Birds to See in Iowa in October
128 bird species on our list for Iowa are recorded regularly in October
Of these, the most often recorded are Blue Jay, American Robin, American Crow, Red-bellied Woodpecker and Downy Woodpecker. New this month: American Tree Sparrow, Gadwall, Greater White-fronted Goose and Horned Lark and 23 more.
On the move in October
GBIF · OctArriving
At their peak
Yellow-rumped WarblerBusiest month of the year · Apr–May
Ruby-crowned KingletBusiest month of the year · Apr–May
Swamp SparrowBusiest month of the year · Mar–Jan
Lincoln's SparrowBusiest month of the year · Apr–May
Franklin's GullBusiest month of the year · Apr–Nov
Sharp-shinned HawkBusiest month of the year · Sep–May
From Iowa’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 128 birds in October
128 birds
Blue JayCyanocitta cristataResidentCommon25–30 cmRecorded all year · 3.86% in Oct
American RobinTurdus migratoriusResidentCommon20–28 cmRecorded all year · 3.28% in Oct
American CrowCorvus brachyrhynchosResidentCommon41–53 cmRecorded all year · 3.01% in Oct
Red-bellied WoodpeckerMelanerpes carolinusResidentCommon23–26 cmRecorded all year · 2.80% in Oct
Downy WoodpeckerDryobates pubescensResidentCommon14–18 cmRecorded all year · 2.78% in Oct
Northern CardinalCardinalis cardinalisResidentCommon21–23 cmRecorded all year · 2.75% in Oct
White-breasted NuthatchSitta carolinensisResidentCommon13–14 cmRecorded all year · 2.59% in Oct
Canada GooseBranta canadensisResidentCommon76–110 cmRecorded all year · 2.43% in Oct- Yellow-rumped WarblerSetophaga coronataPassage migrantCommon12–15 cmRegularly Apr–Dec · 2.34% in Oct
House SparrowPasser domesticusResidentCommon14–17 cmRecorded all year · 2.14% in Oct
Red-winged BlackbirdAgelaius phoeniceusSummer visitorCommon17–23 cmRecorded all year · 2.10% in Oct
Common StarlingSturnus vulgarisResidentCommon21–23 cmRecorded all year · 2.05% in Oct
Northern FlickerColaptes auratusResidentCommon28–31 cmRecorded all year · 2.00% in Oct
Turkey VultureCathartes auraSummer visitorCommon62–81 cmRegularly Mar–Oct · 1.91% in Oct
House FinchHaemorhous mexicanusResidentCommon13–15 cmRecorded all year · 1.66% in Oct
Song SparrowMelospiza melodiaResidentCommon12–17 cmRecorded all year · 1.65% in Oct
Ring-billed GullLarus delawarensisWinter visitorCommon43–54 cmRegularly Jul–May · 1.60% in Oct
Red-tailed HawkButeo jamaicensisWinter visitorCommon45–65 cmRecorded all year · 1.54% in Oct
MallardAnas platyrhynchosResidentCommon50–65 cmRecorded all year · 1.48% in Oct- Ruby-crowned KingletCorthylio calendulaPassage migrantCommon9–11 cmRegularly Apr–Nov · 1.33% in Oct
Bald EagleHaliaeetus leucocephalusWinter visitorCommon70–102 cmRecorded all year · 1.25% in Oct
Eastern BluebirdSialia sialisResidentCommon16–21 cmRecorded all year · 1.25% in Oct
Mourning DoveZenaida macrouraResidentCommon23–34 cmRecorded all year · 1.24% in Oct
Cedar WaxwingBombycilla cedrorumResidentCommon15–18 cmRecorded all year · 1.16% in Oct- Swamp SparrowMelospiza georgianaSummer visitorCommon12–15 cmRegularly Mar–Jan · 1.15% in Oct
Hairy WoodpeckerLeuconotopicus villosusResidentCommon18–26 cmRecorded all year · 1.14% in Oct
