Birds to See in Michigan in October
154 bird species on our list for Michigan are recorded regularly in October
Of these, the most often recorded are Blue Jay, American Crow, American Robin, Downy Woodpecker and Northern Cardinal. New this month: American Tree Sparrow, Goldeneye, Common Redpoll and Snow Bunting and 13 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–May
White-crowned SparrowBusiest month of the year · Apr–May
Hermit ThrushBusiest month of the year · All year
Pied-billed GrebeBusiest month of the year · All year
Eurasian TealBusiest month of the year · All year
From Michigan’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 154 birds in October
154 birds
Blue JayCyanocitta cristataResidentCommon25–30 cmRecorded all year · 4.82% in Oct
American CrowCorvus brachyrhynchosResidentCommon41–53 cmRecorded all year · 3.20% in Oct
American RobinTurdus migratoriusResidentCommon20–28 cmRecorded all year · 3.00% in Oct
Downy WoodpeckerDryobates pubescensResidentCommon14–18 cmRecorded all year · 2.99% in Oct
Northern CardinalCardinalis cardinalisResidentCommon21–23 cmRecorded all year · 2.93% in Oct
White-breasted NuthatchSitta carolinensisResidentCommon13–14 cmRecorded all year · 2.88% in Oct
Canada GooseBranta canadensisResidentCommon76–110 cmRecorded all year · 2.74% in Oct
Red-bellied WoodpeckerMelanerpes carolinusResidentCommon23–26 cmRecorded all year · 2.69% in Oct
MallardAnas platyrhynchosResidentCommon50–65 cmRecorded all year · 2.34% in Oct
Mourning DoveZenaida macrouraResidentCommon23–34 cmRecorded all year · 2.25% in Oct
Tufted TitmouseBaeolophus bicolorResidentCommon14–16 cmRecorded all year · 2.04% in Oct
Ring-billed GullLarus delawarensisResidentCommon43–54 cmRecorded all year · 1.96% in Oct
Red-winged BlackbirdAgelaius phoeniceusSummer visitorCommon17–23 cmRegularly Feb–Nov · 1.94% in Oct
Common StarlingSturnus vulgarisResidentCommon21–23 cmRecorded all year · 1.81% in Oct- Yellow-rumped WarblerSetophaga coronataSummer visitorCommon12–15 cmRegularly Apr–Nov · 1.72% in Oct
House SparrowPasser domesticusResidentCommon14–17 cmRecorded all year · 1.68% in Oct
Song SparrowMelospiza melodiaSummer visitorCommon12–17 cmRecorded all year · 1.66% in Oct
House FinchHaemorhous mexicanusResidentCommon13–15 cmRecorded all year · 1.62% in Oct
Turkey VultureCathartes auraSummer visitorCommon62–81 cmRegularly Feb–Nov · 1.41% in Oct
Hairy WoodpeckerLeuconotopicus villosusResidentCommon18–26 cmRecorded all year · 1.28% in Oct
Northern FlickerColaptes auratusResidentCommon28–31 cmRecorded all year · 1.27% in Oct
Great Blue HeronArdea herodiasResidentCommon91–137 cmRecorded all year · 1.25% in Oct- Ruby-crowned KingletCorthylio calendulaPassage migrantCommon9–11 cmRegularly Apr–Nov · 1.23% in Oct
- White-crowned SparrowZonotrichia leucophrysWinter visitorCommon15–16 cmRegularly Sep–May · 1.11% in Oct
Eastern BluebirdSialia sialisResidentCommon16–21 cmRecorded all year · 1.08% in Oct
Sandhill CraneAntigone canadensisResidentCommon80–122 cmRecorded all year · 1.05% in Oct
