Birds to See in Kentucky in October
122 bird species on our list for Kentucky are recorded regularly in October
Of these, the most often recorded are Blue Jay, Northern Cardinal, Red-bellied Woodpecker, American Crow and American Robin. New this month: Yellow-rumped Warbler, Yellow-bellied Sapsucker, White-crowned Sparrow and Swamp Sparrow and 19 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 · Apr–May
Blue-headed VireoBusiest month of the year · Mar–Jul
Lincoln's SparrowBusiest month of the year · May
Orange-crowned WarblerBusiest month of the year · Apr–May
Marsh WrenBusiest month of the year · Apr–May
From Kentucky’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 122 birds in October
122 birds
Blue JayCyanocitta cristataResidentCommon25–30 cmRecorded all year · 4.60% in Oct
Northern CardinalCardinalis cardinalisResidentCommon21–23 cmRecorded all year · 4.33% in Oct
Red-bellied WoodpeckerMelanerpes carolinusResidentCommon23–26 cmRecorded all year · 3.40% in Oct
American CrowCorvus brachyrhynchosResidentCommon41–53 cmRecorded all year · 3.34% in Oct
American RobinTurdus migratoriusResidentCommon20–28 cmRecorded all year · 3.28% in Oct
Tufted TitmouseBaeolophus bicolorResidentCommon14–16 cmRecorded all year · 3.21% in Oct
Downy WoodpeckerDryobates pubescensResidentCommon14–18 cmRecorded all year · 2.90% in Oct
Turkey VultureCathartes auraResidentCommon62–81 cmRecorded all year · 2.56% in Oct
Mourning DoveZenaida macrouraResidentCommon23–34 cmRecorded all year · 2.46% in Oct
Common StarlingSturnus vulgarisResidentCommon21–23 cmRecorded all year · 2.40% in Oct
Northern FlickerColaptes auratusResidentCommon28–31 cmRecorded all year · 2.38% in Oct
White-breasted NuthatchSitta carolinensisResidentCommon13–14 cmRecorded all year · 2.19% in Oct
House FinchHaemorhous mexicanusResidentCommon13–15 cmRecorded all year · 2.10% in Oct
Song SparrowMelospiza melodiaResidentCommon12–17 cmRecorded all year · 2.07% in Oct
Northern MockingbirdMimus polyglottosResidentCommon21–26 cmRecorded all year · 2.07% in Oct
Yellow-rumped WarblerSetophaga coronataWinter visitorCommon12–15 cmRegularly Oct–May · 2.01% in Oct
Red-winged BlackbirdAgelaius phoeniceusResidentCommon17–23 cmRecorded all year · 1.57% in Oct
Eastern BluebirdSialia sialisResidentCommon16–21 cmRecorded all year · 1.49% in Oct
Common GrackleQuiscalus quisculaResidentCommon28–34 cmRecorded all year · 1.30% in Oct
Canada GooseBranta canadensisResidentCommon76–110 cmRecorded all year · 1.29% in Oct
Great Blue HeronArdea herodiasResidentCommon91–137 cmRecorded all year · 1.22% in Oct
House SparrowPasser domesticusResidentCommon14–17 cmRecorded all year · 1.17% in Oct
Red-tailed HawkButeo jamaicensisResidentCommon45–65 cmRecorded all year · 1.01% in Oct
MallardAnas platyrhynchosResidentCommon50–65 cmRecorded all year · 0.99% in Oct
Pileated WoodpeckerDryocopus pileatusResidentCommon40–49 cmRecorded all year · 0.97% in Oct
