Birds to See in Florida in October
168 bird species on our list for Florida are recorded regularly in October
Of these, the most often recorded are Red-bellied Woodpecker, Northern Cardinal, Blue Jay, Northern Mockingbird and Palm Warbler. New this month: Yellow-rumped Warbler, Ring-billed Gull, Ruby-crowned Kinglet and Swamp Sparrow and 27 more.
On the move in October
GBIF · OctArriving
Ruby-crowned KingletRegular from October · Oct–Apr
Yellow-rumped WarblerRegular from October · Oct–Apr
Rose-breasted GrosbeakRegular from October · Apr–May
Yellow-bellied SapsuckerRegular from October · Oct–Mar
Bay-breasted WarblerRegular from October · Apr–May
Swamp SparrowRegular from October · Oct–Apr
At their peak
Gray CatbirdBusiest month of the year · Sep–May
American RedstartBusiest month of the year · Aug–May
Black-throated Blue WarblerBusiest month of the year · Apr–May
Magnolia WarblerBusiest month of the year · Mar–May
Tennessee WarblerBusiest month of the year · Apr–May
MerlinBusiest month of the year · Sep–May
From Florida’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 168 birds in October
168 birds
Red-bellied WoodpeckerMelanerpes carolinusResidentCommon23–26 cmRecorded all year · 3.19% in Oct
Northern CardinalCardinalis cardinalisResidentCommon21–23 cmRecorded all year · 3.18% in Oct
Blue JayCyanocitta cristataResidentCommon25–30 cmRecorded all year · 3.10% in Oct
Northern MockingbirdMimus polyglottosResidentCommon21–26 cmRecorded all year · 3.01% in Oct
Palm WarblerSetophaga palmarumWinter visitorCommon12–14 cmRegularly Sep–Apr · 2.35% in Oct
Gray CatbirdDumetella carolinensisWinter visitorCommon20–24 cmRegularly Sep–May · 2.33% in Oct
Mourning DoveZenaida macrouraResidentCommon23–34 cmRecorded all year · 2.21% in Oct
Great White EgretArdea albaResidentCommon80–104 cmRecorded all year · 1.84% in Oct
Downy WoodpeckerDryobates pubescensResidentCommon14–18 cmRecorded all year · 1.78% in Oct
OspreyPandion haliaetusResidentCommon54–58 cmRecorded all year · 1.60% in Oct
Turkey VultureCathartes auraResidentCommon62–81 cmRecorded all year · 1.59% in Oct
Tufted TitmouseBaeolophus bicolorResidentCommon14–17 cmRecorded all year · 1.57% in Oct
Great Blue HeronArdea herodiasResidentCommon91–137 cmRecorded all year · 1.43% in Oct
Fish CrowCorvus ossifragusResidentCommon36–41 cmRecorded all year · 1.39% in Oct
American CrowCorvus brachyrhynchosResidentCommon41–53 cmRecorded all year · 1.37% in Oct
Common GrackleQuiscalus quisculaResidentCommon28–34 cmRecorded all year · 1.31% in Oct
American RedstartSetophaga ruticillaWinter visitorCommon11–14 cmRegularly Aug–May · 1.24% in Oct
Common YellowthroatGeothlypis trichasResidentCommon11–13 cmRecorded all year · 1.23% in Oct
Pileated WoodpeckerDryocopus pileatusResidentCommon40–49 cmRecorded all year · 1.14% in Oct
Red-winged BlackbirdAgelaius phoeniceusResidentCommon17–23 cmRecorded all year · 1.05% in Oct
Bald EagleHaliaeetus leucocephalusWinter visitorCommon70–102 cmRecorded all year · 0.72% in Oct
Eastern BluebirdSialia sialisResidentCommon16–21 cmRecorded all year · 0.67% in Oct
OvenbirdSeiurus aurocapillaWinter visitorCommon12–15 cmRegularly Aug–May · 0.63% in Oct
House FinchHaemorhous mexicanusResidentCommon13–15 cmRecorded all year · 0.57% in Oct
Common StarlingSturnus vulgarisResidentCommon21–23 cmRecorded all year · 0.57% in Oct
