Birds to See in Kansas in October
134 bird species on our list for Kansas are recorded regularly in October
Of these, the most often recorded are Blue Jay, American Crow, Northern Flicker, Northern Cardinal and Red-bellied Woodpecker. New this month: Song Sparrow, Cackling Goose, White-crowned Sparrow and Snow Goose and 17 more.
On the move in October
GBIF · OctArriving
At their peak
Northern FlickerBusiest month of the year · All year
Yellow-rumped WarblerBusiest month of the year · Sep–May
Franklin's GullBusiest month of the year · Apr–Nov
Ruby-crowned KingletBusiest month of the year · Sep–May
Lincoln's SparrowBusiest month of the year · Sep–May
Vesper SparrowBusiest month of the year · Mar–May
From Kansas’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 134 birds in October
134 birds
Blue JayCyanocitta cristataResidentCommon25–30 cmRecorded all year · 3.91% in Oct
American CrowCorvus brachyrhynchosResidentCommon41–53 cmRecorded all year · 3.20% in Oct- Northern FlickerColaptes auratusWinter visitorCommon28–31 cmRecorded all year · 3.11% in Oct
Northern CardinalCardinalis cardinalisResidentCommon21–23 cmRecorded all year · 2.90% in Oct
Red-bellied WoodpeckerMelanerpes carolinusResidentCommon23–26 cmRecorded all year · 2.87% in Oct
American RobinTurdus migratoriusResidentCommon20–28 cmRecorded all year · 2.83% in Oct
Mourning DoveZenaida macrouraResidentCommon23–34 cmRecorded all year · 2.18% in Oct
Common StarlingSturnus vulgarisResidentCommon21–23 cmRecorded all year · 2.12% in Oct
Downy WoodpeckerDryobates pubescensResidentCommon14–18 cmRecorded all year · 2.10% in Oct
Red-tailed HawkButeo jamaicensisResidentCommon45–65 cmRecorded all year · 2.05% in Oct- Yellow-rumped WarblerSetophaga coronataWinter visitorCommon12–15 cmRegularly Sep–May · 1.92% in Oct
Turkey VultureCathartes auraSummer visitorCommon62–81 cmRegularly Mar–Oct · 1.92% in Oct
House FinchHaemorhous mexicanusResidentCommon13–15 cmRecorded all year · 1.85% in Oct
Great Blue HeronArdea herodiasResidentCommon91–137 cmRecorded all year · 1.83% in Oct- Franklin's GullLeucophaeus pipixcanSummer visitorCommon32–36 cmRegularly Apr–Nov · 1.79% in Oct
Canada GooseBranta canadensisResidentCommon76–110 cmRecorded all year · 1.67% in Oct
Red-winged BlackbirdAgelaius phoeniceusResidentCommon17–23 cmRecorded all year · 1.58% in Oct
Eastern BluebirdSialia sialisResidentCommon16–21 cmRecorded all year · 1.58% in Oct
Tufted TitmouseBaeolophus bicolorResidentCommon14–16 cmRecorded all year · 1.51% in Oct
House SparrowPasser domesticusResidentCommon14–17 cmRecorded all year · 1.47% in Oct
White-breasted NuthatchSitta carolinensisResidentCommon13–14 cmRecorded all year · 1.30% in Oct
Ring-billed GullLarus delawarensisWinter visitorCommon43–54 cmRegularly Jul–May · 1.17% in Oct
MallardAnas platyrhynchosResidentCommon50–65 cmRecorded all year · 1.15% in Oct- Ruby-crowned KingletCorthylio calendulaWinter visitorCommon9–11 cmRegularly Sep–May · 1.01% in Oct
Pied-billed GrebePodilymbus podicepsWinter visitorCommon31–38 cmRecorded all year · 1.01% in Oct
Song SparrowMelospiza melodiaWinter visitorCommon12–17 cmRegularly Oct–May · 0.99% in Oct
White-crowned SparrowZonotrichia leucophrysWinter visitorCommon15–16 cmRegularly Oct–May · 0.98% in Oct
Eurasian Collared DoveStreptopelia decaoctoResidentCommon30–32 cmRecorded all year · 0.86% in Oct
