Birds to See in Massachusetts in October
166 bird species on our list for Massachusetts are recorded regularly in October
Of these, the most often recorded are Blue Jay, Song Sparrow, American Crow, Northern Cardinal and American Robin. New this month: Red-breasted Merganser, Hooded Merganser, Common Merganser and Long-tailed Duck and 19 more.
On the move in October
GBIF · OctArriving
At their peak
Yellow-rumped WarblerBusiest month of the year · Sep–May
Swamp SparrowBusiest month of the year · All year
Ruby-crowned KingletBusiest month of the year · Sep–May
Blackpoll WarblerBusiest month of the year · May–Jun
White-crowned SparrowBusiest month of the year · Sep–May
Sharp-shinned HawkBusiest month of the year · Aug–May
From Massachusetts’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 166 birds in October
166 birds
Blue JayCyanocitta cristataResidentCommon25–30 cmRecorded all year · 4.66% in Oct
Song SparrowMelospiza melodiaResidentCommon12–17 cmRecorded all year · 3.14% in Oct
American CrowCorvus brachyrhynchosResidentCommon41–53 cmRecorded all year · 2.87% in Oct
Northern CardinalCardinalis cardinalisResidentCommon21–23 cmRecorded all year · 2.83% in Oct
American RobinTurdus migratoriusResidentCommon20–28 cmRecorded all year · 2.75% in Oct
Downy WoodpeckerDryobates pubescensResidentCommon14–18 cmRecorded all year · 2.63% in Oct
Tufted TitmouseBaeolophus bicolorResidentCommon14–17 cmRecorded all year · 2.48% in Oct
White-breasted NuthatchSitta carolinensisResidentCommon13–14 cmRecorded all year · 2.39% in Oct- Yellow-rumped WarblerSetophaga coronataWinter visitorCommon12–15 cmRegularly Sep–May · 2.20% in Oct
Red-bellied WoodpeckerMelanerpes carolinusResidentCommon23–26 cmRecorded all year · 2.14% in Oct
Mourning DoveZenaida macrouraResidentCommon23–34 cmRecorded all year · 2.08% in Oct
Canada GooseBranta canadensisResidentCommon76–110 cmRecorded all year · 1.89% in Oct
MallardAnas platyrhynchosResidentCommon50–65 cmRecorded all year · 1.80% in Oct
American Herring GullLarus smithsonianusResidentCommon53–65 cmRecorded all year · 1.69% in Oct
House FinchHaemorhous mexicanusResidentCommon13–15 cmRecorded all year · 1.65% in Oct
House SparrowPasser domesticusResidentCommon14–17 cmRecorded all year · 1.58% in Oct
Northern FlickerColaptes auratusResidentCommon28–31 cmRecorded all year · 1.56% in Oct
Great Blue HeronArdea herodiasResidentCommon91–137 cmRecorded all year · 1.38% in Oct
Common StarlingSturnus vulgarisResidentCommon21–23 cmRecorded all year · 1.36% in Oct
Gray CatbirdDumetella carolinensisSummer visitorCommon20–24 cmRegularly May–Jan · 1.22% in Oct
Red-tailed HawkButeo jamaicensisResidentCommon45–65 cmRecorded all year · 1.20% in Oct- Swamp SparrowMelospiza georgianaSummer visitorCommon12–15 cmRecorded all year · 1.17% in Oct
Ring-billed GullLarus delawarensisWinter visitorCommon43–54 cmRecorded all year · 1.15% in Oct
Common GrackleQuiscalus quisculaSummer visitorCommon28–34 cmRegularly Feb–Nov · 1.04% in Oct- Ruby-crowned KingletCorthylio calendulaWinter visitorCommon9–11 cmRegularly Sep–May · 1.00% in Oct
Red-winged BlackbirdAgelaius phoeniceusSummer visitorCommon17–23 cmRecorded all year · 0.96% in Oct
Northern MockingbirdMimus polyglottosResidentCommon21–26 cmRecorded all year · 0.95% in Oct
