Birds to See in Indiana in October
142 bird species on our list for Indiana are recorded regularly in October
Of these, the most often recorded are Blue Jay, Northern Cardinal, Red-bellied Woodpecker, Downy Woodpecker and American Crow. New this month: Hooded Merganser, White-crowned Sparrow, Gadwall and Greater White-fronted Goose 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 · Sep–May
Swamp SparrowBusiest month of the year · All year
Yellow-bellied SapsuckerBusiest month of the year · Sep–Apr
Lincoln's SparrowBusiest month of the year · Apr–May
Hermit ThrushBusiest month of the year · Sep–May
From Indiana’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 · 4.27% in Oct
Northern CardinalCardinalis cardinalisResidentCommon21–23 cmRecorded all year · 3.63% in Oct
Red-bellied WoodpeckerMelanerpes carolinusResidentCommon23–26 cmRecorded all year · 3.16% in Oct
Downy WoodpeckerDryobates pubescensResidentCommon14–18 cmRecorded all year · 2.95% in Oct
American CrowCorvus brachyrhynchosResidentCommon41–53 cmRecorded all year · 2.95% in Oct
American RobinTurdus migratoriusResidentCommon20–28 cmRecorded all year · 2.92% in Oct
White-breasted NuthatchSitta carolinensisResidentCommon13–14 cmRecorded all year · 2.85% in Oct
Tufted TitmouseBaeolophus bicolorResidentCommon14–16 cmRecorded all year · 2.59% in Oct- Yellow-rumped WarblerSetophaga coronataWinter visitorCommon12–15 cmRegularly Sep–May · 2.23% in Oct
Turkey VultureCathartes auraResidentCommon62–81 cmRecorded all year · 2.14% in Oct
Northern FlickerColaptes auratusResidentCommon28–31 cmRecorded all year · 2.07% in Oct
Common StarlingSturnus vulgarisResidentCommon21–23 cmRecorded all year · 2.05% in Oct
House FinchHaemorhous mexicanusResidentCommon13–15 cmRecorded all year · 2.04% in Oct
Song SparrowMelospiza melodiaResidentCommon12–17 cmRecorded all year · 2.04% in Oct
Mourning DoveZenaida macrouraResidentCommon23–34 cmRecorded all year · 2.01% in Oct
Canada GooseBranta canadensisResidentCommon76–110 cmRecorded all year · 1.97% in Oct
House SparrowPasser domesticusResidentCommon14–17 cmRecorded all year · 1.88% in Oct
Red-winged BlackbirdAgelaius phoeniceusResidentCommon17–23 cmRecorded all year · 1.83% in Oct
MallardAnas platyrhynchosResidentCommon50–65 cmRecorded all year · 1.67% in Oct
Great Blue HeronArdea herodiasResidentCommon91–137 cmRecorded all year · 1.63% in Oct
Eastern BluebirdSialia sialisResidentCommon16–21 cmRecorded all year · 1.58% in Oct- Ruby-crowned KingletCorthylio calendulaWinter visitorCommon9–11 cmRegularly Sep–May · 1.11% in Oct
Hairy WoodpeckerLeuconotopicus villosusResidentCommon18–26 cmRecorded all year · 0.93% in Oct
Pileated WoodpeckerDryocopus pileatusResidentCommon40–49 cmRecorded all year · 0.90% in Oct
Red-tailed HawkButeo jamaicensisResidentCommon45–65 cmRecorded all year · 0.89% in Oct
Ring-billed GullLarus delawarensisWinter visitorCommon43–54 cmRecorded all year · 0.85% in Oct
Wood DuckAix sponsaSummer visitorCommon47–54 cmRegularly Feb–Dec · 0.81% in Oct- Swamp SparrowMelospiza georgianaWinter visitorCommon12–15 cmRecorded all year · 0.80% in Oct
Cedar WaxwingBombycilla cedrorumSummer visitorCommon15–18 cmRecorded all year · 0.71% in Oct
Great White EgretArdea albaSummer visitorCommon80–104 cmRegularly Apr–Nov · 0.70% in Oct
White-crowned SparrowZonotrichia leucophrysWinter visitorCommon15–16 cmRegularly Oct–May · 0.70% in Oct
Pied-billed GrebePodilymbus podicepsWinter visitorCommon31–38 cmRegularly Jul–May · 0.67% in Oct