Common GrackleQuiscalus quisculaSummer visitorCommon28–34 cmRegularly Jan–Nov · 0.80% in Oct
Western MeadowlarkSturnella neglectaResidentCommon16–26 cmRecorded all year · 0.80% in Oct- Lincoln's SparrowMelospiza lincolniiWinter visitorCommon13–15 cmRegularly Sep–May · 0.79% in Oct
Orange-crowned WarblerLeiothlypis celataPassage migrantCommon11–14 cmRegularly Apr–Oct · 0.74% in Oct
Bald EagleHaliaeetus leucocephalusWinter visitorCommon70–102 cmRecorded all year · 0.68% in Oct
Chipping SparrowSpizella passerinaSummer visitorCommon12–15 cmRegularly Mar–Nov · 0.64% in Oct
Rock DoveColumba liviaResidentCommon31–34 cmRecorded all year · 0.61% in Oct
Great White EgretArdea albaSummer visitorCommon80–104 cmRegularly Apr–Nov · 0.54% in Oct
Northern ShovelerSpatula clypeataWinter visitorCommon44–51 cmRegularly Aug–Jun · 0.52% in Oct
Hairy WoodpeckerLeuconotopicus villosusResidentCommon18–26 cmRecorded all year · 0.52% in Oct
Horned LarkEremophila alpestrisResidentCommon16–20 cmRecorded all year · 0.50% in Oct
GadwallMareca streperaWinter visitorCommon46–56 cmRegularly Aug–May · 0.50% in Oct
Eurasian TealAnas creccaWinter visitorCommon34–38 cmRegularly Aug–May · 0.49% in Oct
Swamp SparrowMelospiza georgianaWinter visitorUncommon12–15 cmRegularly Oct–Apr · 0.46% in Oct
Cedar WaxwingBombycilla cedrorumResidentCommon15–18 cmRecorded all year · 0.44% in Oct
Barn SwallowHirundo rusticaSummer visitorCommon17–19 cmRegularly Apr–Oct · 0.42% in Oct- Vesper SparrowPooecetes gramineusPassage migrantUncommon13–17 cmRegularly Sep–May · 0.41% in Oct
Ruddy DuckOxyura jamaicensisWinter visitorCommon35–43 cmRecorded all year · 0.39% in Oct
Red-headed WoodpeckerMelanerpes erythrocephalusResidentCommon19–23 cmRecorded all year · 0.39% in Oct
Nashville WarblerLeiothlypis ruficapillaPassage migrantCommon11–13 cmRegularly Apr–Oct · 0.39% in Oct
OspreyPandion haliaetusPassage migrantCommon54–58 cmRegularly Apr–Nov · 0.35% in Oct
Wood DuckAix sponsaSummer visitorCommon47–54 cmRecorded all year · 0.35% in Oct
Northern PintailAnas acutaWinter visitorCommon59–76 cmRegularly Aug–Jun · 0.34% in Oct
Greater White-fronted GooseAnser albifronsWinter visitorCommon64–81 cmRegularly Oct–Mar · 0.33% in Oct
Greater YellowlegsTringa melanoleucaPassage migrantCommon29–40 cmRegularly Mar–Nov · 0.32% in Oct
Least SandpiperCalidris minutillaPassage migrantCommon13–15 cmRegularly Mar–Nov · 0.29% in Oct
Northern MockingbirdMimus polyglottosResidentCommon21–26 cmRecorded all year · 0.28% in Oct
Great Horned OwlBubo virginianusResidentUncommon46–63 cmRecorded all year · 0.28% in Oct
Pileated WoodpeckerDryocopus pileatusResidentUncommon40–49 cmRecorded all year · 0.28% in Oct
American AvocetRecurvirostra americanaSummer visitorUncommon43–51 cmRegularly Mar–Nov · 0.28% in Oct
Barred OwlStrix variaResidentUncommon43–50 cmRecorded all year · 0.27% in Oct
Pine SiskinSpinus pinusWinter visitorUncommon11–14 cmRegularly Sep–Jun · 0.26% in Oct
Sandhill CraneAntigone canadensisWinter visitorUncommon80–122 cmRegularly Oct–Mar · 0.25% in Oct
Sharp-shinned HawkAccipiter striatusWinter visitorUncommon24–34 cmRegularly Sep–Apr · 0.25% in Oct
Gray CatbirdDumetella carolinensisSummer visitorCommon20–24 cmRegularly Apr–Oct · 0.24% in Oct
Common PheasantPhasianus colchicusResidentUncommon50–90 cmRecorded all year · 0.23% in Oct
