Birds to See in Maine in October
148 bird species on our list for Maine are recorded regularly in October
Of these, the most often recorded are American Crow, Blue Jay, Song Sparrow, American Herring Gull and Yellow-rumped Warbler. New this month: Red-breasted Merganser, Long-tailed Duck, Horned Grebe and Red-throated Loon and 11 more.
On the move in October
GBIF · OctArriving
At their peak
Yellow-rumped WarblerBusiest month of the year · Apr–Nov
Ruby-crowned KingletBusiest month of the year · Apr–Jul
Swamp SparrowBusiest month of the year · Apr–Nov
White-crowned SparrowBusiest month of the year · May
Pied-billed GrebeBusiest month of the year · Mar–Dec
FulmarBusiest month of the year · Jun–Jul
From Maine’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 148 birds in October
148 birds
American CrowCorvus brachyrhynchosResidentCommon41–53 cmRecorded all year · 4.82% in Oct
Blue JayCyanocitta cristataResidentCommon25–30 cmRecorded all year · 4.45% in Oct
Song SparrowMelospiza melodiaSummer visitorCommon12–17 cmRecorded all year · 3.12% in Oct
American Herring GullLarus smithsonianusResidentCommon53–65 cmRecorded all year · 2.98% in Oct- Yellow-rumped WarblerSetophaga coronataSummer visitorCommon12–15 cmRegularly Apr–Nov · 2.41% in Oct
White-breasted NuthatchSitta carolinensisResidentCommon13–14 cmRecorded all year · 2.30% in Oct
American RobinTurdus migratoriusResidentCommon20–28 cmRecorded all year · 2.06% in Oct
Downy WoodpeckerDryobates pubescensResidentCommon14–18 cmRecorded all year · 1.99% in Oct
Tufted TitmouseBaeolophus bicolorResidentCommon14–16 cmRecorded all year · 1.86% in Oct
Ring-billed GullLarus delawarensisWinter visitorCommon43–54 cmRecorded all year · 1.85% in Oct
Northern CardinalCardinalis cardinalisResidentCommon21–23 cmRecorded all year · 1.81% in Oct
MallardAnas platyrhynchosResidentCommon50–65 cmRecorded all year · 1.66% in Oct
Common LoonGavia immerResidentCommon66–91 cmRecorded all year · 1.62% in Oct
Mourning DoveZenaida macrouraResidentCommon23–34 cmRecorded all year · 1.56% in Oct
Hairy WoodpeckerLeuconotopicus villosusResidentCommon18–26 cmRecorded all year · 1.52% in Oct
EiderSomateria mollissimaResidentCommon50–71 cmRecorded all year · 1.45% in Oct
Great Black-backed GullLarus marinusResidentCommon64–79 cmRecorded all year · 1.42% in Oct
Great Blue HeronArdea herodiasSummer visitorCommon91–137 cmRegularly Mar–Jan · 1.39% in Oct
Canada GooseBranta canadensisResidentCommon76–110 cmRecorded all year · 1.34% in Oct- Ruby-crowned KingletCorthylio calendulaSummer visitorCommon9–11 cmRegularly Apr–Nov · 1.16% in Oct
American Black DuckAnas rubripesWinter visitorCommon54–59 cmRecorded all year · 1.13% in Oct
Common RavenCorvus coraxResidentCommon54–67 cmRecorded all year · 1.09% in Oct
House FinchHaemorhous mexicanusResidentCommon13–15 cmRecorded all year · 1.07% in Oct
Bald EagleHaliaeetus leucocephalusResidentCommon70–102 cmRecorded all year · 1.05% in Oct