Great Blue HeronArdea herodiasSummer visitorCommon91–137 cmRegularly Feb–Dec · 1.14% in Oct
Pied-billed GrebePodilymbus podicepsSummer visitorCommon31–38 cmRegularly Mar–Dec · 0.90% in Oct
White-crowned SparrowZonotrichia leucophrysWinter visitorCommon15–16 cmRegularly Oct–May · 0.88% in Oct- Lincoln's SparrowMelospiza lincolniiPassage migrantCommon13–15 cmRegularly Apr–Nov · 0.85% in Oct
Common GrackleQuiscalus quisculaSummer visitorCommon28–34 cmRegularly Feb–Dec · 0.73% in Oct- Franklin's GullLeucophaeus pipixcanSummer visitorCommon32–36 cmRegularly Apr–Nov · 0.64% in Oct
Rock DoveColumba liviaResidentCommon29–37 cmRecorded all year · 0.63% in Oct
Fox SparrowPasserella iliacaWinter visitorCommon15–19 cmRegularly Oct–Apr · 0.59% in Oct
Orange-crowned WarblerLeiothlypis celataPassage migrantCommon11–14 cmRegularly Apr–Oct · 0.58% in Oct
Common PheasantPhasianus colchicusResidentCommon50–90 cmRecorded all year · 0.57% in Oct
Wood DuckAix sponsaSummer visitorCommon47–54 cmRegularly Feb–Nov · 0.57% in Oct
Chipping SparrowSpizella passerinaSummer visitorCommon12–15 cmRegularly Apr–Oct · 0.54% in Oct
Red-headed WoodpeckerMelanerpes erythrocephalusResidentCommon19–23 cmRecorded all year · 0.51% in Oct
Eurasian TealAnas creccaWinter visitorCommon34–38 cmRegularly Sep–May · 0.51% in Oct
Tufted TitmouseBaeolophus bicolorResidentCommon14–16 cmRecorded all year · 0.50% in Oct
Northern ShovelerSpatula clypeataWinter visitorCommon44–51 cmRegularly Sep–May · 0.47% in Oct
Gray CatbirdDumetella carolinensisSummer visitorCommon20–24 cmRegularly Apr–Oct · 0.45% in Oct
GadwallMareca streperaWinter visitorCommon46–56 cmRegularly Oct–May · 0.43% in Oct
Ruddy DuckOxyura jamaicensisWinter visitorCommon35–43 cmRegularly Oct–May · 0.37% in Oct
Wild TurkeyMeleagris gallopavoResidentCommon100–125 cmRecorded all year · 0.36% in Oct
Great White EgretArdea albaSummer visitorCommon80–104 cmRegularly Apr–Nov · 0.36% in Oct
Nashville WarblerLeiothlypis ruficapillaPassage migrantCommon11–13 cmRegularly May–Oct · 0.35% in Oct
Eurasian Tree SparrowPasser montanusResidentCommon13–14 cmRecorded all year · 0.35% in Oct- Sharp-shinned HawkAccipiter striatusWinter visitorUncommon24–34 cmRegularly Sep–May · 0.35% in Oct
Hermit ThrushCatharus guttatusWinter visitorUncommon14–18 cmRegularly Oct–Apr · 0.33% in Oct
Northern PintailAnas acutaWinter visitorCommon59–76 cmRegularly Sep–Apr · 0.31% in Oct
Pine SiskinSpinus pinusWinter visitorUncommon11–14 cmRegularly Sep–May · 0.29% in Oct
Pileated WoodpeckerDryocopus pileatusResidentUncommon40–49 cmRecorded all year · 0.28% in Oct
Yellow-bellied SapsuckerSphyrapicus variusWinter visitorUncommon19–22 cmRecorded all year · 0.28% in Oct
Eurasian Collared DoveStreptopelia decaoctoResidentUncommon30–32 cmRecorded all year · 0.27% in Oct
Barred OwlStrix variaResidentUncommon43–50 cmRecorded all year · 0.26% in Oct
Barn SwallowHirundo rusticaSummer visitorCommon17–19 cmRegularly Apr–Oct · 0.24% in Oct
Bonaparte's GullChroicocephalus philadelphiaPassage migrantCommon28–38 cmRegularly Oct–Apr · 0.24% in Oct
OspreyPandion haliaetusSummer visitorUncommon54–58 cmRegularly Mar–Nov · 0.23% in Oct
Greater YellowlegsTringa melanoleucaPassage migrantCommon29–40 cmRegularly Mar–Nov · 0.21% in Oct