Long-billed DowitcherLimnodromus scolopaceusPassage migrantUncommon27–30 cmRegularly Mar–Nov · 0.19% in Oct
Yellow-bellied SapsuckerSphyrapicus variusWinter visitorUncommon19–22 cmRegularly Oct–Apr · 0.18% in Oct
Ruby-throated HummingbirdArchilochus colubrisSummer visitorCommon7–9 cmRegularly Apr–Oct · 0.18% in Oct
Marsh WrenCistothorus palustrisWinter visitorUncommon10–14 cmRegularly Jul–May · 0.18% in Oct
Wild TurkeyMeleagris gallopavoResidentUncommon100–125 cmRecorded all year · 0.18% in Oct
Lesser YellowlegsTringa flavipesPassage migrantCommon23–27 cmRegularly Mar–Nov · 0.18% in Oct
Scissor-tailed FlycatcherTyrannus forficatusSummer visitorCommon28–38 cmRegularly Apr–Oct · 0.18% in Oct
Clay-colored SparrowSpizella pallidaPassage migrantUncommon13–15 cmRegularly Apr–Oct · 0.17% in Oct
Snow GooseAnser caerulescensWinter visitorCommon69–84 cmRegularly Oct–Apr · 0.16% in Oct
Fox SparrowPasserella iliacaWinter visitorUncommon15–19 cmRegularly Oct–Apr · 0.16% in Oct
MerlinFalco columbariusWinter visitorUncommon24–33 cmRegularly Sep–Apr · 0.14% in Oct
Common YellowthroatGeothlypis trichasSummer visitorCommon11–13 cmRegularly Apr–Oct · 0.13% in Oct
Blue-headed VireoVireo solitariusPassage migrantUncommon12–15 cmRegularly Apr–Oct · 0.13% in Oct
Bonaparte's GullChroicocephalus philadelphiaWinter visitorUncommon28–38 cmRegularly Oct–Apr · 0.11% in Oct
Stilt SandpiperCalidris himantopusSummer visitorUncommon18–23 cmRegularly Apr–Nov · 0.11% in Oct
American Herring GullLarus smithsonianusWinter visitorCommon53–65 cmRegularly Oct–Apr · 0.10% in Oct
White-winged DoveZenaida asiaticaResidentUncommon27–30 cmRecorded all year · 0.09% in Oct
Horned GrebePodiceps auritusWinter visitorUncommon31–38 cmRegularly Oct–Apr · 0.09% in Oct
Hermit ThrushCatharus guttatusWinter visitorUncommon14–18 cmRegularly Sep–May · 0.08% in Oct
Baird's SandpiperCalidris bairdiiPassage migrantUncommon14–17 cmRegularly Mar–Nov · 0.08% in Oct
Hooded MerganserLophodytes cucullatusWinter visitorCommon40–49 cmRegularly Oct–Apr · 0.07% in Oct
Grey PloverPluvialis squatarolaPassage migrantUncommon27–30 cmRegularly Apr–Nov · 0.06% in Oct
Mountain BluebirdSialia currucoidesWinter visitorUncommon15–18 cmRegularly Oct–Mar · 0.06% in Oct
Cackling GooseBranta hutchinsiiWinter visitorCommon53–76 cmRegularly Oct–Mar · 0.06% in Oct
Pectoral SandpiperCalidris melanotosSummer visitorUncommon19–23 cmRegularly Mar–Nov · 0.06% in Oct
Eastern Screech-owlMegascops asioResidentUncommon16–25 cmRecorded all year · 0.06% in Oct
Black-crowned Night-heronNycticorax nycticoraxSummer visitorUncommon58–65 cmRecorded all year · 0.06% in Oct
Black-throated Green WarblerSetophaga virensPassage migrantUncommon11–12 cmRegularly Apr–Oct · 0.05% in Oct
Common LoonGavia immerWinter visitorUncommon66–91 cmRegularly Oct–May · 0.05% in Oct
Black-necked GrebePodiceps nigricollisPassage migrantUncommon28–34 cmRegularly Mar–Dec · 0.04% in Oct
Forster's TernSterna forsteriSummer visitorUncommon33–36 cmRegularly Apr–Oct · 0.04% in Oct
Peregrine FalconFalco peregrinusSummer visitorUncommon34–58 cmRecorded all year · 0.04% in Oct
American Golden-PloverPluvialis dominicaPassage migrantUncommon24–28 cmRegularly Mar–Nov · 0.04% in Oct
Palm WarblerSetophaga palmarumPassage migrantUncommon12–14 cmRegularly Apr–Oct · 0.04% in Oct