Eastern BluebirdSialia sialisResidentCommon16–21 cmRecorded all year · 0.89% in Oct
Great Black-backed GullLarus marinusResidentCommon64–79 cmRecorded all year · 0.89% in Oct
Hairy WoodpeckerLeuconotopicus villosusResidentCommon18–26 cmRecorded all year · 0.86% in Oct
American Black DuckAnas rubripesWinter visitorCommon54–59 cmRecorded all year · 0.84% in Oct
Chipping SparrowSpizella passerinaSummer visitorCommon12–15 cmRegularly Apr–Nov · 0.77% in Oct
Mute SwanCygnus olorResidentCommon140–160 cmRecorded all year · 0.74% in Oct
Turkey VultureCathartes auraResidentCommon62–81 cmRecorded all year · 0.69% in Oct
Palm WarblerSetophaga palmarumPassage migrantCommon12–14 cmRegularly Apr–Dec · 0.67% in Oct
Greater YellowlegsTringa melanoleucaSummer visitorCommon29–40 cmRegularly Mar–Dec · 0.61% in Oct
Great White EgretArdea albaSummer visitorCommon80–104 cmRegularly Mar–Nov · 0.57% in Oct- Blackpoll WarblerSetophaga striataPassage migrantCommon13–15 cmRegularly May–Nov · 0.57% in Oct
Wood DuckAix sponsaSummer visitorCommon47–54 cmRecorded all year · 0.56% in Oct
Rock DoveColumba liviaResidentCommon29–37 cmRecorded all year · 0.55% in Oct
Cedar WaxwingBombycilla cedrorumSummer visitorCommon15–18 cmRecorded all year · 0.55% in Oct
Common RavenCorvus coraxResidentCommon54–67 cmRecorded all year · 0.50% in Oct
EiderSomateria mollissimaWinter visitorCommon50–71 cmRecorded all year · 0.46% in Oct
Common LoonGavia immerWinter visitorCommon66–91 cmRecorded all year · 0.46% in Oct
Eurasian TealAnas creccaWinter visitorCommon34–38 cmRecorded all year · 0.45% in Oct
Common YellowthroatGeothlypis trichasSummer visitorCommon11–13 cmRegularly May–Oct · 0.44% in Oct
Grey PloverPluvialis squatarolaSummer visitorCommon27–30 cmRegularly Apr–Dec · 0.41% in Oct
Hermit ThrushCatharus guttatusResidentUncommon14–18 cmRecorded all year · 0.36% in Oct
Blue-headed VireoVireo solitariusSummer visitorUncommon12–15 cmRegularly Apr–Oct · 0.36% in Oct
Wild TurkeyMeleagris gallopavoResidentCommon100–125 cmRecorded all year · 0.30% in Oct
Yellow-bellied SapsuckerSphyrapicus variusResidentUncommon19–22 cmRecorded all year · 0.29% in Oct
Surf ScoterMelanitta perspicillataWinter visitorCommon48–60 cmRegularly Sep–Apr · 0.29% in Oct- White-crowned SparrowZonotrichia leucophrysWinter visitorUncommon15–16 cmRegularly Sep–May · 0.29% in Oct
- Sharp-shinned HawkAccipiter striatusWinter visitorUncommon24–34 cmRegularly Aug–May · 0.28% in Oct
Bald EagleHaliaeetus leucocephalusWinter visitorCommon70–102 cmRecorded all year · 0.28% in Oct
Northern GannetMorus bassanusWinter visitorCommon87–100 cmRecorded all year · 0.28% in Oct
Semipalmated PloverCharadrius semipalmatusPassage migrantCommon17–19 cmRegularly May–Oct · 0.28% in Oct
Pine SiskinSpinus pinusWinter visitorUncommon11–14 cmRegularly Oct–May · 0.28% in Oct
SanderlingCalidris albaWinter visitorCommon18–20 cmRegularly Jul–May · 0.27% in Oct
Lincoln's SparrowMelospiza lincolniiPassage migrantUncommon13–15 cmRegularly May–Nov · 0.25% in Oct
Peregrine FalconFalco peregrinusWinter visitorUncommon34–58 cmRecorded all year · 0.24% in Oct
DunlinCalidris alpinaWinter visitorUncommon16–22 cmRegularly Aug–May · 0.24% in Oct
Pileated WoodpeckerDryocopus pileatusResidentUncommon40–49 cmRecorded all year · 0.23% in Oct
