Birds to See in Minnesota in October
134 bird species on our list for Minnesota are recorded regularly in October
Of these, the most often recorded are Blue Jay, American Crow, American Robin, White-breasted Nuthatch and Downy Woodpecker. New this month: American Tree Sparrow, Goldeneye, Rough-legged Hawk and Snow Bunting and 14 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–Jun
Fox SparrowBusiest month of the year · Mar–Apr
Eastern BluebirdBusiest month of the year · All year
White-crowned SparrowBusiest month of the year · Jan
Hermit ThrushBusiest month of the year · Apr–Jan
From Minnesota’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 · 4.35% in Oct
American CrowCorvus brachyrhynchosResidentCommon41–53 cmRecorded all year · 4.10% in Oct
American RobinTurdus migratoriusResidentCommon20–28 cmRecorded all year · 3.55% in Oct
White-breasted NuthatchSitta carolinensisResidentCommon13–14 cmRecorded all year · 3.04% in Oct
Downy WoodpeckerDryobates pubescensResidentCommon14–18 cmRecorded all year · 3.04% in Oct
Canada GooseBranta canadensisResidentCommon76–110 cmRecorded all year · 3.04% in Oct
MallardAnas platyrhynchosResidentCommon50–65 cmRecorded all year · 2.57% in Oct
Red-bellied WoodpeckerMelanerpes carolinusResidentCommon23–26 cmRecorded all year · 2.25% in Oct
Ring-billed GullLarus delawarensisSummer visitorCommon43–54 cmRegularly Mar–Dec · 2.20% in Oct
Northern CardinalCardinalis cardinalisResidentCommon21–23 cmRecorded all year · 2.16% in Oct- Yellow-rumped WarblerSetophaga coronataSummer visitorCommon12–15 cmRegularly Apr–Nov · 2.05% in Oct
Bald EagleHaliaeetus leucocephalusWinter visitorCommon70–102 cmRecorded all year · 1.97% in Oct
Hairy WoodpeckerLeuconotopicus villosusWinter visitorCommon18–26 cmRecorded all year · 1.94% in Oct
Red-winged BlackbirdAgelaius phoeniceusSummer visitorCommon17–23 cmRegularly Mar–Nov · 1.55% in Oct
Song SparrowMelospiza melodiaSummer visitorCommon12–17 cmRegularly Mar–Nov · 1.41% in Oct
House FinchHaemorhous mexicanusResidentCommon13–15 cmRecorded all year · 1.37% in Oct- Ruby-crowned KingletCorthylio calendulaPassage migrantCommon9–11 cmRegularly Apr–Nov · 1.26% in Oct
Wood DuckAix sponsaSummer visitorCommon47–54 cmRegularly Mar–Nov · 1.20% in Oct
House SparrowPasser domesticusResidentCommon14–17 cmRecorded all year · 1.18% in Oct
Red-tailed HawkButeo jamaicensisResidentCommon45–65 cmRecorded all year · 1.11% in Oct
Cedar WaxwingBombycilla cedrorumSummer visitorCommon15–18 cmRecorded all year · 1.08% in Oct
Trumpeter SwanCygnus buccinatorResidentCommon139–157 cmRecorded all year · 1.00% in Oct
Northern FlickerColaptes auratusResidentCommon28–31 cmRecorded all year · 0.98% in Oct
Common StarlingSturnus vulgarisResidentCommon21–23 cmRecorded all year · 0.96% in Oct
Rock DoveColumba liviaWinter visitorCommon29–37 cmRecorded all year · 0.94% in Oct
Pileated WoodpeckerDryocopus pileatusResidentCommon40–49 cmRecorded all year · 0.86% in Oct- Fox SparrowPasserella iliacaPassage migrantCommon15–19 cmRegularly Sep–Apr · 0.86% in Oct
- Eastern BluebirdSialia sialisSummer visitorCommon16–21 cmRecorded all year · 0.84% in Oct
Common GrackleQuiscalus quisculaSummer visitorCommon28–34 cmRegularly Mar–Nov · 0.82% in Oct
American Tree SparrowSpizelloides arboreaWinter visitorCommon14–17 cmRegularly Oct–Apr · 0.78% in Oct