Palm WarblerSetophaga palmarumPassage migrantUncommon12–14 cmRegularly Apr–Oct · 0.21% in Oct
Common YellowthroatGeothlypis trichasSummer visitorCommon11–13 cmRegularly May–Oct · 0.19% in Oct
Trumpeter SwanCygnus buccinatorWinter visitorCommon139–157 cmRecorded all year · 0.18% in Oct
Sandhill CraneAntigone canadensisSummer visitorCommon80–122 cmRegularly Feb–Dec · 0.17% in Oct
Marsh WrenCistothorus palustrisSummer visitorUncommon10–14 cmRegularly Apr–Oct · 0.16% in Oct
Greater White-fronted GooseAnser albifronsWinter visitorCommon64–81 cmRegularly Oct–Apr · 0.15% in Oct
American Tree SparrowSpizelloides arboreaWinter visitorCommon14–17 cmRegularly Oct–Apr · 0.14% in Oct
Horned GrebePodiceps auritusPassage migrantUncommon31–38 cmRegularly Oct–Apr · 0.14% in Oct
American Herring GullLarus smithsonianusWinter visitorCommon53–65 cmRegularly Sep–Apr · 0.13% in Oct
Ruby-throated HummingbirdArchilochus colubrisSummer visitorCommon7–9 cmRegularly May–Oct · 0.13% in Oct
Blue-headed VireoVireo solitariusPassage migrantUncommon12–15 cmRegularly Apr–Oct · 0.13% in Oct
Pectoral SandpiperCalidris melanotosPassage migrantCommon19–23 cmRegularly Apr–Nov · 0.12% in Oct
Vesper SparrowPooecetes gramineusSummer visitorUncommon13–17 cmRegularly Mar–Oct · 0.12% in Oct
MerlinFalco columbariusWinter visitorUncommon24–33 cmRegularly Aug–Apr · 0.12% in Oct
Tennessee WarblerLeiothlypis peregrinaPassage migrantCommon10–13 cmRegularly May–Oct · 0.12% in Oct
Great Horned OwlBubo virginianusWinter visitorUncommon46–63 cmRecorded all year · 0.11% in Oct
Lesser YellowlegsTringa flavipesPassage migrantCommon23–27 cmRegularly Apr–Oct · 0.11% in Oct
Common LoonGavia immerPassage migrantCommon66–91 cmRegularly Aug–Apr · 0.11% in Oct
Horned LarkEremophila alpestrisWinter visitorCommon16–20 cmRegularly Jun–Apr · 0.10% in Oct
Least SandpiperCalidris minutillaPassage migrantCommon13–15 cmRegularly Apr–Nov · 0.09% in Oct
Long-billed DowitcherLimnodromus scolopaceusPassage migrantUncommon27–30 cmRegularly Apr–Nov · 0.09% in Oct
Peregrine FalconFalco peregrinusResidentUncommon34–58 cmRecorded all year · 0.08% in Oct
Western MeadowlarkSturnella neglectaResidentUncommon16–26 cmRecorded all year · 0.06% in Oct
Hooded MerganserLophodytes cucullatusWinter visitorCommon40–49 cmRegularly Oct–Jul · 0.06% in Oct
DunlinCalidris alpinaPassage migrantUncommon16–22 cmRegularly Oct–May · 0.05% in Oct
Magnolia WarblerSetophaga magnoliaPassage migrantCommon11–13 cmRegularly May–Oct · 0.04% in Oct
Black-throated Green WarblerSetophaga virensPassage migrantUncommon11–12 cmRegularly May–Oct · 0.04% in Oct
Broad-winged HawkButeo platypterusSummer visitorUncommon34–44 cmRegularly Apr–Oct · 0.04% in Oct
Snow GooseAnser caerulescensWinter visitorCommon69–84 cmRegularly Oct–Apr · 0.04% in Oct
American Golden-PloverPluvialis dominicaPassage migrantUncommon24–28 cmRegularly Mar–Oct · 0.04% in Oct
Cackling GooseBranta hutchinsiiWinter visitorCommon53–76 cmRegularly Oct–Mar · 0.04% in Oct
American AvocetRecurvirostra americanaSummer visitorUncommon43–51 cmRegularly Apr–Nov · 0.04% in Oct
Surf ScoterMelanitta perspicillataPassage migrantUncommon48–60 cmRegularly Oct–Apr · 0.04% in Oct