Black-throated Blue WarblerSetophaga caerulescensPassage migrantCommon11–13 cmRegularly Apr–Dec · 0.56% in Oct
Cattle EgretArdea ibisResidentCommon46–56 cmRecorded all year · 0.54% in Oct
Sandhill CraneAntigone canadensisResidentCommon80–122 cmRecorded all year · 0.54% in Oct
Ruby-throated HummingbirdArchilochus colubrisResidentCommon7–9 cmRecorded all year · 0.52% in Oct
Eurasian Collared DoveStreptopelia decaoctoResidentCommon30–32 cmRecorded all year · 0.50% in Oct
Pied-billed GrebePodilymbus podicepsWinter visitorCommon31–38 cmRecorded all year · 0.48% in Oct
WilletTringa semipalmataResidentCommon33–41 cmRecorded all year · 0.40% in Oct
Rock DoveColumba liviaResidentCommon29–37 cmRecorded all year · 0.39% in Oct
Ruby-crowned KingletCorthylio calendulaWinter visitorCommon9–11 cmRegularly Oct–Apr · 0.39% in Oct
Glossy IbisPlegadis falcinellusResidentCommon48–66 cmRecorded all year · 0.37% in Oct
Swainson's ThrushCatharus ustulatusPassage migrantUncommon16–20 cmRegularly Apr–Oct · 0.36% in Oct
Magnolia WarblerSetophaga magnoliaPassage migrantUncommon11–13 cmRegularly Sep–May · 0.35% in Oct
SanderlingCalidris albaResidentCommon18–20 cmRecorded all year · 0.35% in Oct
Cape May WarblerSetophaga tigrinaPassage migrantUncommon12–14 cmRegularly Apr–Nov · 0.34% in Oct
Northern FlickerColaptes auratusResidentUncommon28–31 cmRecorded all year · 0.33% in Oct
Tennessee WarblerLeiothlypis peregrinaPassage migrantUncommon10–13 cmRegularly Apr–Nov · 0.32% in Oct
Muscovy DuckCairina moschataResidentUncommon66–84 cmRecorded all year · 0.31% in Oct
Ruddy TurnstoneArenaria interpresResidentCommon21–24 cmRecorded all year · 0.31% in Oct
Yellow-rumped WarblerSetophaga coronataWinter visitorCommon12–15 cmRegularly Oct–Apr · 0.30% in Oct
MerlinFalco columbariusWinter visitorUncommon24–33 cmRegularly Sep–May · 0.29% in Oct
Barn SwallowHirundo rusticaSummer visitorCommon17–19 cmRegularly Mar–Nov · 0.29% in Oct
Northern WaterthrushParkesia noveboracensisWinter visitorUncommon12–15 cmRegularly Aug–May · 0.26% in Oct
Sandwich TernThalasseus sandvicensisSummer visitorCommon36–41 cmRecorded all year · 0.26% in Oct
Grey PloverPluvialis squatarolaResidentUncommon27–30 cmRecorded all year · 0.26% in Oct
Rose-breasted GrosbeakPheucticus ludovicianusPassage migrantUncommon18–22 cmRegularly Oct–May · 0.25% in Oct
House SparrowPasser domesticusResidentCommon14–17 cmRecorded all year · 0.25% in Oct
Peregrine FalconFalco peregrinusWinter visitorUncommon34–58 cmRegularly Sep–May · 0.24% in Oct
Yellow-bellied SapsuckerSphyrapicus variusWinter visitorUncommon19–22 cmRegularly Oct–Mar · 0.24% in Oct
Least SandpiperCalidris minutillaResidentCommon13–15 cmRecorded all year · 0.22% in Oct
Red-tailed HawkButeo jamaicensisResidentUncommon45–65 cmRecorded all year · 0.21% in Oct
Barred OwlStrix variaResidentUncommon43–50 cmRecorded all year · 0.21% in Oct
Greater YellowlegsTringa melanoleucaResidentUncommon29–40 cmRecorded all year · 0.21% in Oct
Scarlet TanagerPiranga olivaceaPassage migrantUncommon16–19 cmRegularly Apr–Oct · 0.20% in Oct
Forster's TernSterna forsteriWinter visitorCommon33–36 cmRecorded all year · 0.20% in Oct
Semipalmated PloverCharadrius semipalmatusResidentUncommon17–19 cmRecorded all year · 0.20% in Oct
Bay-breasted WarblerSetophaga castaneaPassage migrantUncommon14–14 cmRegularly Oct–May · 0.20% in Oct