Mourning DoveZenaida macrouraResidentCommon23–34 cmRecorded all year · 0.77% in Oct
Common RavenCorvus coraxWinter visitorCommon54–67 cmRecorded all year · 0.76% in Oct
Pied-billed GrebePodilymbus podicepsSummer visitorCommon31–38 cmRegularly Mar–Nov · 0.76% in Oct
Swamp SparrowMelospiza georgianaSummer visitorCommon12–15 cmRegularly Apr–Nov · 0.72% in Oct
Great Blue HeronArdea herodiasSummer visitorCommon91–137 cmRegularly Mar–Nov · 0.64% in Oct- White-crowned SparrowZonotrichia leucophrysPassage migrantCommon15–16 cmRegularly Sep–May · 0.60% in Oct
Turkey VultureCathartes auraSummer visitorCommon62–81 cmRegularly Mar–Oct · 0.59% in Oct
Pine SiskinSpinus pinusWinter visitorCommon11–14 cmRegularly Sep–Jun · 0.55% in Oct
Lincoln's SparrowMelospiza lincolniiPassage migrantCommon13–15 cmRegularly Apr–Oct · 0.54% in Oct- Hermit ThrushCatharus guttatusSummer visitorCommon14–18 cmRegularly Apr–Jan · 0.51% in Oct
Sandhill CraneAntigone canadensisSummer visitorCommon80–122 cmRegularly Mar–Nov · 0.49% in Oct
Eurasian TealAnas creccaSummer visitorCommon34–38 cmRegularly Mar–Dec · 0.49% in Oct
Orange-crowned WarblerLeiothlypis celataPassage migrantUncommon11–14 cmRegularly Apr–Oct · 0.49% in Oct
Palm WarblerSetophaga palmarumPassage migrantCommon12–14 cmRegularly Apr–Oct · 0.48% in Oct
Common LoonGavia immerSummer visitorCommon66–91 cmRegularly Mar–Nov · 0.43% in Oct
Sharp-shinned HawkAccipiter striatusWinter visitorUncommon24–34 cmRegularly Aug–May · 0.43% in Oct
Hooded MerganserLophodytes cucullatusWinter visitorCommon40–49 cmRecorded all year · 0.43% in Oct
American Herring GullLarus smithsonianusWinter visitorCommon53–65 cmRecorded all year · 0.41% in Oct
Wild TurkeyMeleagris gallopavoResidentCommon100–125 cmRecorded all year · 0.41% in Oct
Chipping SparrowSpizella passerinaSummer visitorCommon12–15 cmRegularly Apr–Oct · 0.39% in Oct
Great White EgretArdea albaSummer visitorCommon80–104 cmRegularly Apr–Nov · 0.37% in Oct
GadwallMareca streperaWinter visitorCommon46–56 cmRecorded all year · 0.35% in Oct
Northern ShovelerSpatula clypeataWinter visitorCommon44–51 cmRegularly Aug–Jun · 0.34% in Oct
Nashville WarblerLeiothlypis ruficapillaSummer visitorCommon11–13 cmRegularly May–Oct · 0.33% in Oct
MerlinFalco columbariusWinter visitorUncommon24–33 cmRecorded all year · 0.32% in Oct
Snow BuntingPlectrophenax nivalisWinter visitorCommon15–18 cmRegularly Oct–Mar · 0.31% in Oct
Lapland LongspurCalcarius lapponicusWinter visitorUncommon15–16 cmRegularly Sep–Apr · 0.30% in Oct
Horned LarkEremophila alpestrisWinter visitorCommon16–20 cmRecorded all year · 0.30% in Oct
Northern PintailAnas acutaWinter visitorUncommon59–76 cmRegularly Sep–May · 0.25% in Oct
Franklin's GullLeucophaeus pipixcanSummer visitorUncommon32–36 cmRegularly Apr–Nov · 0.23% in Oct
Rough-legged HawkButeo lagopusWinter visitorCommon46–59 cmRegularly Oct–Apr · 0.22% in Oct
Ruddy DuckOxyura jamaicensisWinter visitorUncommon35–43 cmRecorded all year · 0.22% in Oct
Common PheasantPhasianus colchicusResidentCommon50–90 cmRecorded all year · 0.21% in Oct
Yellow-bellied SapsuckerSphyrapicus variusSummer visitorUncommon19–22 cmRegularly Apr–Dec · 0.21% in Oct
Gray CatbirdDumetella carolinensisSummer visitorCommon20–24 cmRegularly May–Oct · 0.21% in Oct