Chipping SparrowSpizella passerinaSummer visitorCommon12–15 cmRecorded all year · 0.95% in Oct- Ruby-crowned KingletCorthylio calendulaWinter visitorCommon9–11 cmRegularly Sep–May · 0.86% in Oct
Tennessee WarblerLeiothlypis peregrinaPassage migrantCommon10–13 cmRegularly Apr–Oct · 0.82% in Oct
Swamp SparrowMelospiza georgianaWinter visitorCommon12–15 cmRegularly Oct–May · 0.69% in Oct
Cedar WaxwingBombycilla cedrorumResidentCommon15–18 cmRecorded all year · 0.68% in Oct
Hairy WoodpeckerLeuconotopicus villosusResidentCommon18–26 cmRecorded all year · 0.62% in Oct
Gray CatbirdDumetella carolinensisSummer visitorCommon20–24 cmRegularly Apr–Oct · 0.60% in Oct- Palm WarblerSetophaga palmarumPassage migrantCommon12–14 cmRegularly Sep–May · 0.56% in Oct
Rock DoveColumba liviaResidentCommon29–37 cmRecorded all year · 0.54% in Oct
Bay-breasted WarblerSetophaga castaneaPassage migrantCommon14–14 cmRegularly May–Oct · 0.53% in Oct
Black-throated Green WarblerSetophaga virensSummer visitorCommon11–12 cmRegularly Apr–Oct · 0.52% in Oct
Yellow-bellied SapsuckerSphyrapicus variusWinter visitorCommon19–22 cmRegularly Oct–Apr · 0.52% in Oct
Magnolia WarblerSetophaga magnoliaPassage migrantCommon11–13 cmRegularly May–Oct · 0.46% in Oct
Bald EagleHaliaeetus leucocephalusWinter visitorCommon70–102 cmRecorded all year · 0.42% in Oct
Ruby-throated HummingbirdArchilochus colubrisSummer visitorCommon7–9 cmRegularly Apr–Oct · 0.40% in Oct
Rose-breasted GrosbeakPheucticus ludovicianusPassage migrantCommon18–22 cmRegularly Apr–Oct · 0.39% in Oct
Great White EgretArdea albaSummer visitorCommon80–104 cmRegularly Mar–Nov · 0.36% in Oct
Pied-billed GrebePodilymbus podicepsWinter visitorCommon31–38 cmRegularly Sep–Apr · 0.35% in Oct
White-crowned SparrowZonotrichia leucophrysWinter visitorCommon15–16 cmRegularly Oct–May · 0.35% in Oct
Wood DuckAix sponsaResidentCommon47–54 cmRecorded all year · 0.33% in Oct
Red-headed WoodpeckerMelanerpes erythrocephalusResidentCommon19–23 cmRecorded all year · 0.33% in Oct
Common YellowthroatGeothlypis trichasSummer visitorCommon11–13 cmRegularly Apr–Oct · 0.32% in Oct
Wild TurkeyMeleagris gallopavoResidentUncommon100–125 cmRecorded all year · 0.27% in Oct- Blue-headed VireoVireo solitariusSummer visitorUncommon12–15 cmRegularly Mar–Nov · 0.26% in Oct
Swainson's ThrushCatharus ustulatusPassage migrantCommon16–20 cmRegularly Apr–Oct · 0.25% in Oct- Lincoln's SparrowMelospiza lincolniiPassage migrantUncommon13–15 cmRegularly May–Nov · 0.22% in Oct
Ring-billed GullLarus delawarensisWinter visitorCommon43–54 cmRegularly Jul–Apr · 0.21% in Oct
Nashville WarblerLeiothlypis ruficapillaPassage migrantUncommon11–13 cmRegularly Apr–Oct · 0.21% in Oct
American RedstartSetophaga ruticillaPassage migrantCommon11–14 cmRegularly Apr–Oct · 0.19% in Oct
Hermit ThrushCatharus guttatusWinter visitorUncommon14–18 cmRegularly Oct–May · 0.17% in Oct
Great Horned OwlBubo virginianusResidentUncommon46–63 cmRecorded all year · 0.17% in Oct
Barred OwlStrix variaResidentUncommon43–50 cmRecorded all year · 0.16% in Oct