Red-tailed HawkButeo jamaicensisResidentCommon45–65 cmRecorded all year · 1.03% in Oct
Common GrackleQuiscalus quisculaSummer visitorCommon28–34 cmRegularly Feb–Nov · 0.96% in Oct
Wood DuckAix sponsaSummer visitorCommon47–54 cmRecorded all year · 0.96% in Oct
Mute SwanCygnus olorResidentCommon140–160 cmRecorded all year · 0.94% in Oct
American Herring GullLarus smithsonianusResidentCommon53–65 cmRecorded all year · 0.87% in Oct
Bald EagleHaliaeetus leucocephalusResidentCommon70–102 cmRecorded all year · 0.83% in Oct
Cedar WaxwingBombycilla cedrorumSummer visitorCommon15–18 cmRecorded all year · 0.70% in Oct- Hermit ThrushCatharus guttatusSummer visitorCommon14–18 cmRecorded all year · 0.59% in Oct
Swamp SparrowMelospiza georgianaSummer visitorCommon12–15 cmRecorded all year · 0.58% in Oct- Pied-billed GrebePodilymbus podicepsSummer visitorCommon31–38 cmRecorded all year · 0.57% in Oct
Pileated WoodpeckerDryocopus pileatusResidentCommon40–49 cmRecorded all year · 0.56% in Oct
Great White EgretArdea albaSummer visitorCommon80–104 cmRegularly Apr–Nov · 0.56% in Oct
Rock DoveColumba liviaResidentCommon29–37 cmRecorded all year · 0.47% in Oct
Common RavenCorvus coraxResidentCommon54–67 cmRecorded all year · 0.44% in Oct
American Tree SparrowSpizelloides arboreaWinter visitorCommon14–17 cmRegularly Oct–Apr · 0.41% in Oct
Gray CatbirdDumetella carolinensisSummer visitorCommon20–24 cmRegularly Apr–Oct · 0.39% in Oct
Chipping SparrowSpizella passerinaSummer visitorCommon12–15 cmRegularly Apr–Oct · 0.38% in Oct
Pine SiskinSpinus pinusWinter visitorCommon11–14 cmRegularly Sep–Jun · 0.37% in Oct
Palm WarblerSetophaga palmarumPassage migrantCommon12–14 cmRegularly Apr–Oct · 0.37% in Oct
Wild TurkeyMeleagris gallopavoResidentCommon100–125 cmRecorded all year · 0.35% in Oct- Eurasian TealAnas creccaWinter visitorUncommon34–38 cmRecorded all year · 0.34% in Oct
Bonaparte's GullChroicocephalus philadelphiaSummer visitorCommon28–38 cmRegularly Mar–Jan · 0.34% in Oct
Horned LarkEremophila alpestrisWinter visitorCommon16–20 cmRecorded all year · 0.32% in Oct
GadwallMareca streperaWinter visitorCommon46–56 cmRecorded all year · 0.32% in Oct
Trumpeter SwanCygnus buccinatorResidentCommon139–157 cmRecorded all year · 0.30% in Oct
Common MerganserMergus merganserWinter visitorCommon58–68 cmRecorded all year · 0.27% in Oct
Ruddy DuckOxyura jamaicensisWinter visitorUncommon35–43 cmRecorded all year · 0.26% in Oct
Yellow-bellied SapsuckerSphyrapicus variusSummer visitorUncommon19–22 cmRecorded all year · 0.25% in Oct
Common LoonGavia immerSummer visitorUncommon66–91 cmRegularly Mar–Jan · 0.25% in Oct
American Black DuckAnas rubripesWinter visitorCommon54–59 cmRegularly Jul–Apr · 0.25% in Oct
Sharp-shinned HawkAccipiter striatusWinter visitorUncommon24–34 cmRecorded all year · 0.24% in Oct
Red-breasted MerganserMergus serratorWinter visitorCommon52–58 cmRecorded all year · 0.24% in Oct
MerlinFalco columbariusResidentUncommon24–33 cmRecorded all year · 0.24% in Oct