Bonaparte's GullChroicocephalus philadelphiaPassage migrantUncommon28–38 cmRegularly Apr–Nov · 0.19% in Oct
GoldeneyeBucephala clangulaWinter visitorCommon40–51 cmRegularly Oct–Jun · 0.17% in Oct
Common MerganserMergus merganserWinter visitorCommon58–68 cmRecorded all year · 0.17% in Oct
Ruffed GrouseBonasa umbellusWinter visitorCommon41–50 cmRecorded all year · 0.17% in Oct
Greater YellowlegsTringa melanoleucaPassage migrantUncommon29–40 cmRegularly Apr–Nov · 0.16% in Oct
Tennessee WarblerLeiothlypis peregrinaPassage migrantCommon10–13 cmRegularly May–Oct · 0.14% in Oct
Peregrine FalconFalco peregrinusResidentUncommon34–58 cmRecorded all year · 0.12% in Oct
Horned GrebePodiceps auritusPassage migrantUncommon31–38 cmRegularly Apr–Nov · 0.12% in Oct
Cackling GooseBranta hutchinsiiPassage migrantUncommon53–76 cmRegularly Sep–Apr · 0.12% in Oct
Great Horned OwlBubo virginianusWinter visitorUncommon46–63 cmRecorded all year · 0.11% in Oct
Eurasian Collared DoveStreptopelia decaoctoResidentUncommon30–32 cmRecorded all year · 0.11% in Oct
Barred OwlStrix variaResidentUncommon43–50 cmRecorded all year · 0.11% in Oct
Red-breasted MerganserMergus serratorWinter visitorUncommon52–58 cmRegularly Sep–May · 0.10% in Oct
Pectoral SandpiperCalidris melanotosPassage migrantUncommon19–23 cmRegularly Apr–Nov · 0.10% in Oct
Lesser YellowlegsTringa flavipesPassage migrantUncommon23–27 cmRegularly Apr–Oct · 0.10% in Oct
Golden EagleAquila chrysaetosWinter visitorUncommon66–102 cmRegularly Oct–Apr · 0.09% in Oct
Western MeadowlarkSturnella neglectaSummer visitorUncommon16–26 cmRegularly Mar–Dec · 0.09% in Oct
Red CrossbillLoxia curvirostraWinter visitorUncommon15–17 cmRegularly Jun–Apr · 0.09% in Oct
American Black DuckAnas rubripesWinter visitorUncommon54–59 cmRegularly Aug–Apr · 0.09% in Oct
Surf ScoterMelanitta perspicillataPassage migrantUncommon48–60 cmRegularly Sep–Nov · 0.08% in Oct
Blue-headed VireoVireo solitariusSummer visitorUncommon12–15 cmRegularly May–Oct · 0.08% in Oct
American Golden-PloverPluvialis dominicaPassage migrantUncommon24–28 cmRegularly Apr–Nov · 0.08% in Oct
Red-necked GrebePodiceps grisegenaSummer visitorUncommon40–50 cmRegularly Apr–Dec · 0.08% in Oct
Clay-colored SparrowSpizella pallidaSummer visitorCommon13–15 cmRegularly Apr–Oct · 0.07% in Oct
Snow GooseAnser caerulescensPassage migrantUncommon69–84 cmRegularly Sep–Apr · 0.07% in Oct
OspreyPandion haliaetusSummer visitorCommon54–58 cmRegularly Apr–Oct · 0.07% in Oct
Tundra SwanCygnus columbianusPassage migrantUncommon120–150 cmRegularly Oct–Apr · 0.07% in Oct
Broad-winged HawkButeo platypterusSummer visitorCommon34–44 cmRegularly Apr–Oct · 0.07% in Oct
Greater ScaupAythya marilaWinter visitorUncommon39–56 cmRegularly Oct–May · 0.07% in Oct
Vesper SparrowPooecetes gramineusSummer visitorUncommon13–17 cmRegularly Apr–Oct · 0.06% in Oct
Swainson's ThrushCatharus ustulatusSummer visitorCommon16–20 cmRegularly May–Oct · 0.06% in Oct
Marsh WrenCistothorus palustrisSummer visitorUncommon10–14 cmRegularly May–Oct · 0.06% in Oct
Ross's GooseAnser rossiiPassage migrantUncommon57–64 cmRegularly Sep–Apr · 0.06% in Oct
Tufted TitmouseBaeolophus bicolorWinter visitorUncommon14–17 cmRecorded all year · 0.06% in Oct
Long-billed DowitcherLimnodromus scolopaceusPassage migrantUncommon27–30 cmRegularly Mar–Nov · 0.06% in Oct