MerlinFalco columbariusWinter visitorUncommon24–33 cmRegularly Jul–May · 0.21% in Oct
Pied-billed GrebePodilymbus podicepsWinter visitorUncommon31–38 cmRegularly Jun–Apr · 0.19% in Oct
Red-breasted MerganserMergus serratorWinter visitorCommon52–58 cmRegularly Oct–May · 0.18% in Oct
OspreyPandion haliaetusSummer visitorCommon54–58 cmRegularly Mar–Oct · 0.17% in Oct
Semipalmated SandpiperCalidris pusillaSummer visitorCommon15–18 cmRegularly May–Oct · 0.16% in Oct
Ruddy DuckOxyura jamaicensisWinter visitorUncommon35–43 cmRegularly Oct–Apr · 0.15% in Oct
Nashville WarblerLeiothlypis ruficapillaPassage migrantUncommon11–13 cmRegularly May–Oct · 0.15% in Oct
GadwallMareca streperaResidentUncommon46–56 cmRecorded all year · 0.14% in Oct
Red-throated LoonGavia stellataWinter visitorCommon53–69 cmRegularly Oct–May · 0.14% in Oct
Hooded MerganserLophodytes cucullatusWinter visitorCommon40–49 cmRegularly Oct–Apr · 0.14% in Oct
Bonaparte's GullChroicocephalus philadelphiaWinter visitorUncommon28–38 cmRecorded all year · 0.14% in Oct
Northern PintailAnas acutaWinter visitorUncommon59–76 cmRegularly Sep–Apr · 0.13% in Oct
Lesser YellowlegsTringa flavipesPassage migrantCommon23–27 cmRegularly Apr–Oct · 0.12% in Oct
Fish CrowCorvus ossifragusSummer visitorCommon36–41 cmRecorded all year · 0.12% in Oct
Black-throated Green WarblerSetophaga virensSummer visitorCommon11–12 cmRegularly Apr–Oct · 0.11% in Oct
Great Horned OwlBubo virginianusWinter visitorUncommon46–63 cmRecorded all year · 0.11% in Oct
Brent GooseBranta berniclaWinter visitorUncommon55–66 cmRegularly Oct–May · 0.10% in Oct
American RedstartSetophaga ruticillaSummer visitorCommon11–14 cmRegularly May–Oct · 0.10% in Oct
Black-throated Blue WarblerSetophaga caerulescensSummer visitorUncommon11–13 cmRegularly May–Oct · 0.10% in Oct
Common TernSterna hirundoSummer visitorCommon31–35 cmRegularly May–Oct · 0.09% in Oct
Common MerganserMergus merganserWinter visitorCommon58–68 cmRegularly Oct–May · 0.09% in Oct
Barred OwlStrix variaResidentUncommon43–50 cmRecorded all year · 0.09% in Oct
Orange-crowned WarblerLeiothlypis celataWinter visitorUncommon11–14 cmRegularly Sep–Apr · 0.09% in Oct
Marsh WrenCistothorus palustrisSummer visitorUncommon10–14 cmRecorded all year · 0.08% in Oct
Forster's TernSterna forsteriPassage migrantUncommon33–36 cmRegularly Jul–Nov · 0.08% in Oct
Great CormorantPhalacrocorax carboWinter visitorUncommon80–100 cmRegularly Sep–Apr · 0.08% in Oct
Lesser Black-backed GullLarus fuscusWinter visitorUncommon52–64 cmRecorded all year · 0.07% in Oct
Ruddy TurnstoneArenaria interpresSummer visitorUncommon21–24 cmRegularly May–Feb · 0.07% in Oct
White-rumped SandpiperCalidris fuscicollisSummer visitorUncommon15–18 cmRegularly May–Nov · 0.07% in Oct
DickcisselSpiza americanaWinter visitorUncommon14–16 cmRegularly Jun–Feb · 0.07% in Oct
Pectoral SandpiperCalidris melanotosPassage migrantUncommon19–23 cmRegularly Apr–Nov · 0.07% in Oct
Black-crowned Night-heronNycticorax nycticoraxSummer visitorUncommon58–65 cmRegularly Mar–Jan · 0.07% in Oct
Swainson's ThrushCatharus ustulatusPassage migrantUncommon16–20 cmRegularly May–Oct · 0.07% in Oct
Eastern Screech-owlMegascops asioWinter visitorUncommon16–25 cmRecorded all year · 0.06% in Oct