Bald EagleHaliaeetus leucocephalusWinter visitorCommon70–102 cmRecorded all year · 0.67% in Oct
Chipping SparrowSpizella passerinaSummer visitorCommon12–15 cmRegularly Mar–Nov · 0.63% in Oct
Common GrackleQuiscalus quisculaSummer visitorCommon28–34 cmRecorded all year · 0.62% in Oct
Gray CatbirdDumetella carolinensisSummer visitorCommon20–24 cmRegularly Apr–Oct · 0.56% in Oct
Palm WarblerSetophaga palmarumPassage migrantCommon12–14 cmRegularly Apr–Oct · 0.51% in Oct
Red-headed WoodpeckerMelanerpes erythrocephalusResidentCommon19–23 cmRecorded all year · 0.50% in Oct
Tennessee WarblerLeiothlypis peregrinaPassage migrantCommon10–13 cmRegularly Apr–Oct · 0.49% in Oct
Northern ShovelerSpatula clypeataWinter visitorCommon44–51 cmRegularly Sep–May · 0.37% in Oct
Rock DoveColumba liviaResidentCommon29–37 cmRecorded all year · 0.37% in Oct
Eurasian TealAnas creccaWinter visitorUncommon34–38 cmRegularly Aug–Apr · 0.37% in Oct
Black-throated Green WarblerSetophaga virensPassage migrantCommon11–12 cmRegularly Apr–Oct · 0.35% in Oct
Northern MockingbirdMimus polyglottosResidentCommon21–26 cmRecorded all year · 0.35% in Oct- Yellow-bellied SapsuckerSphyrapicus variusWinter visitorUncommon19–22 cmRegularly Sep–Apr · 0.34% in Oct
- Lincoln's SparrowMelospiza lincolniiPassage migrantUncommon13–15 cmRegularly Apr–Nov · 0.32% in Oct
Sandhill CraneAntigone canadensisWinter visitorCommon80–122 cmRecorded all year · 0.32% in Oct- Hermit ThrushCatharus guttatusWinter visitorUncommon14–18 cmRegularly Sep–May · 0.31% in Oct
Nashville WarblerLeiothlypis ruficapillaPassage migrantCommon11–13 cmRegularly Apr–Oct · 0.30% in Oct
GadwallMareca streperaWinter visitorCommon46–56 cmRegularly Oct–Apr · 0.28% in Oct
Common YellowthroatGeothlypis trichasSummer visitorCommon11–13 cmRegularly Apr–Oct · 0.27% in Oct
Mute SwanCygnus olorResidentCommon140–160 cmRecorded all year · 0.26% in Oct
Greater YellowlegsTringa melanoleucaPassage migrantUncommon29–40 cmRegularly Mar–Nov · 0.26% in Oct
Ruby-throated HummingbirdArchilochus colubrisSummer visitorCommon7–9 cmRegularly Apr–Oct · 0.25% in Oct
Bay-breasted WarblerSetophaga castaneaPassage migrantCommon14–14 cmRegularly May–Oct · 0.24% in Oct
Swainson's ThrushCatharus ustulatusPassage migrantCommon16–20 cmRegularly Apr–Oct · 0.24% in Oct
Pine SiskinSpinus pinusWinter visitorUncommon11–14 cmRegularly Oct–May · 0.23% in Oct
Bonaparte's GullChroicocephalus philadelphiaWinter visitorUncommon28–38 cmRegularly Aug–Apr · 0.21% in Oct
Lesser YellowlegsTringa flavipesPassage migrantUncommon23–27 cmRegularly Mar–Oct · 0.20% in Oct
Blue-headed VireoVireo solitariusPassage migrantUncommon12–15 cmRegularly Apr–Oct · 0.19% in Oct
Rose-breasted GrosbeakPheucticus ludovicianusSummer visitorCommon18–22 cmRegularly Apr–Oct · 0.19% in Oct
Orange-crowned WarblerLeiothlypis celataPassage migrantUncommon11–14 cmRegularly Sep–May · 0.19% in Oct
Northern PintailAnas acutaWinter visitorUncommon59–76 cmRegularly Sep–Apr · 0.18% in Oct
Magnolia WarblerSetophaga magnoliaPassage migrantCommon11–13 cmRegularly May–Oct · 0.17% in Oct
Ruddy DuckOxyura jamaicensisWinter visitorUncommon35–43 cmRegularly Oct–May · 0.16% in Oct
Barred OwlStrix variaResidentUncommon43–50 cmRecorded all year · 0.15% in Oct
Pectoral SandpiperCalidris melanotosPassage migrantUncommon19–23 cmRegularly Mar–Nov · 0.15% in Oct
Horned LarkEremophila alpestrisWinter visitorCommon16–20 cmRecorded all year · 0.15% in Oct
Sharp-shinned HawkAccipiter striatusWinter visitorUncommon24–34 cmRegularly Sep–May · 0.15% in Oct