Wood DuckAix sponsaResidentUncommon47–54 cmRecorded all year · 0.19% in Oct
White-winged DoveZenaida asiaticaResidentUncommon27–30 cmRecorded all year · 0.18% in Oct
Northern Yellow WarblerSetophaga aestivaPassage migrantUncommon12–13 cmRegularly Apr–Oct · 0.18% in Oct
Black-crowned Night-heronNycticorax nycticoraxResidentUncommon58–65 cmRecorded all year · 0.17% in Oct
Swamp SparrowMelospiza georgianaWinter visitorUncommon12–15 cmRegularly Oct–Apr · 0.17% in Oct
Baltimore OrioleIcterus galbulaWinter visitorUncommon17–19 cmRegularly Sep–May · 0.17% in Oct
Chestnut-sided WarblerSetophaga pensylvanicaPassage migrantUncommon10–14 cmRegularly Apr–Oct · 0.16% in Oct
MallardAnas platyrhynchosResidentUncommon50–65 cmRecorded all year · 0.16% in Oct
Great Crested FlycatcherMyiarchus crinitusSummer visitorCommon17–22 cmRecorded all year · 0.15% in Oct
Marsh WrenCistothorus palustrisWinter visitorUncommon10–14 cmRegularly Oct–Jul · 0.13% in Oct
Egyptian GooseAlopochen aegyptiacaResidentUncommon63–73 cmRecorded all year · 0.13% in Oct
Sharp-shinned HawkAccipiter striatusWinter visitorUncommon24–34 cmRegularly Sep–May · 0.13% in Oct
Short-billed DowitcherLimnodromus griseusResidentUncommon23–32 cmRecorded all year · 0.12% in Oct
Black-throated Green WarblerSetophaga virensWinter visitorUncommon11–12 cmRegularly Sep–May · 0.12% in Oct
Red-headed WoodpeckerMelanerpes erythrocephalusResidentUncommon19–23 cmRecorded all year · 0.12% in Oct
Great Horned OwlBubo virginianusResidentUncommon46–63 cmRecorded all year · 0.11% in Oct
Wild TurkeyMeleagris gallopavoResidentUncommon100–125 cmRecorded all year · 0.11% in Oct
Lesser YellowlegsTringa flavipesResidentUncommon23–27 cmRecorded all year · 0.11% in Oct
Monk ParakeetMyiopsitta monachusResidentUncommon29–31 cmRecorded all year · 0.10% in Oct
Broad-winged HawkButeo platypterusWinter visitorUncommon34–44 cmRecorded all year · 0.10% in Oct
Canada GooseBranta canadensisResidentUncommon76–110 cmRecorded all year · 0.09% in Oct
Lesser Black-backed GullLarus fuscusWinter visitorUncommon52–64 cmRecorded all year · 0.09% in Oct
DunlinCalidris alpinaWinter visitorUncommon16–22 cmRegularly Oct–May · 0.08% in Oct
Western SandpiperCalidris mauriResidentUncommon14–17 cmRecorded all year · 0.08% in Oct
Blue-headed VireoVireo solitariusWinter visitorUncommon12–15 cmRegularly Oct–Apr · 0.08% in Oct
Gray-cheeked ThrushCatharus minimusPassage migrantUncommon16–17 cmRegularly Apr–Oct · 0.08% in Oct
American Herring GullLarus smithsonianusWinter visitorUncommon53–65 cmRecorded all year · 0.08% in Oct
Marbled GodwitLimosa fedoaResidentUncommon40–50 cmRecorded all year · 0.07% in Oct
Ring-billed GullLarus delawarensisWinter visitorCommon43–54 cmRegularly Oct–Jul · 0.06% in Oct
VeeryCatharus fuscescensPassage migrantUncommon16–19 cmRegularly Apr–Oct · 0.06% in Oct
Piping PloverCharadrius melodusWinter visitorUncommon17–18 cmRegularly Jul–May · 0.06% in Oct
Common TernSterna hirundoSummer visitorUncommon31–35 cmRegularly Mar–Dec · 0.06% in Oct
Red KnotCalidris canutusResidentUncommon23–26 cmRecorded all year · 0.05% in Oct
Orange-crowned WarblerLeiothlypis celataWinter visitorUncommon11–14 cmRegularly Oct–Mar · 0.05% in Oct
Northern ShovelerSpatula clypeataWinter visitorUncommon44–51 cmRegularly Sep–Apr · 0.05% in Oct
Red JunglefowlGallus gallusResidentUncommon42–75 cmRecorded all year · 0.04% in Oct