Hooded MerganserLophodytes cucullatusWinter visitorCommon40–49 cmRecorded all year · 0.23% in Oct
Horned GrebePodiceps auritusWinter visitorUncommon31–38 cmRegularly Sep–May · 0.23% in Oct
Nashville WarblerLeiothlypis ruficapillaSummer visitorCommon11–13 cmRegularly Apr–Oct · 0.22% in Oct
Northern ShovelerSpatula clypeataWinter visitorUncommon44–51 cmRegularly Aug–Jun · 0.21% in Oct
Lincoln's SparrowMelospiza lincolniiSummer visitorUncommon13–15 cmRegularly Apr–Oct · 0.20% in Oct
Fox SparrowPasserella iliacaWinter visitorUncommon15–19 cmRegularly Oct–Apr · 0.19% in Oct
Blue-headed VireoVireo solitariusSummer visitorUncommon12–15 cmRegularly Apr–Oct · 0.18% in Oct
Common YellowthroatGeothlypis trichasSummer visitorCommon11–13 cmRegularly May–Oct · 0.17% in Oct
Greater YellowlegsTringa melanoleucaPassage migrantUncommon29–40 cmRegularly Apr–Nov · 0.16% in Oct
Snow BuntingPlectrophenax nivalisWinter visitorUncommon15–18 cmRegularly Oct–Mar · 0.15% in Oct
Long-tailed DuckClangula hyemalisWinter visitorUncommon37–60 cmRegularly Oct–May · 0.14% in Oct
Greater ScaupAythya marilaWinter visitorUncommon39–56 cmRegularly Sep–May · 0.14% in Oct
Northern PintailAnas acutaWinter visitorUncommon59–76 cmRegularly Aug–May · 0.14% in Oct
Red-necked GrebePodiceps grisegenaWinter visitorUncommon40–50 cmRegularly Aug–May · 0.14% in Oct
Tennessee WarblerLeiothlypis peregrinaPassage migrantCommon10–13 cmRegularly May–Oct · 0.13% in Oct
Orange-crowned WarblerLeiothlypis celataPassage migrantUncommon11–14 cmRegularly Apr–Nov · 0.13% in Oct
Ruffed GrouseBonasa umbellusResidentUncommon41–50 cmRecorded all year · 0.13% in Oct
Surf ScoterMelanitta perspicillataWinter visitorUncommon48–60 cmRegularly Sep–Mar · 0.13% in Oct
Peregrine FalconFalco peregrinusResidentUncommon34–58 cmRecorded all year · 0.12% in Oct
Swainson's ThrushCatharus ustulatusPassage migrantCommon16–20 cmRegularly May–Oct · 0.12% in Oct
GoldeneyeBucephala clangulaWinter visitorCommon40–51 cmRegularly Oct–Apr · 0.11% in Oct
Lapland LongspurCalcarius lapponicusWinter visitorUncommon15–16 cmRegularly Sep–May · 0.11% in Oct
Red-headed WoodpeckerMelanerpes erythrocephalusResidentUncommon19–23 cmRecorded all year · 0.11% in Oct
Lesser YellowlegsTringa flavipesPassage migrantCommon23–27 cmRegularly Apr–Oct · 0.11% in Oct
Pectoral SandpiperCalidris melanotosPassage migrantUncommon19–23 cmRegularly Apr–Nov · 0.10% in Oct
Great Horned OwlBubo virginianusWinter visitorUncommon46–63 cmRecorded all year · 0.09% in Oct
Black-throated Green WarblerSetophaga virensSummer visitorCommon11–12 cmRegularly Apr–Oct · 0.08% in Oct
Barred OwlStrix variaResidentUncommon43–50 cmRecorded all year · 0.08% in Oct
DunlinCalidris alpinaPassage migrantUncommon16–22 cmRegularly Apr–Dec · 0.07% in Oct
Rough-legged HawkButeo lagopusWinter visitorUncommon46–59 cmRegularly Oct–Apr · 0.07% in Oct
SanderlingCalidris albaSummer visitorUncommon18–20 cmRegularly May–Nov · 0.07% in Oct
Eastern Screech-owlMegascops asioWinter visitorUncommon16–25 cmRecorded all year · 0.07% in Oct