American Herring GullLarus smithsonianusWinter visitorUncommon53–65 cmRecorded all year · 0.15% in Oct
Wild TurkeyMeleagris gallopavoResidentUncommon100–125 cmRecorded all year · 0.14% in Oct
Least SandpiperCalidris minutillaPassage migrantUncommon13–15 cmRegularly Apr–Nov · 0.13% in Oct
OspreyPandion haliaetusSummer visitorUncommon54–58 cmRegularly Mar–Nov · 0.13% in Oct
Fox SparrowPasserella iliacaWinter visitorUncommon15–19 cmRegularly Oct–Apr · 0.13% in Oct
Franklin's GullLeucophaeus pipixcanPassage migrantUncommon32–36 cmRegularly Sep–Dec · 0.12% in Oct
American RedstartSetophaga ruticillaSummer visitorCommon11–14 cmRegularly May–Oct · 0.11% in Oct
Peregrine FalconFalco peregrinusResidentUncommon34–58 cmRecorded all year · 0.11% in Oct
Great Horned OwlBubo virginianusWinter visitorUncommon46–63 cmRecorded all year · 0.10% in Oct
DunlinCalidris alpinaPassage migrantUncommon16–22 cmRegularly Oct–May · 0.09% in Oct
Common LoonGavia immerWinter visitorUncommon66–91 cmRegularly Oct–May · 0.09% in Oct
Blackpoll WarblerSetophaga striataPassage migrantUncommon13–15 cmRegularly May–Oct · 0.09% in Oct
Eastern Screech-owlMegascops asioWinter visitorUncommon16–25 cmRecorded all year · 0.09% in Oct
American Black DuckAnas rubripesWinter visitorUncommon54–59 cmRegularly Oct–Mar · 0.09% in Oct
MerlinFalco columbariusWinter visitorUncommon24–33 cmRecorded all year · 0.09% in Oct
Horned GrebePodiceps auritusWinter visitorUncommon31–38 cmRegularly Oct–Apr · 0.09% in Oct
Cape May WarblerSetophaga tigrinaPassage migrantUncommon12–14 cmRegularly May–Oct · 0.08% in Oct
Chestnut-sided WarblerSetophaga pensylvanicaPassage migrantCommon10–14 cmRegularly May–Oct · 0.08% in Oct
OvenbirdSeiurus aurocapillaSummer visitorUncommon12–15 cmRegularly Apr–Oct · 0.07% in Oct
Marsh WrenCistothorus palustrisSummer visitorUncommon10–14 cmRegularly Apr–Oct · 0.07% in Oct
Long-billed DowitcherLimnodromus scolopaceusPassage migrantUncommon27–30 cmRegularly Mar–Nov · 0.06% in Oct
Gray-cheeked ThrushCatharus minimusPassage migrantUncommon16–17 cmRegularly Apr–Oct · 0.05% in Oct
Hooded MerganserLophodytes cucullatusWinter visitorCommon40–49 cmRegularly Oct–Apr · 0.05% in Oct
Greater White-fronted GooseAnser albifronsWinter visitorCommon64–81 cmRegularly Oct–Mar · 0.05% in Oct
Common PheasantPhasianus colchicusResidentUncommon50–90 cmRecorded all year · 0.04% in Oct
Surf ScoterMelanitta perspicillataWinter visitorUncommon48–60 cmRegularly Oct–Apr · 0.04% in Oct
Vesper SparrowPooecetes gramineusSummer visitorUncommon13–17 cmRegularly Mar–Nov · 0.04% in Oct
American AvocetRecurvirostra americanaPassage migrantRare43–51 cmRegularly Apr–Nov · 0.04% in Oct
Stilt SandpiperCalidris himantopusPassage migrantUncommon18–23 cmRegularly Apr–Oct · 0.04% in Oct
Black-throated Blue WarblerSetophaga caerulescensPassage migrantUncommon11–13 cmRegularly May–Oct · 0.04% in Oct
Philadelphia VireoVireo philadelphicusPassage migrantUncommon11–13 cmRegularly May–Oct · 0.04% in Oct
Scarlet TanagerPiranga olivaceaSummer visitorCommon16–19 cmRegularly Apr–Oct · 0.03% in Oct
Solitary SandpiperTringa solitariaPassage migrantUncommon19–23 cmRegularly Apr–Oct · 0.03% in Oct
Red-breasted MerganserMergus serratorWinter visitorUncommon52–58 cmRegularly Oct–Apr · 0.03% in Oct
Black-crowned Night-heronNycticorax nycticoraxSummer visitorUncommon58–65 cmRegularly Apr–Feb · 0.03% in Oct
Forster's TernSterna forsteriSummer visitorUncommon33–36 cmRegularly Apr–Oct · 0.03% in Oct