Horned GrebePodiceps auritusWinter visitorUncommon31–38 cmRegularly Oct–Apr · 0.06% in Oct
BobolinkDolichonyx oryzivorusSummer visitorUncommon16–20 cmRegularly May–Oct · 0.06% in Oct
Greater ScaupAythya marilaWinter visitorUncommon39–56 cmRegularly Oct–Apr · 0.06% in Oct
Solitary SandpiperTringa solitariaPassage migrantUncommon19–23 cmRegularly Apr–Oct · 0.06% in Oct
Long-tailed DuckClangula hyemalisWinter visitorCommon37–60 cmRegularly Oct–Apr · 0.06% in Oct
Horned LarkEremophila alpestrisWinter visitorUncommon16–20 cmRecorded all year · 0.05% in Oct
Clay-colored SparrowSpizella pallidaWinter visitorUncommon13–15 cmRegularly Jun–Feb · 0.05% in Oct
American Golden-PloverPluvialis dominicaPassage migrantUncommon24–28 cmRegularly Aug–Oct · 0.05% in Oct
Magnolia WarblerSetophaga magnoliaPassage migrantUncommon11–13 cmRegularly May–Oct · 0.05% in Oct
Tennessee WarblerLeiothlypis peregrinaPassage migrantUncommon10–13 cmRegularly May–Nov · 0.04% in Oct
KittiwakeRissa tridactylaWinter visitorUncommon37–41 cmRegularly Jun–Mar · 0.04% in Oct
Great ShearwaterArdenna gravisPassage migrantUncommon43–51 cmRegularly Jul–Nov · 0.04% in Oct
Virginia RailRallus limicolaResidentUncommon20–27 cmRecorded all year · 0.04% in Oct
Cape May WarblerSetophaga tigrinaPassage migrantUncommon12–14 cmRegularly May–Oct · 0.04% in Oct
Arctic JaegerStercorarius parasiticusSummer visitorUncommon41–46 cmRegularly May–Nov · 0.04% in Oct
Northern ShovelerSpatula clypeataWinter visitorUncommon44–51 cmRegularly Aug–May · 0.04% in Oct
Hudsonian GodwitLimosa haemasticaPassage migrantRare36–42 cmRegularly Jul–Nov · 0.03% in Oct
Red-necked GrebePodiceps grisegenaWinter visitorUncommon40–50 cmRegularly Oct–Apr · 0.03% in Oct
Manx ShearwaterPuffinus puffinusSummer visitorUncommon30–38 cmRegularly Apr–Nov · 0.03% in Oct
Short-billed DowitcherLimnodromus griseusSummer visitorUncommon23–32 cmRegularly May–Oct · 0.03% in Oct
Vesper SparrowPooecetes gramineusSummer visitorRare13–17 cmRecorded all year · 0.03% in Oct
Long-billed DowitcherLimnodromus scolopaceusPassage migrantUncommon27–30 cmRegularly Jul–Nov · 0.03% in Oct
WhimbrelNumenius phaeopusPassage migrantUncommon40–46 cmRegularly Jul–Oct · 0.03% in Oct
Common PheasantPhasianus colchicusWinter visitorRare50–90 cmRegularly Sep–Jul · 0.03% in Oct
RazorbillAlca tordaWinter visitorUncommon38–43 cmRegularly Oct–Mar · 0.02% in Oct
Red KnotCalidris canutusSummer visitorUncommon23–26 cmRegularly May–Oct · 0.02% in Oct
American BitternBotaurus lentiginosusResidentRare58–85 cmRecorded all year · 0.02% in Oct
Snow BuntingPlectrophenax nivalisWinter visitorUncommon15–18 cmRegularly Oct–Mar · 0.02% in Oct
Northern WaterthrushParkesia noveboracensisSummer visitorUncommon12–15 cmRegularly Apr–Oct · 0.02% in Oct
Fox SparrowPasserella iliacaWinter visitorUncommon15–19 cmRegularly Oct–Apr · 0.02% in Oct
Pomarine JaegerStercorarius pomarinusPassage migrantRare46–51 cmRegularly Jul–Jan · 0.02% in Oct
Northern Saw-whet OwlAegolius acadicusWinter visitorRare17–21 cmRegularly Sep–Apr · 0.02% in Oct
Cattle EgretArdea ibisPassage migrantRare46–56 cmRegularly Oct–May · 0.01% in Oct
Philadelphia VireoVireo philadelphicusPassage migrantUncommon11–13 cmRegularly Sep–Oct · 0.01% in Oct