Marsh WrenCistothorus palustrisSummer visitorUncommon10–14 cmRegularly Apr–Oct · 0.07% in Oct
Red-throated LoonGavia stellataWinter visitorUncommon53–69 cmRegularly Aug–Jun · 0.07% in Oct
Evening GrosbeakHesperiphona vespertinaWinter visitorUncommon16–22 cmRecorded all year · 0.06% in Oct
American Golden-PloverPluvialis dominicaPassage migrantUncommon24–28 cmRegularly Apr–Oct · 0.06% in Oct
Blackpoll WarblerSetophaga striataPassage migrantUncommon13–15 cmRegularly May–Oct · 0.06% in Oct
Black-throated Blue WarblerSetophaga caerulescensSummer visitorUncommon11–13 cmRegularly May–Oct · 0.05% in Oct
Magnolia WarblerSetophaga magnoliaPassage migrantCommon11–13 cmRegularly May–Oct · 0.05% in Oct
Grey PloverPluvialis squatarolaPassage migrantUncommon27–30 cmRegularly May–Nov · 0.05% in Oct
OspreyPandion haliaetusSummer visitorCommon54–58 cmRegularly Mar–Oct · 0.05% in Oct
Lesser Black-backed GullLarus fuscusWinter visitorUncommon52–64 cmRegularly Sep–Jun · 0.05% in Oct
Tundra SwanCygnus columbianusWinter visitorUncommon120–150 cmRegularly Oct–Apr · 0.05% in Oct
Snow GooseAnser caerulescensWinter visitorUncommon69–84 cmRegularly Sep–Apr · 0.05% in Oct
Forster's TernSterna forsteriSummer visitorUncommon33–36 cmRegularly Apr–Nov · 0.04% in Oct
Great Black-backed GullLarus marinusWinter visitorUncommon64–79 cmRegularly Sep–Apr · 0.04% in Oct
Vesper SparrowPooecetes gramineusSummer visitorUncommon13–17 cmRegularly Apr–Oct · 0.04% in Oct
Common RedpollAcanthis flammeaWinter visitorCommon12–14 cmRegularly Oct–Apr · 0.03% in Oct
Solitary SandpiperTringa solitariaPassage migrantCommon19–23 cmRegularly Apr–Oct · 0.03% in Oct
Cackling GooseBranta hutchinsiiWinter visitorUncommon53–76 cmRegularly Sep–Apr · 0.03% in Oct
Black-crowned Night-heronNycticorax nycticoraxSummer visitorUncommon58–65 cmRegularly Apr–Nov · 0.03% in Oct
Red CrossbillLoxia curvirostraWinter visitorUncommon15–17 cmRecorded all year · 0.03% in Oct
Gray-cheeked ThrushCatharus minimusPassage migrantUncommon16–17 cmRegularly May–Oct · 0.03% in Oct
Common TernSterna hirundoSummer visitorUncommon31–35 cmRegularly May–Oct · 0.03% in Oct
Broad-winged HawkButeo platypterusSummer visitorUncommon34–44 cmRegularly Apr–Oct · 0.03% in Oct
Northern MockingbirdMimus polyglottosResidentRare21–26 cmRecorded all year · 0.03% in Oct
Common PheasantPhasianus colchicusResidentUncommon50–90 cmRecorded all year · 0.02% in Oct
Semipalmated PloverCharadrius semipalmatusSummer visitorUncommon17–19 cmRegularly May–Oct · 0.02% in Oct
Northern Saw-whet OwlAegolius acadicusWinter visitorRare17–21 cmRegularly Sep–May · 0.02% in Oct
Cape May WarblerSetophaga tigrinaPassage migrantUncommon12–14 cmRegularly May–Oct · 0.02% in Oct
Golden EagleAquila chrysaetosWinter visitorUncommon66–102 cmRegularly Oct–May · 0.02% in Oct
Arctic JaegerStercorarius parasiticusPassage migrantRare41–46 cmRegularly Aug–Oct · 0.02% in Oct
Virginia RailRallus limicolaSummer visitorUncommon20–27 cmRegularly Mar–Oct · 0.02% in Oct