Grey PloverPluvialis squatarolaPassage migrantRare27–30 cmRegularly May–Nov · 0.03% in Oct
Fish CrowCorvus ossifragusSummer visitorUncommon36–41 cmRecorded all year · 0.03% in Oct
Lesser Black-backed GullLarus fuscusWinter visitorUncommon52–64 cmRegularly Aug–May · 0.02% in Oct
Red-throated LoonGavia stellataWinter visitorUncommon53–69 cmRegularly Oct–Apr · 0.02% in Oct
SanderlingCalidris albaPassage migrantUncommon18–20 cmRegularly May–Nov · 0.02% in Oct
Semipalmated SandpiperCalidris pusillaSummer visitorUncommon15–18 cmRegularly May–Oct · 0.02% in Oct
Broad-winged HawkButeo platypterusSummer visitorUncommon34–44 cmRegularly Apr–Oct · 0.02% in Oct
Greater ScaupAythya marilaWinter visitorUncommon39–56 cmRegularly Oct–Apr · 0.02% in Oct
American Golden-PloverPluvialis dominicaPassage migrantRare24–28 cmRegularly Mar–Oct · 0.02% in Oct
Tundra SwanCygnus columbianusWinter visitorUncommon120–150 cmRegularly Oct–Mar · 0.02% in Oct
Common TernSterna hirundoPassage migrantUncommon31–35 cmRegularly Apr–Oct · 0.02% in Oct
Northern WaterthrushParkesia noveboracensisPassage migrantUncommon12–15 cmRegularly Apr–Oct · 0.02% in Oct
Trumpeter SwanCygnus buccinatorWinter visitorUncommon139–157 cmRecorded all year · 0.02% in Oct
Red-necked GrebePodiceps grisegenaPassage migrantRare40–50 cmRegularly Oct–Mar · 0.02% in Oct
Semipalmated PloverCharadrius semipalmatusSummer visitorUncommon17–19 cmRegularly Apr–Oct · 0.02% in Oct
Eurasian Collared DoveStreptopelia decaoctoResidentRare30–32 cmRecorded all year · 0.02% in Oct
Baird's SandpiperCalidris bairdiiPassage migrantUncommon14–17 cmRegularly Aug–Oct · 0.01% in Oct
BobolinkDolichonyx oryzivorusSummer visitorUncommon16–20 cmRegularly Apr–Oct · 0.01% in Oct
Snow BuntingPlectrophenax nivalisWinter visitorUncommon15–18 cmRegularly Oct–Feb · 0.01% in Oct
Greylag GooseAnser anserResidentRare75–90 cmRecorded all year · 0.01% in Oct
Northern Saw-whet OwlAegolius acadicusWinter visitorRare17–21 cmRegularly Oct–Feb · 0.01% in Oct
Clay-colored SparrowSpizella pallidaPassage migrantRare13–15 cmRegularly Apr–Oct · 0.01% in Oct
Sabine's GullXema sabiniPassage migrantRare27–33 cmRegularly Sep–Oct · 0.01% in Oct
Evening GrosbeakHesperiphona vespertinaPassage migrantRare16–22 cmRegularly Oct–Apr · 0.01% in Oct
Short-eared OwlAsio flammeusWinter visitorUncommon34–43 cmRegularly Oct–Mar · 0.01% in Oct
Muscovy DuckCairina moschataWinter visitorRare66–84 cmRecorded all year · 0.01% in Oct
Virginia RailRallus limicolaSummer visitorUncommon20–27 cmRegularly Mar–Dec · 0.01% in Oct
American BitternBotaurus lentiginosusSummer visitorRare58–85 cmRegularly Apr–Nov · 0.01% in Oct
Cattle EgretArdea ibisSummer visitorRare46–56 cmRegularly Apr–Nov · 0.01% in Oct
Grey PhalaropePhalaropus fulicariusPassage migrantRare20–22 cmRegularly Oct–Nov · 0.01% in Oct
Arctic JaegerStercorarius parasiticusPassage migrantRare41–46 cmRegularly Aug–Nov · 0.01% in Oct
KittiwakeRissa tridactylaPassage migrantRare37–41 cmRegularly Oct–Dec · 0.01% in Oct
Red-necked PhalaropePhalaropus lobatusPassage migrantRare18–19 cmRegularly May–Oct · 0.01% in Oct
White-rumped SandpiperCalidris fuscicollisSummer visitorRare15–18 cmRegularly May–Oct · 0.00% in Oct
Long-tailed DuckClangula hyemalisWinter visitorUncommon37–60 cmRegularly Oct–Apr · 0.00% in Oct
Golden EagleAquila chrysaetosWinter visitorRare66–102 cmRegularly Oct–Mar · 0.00% in Oct
Monk ParakeetMyiopsitta monachusResidentRare29–31 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