Eastern BluebirdSialia sialisResidentCommon16–21 cmRecorded all year · 1.05% in Oct- Swamp SparrowMelospiza georgianaSummer visitorCommon12–15 cmRegularly Apr–Nov · 0.95% in Oct
Common StarlingSturnus vulgarisResidentCommon21–23 cmRecorded all year · 0.94% in Oct
Red-bellied WoodpeckerMelanerpes carolinusResidentCommon23–26 cmRecorded all year · 0.89% in Oct
Northern FlickerColaptes auratusSummer visitorCommon28–31 cmRecorded all year · 0.89% in Oct
Chipping SparrowSpizella passerinaSummer visitorCommon12–15 cmRegularly Apr–Nov · 0.86% in Oct
Gray CatbirdDumetella carolinensisSummer visitorCommon20–24 cmRegularly May–Oct · 0.84% in Oct
Hermit ThrushCatharus guttatusSummer visitorCommon14–18 cmRegularly Apr–Dec · 0.74% in Oct
Turkey VultureCathartes auraSummer visitorCommon62–81 cmRecorded all year · 0.71% in Oct
House SparrowPasser domesticusResidentCommon14–17 cmRecorded all year · 0.69% in Oct
Rock DoveColumba liviaResidentCommon29–37 cmRecorded all year · 0.68% in Oct
Palm WarblerSetophaga palmarumSummer visitorCommon12–14 cmRegularly Apr–Nov · 0.64% in Oct
Pileated WoodpeckerDryocopus pileatusResidentCommon40–49 cmRecorded all year · 0.59% in Oct
Black GuillemotCepphus grylleResidentCommon30–32 cmRecorded all year · 0.58% in Oct
Surf ScoterMelanitta perspicillataWinter visitorCommon48–60 cmRegularly Sep–Jun · 0.58% in Oct
Greater YellowlegsTringa melanoleucaSummer visitorCommon29–40 cmRegularly Apr–Nov · 0.55% in Oct
Pine SiskinSpinus pinusWinter visitorCommon11–14 cmRegularly Sep–Jul · 0.54% in Oct
Yellow-bellied SapsuckerSphyrapicus variusSummer visitorCommon19–22 cmRegularly Apr–Feb · 0.53% in Oct
Northern GannetMorus bassanusSummer visitorCommon87–100 cmRegularly May–Jan · 0.51% in Oct
Wild TurkeyMeleagris gallopavoResidentCommon100–125 cmRecorded all year · 0.51% in Oct
Common GrackleQuiscalus quisculaSummer visitorCommon28–34 cmRegularly Mar–Nov · 0.47% in Oct
Eurasian TealAnas creccaWinter visitorCommon34–38 cmRegularly Jul–May · 0.45% in Oct
Blue-headed VireoVireo solitariusSummer visitorCommon12–15 cmRegularly Apr–Oct · 0.44% in Oct
Common YellowthroatGeothlypis trichasSummer visitorCommon11–13 cmRegularly May–Oct · 0.43% in Oct- White-crowned SparrowZonotrichia leucophrysPassage migrantUncommon15–16 cmRegularly May–Nov · 0.42% in Oct
Northern MockingbirdMimus polyglottosResidentCommon21–26 cmRecorded all year · 0.41% in Oct
Great White EgretArdea albaSummer visitorCommon80–104 cmRegularly Mar–Nov · 0.40% in Oct
Red-tailed HawkButeo jamaicensisWinter visitorCommon45–65 cmRecorded all year · 0.39% in Oct
Cedar WaxwingBombycilla cedrorumSummer visitorCommon15–18 cmRecorded all year · 0.38% in Oct
Hooded MerganserLophodytes cucullatusWinter visitorCommon40–49 cmRecorded all year · 0.37% in Oct
Red-winged BlackbirdAgelaius phoeniceusSummer visitorCommon17–23 cmRegularly Feb–Nov · 0.36% in Oct
MerlinFalco columbariusSummer visitorCommon24–33 cmRegularly Feb–Dec · 0.36% in Oct