American BitternBotaurus lentiginosusWinter visitorUncommon58–85 cmRegularly Sep–Apr · 0.04% in Oct
Philadelphia VireoVireo philadelphicusPassage migrantRare11–13 cmRegularly Apr–Oct · 0.04% in Oct
Blackpoll WarblerSetophaga striataPassage migrantUncommon13–15 cmRegularly Apr–Oct · 0.04% in Oct
BobolinkDolichonyx oryzivorusPassage migrantUncommon16–20 cmRegularly Apr–Oct · 0.04% in Oct
Scaly-breasted MuniaLonchura punctulataResidentRare11–12 cmRecorded all year · 0.04% in Oct
Eastern Screech-owlMegascops asioResidentUncommon16–25 cmRecorded all year · 0.04% in Oct
American AvocetRecurvirostra americanaResidentUncommon43–51 cmRecorded all year · 0.03% in Oct
Long-billed DowitcherLimnodromus scolopaceusWinter visitorUncommon27–30 cmRegularly Jul–May · 0.03% in Oct
Semipalmated SandpiperCalidris pusillaSummer visitorUncommon15–18 cmRegularly Apr–Oct · 0.03% in Oct
White-breasted NuthatchSitta carolinensisResidentRare13–14 cmRecorded all year · 0.03% in Oct
Nashville WarblerLeiothlypis ruficapillaWinter visitorRare11–13 cmRegularly Sep–Apr · 0.03% in Oct
Hermit ThrushCatharus guttatusWinter visitorUncommon14–18 cmRegularly Oct–Apr · 0.03% in Oct
Chipping SparrowSpizella passerinaWinter visitorUncommon12–15 cmRegularly Oct–Apr · 0.02% in Oct
Pectoral SandpiperCalidris melanotosPassage migrantUncommon19–23 cmRegularly Apr–Oct · 0.02% in Oct
Sand MartinRiparia ripariaPassage migrantUncommon12–14 cmRegularly Apr–Oct · 0.02% in Oct
Indian PeafowlPavo cristatusResidentUncommon86–230 cmRecorded all year · 0.02% in Oct
Solitary SandpiperTringa solitariaWinter visitorUncommon19–23 cmRegularly Jul–May · 0.02% in Oct
Fulvous Whistling-DuckDendrocygna bicolorResidentUncommon45–53 cmRecorded all year · 0.02% in Oct
Eurasian TealAnas creccaWinter visitorUncommon34–38 cmRegularly Oct–Mar · 0.02% in Oct
Least FlycatcherEmpidonax minimusWinter visitorRare12–14 cmRegularly Sep–Apr · 0.02% in Oct
Virginia RailRallus limicolaWinter visitorRare20–27 cmRegularly Sep–Apr · 0.02% in Oct
Prothonotary WarblerProtonotaria citreaSummer visitorUncommon13–14 cmRegularly Mar–Oct · 0.02% in Oct
Clay-colored SparrowSpizella pallidaWinter visitorRare13–15 cmRegularly Sep–Apr · 0.02% in Oct
Burrowing OwlAthene cuniculariaResidentUncommon19–25 cmRecorded all year · 0.02% in Oct
Song SparrowMelospiza melodiaWinter visitorUncommon12–17 cmRegularly Oct–Apr · 0.02% in Oct
Scissor-tailed FlycatcherTyrannus forficatusWinter visitorRare28–38 cmRegularly Oct–Apr · 0.02% in Oct
Stilt SandpiperCalidris himantopusWinter visitorUncommon18–23 cmRegularly Jul–May · 0.01% in Oct
White-crowned SparrowZonotrichia leucophrysWinter visitorRare15–16 cmRegularly Oct–Apr · 0.01% in Oct
Great Black-backed GullLarus marinusWinter visitorUncommon64–79 cmRecorded all year · 0.01% in Oct
WhimbrelNumenius phaeopusSummer visitorRare40–46 cmRecorded all year · 0.01% in Oct
Red-cockaded WoodpeckerLeuconotopicus borealisResidentRare20–23 cmRecorded all year · 0.01% in Oct
Northern PintailAnas acutaWinter visitorUncommon59–76 cmRegularly Oct–Mar · 0.01% in Oct
Western KingbirdTyrannus verticalisWinter visitorRare20–24 cmRegularly Oct–May · 0.01% in Oct
GadwallMareca streperaWinter visitorUncommon46–56 cmRegularly Oct–Mar · 0.01% in Oct
DickcisselSpiza americanaWinter visitorRare14–16 cmRegularly Aug–May · 0.01% in Oct