GadwallMareca streperaWinter visitorCommon46–56 cmRegularly Oct–Apr · 0.12% in Oct- Orange-crowned WarblerLeiothlypis celataWinter visitorUncommon11–14 cmRegularly Sep–May · 0.12% in Oct
Northern ShovelerSpatula clypeataWinter visitorUncommon44–51 cmRegularly Sep–May · 0.11% in Oct
Eastern Screech-owlMegascops asioResidentUncommon16–25 cmRecorded all year · 0.11% in Oct
Chestnut-sided WarblerSetophaga pensylvanicaPassage migrantCommon10–14 cmRegularly Apr–Oct · 0.11% in Oct
Eurasian TealAnas creccaWinter visitorUncommon34–38 cmRegularly Sep–Apr · 0.11% in Oct
Pine SiskinSpinus pinusWinter visitorUncommon11–14 cmRegularly Oct–May · 0.10% in Oct
Scarlet TanagerPiranga olivaceaSummer visitorCommon16–19 cmRegularly Apr–Oct · 0.10% in Oct
OspreyPandion haliaetusSummer visitorCommon54–58 cmRegularly Mar–Oct · 0.10% in Oct
Cape May WarblerSetophaga tigrinaPassage migrantUncommon12–14 cmRegularly Apr–Oct · 0.09% in Oct
Sharp-shinned HawkAccipiter striatusWinter visitorUncommon24–34 cmRegularly Aug–May · 0.09% in Oct
Philadelphia VireoVireo philadelphicusPassage migrantUncommon11–13 cmRegularly May–Oct · 0.09% in Oct
Eurasian Collared DoveStreptopelia decaoctoResidentUncommon30–32 cmRecorded all year · 0.08% in Oct
American Herring GullLarus smithsonianusWinter visitorUncommon53–65 cmRegularly Aug–Apr · 0.07% in Oct
Least SandpiperCalidris minutillaPassage migrantUncommon13–15 cmRegularly Mar–Dec · 0.07% in Oct
OvenbirdSeiurus aurocapillaSummer visitorUncommon12–15 cmRegularly Apr–Oct · 0.06% in Oct- Marsh WrenCistothorus palustrisPassage migrantUncommon10–14 cmRegularly Sep–May · 0.06% in Oct
Gray-cheeked ThrushCatharus minimusPassage migrantUncommon16–17 cmRegularly Apr–Oct · 0.05% in Oct
Peregrine FalconFalco peregrinusResidentUncommon34–58 cmRecorded all year · 0.05% in Oct
Greater YellowlegsTringa melanoleucaPassage migrantUncommon29–40 cmRegularly Mar–Nov · 0.05% in Oct
MerlinFalco columbariusWinter visitorUncommon24–33 cmRegularly Sep–Apr · 0.05% in Oct
Northern PintailAnas acutaWinter visitorUncommon59–76 cmRegularly Sep–Mar · 0.05% in Oct
Fish CrowCorvus ossifragusSummer visitorUncommon36–41 cmRecorded all year · 0.05% in Oct
Horned LarkEremophila alpestrisWinter visitorUncommon16–20 cmRecorded all year · 0.05% in Oct
Forster's TernSterna forsteriWinter visitorUncommon33–36 cmRegularly Aug–May · 0.04% in Oct
Ruddy DuckOxyura jamaicensisWinter visitorUncommon35–43 cmRegularly Oct–Apr · 0.04% in Oct
Bonaparte's GullChroicocephalus philadelphiaWinter visitorUncommon28–38 cmRegularly Oct–Apr · 0.04% in Oct
Pectoral SandpiperCalidris melanotosPassage migrantUncommon19–23 cmRegularly Mar–Oct · 0.04% in Oct
Common LoonGavia immerWinter visitorUncommon66–91 cmRegularly Oct–Jul · 0.04% in Oct
Muscovy DuckCairina moschataWinter visitorUncommon66–84 cmRecorded all year · 0.03% in Oct
DunlinCalidris alpinaPassage migrantUncommon16–22 cmRegularly Oct–May · 0.03% in Oct
Mute SwanCygnus olorWinter visitorUncommon140–160 cmRecorded all year · 0.03% in Oct
Lesser Black-backed GullLarus fuscusWinter visitorUncommon52–64 cmRegularly Sep–Mar · 0.03% in Oct