Red-breasted MerganserMergus serratorWinter visitorCommon52–58 cmRegularly Oct–May · 0.32% in Oct
Bonaparte's GullChroicocephalus philadelphiaSummer visitorUncommon28–38 cmRegularly May–Dec · 0.30% in Oct
Grey PloverPluvialis squatarolaSummer visitorCommon27–30 cmRegularly May–Nov · 0.30% in Oct
Wood DuckAix sponsaSummer visitorCommon47–54 cmRegularly Feb–Nov · 0.30% in Oct
Blackpoll WarblerSetophaga striataSummer visitorUncommon13–15 cmRegularly May–Oct · 0.29% in Oct
Semipalmated PloverCharadrius semipalmatusPassage migrantCommon17–19 cmRegularly Jul–Nov · 0.29% in Oct
Sharp-shinned HawkAccipiter striatusWinter visitorUncommon24–34 cmRecorded all year · 0.28% in Oct
Peregrine FalconFalco peregrinusResidentUncommon34–58 cmRecorded all year · 0.24% in Oct
Red-throated LoonGavia stellataWinter visitorCommon53–69 cmRegularly Oct–Apr · 0.21% in Oct
Semipalmated SandpiperCalidris pusillaPassage migrantCommon15–18 cmRegularly Jun–Oct · 0.20% in Oct
Common MerganserMergus merganserWinter visitorCommon58–68 cmRecorded all year · 0.19% in Oct
Red-necked GrebePodiceps grisegenaWinter visitorCommon40–50 cmRegularly Sep–Apr · 0.19% in Oct
Lincoln's SparrowMelospiza lincolniiSummer visitorUncommon13–15 cmRegularly May–Oct · 0.19% in Oct
Great CormorantPhalacrocorax carboWinter visitorCommon80–100 cmRecorded all year · 0.18% in Oct
OspreyPandion haliaetusSummer visitorCommon54–58 cmRegularly Apr–Oct · 0.18% in Oct
Ruffed GrouseBonasa umbellusResidentUncommon41–50 cmRecorded all year · 0.16% in Oct
DunlinCalidris alpinaPassage migrantUncommon16–22 cmRegularly May–Jan · 0.14% in Oct
Barred OwlStrix variaResidentUncommon43–50 cmRecorded all year · 0.13% in Oct
Nashville WarblerLeiothlypis ruficapillaSummer visitorUncommon11–13 cmRegularly May–Oct · 0.13% in Oct
Swainson's ThrushCatharus ustulatusSummer visitorUncommon16–20 cmRegularly May–Oct · 0.12% in Oct
Black-throated Green WarblerSetophaga virensSummer visitorCommon11–12 cmRegularly May–Oct · 0.12% in Oct
Horned GrebePodiceps auritusWinter visitorCommon31–38 cmRegularly Oct–Apr · 0.12% in Oct
Ruddy DuckOxyura jamaicensisPassage migrantUncommon35–43 cmRegularly Oct–Apr · 0.12% in Oct
Lesser YellowlegsTringa flavipesPassage migrantCommon23–27 cmRegularly Apr–Oct · 0.12% in Oct
Long-tailed DuckClangula hyemalisWinter visitorCommon37–60 cmRegularly Oct–May · 0.12% in Oct
SanderlingCalidris albaWinter visitorUncommon18–20 cmRegularly Jul–Feb · 0.11% in Oct- Pied-billed GrebePodilymbus podicepsSummer visitorUncommon31–38 cmRegularly Mar–Dec · 0.11% in Oct
Black-throated Blue WarblerSetophaga caerulescensSummer visitorCommon11–13 cmRegularly May–Oct · 0.10% in Oct- FulmarFulmarus glacialisPassage migrantUncommon45–50 cmRegularly Jun–Oct · 0.10% in Oct
Greater ScaupAythya marilaWinter visitorUncommon39–56 cmRegularly Oct–Apr · 0.10% in Oct
Common PheasantPhasianus colchicusSummer visitorUncommon50–90 cmRegularly Apr–Dec · 0.09% in Oct