Cattle EgretArdea ibisSummer visitorUncommon46–56 cmRegularly Apr–Oct · 0.04% in Oct
Semipalmated SandpiperCalidris pusillaSummer visitorUncommon15–18 cmRegularly Apr–Oct · 0.04% in Oct
Virginia RailRallus limicolaSummer visitorRare20–27 cmRecorded all year · 0.04% in Oct
Broad-winged HawkButeo platypterusSummer visitorUncommon34–44 cmRegularly Apr–Oct · 0.03% in Oct
Western SandpiperCalidris mauriPassage migrantUncommon14–17 cmRegularly Apr–Nov · 0.03% in Oct
American BitternBotaurus lentiginosusSummer visitorUncommon58–85 cmRegularly Apr–Nov · 0.03% in Oct
Ross's GooseAnser rossiiWinter visitorUncommon57–64 cmRegularly Oct–Apr · 0.03% in Oct
Semipalmated PloverCharadrius semipalmatusSummer visitorUncommon17–19 cmRegularly Apr–Oct · 0.03% in Oct
Tennessee WarblerLeiothlypis peregrinaPassage migrantUncommon10–13 cmRegularly Apr–Oct · 0.03% in Oct
Rough-legged HawkButeo lagopusWinter visitorUncommon46–59 cmRegularly Oct–Apr · 0.03% in Oct
Lesser Black-backed GullLarus fuscusWinter visitorUncommon52–64 cmRegularly Sep–Apr · 0.02% in Oct
DunlinCalidris alpinaPassage migrantUncommon16–22 cmRegularly Mar–Nov · 0.02% in Oct
Sabine's GullXema sabiniPassage migrantRare27–33 cmRegularly Sep–Oct · 0.02% in Oct
SanderlingCalidris albaPassage migrantUncommon18–20 cmRegularly Apr–Nov · 0.02% in Oct
Wilson's PhalaropePhalaropus tricolorSummer visitorUncommon22–24 cmRegularly Apr–Oct · 0.02% in Oct
Fish CrowCorvus ossifragusSummer visitorUncommon36–41 cmRegularly Mar–Oct · 0.02% in Oct
Say's PhoebeSayornis sayaSummer visitorUncommon17–20 cmRegularly Mar–Oct · 0.01% in Oct
Philadelphia VireoVireo philadelphicusPassage migrantUncommon11–13 cmRegularly May–Oct · 0.01% in Oct
Burrowing OwlAthene cuniculariaSummer visitorUncommon19–25 cmRegularly Mar–Oct · 0.01% in Oct
Red-necked PhalaropePhalaropus lobatusPassage migrantRare18–19 cmRegularly May–Oct · 0.01% in Oct
Golden EagleAquila chrysaetosWinter visitorRare66–102 cmRegularly Sep–Apr · 0.01% in Oct
Surf ScoterMelanitta perspicillataWinter visitorRare48–60 cmRegularly Oct–Apr · 0.01% in Oct
Magnolia WarblerSetophaga magnoliaPassage migrantUncommon11–13 cmRegularly May–Oct · 0.01% in Oct
Red CrossbillLoxia curvirostraPassage migrantRare15–17 cmRegularly May–Dec · 0.01% in Oct
Bay-breasted WarblerSetophaga castaneaPassage migrantRare14–14 cmRegularly May–Oct · 0.01% in Oct
Short-eared OwlAsio flammeusWinter visitorUncommon34–43 cmRegularly Oct–Apr · 0.00% in Oct
Common TernSterna hirundoPassage migrantRare31–35 cmRegularly Apr–Oct · 0.00% in Oct
Common RavenCorvus coraxPassage migrantRare54–67 cmRegularly Sep–Jun · 0.00% in Oct
Muscovy DuckCairina moschataResidentRare66–84 cmRegularly Sep–Jul · 0.00% in Oct
Red-naped SapsuckerSphyrapicus nuchalisResidentRare19–21 cmRegularly Sep–Oct · 0.00% in Oct
Ladder-backed WoodpeckerDryobates scalarisResidentRare16–19 cmRegularly May–Jan · 0.00% in Oct
Black-throated Blue WarblerSetophaga caerulescensPassage migrantRare11–13 cmRegularly May–Oct · 0.00% in Oct
Greater RoadrunnerGeococcyx californianusResidentRare52–54 cmRecorded all year · 0.00% in Oct
Mute SwanCygnus olorWinter visitorRare140–160 cmRegularly Jul–May · 0.00% in Oct
Scarlet TanagerPiranga olivaceaSummer visitorRare16–19 cmRegularly Apr–Oct · 0.00% in Oct
Short-billed DowitcherLimnodromus griseusSummer visitorRare23–32 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