Red-headed WoodpeckerMelanerpes erythrocephalusWinter visitorRare19–23 cmRegularly Sep–Jun · 0.01% in Oct
Lapland LongspurCalcarius lapponicusWinter visitorRare15–16 cmRegularly Oct–Mar · 0.01% in Oct
Evening GrosbeakHesperiphona vespertinaWinter visitorUncommon16–22 cmRegularly Oct–Jun · 0.01% in Oct
Red CrossbillLoxia curvirostraWinter visitorUncommon15–17 cmRecorded all year · 0.01% in Oct
Bay-breasted WarblerSetophaga castaneaPassage migrantUncommon14–14 cmRegularly May–Oct · 0.01% in Oct
Snow GooseAnser caerulescensWinter visitorUncommon69–84 cmRegularly Oct–Apr · 0.01% in Oct
Sandhill CraneAntigone canadensisResidentRare80–122 cmRecorded all year · 0.01% in Oct
Stilt SandpiperCalidris himantopusPassage migrantUncommon18–23 cmRegularly Jul–Oct · 0.01% in Oct
Eurasian WigeonMareca penelopeWinter visitorRare42–51 cmRegularly Oct–Apr · 0.01% in Oct
Cackling GooseBranta hutchinsiiWinter visitorRare53–76 cmRegularly Sep–Mar · 0.01% in Oct
Lark SparrowChondestes grammacusPassage migrantRare15–17 cmRegularly Aug–Dec · 0.01% in Oct
FulmarFulmarus glacialisPassage migrantUncommon45–50 cmRegularly May–Jan · 0.01% in Oct
Sooty ShearwaterArdenna griseaPassage migrantUncommon40–51 cmRegularly Jun–Nov · 0.01% in Oct
Broad-winged HawkButeo platypterusSummer visitorUncommon34–44 cmRegularly Apr–Oct · 0.01% in Oct
Western KingbirdTyrannus verticalisPassage migrantRare20–24 cmRegularly Sep–Jan · 0.01% in Oct
Leach's Storm-petrelHydrobates leucorhousPassage migrantUncommon18–21 cmRegularly Jul–Oct · 0.01% in Oct
Black GuillemotCepphus grylleWinter visitorUncommon30–32 cmRegularly Aug–Mar · 0.01% in Oct
Ruffed GrouseBonasa umbellusSummer visitorRare41–50 cmRecorded all year · 0.01% in Oct
Marbled GodwitLimosa fedoaPassage migrantRare40–50 cmRegularly Jul–Jan · 0.01% in Oct
American AvocetRecurvirostra americanaPassage migrantUncommon43–51 cmRegularly Aug–Nov · 0.01% in Oct
Greater White-fronted GooseAnser albifronsWinter visitorRare64–81 cmRegularly Oct–Mar · 0.01% in Oct
Gray-cheeked ThrushCatharus minimusPassage migrantRare16–17 cmRegularly May–Oct · 0.01% in Oct
Grey PhalaropePhalaropus fulicariusPassage migrantRare20–22 cmRegularly Apr–Nov · 0.01% in Oct
Monk ParakeetMyiopsitta monachusWinter visitorRare29–31 cmRegularly Jul–Apr · 0.01% in Oct
Muscovy DuckCairina moschataWinter visitorRare66–84 cmRecorded all year · 0.01% in Oct
Pacific LoonGavia pacificaWinter visitorRare58–74 cmRegularly Oct–Apr · 0.01% in Oct
Little GullHydrocoloeus minutusSummer visitorRare25–30 cmRegularly May–Nov · 0.00% in Oct
Prothonotary WarblerProtonotaria citreaPassage migrantRare13–14 cmRegularly Apr–Oct · 0.00% in Oct
Black-headed GullChroicocephalus ridibundusWinter visitorRare38–44 cmRegularly Jul–Apr · 0.00% in Oct
Western SandpiperCalidris mauriPassage migrantRare14–17 cmRegularly Jul–Oct · 0.00% in Oct
Golden EagleAquila chrysaetosWinter visitorRare66–102 cmRegularly Oct–Mar · 0.00% in Oct
BudgerigarMelopsittacus undulatusPassage migrantRare18–20 cmRegularly Jun–Nov · 0.00% in Oct
Atlantic PuffinFratercula arcticaWinter visitorRare28–34 cmRegularly Aug–May · 0.00% in Oct
Say's PhoebeSayornis sayaPassage migrantRare17–20 cmRegularly Oct · 0.00% in Oct
Helmeted GuineafowlNumida meleagrisResidentRare53–63 cmRegularly Apr–Jan · 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