Northern PintailAnas acutaWinter visitorUncommon59–76 cmRegularly Sep–Apr · 0.09% in Oct
Red CrossbillLoxia curvirostraResidentUncommon15–17 cmRecorded all year · 0.09% in Oct
Horned LarkEremophila alpestrisWinter visitorUncommon16–20 cmRegularly Sep–Apr · 0.08% in Oct
KittiwakeRissa tridactylaWinter visitorUncommon37–41 cmRegularly Jun–Feb · 0.08% in Oct
Orange-crowned WarblerLeiothlypis celataWinter visitorUncommon11–14 cmRegularly Sep–Feb · 0.08% in Oct
DickcisselSpiza americanaWinter visitorUncommon14–16 cmRegularly Aug–Mar · 0.08% in Oct
Baltimore OrioleIcterus galbulaSummer visitorCommon17–19 cmRegularly May–Oct · 0.07% in Oct
Pectoral SandpiperCalidris melanotosPassage migrantUncommon19–23 cmRegularly Apr–Nov · 0.07% in Oct
Evening GrosbeakHesperiphona vespertinaWinter visitorUncommon16–22 cmRegularly Jul–May · 0.07% in Oct
Cape May WarblerSetophaga tigrinaPassage migrantUncommon12–14 cmRegularly May–Oct · 0.06% in Oct
Lesser Black-backed GullLarus fuscusWinter visitorUncommon52–64 cmRegularly Jul–Apr · 0.06% in Oct
Great ShearwaterArdenna gravisPassage migrantUncommon43–51 cmRegularly Jun–Oct · 0.06% in Oct
Magnolia WarblerSetophaga magnoliaSummer visitorCommon11–13 cmRegularly May–Oct · 0.06% in Oct
White-rumped SandpiperCalidris fuscicollisPassage migrantUncommon15–18 cmRegularly Jul–Nov · 0.06% in Oct
Fox SparrowPasserella iliacaWinter visitorUncommon15–19 cmRegularly Oct–Jun · 0.06% in Oct
Clay-colored SparrowSpizella pallidaPassage migrantUncommon13–15 cmRegularly May–Jan · 0.05% in Oct
Pomarine JaegerStercorarius pomarinusPassage migrantUncommon46–51 cmRegularly Aug–Oct · 0.05% in Oct
Hudsonian GodwitLimosa haemasticaPassage migrantUncommon36–42 cmRegularly Aug–Nov · 0.05% in Oct
RazorbillAlca tordaResidentUncommon38–43 cmRegularly May–Mar · 0.05% in Oct
Solitary SandpiperTringa solitariaPassage migrantUncommon19–23 cmRegularly May–Oct · 0.05% in Oct
Tennessee WarblerLeiothlypis peregrinaSummer visitorUncommon10–13 cmRegularly May–Oct · 0.05% in Oct
Snow BuntingPlectrophenax nivalisWinter visitorUncommon15–18 cmRegularly Oct–Mar · 0.04% in Oct
Sandhill CraneAntigone canadensisSummer visitorUncommon80–122 cmRegularly Mar–Dec · 0.04% in Oct
American Golden-PloverPluvialis dominicaPassage migrantUncommon24–28 cmRegularly Aug–Nov · 0.03% in Oct
Atlantic PuffinFratercula arcticaSummer visitorUncommon28–34 cmRegularly May–Oct · 0.03% in Oct
Marsh WrenCistothorus palustrisSummer visitorUncommon10–14 cmRegularly Apr–Nov · 0.03% in Oct
Rose-breasted GrosbeakPheucticus ludovicianusSummer visitorCommon18–22 cmRegularly May–Oct · 0.03% in Oct
Great Horned OwlBubo virginianusResidentRare46–63 cmRecorded all year · 0.03% in Oct
GadwallMareca streperaWinter visitorUncommon46–56 cmRecorded all year · 0.03% in Oct
BobolinkDolichonyx oryzivorusSummer visitorUncommon16–20 cmRegularly May–Oct · 0.03% in Oct
Northern ShovelerSpatula clypeataWinter visitorUncommon44–51 cmRecorded all year · 0.02% in Oct
