlypis ruficapillaPassage migrantUncommon11–13 cmRegularly Sep–May · 0.26% in Oct
MerlinFalco columbariusWinter visitorCommon24–33 cmRegularly Aug–Apr · 0.26% in Oct
Scarlet TanagerPiranga olivaceaSummer visitorCommon16–19 cmRegularly Apr–Oct · 0.25% in Oct
American RedstartSetophaga ruticillaPassage migrantCommon11–14 cmRegularly May–Oct · 0.25% in Oct
Blue-headed VireoVireo solitariusPassage migrantUncommon12–15 cmRegularly Sep–May · 0.25% in Oct
Northern ShovelerSpatula clypeataWinter visitorUncommon44–51 cmRegularly Sep–Apr · 0.23% in Oct
Cape May WarblerSetophaga tigrinaPassage migrantCommon12–14 cmRegularly Apr–Oct · 0.23% in Oct
Sharp-shinned HawkAccipiter striatusWinter visitorUncommon24–34 cmRegularly Sep–Apr · 0.23% in Oct
American Black DuckAnas rubripesWinter visitorUncommon54–59 cmRegularly Jul–Apr · 0.20% in Oct
Pine SiskinSpinus pinusWinter visitorUncommon11–14 cmRegularly Oct–Apr · 0.19% in Oct
American Herring GullLarus smithsonianusWinter visitorCommon53–65 cmRegularly Aug–Apr · 0.18% in Oct- Lincoln's SparrowMelospiza lincolniiPassage migrantUncommon13–15 cmRegularly May–Jan · 0.17% in Oct
Common RavenCorvus coraxWinter visitorUncommon54–67 cmRecorded all year · 0.17% in Oct
OvenbirdSeiurus aurocapillaPassage migrantCommon12–15 cmRegularly Apr–Oct · 0.16% in Oct
White-crowned SparrowZonotrichia leucophrysPassage migrantUncommon15–16 cmRegularly Oct–May · 0.15% in Oct
Peregrine FalconFalco peregrinusWinter visitorUncommon34–58 cmRecorded all year · 0.13% in Oct
OspreyPandion haliaetusSummer visitorCommon54–58 cmRegularly Mar–Oct · 0.12% in Oct- Greater YellowlegsTringa melanoleucaPassage migrantUncommon29–40 cmRegularly Mar–Nov · 0.11% in Oct
Pied-billed GrebePodilymbus podicepsWinter visitorUncommon31–38 cmRegularly Sep–Apr · 0.11% in Oct
Pectoral SandpiperCalidris melanotosPassage migrantUncommon19–23 cmRegularly Aug–Oct · 0.11% in Oct
GadwallMareca streperaWinter visitorUncommon46–56 cmRegularly Oct–Apr · 0.09% in Oct
Barred OwlStrix variaResidentUncommon43–50 cmRecorded all year · 0.08% in Oct
Gray-cheeked ThrushCatharus minimusPassage migrantUncommon16–17 cmRegularly May–Oct · 0.07% in Oct
Vesper SparrowPooecetes gramineusPassage migrantUncommon13–17 cmRegularly Oct–Apr · 0.07% in Oct
American BitternBotaurus lentiginosusPassage migrantUncommon58–85 cmRegularly Oct–Apr · 0.07% in Oct
Eurasian TealAnas creccaWinter visitorUncommon34–38 cmRegularly Sep–Apr · 0.06% in Oct
Marsh WrenCistothorus palustrisSummer visitorUncommon10–14 cmRegularly Apr–Nov · 0.06% in Oct
Northern PintailAnas acutaPassage migrantUncommon59–76 cmRegularly Oct–Mar · 0.06% in Oct
Bay-breasted WarblerSetophaga castaneaPassage migrantUncommon14–14 cmRegularly May–Oct · 0.06% in Oct
Chestnut-sided WarblerSetophaga pensylvanicaPassage migrantCommon10–14 cmRegularly May–Oct · 0.05% in Oct
Orange-crowned WarblerLeiothlypis celataWinter visitorUncommon11–14 cmRegularly Sep–Apr · 0.05% in Oct
Solitary SandpiperTringa solitariaPassage migrantUncommon19–23 cmRegularly Apr–Oct · 0.05% in Oct
BobolinkDolichonyx oryzivorusPassage migrantUncommon16–20 cmRegularly Apr–Oct · 0.05% in Oct
Lesser YellowlegsTringa flavipesPassage migrantRare23–27 cmRegularly Apr–Nov · 0.05% in Oct
Wild TurkeyMeleagris gallopavoResidentUncommon100–125 cmRecorded all year · 0.05% in Oct
Philadelphia VireoVireo philadelphicusPassage migrantUncommon11–13 cmRegularly Sep–Oct · 0.04% in Oct
VeeryCatharus fuscescensSummer visitorCommon16–19 cmRegularly Apr–Oct · 0.04% in Oct
Hooded MerganserLophodytes cucullatusWinter visitorCommon40–49 cmRegularly Oct–Apr · 0.03% in Oct
Ruddy DuckOxyura jamaicensisWinter visitorUncommon35–43 cmRegularly Oct–Apr · 0.03% in Oct
Northern WaterthrushParkesia noveboracensisPassage migrantUncommon12–15 cmRegularly Apr–Oct · 0.03% in Oct
Broad-winged HawkButeo platypterusPassage migrantUncommon34–44 cmRegularly Apr–Oct · 0.03% in Oct
Red-headed WoodpeckerMelanerpes erythrocephalusWinter visitorUncommon19–23 cmRegularly Sep–Jun · 0.03% in Oct
Clay-colored SparrowSpizella pallidaPassage migrantRare13–15 cmRegularly Oct · 0.02% in Oct
Black-crowned Night-heronNycticorax nycticoraxResidentUncommon58–65 cmRecorded all year · 0.02% in Oct
DickcisselSpiza americanaPassage migrantRare14–16 cmRegularly May–Oct · 0.01% in Oct
Horned GrebePodiceps auritusWinter visitorUncommon31–38 cmRegularly Oct–Apr · 0.01% in Oct
Least FlycatcherEmpidonax minimusPassage migrantUncommon12–14 cmRegularly May–Oct · 0.01% in Oct
Common LoonGavia immerWinter visitorUncommon66–91 cmRegularly Oct–Jun · 0.01% in Oct
Bonaparte's GullChroicocephalus philadelphiaPassage migrantUncommon28–38 cmRegularly Oct–May · 0.01% in Oct
Great Horned OwlBubo virginianusWinter visitorRare46–63 cmRegularly Aug–May · 0.01% in Oct
Surf ScoterMelanitta perspicillataPassage migrantRare48–60 cmRegularly Oct–Apr · 0.01% in Oct
Forster's TernSterna forsteriResidentUncommon33–36 cmRegularly Apr–Oct · 0.01% in Oct
Black-billed CuckooCoccyzus erythropthalmusPassage migrantRare28–32 cmRegularly Apr–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