Long-tailed DuckClangula hyemalisWinter visitorUncommon37–60 cmRegularly Oct–Mar · 0.05% in Oct
Black-backed WoodpeckerPicoides arcticusWinter visitorUncommon21–24 cmRegularly Jun–Mar · 0.05% in Oct
Grey PloverPluvialis squatarolaPassage migrantUncommon27–30 cmRegularly May–Nov · 0.04% in Oct
Bohemian WaxwingBombycilla garrulusWinter visitorUncommon19–23 cmRegularly Oct–Apr · 0.04% in Oct
Red-headed WoodpeckerMelanerpes erythrocephalusSummer visitorUncommon19–23 cmRecorded all year · 0.04% in Oct
Greater White-fronted GooseAnser albifronsPassage migrantUncommon64–81 cmRegularly Oct–Apr · 0.03% in Oct
DunlinCalidris alpinaPassage migrantUncommon16–22 cmRegularly Apr–Nov · 0.03% in Oct
Least SandpiperCalidris minutillaPassage migrantUncommon13–15 cmRegularly Apr–Oct · 0.03% in Oct
Common TernSterna hirundoSummer visitorUncommon31–35 cmRegularly May–Oct · 0.03% in Oct
Northern Saw-whet OwlAegolius acadicusWinter visitorUncommon17–21 cmRegularly Sep–Apr · 0.03% in Oct
Short-eared OwlAsio flammeusWinter visitorUncommon34–43 cmRegularly Sep–Apr · 0.02% in Oct
Sabine's GullXema sabiniPassage migrantRare27–33 cmRegularly Sep–Oct · 0.02% in Oct
Eastern Screech-owlMegascops asioWinter visitorUncommon16–25 cmRecorded all year · 0.02% in Oct
Mute SwanCygnus olorSummer visitorUncommon140–160 cmRegularly Feb–Dec · 0.01% in Oct
SanderlingCalidris albaSummer visitorUncommon18–20 cmRegularly May–Oct · 0.01% in Oct
Scissor-tailed FlycatcherTyrannus forficatusPassage migrantRare28–38 cmRegularly Oct · 0.01% in Oct
Red-throated LoonGavia stellataPassage migrantRare53–69 cmRegularly Apr–Nov · 0.01% in Oct
American AvocetRecurvirostra americanaSummer visitorUncommon43–51 cmRegularly Apr–Oct · 0.01% in Oct
Iceland GullLarus glaucoidesWinter visitorUncommon52–60 cmRegularly Oct–Mar · 0.01% in Oct
Black-necked GrebePodiceps nigricollisSummer visitorRare28–34 cmRegularly Apr–Nov · 0.01% in Oct
Pacific LoonGavia pacificaPassage migrantRare58–74 cmRegularly May–Nov · 0.01% in Oct
Virginia RailRallus limicolaSummer visitorUncommon20–27 cmRegularly Mar–Oct · 0.01% in Oct
Cape May WarblerSetophaga tigrinaSummer visitorUncommon12–14 cmRegularly May–Oct · 0.01% in Oct
Gray-cheeked ThrushCatharus minimusPassage migrantUncommon16–17 cmRegularly May–Oct · 0.01% in Oct
American BitternBotaurus lentiginosusSummer visitorUncommon58–85 cmRegularly Apr–Oct · 0.01% in Oct
Black-crowned Night-heronNycticorax nycticoraxSummer visitorRare58–65 cmRegularly Apr–Dec · 0.01% in Oct
Lesser Black-backed GullLarus fuscusPassage migrantRare52–64 cmRegularly Aug–Apr · 0.01% in Oct
Eurasian Tree SparrowPasser montanusWinter visitorRare13–14 cmRegularly Aug–Jun · 0.01% in Oct
Western KingbirdTyrannus verticalisSummer visitorRare20–24 cmRegularly May–Oct · 0.01% in Oct
Cattle EgretArdea ibisSummer visitorRare46–56 cmRegularly Apr–Nov · 0.01% in Oct
Black-throated Blue WarblerSetophaga caerulescensSummer visitorRare11–13 cmRegularly May–Oct · 0.00% in Oct
Grey PartridgePerdix perdixWinter visitorRare28–32 cmRegularly Oct–Aug · 0.00% in Oct
Arctic JaegerStercorarius parasiticusPassage migrantRare41–46 cmRegularly May–Oct · 0.00% in Oct
Muscovy DuckCairina moschataWinter visitorRare66–84 cmRegularly Apr–Feb · 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