Northern Saw-whet OwlAegolius acadicusWinter visitorRare17–21 cmRecorded all year · 0.02% in Oct
Vesper SparrowPooecetes gramineusSummer visitorUncommon13–17 cmRegularly Apr–Oct · 0.02% in Oct
Snow GooseAnser caerulescensWinter visitorUncommon69–84 cmRegularly Oct–Apr · 0.02% in Oct
Northern WaterthrushParkesia noveboracensisSummer visitorUncommon12–15 cmRegularly May–Oct · 0.02% in Oct
Lapland LongspurCalcarius lapponicusWinter visitorUncommon15–16 cmRegularly Oct–Apr · 0.02% in Oct
Philadelphia VireoVireo philadelphicusSummer visitorUncommon11–13 cmRegularly May–Oct · 0.02% in Oct
Scarlet TanagerPiranga olivaceaSummer visitorUncommon16–19 cmRegularly May–Oct · 0.02% in Oct
Red-headed WoodpeckerMelanerpes erythrocephalusPassage migrantRare19–23 cmRegularly Apr–Nov · 0.02% in Oct
Ruddy TurnstoneArenaria interpresSummer visitorUncommon21–24 cmRegularly May–Nov · 0.02% in Oct
Cattle EgretArdea ibisPassage migrantRare46–56 cmRegularly Oct–May · 0.02% in Oct
Bay-breasted WarblerSetophaga castaneaSummer visitorUncommon14–14 cmRegularly May–Oct · 0.02% in Oct
Lark SparrowChondestes grammacusPassage migrantUncommon15–17 cmRegularly Aug–Oct · 0.02% in Oct
Black-billed CuckooCoccyzus erythropthalmusSummer visitorUncommon28–32 cmRegularly May–Oct · 0.01% in Oct
Arctic JaegerStercorarius parasiticusPassage migrantRare41–46 cmRegularly Jul–Oct · 0.01% in Oct
Cackling GooseBranta hutchinsiiPassage migrantRare53–76 cmRegularly Oct–Nov · 0.01% in Oct
American BitternBotaurus lentiginosusSummer visitorUncommon58–85 cmRegularly Apr–Oct · 0.01% in Oct
Black-crowned Night-heronNycticorax nycticoraxSummer visitorUncommon58–65 cmRegularly Apr–Oct · 0.01% in Oct
Virginia RailRallus limicolaSummer visitorUncommon20–27 cmRegularly Apr–Oct · 0.01% in Oct
Black-backed WoodpeckerPicoides arcticusSummer visitorRare21–24 cmRecorded all year · 0.01% in Oct
Fish CrowCorvus ossifragusSummer visitorUncommon36–41 cmRegularly Jan–Oct · 0.01% in Oct
Brent GooseBranta berniclaWinter visitorUncommon55–66 cmRegularly Oct–Jun · 0.01% in Oct
Long-billed DowitcherLimnodromus scolopaceusResidentRare27–30 cmRegularly Sep–Nov · 0.01% in Oct
Western KingbirdTyrannus verticalisPassage migrantRare20–24 cmRegularly Sep–Nov · 0.01% in Oct
Stilt SandpiperCalidris himantopusPassage migrantRare18–23 cmRegularly Jul–Oct · 0.00% in Oct
Red KnotCalidris canutusSummer visitorRare23–26 cmRegularly May–Nov · 0.00% in Oct
Mourning WarblerGeothlypis philadelphiaSummer visitorUncommon10–15 cmRegularly May–Oct · 0.00% in Oct
Sooty ShearwaterArdenna griseaSummer visitorRare40–51 cmRegularly May–Oct · 0.00% in Oct
Greater White-fronted GooseAnser albifronsPassage migrantRare64–81 cmRegularly Oct · 0.00% in Oct
ChukarAlectoris chukarSummer visitorRare32–38 cmRegularly Apr–Oct · 0.00% in Oct
Golden EagleAquila chrysaetosResidentRare66–102 cmRegularly Oct–Mar · 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