Hairy WoodpeckerLeuconotopicus villosusResidentRare18–26 cmRecorded all year · 0.01% in Oct
Northern GannetMorus bassanusWinter visitorUncommon87–100 cmRegularly Oct–Jun · 0.01% in Oct
Ruddy DuckOxyura jamaicensisWinter visitorUncommon35–43 cmRegularly Oct–Mar · 0.01% in Oct
Mute SwanCygnus olorResidentRare140–160 cmRecorded all year · 0.01% in Oct
Greylag GooseAnser anserResidentRare75–90 cmRecorded all year · 0.01% in Oct
Lincoln's SparrowMelospiza lincolniiWinter visitorRare13–15 cmRegularly Oct–May · 0.00% in Oct
Alder FlycatcherEmpidonax alnorumPassage migrantRare13–17 cmRegularly Aug–Oct · 0.00% in Oct
Franklin's GullLeucophaeus pipixcanPassage migrantRare32–36 cmRegularly Oct–Jan · 0.00% in Oct
Swan GooseAnser cygnoidesResidentRare81–94 cmRecorded all year · 0.00% in Oct
Sabine's GullXema sabiniPassage migrantRare27–33 cmRegularly Sep–Nov · 0.00% in Oct
Black-billed CuckooCoccyzus erythropthalmusPassage migrantRare28–32 cmRegularly Apr–Nov · 0.00% in Oct
Pomarine JaegerStercorarius pomarinusResidentRare46–51 cmRecorded all year · 0.00% in Oct
Lark SparrowChondestes grammacusWinter visitorRare15–17 cmRegularly Aug–Apr · 0.00% in Oct
Wilson's PhalaropePhalaropus tricolorPassage migrantRare22–24 cmRegularly Apr–Oct · 0.00% in Oct
Arctic JaegerStercorarius parasiticusWinter visitorRare41–46 cmRegularly Sep–Jul · 0.00% in Oct
Yellow-bellied FlycatcherEmpidonax flaviventrisPassage migrantRare13–15 cmRegularly Sep–Oct · 0.00% in Oct
Vesper SparrowPooecetes gramineusWinter visitorRare13–17 cmRegularly Oct–Mar · 0.00% in Oct
Red-necked PhalaropePhalaropus lobatusSummer visitorRare18–19 cmRegularly Apr–Nov · 0.00% in Oct
Black SwanCygnus atratusResidentRare110–142 cmRecorded all year · 0.00% in Oct
Great ShearwaterArdenna gravisPassage migrantRare43–51 cmRegularly Jun–Dec · 0.00% in Oct
Baird's SandpiperCalidris bairdiiPassage migrantRare14–17 cmRegularly Aug–Nov · 0.00% in Oct
Greater White-fronted GooseAnser albifronsWinter visitorRare64–81 cmRegularly Oct–May · 0.00% in Oct
American Golden-PloverPluvialis dominicaWinter visitorRare24–28 cmRegularly Aug–May · 0.00% in Oct
Mourning WarblerGeothlypis philadelphiaPassage migrantRare10–15 cmRegularly Sep–Oct · 0.00% in Oct
Helmeted GuineafowlNumida meleagrisResidentRare53–63 cmRecorded all year · 0.00% in Oct
Rose-ringed ParakeetPsittacula krameriResidentRare38–42 cmRecorded all year · 0.00% in Oct
BudgerigarMelopsittacus undulatusSummer visitorRare18–20 cmRegularly Mar–Dec · 0.00% in Oct
Bar-headed GooseAnser indicusScarceRare68–78 cmRegularly Oct–Dec · 0.00% in Oct
CockatielNymphicus hollandicusResidentRare30–33 cmRecorded all year · 0.00% in Oct
Willow FlycatcherEmpidonax trailliiPassage migrantRare13–17 cmRegularly Aug–Oct · 0.00% in Oct
Sooty ShearwaterArdenna griseaPassage migrantRare40–51 cmRegularly May–Dec · 0.00% in Oct
Lapland LongspurCalcarius lapponicusPassage migrantRare15–16 cmRegularly Oct–Dec · 0.00% in Oct
Long-tailed JaegerStercorarius longicaudusPassage migrantRare48–58 cmRegularly Aug–Nov · 0.00% in Oct
Ruddy ShelduckTadorna ferrugineaWinter visitorRare58–70 cmRegularly Aug–Jun · 0.00% in Oct
Trumpeter SwanCygnus buccinatorWinter visitorRare139–157 cmRegularly Oct–Apr · 0.00% in Oct
Common PheasantPhasianus colchicusWinter visitorRare50–90 cmRegularly Oct–May · 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