Forster's TernSterna forsteriSummer visitorUncommon33–36 cmRegularly Apr–Oct · 0.04% in Oct
Clay-colored SparrowSpizella pallidaSummer visitorUncommon13–15 cmRegularly Apr–Oct · 0.03% in Oct
Lesser Black-backed GullLarus fuscusWinter visitorUncommon52–64 cmRegularly Sep–Apr · 0.03% in Oct
Grey PloverPluvialis squatarolaPassage migrantRare27–30 cmRegularly Apr–Nov · 0.03% in Oct
Lapland LongspurCalcarius lapponicusWinter visitorUncommon15–16 cmRegularly Oct–Apr · 0.02% in Oct
Eastern Screech-owlMegascops asioWinter visitorUncommon16–25 cmRecorded all year · 0.02% in Oct
Sabine's GullXema sabiniPassage migrantRare27–33 cmRegularly Sep–Oct · 0.02% in Oct
Red-breasted MerganserMergus serratorPassage migrantUncommon52–58 cmRegularly Oct–Apr · 0.02% in Oct
Stilt SandpiperCalidris himantopusPassage migrantUncommon18–23 cmRegularly May–Oct · 0.02% in Oct
Semipalmated PloverCharadrius semipalmatusPassage migrantUncommon17–19 cmRegularly Apr–Oct · 0.02% in Oct
Red-necked GrebePodiceps grisegenaPassage migrantRare40–50 cmRegularly Apr–Nov · 0.02% in Oct
Cattle EgretArdea ibisSummer visitorRare46–56 cmRegularly Apr–Oct · 0.02% in Oct
Red-throated LoonGavia stellataPassage migrantUncommon53–69 cmRegularly Oct–Nov · 0.01% in Oct
SanderlingCalidris albaPassage migrantUncommon18–20 cmRegularly Apr–Nov · 0.01% in Oct
Mute SwanCygnus olorWinter visitorUncommon140–160 cmRecorded all year · 0.01% in Oct
American Black DuckAnas rubripesWinter visitorUncommon54–59 cmRegularly Oct–Mar · 0.01% in Oct
Pacific LoonGavia pacificaResidentRare58–74 cmRegularly Oct–Nov · 0.01% in Oct
Baird's SandpiperCalidris bairdiiPassage migrantUncommon14–17 cmRegularly Mar–Nov · 0.01% in Oct
Black-necked GrebePodiceps nigricollisPassage migrantRare28–34 cmRegularly Apr–Nov · 0.01% in Oct
Tundra SwanCygnus columbianusWinter visitorUncommon120–150 cmRegularly Oct–Mar · 0.01% in Oct
Red CrossbillLoxia curvirostraPassage migrantRare15–17 cmRegularly Sep–Mar · 0.01% in Oct
American BitternBotaurus lentiginosusSummer visitorRare58–85 cmRegularly Apr–Nov · 0.01% in Oct
Black-throated Blue WarblerSetophaga caerulescensPassage migrantRare11–13 cmRegularly May–Oct · 0.01% in Oct
Short-eared OwlAsio flammeusWinter visitorUncommon34–43 cmRegularly Oct–Apr · 0.01% in Oct
Cape May WarblerSetophaga tigrinaPassage migrantUncommon12–14 cmRegularly May–Oct · 0.01% in Oct
Golden EagleAquila chrysaetosWinter visitorRare66–102 cmRegularly Oct–Apr · 0.01% in Oct
Grey PartridgePerdix perdixSummer visitorUncommon28–32 cmRegularly Jan–Nov · 0.01% in Oct
Black-crowned Night-heronNycticorax nycticoraxSummer visitorRare58–65 cmRegularly Apr–Nov · 0.01% in Oct
Greater ScaupAythya marilaWinter visitorUncommon39–56 cmRegularly Oct–Apr · 0.01% in Oct
Iceland GullLarus glaucoidesWinter visitorUncommon52–60 cmRegularly Oct–Mar · 0.00% in Oct
Northern MockingbirdMimus polyglottosSummer visitorRare21–26 cmRegularly Apr–Feb · 0.00% in Oct
Northern Saw-whet OwlAegolius acadicusWinter visitorUncommon17–21 cmRegularly Oct–Mar · 0.00% in Oct
Virginia RailRallus limicolaSummer visitorRare20–27 cmRegularly Apr–Oct · 0.00% in Oct
Common TernSterna hirundoSummer visitorRare31–35 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