Black-crowned Night-heronNycticorax nycticoraxSummer visitorUncommon58–65 cmRegularly Mar–Jan · 0.03% in Oct
Greater White-fronted GooseAnser albifronsWinter visitorUncommon64–81 cmRegularly Oct–Mar · 0.03% in Oct
Northern WaterthrushParkesia noveboracensisPassage migrantUncommon12–15 cmRegularly Apr–Oct · 0.03% in Oct
Fox SparrowPasserella iliacaWinter visitorUncommon15–19 cmRegularly Oct–Mar · 0.03% in Oct
Lesser YellowlegsTringa flavipesPassage migrantUncommon23–27 cmRegularly Mar–Oct · 0.02% in Oct
Horned GrebePodiceps auritusWinter visitorUncommon31–38 cmRegularly Oct–Apr · 0.02% in Oct
Vesper SparrowPooecetes gramineusPassage migrantRare13–17 cmRegularly Oct–Apr · 0.02% in Oct
Broad-winged HawkButeo platypterusSummer visitorUncommon34–44 cmRegularly Apr–Oct · 0.02% in Oct
American BitternBotaurus lentiginosusResidentRare58–85 cmRegularly Apr–Oct · 0.02% in Oct
Solitary SandpiperTringa solitariaPassage migrantUncommon19–23 cmRegularly Apr–Oct · 0.02% in Oct
American Black DuckAnas rubripesWinter visitorUncommon54–59 cmRegularly Oct–Mar · 0.02% in Oct
Franklin's GullLeucophaeus pipixcanPassage migrantRare32–36 cmRegularly May–Nov · 0.02% in Oct
DickcisselSpiza americanaSummer visitorUncommon14–16 cmRegularly Apr–Oct · 0.02% in Oct
Long-billed DowitcherLimnodromus scolopaceusPassage migrantUncommon27–30 cmRegularly Oct–May · 0.02% in Oct
BobolinkDolichonyx oryzivorusSummer visitorUncommon16–20 cmRegularly Apr–Oct · 0.01% in Oct
Black-throated Blue WarblerSetophaga caerulescensSummer visitorRare11–13 cmRegularly Apr–Oct · 0.01% in Oct
Clay-colored SparrowSpizella pallidaPassage migrantRare13–15 cmRegularly Sep–Oct · 0.01% in Oct
Northern Saw-whet OwlAegolius acadicusPassage migrantRare17–21 cmRegularly Oct–Nov · 0.01% in Oct
Surf ScoterMelanitta perspicillataPassage migrantRare48–60 cmRegularly Oct–Mar · 0.01% in Oct
American Golden-PloverPluvialis dominicaPassage migrantRare24–28 cmRegularly Mar–Oct · 0.01% in Oct
Virginia RailRallus limicolaResidentRare20–27 cmRegularly Apr–Jan · 0.01% in Oct
American AvocetRecurvirostra americanaPassage migrantRare43–51 cmRegularly Apr–Oct · 0.01% in Oct
Grey PloverPluvialis squatarolaPassage migrantRare27–30 cmRegularly Apr–Oct · 0.01% in Oct
Common RavenCorvus coraxWinter visitorRare54–67 cmRegularly Sep–Jul · 0.01% in Oct
Stilt SandpiperCalidris himantopusPassage migrantUncommon18–23 cmRegularly Apr–Oct · 0.01% in Oct
Yellow-bellied FlycatcherEmpidonax flaviventrisPassage migrantUncommon13–15 cmRegularly May–Oct · 0.00% in Oct
Egyptian GooseAlopochen aegyptiacaResidentRare63–73 cmRegularly Oct–May · 0.00% in Oct
Common TernSterna hirundoPassage migrantRare31–35 cmRegularly May–Oct · 0.00% in Oct
Mourning WarblerGeothlypis philadelphiaPassage migrantRare10–15 cmRegularly May–Oct · 0.00% in Oct
Cattle EgretArdea ibisSummer visitorRare46–56 cmRegularly Mar–Oct · 0.00% in Oct
Western SandpiperCalidris mauriPassage migrantRare14–17 cmRegularly Jul–Oct · 0.00% 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