Northern WaterthrushParkesia noveboracensisSummer visitorUncommon12–15 cmRegularly Apr–Oct · 0.02% in Oct
Long-billed DowitcherLimnodromus scolopaceusPassage migrantRare27–30 cmRegularly Apr–Oct · 0.01% in Oct
Short-eared OwlAsio flammeusWinter visitorUncommon34–43 cmRegularly Oct–Apr · 0.01% in Oct
White-rumped SandpiperCalidris fuscicollisPassage migrantRare15–18 cmRegularly May–Nov · 0.01% in Oct
American AvocetRecurvirostra americanaSummer visitorRare43–51 cmRegularly Apr–Oct · 0.01% in Oct
Clay-colored SparrowSpizella pallidaSummer visitorUncommon13–15 cmRegularly May–Oct · 0.01% in Oct
Hudsonian GodwitLimosa haemasticaPassage migrantRare36–42 cmRegularly May–Oct · 0.01% in Oct
Greater White-fronted GooseAnser albifronsWinter visitorUncommon64–81 cmRegularly Oct–Apr · 0.01% in Oct
Black-necked GrebePodiceps nigricollisPassage migrantRare28–34 cmRegularly Apr–Nov · 0.01% in Oct
Stilt SandpiperCalidris himantopusPassage migrantUncommon18–23 cmRegularly Jul–Oct · 0.01% in Oct
Franklin's GullLeucophaeus pipixcanSummer visitorRare32–36 cmRegularly Apr–Nov · 0.01% in Oct
Iceland GullLarus glaucoidesWinter visitorUncommon52–60 cmRegularly Oct–Apr · 0.01% in Oct
Greylag GooseAnser anserWinter visitorRare75–90 cmRecorded all year · 0.01% in Oct
Cattle EgretArdea ibisSummer visitorRare46–56 cmRegularly Apr–Nov · 0.01% in Oct
Ross's GooseAnser rossiiWinter visitorRare57–64 cmRegularly Oct–May · 0.01% in Oct
Boreal OwlAegolius funereusResidentRare21–28 cmRegularly Oct · 0.00% in Oct
Eurasian Collared DoveStreptopelia decaoctoResidentRare30–32 cmRecorded all year · 0.00% in Oct
American BitternBotaurus lentiginosusSummer visitorUncommon58–85 cmRegularly Apr–Nov · 0.00% in Oct
Sabine's GullXema sabiniPassage migrantRare27–33 cmRegularly Sep–Nov · 0.00% in Oct
Black-backed WoodpeckerPicoides arcticusResidentRare21–24 cmRecorded all year · 0.00% in Oct
Little GullHydrocoloeus minutusSummer visitorRare25–30 cmRegularly Apr–Dec · 0.00% in Oct
Ruddy TurnstoneArenaria interpresSummer visitorRare21–24 cmRegularly May–Oct · 0.00% in Oct
Purple SandpiperCalidris maritimaPassage migrantRare20–22 cmRegularly Oct–Jan · 0.00% in Oct
Lark SparrowChondestes grammacusSummer visitorRare15–17 cmRegularly Apr–Oct · 0.00% in Oct
Muscovy DuckCairina moschataWinter visitorRare66–84 cmRegularly Aug–Jun · 0.00% in Oct
Pacific LoonGavia pacificaResidentRare58–74 cmRegularly May–Nov · 0.00% in Oct
Long-tailed JaegerStercorarius longicaudusPassage migrantRare48–58 cmRegularly Sep–Oct · 0.00% in Oct
WilletTringa semipalmataSummer visitorRare33–41 cmRegularly Apr–Oct · 0.00% in Oct
Fish CrowCorvus ossifragusSummer visitorRare36–41 cmRegularly Mar–Nov · 0.00% in Oct
KittiwakeRissa tridactylaPassage migrantRare37–41 cmRegularly Oct–Jan · 0.00% in Oct
Western KingbirdTyrannus verticalisPassage migrantRare20–24 cmRegularly May–Oct · 0.00% in Oct
Western MeadowlarkSturnella neglectaSummer visitorRare16–26 cmRegularly Mar–Nov · 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