Birds to See in Missouri in October
141 bird species on our list for Missouri are recorded regularly in October
Of these, the most often recorded are Blue Jay, Northern Cardinal, Red-bellied Woodpecker, American Crow and Downy Woodpecker. New this month: White-crowned Sparrow, Swamp Sparrow, Gadwall and Snow Goose and 27 more.
On the move in October
GBIF · OctArriving
At their peak
Northern FlickerBusiest month of the year · All year
Yellow-rumped WarblerBusiest month of the year · Sep–May
Ruby-crowned KingletBusiest month of the year · Sep–May
Lincoln's SparrowBusiest month of the year · Apr–May
Orange-crowned WarblerBusiest month of the year · Apr–May
Franklin's GullBusiest month of the year · Apr–May
From Missouri’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 141 birds in October
141 birds
Blue JayCyanocitta cristataResidentCommon25–30 cmRecorded all year · 4.42% in Oct
Northern CardinalCardinalis cardinalisResidentCommon21–23 cmRecorded all year · 3.84% in Oct
Red-bellied WoodpeckerMelanerpes carolinusResidentCommon23–26 cmRecorded all year · 3.42% in Oct
American CrowCorvus brachyrhynchosResidentCommon41–53 cmRecorded all year · 3.13% in Oct
Downy WoodpeckerDryobates pubescensResidentCommon14–18 cmRecorded all year · 2.93% in Oct- Northern FlickerColaptes auratusWinter visitorCommon28–31 cmRecorded all year · 2.77% in Oct
Tufted TitmouseBaeolophus bicolorResidentCommon14–16 cmRecorded all year · 2.71% in Oct
American RobinTurdus migratoriusResidentCommon20–28 cmRecorded all year · 2.56% in Oct
Turkey VultureCathartes auraResidentCommon62–81 cmRecorded all year · 2.53% in Oct
Mourning DoveZenaida macrouraResidentCommon23–34 cmRecorded all year · 2.43% in Oct- Yellow-rumped WarblerSetophaga coronataWinter visitorCommon12–15 cmRegularly Sep–May · 2.11% in Oct
White-breasted NuthatchSitta carolinensisResidentCommon13–14 cmRecorded all year · 2.06% in Oct
Common StarlingSturnus vulgarisResidentCommon21–23 cmRecorded all year · 1.94% in Oct
Eastern BluebirdSialia sialisResidentCommon16–21 cmRecorded all year · 1.84% in Oct
House FinchHaemorhous mexicanusResidentCommon13–15 cmRecorded all year · 1.73% in Oct
House SparrowPasser domesticusResidentCommon14–17 cmRecorded all year · 1.50% in Oct
Canada GooseBranta canadensisResidentCommon76–110 cmRecorded all year · 1.47% in Oct
Great Blue HeronArdea herodiasResidentCommon91–137 cmRecorded all year · 1.39% in Oct
Red-winged BlackbirdAgelaius phoeniceusResidentCommon17–23 cmRecorded all year · 1.37% in Oct
Red-tailed HawkButeo jamaicensisResidentCommon45–65 cmRecorded all year · 1.35% in Oct
Song SparrowMelospiza melodiaResidentCommon12–17 cmRecorded all year · 1.18% in Oct- Ruby-crowned KingletCorthylio calendulaWinter visitorCommon9–11 cmRegularly Sep–May · 1.02% in Oct
MallardAnas platyrhynchosResidentCommon50–65 cmRecorded all year · 0.94% in Oct
Swamp SparrowMelospiza georgianaWinter visitorCommon12–15 cmRegularly Oct–May · 0.89% in Oct
Pileated WoodpeckerDryocopus pileatusResidentCommon40–49 cmRecorded all year · 0.89% in Oct
Bald EagleHaliaeetus leucocephalusWinter visitorCommon70–102 cmRecorded all year · 0.83% in Oct
Pied-billed GrebePodilymbus podicepsWinter visitorCommon31–38 cmRegularly Jul–May · 0.78% in Oct
Red-headed WoodpeckerMelanerpes erythrocephalusResidentCommon19–23 cmRecorded all year · 0.73% in Oct
Common GrackleQuiscalus quisculaSummer visitorCommon28–34 cmRecorded all year · 0.72% in Oct
Northern MockingbirdMimus polyglottosResidentCommon21–26 cmRecorded all year · 0.72% in Oct
Hairy WoodpeckerLeuconotopicus villosusResidentCommon18–26 cmRecorded all year · 0.71% in Oct
Cedar WaxwingBombycilla cedrorumResidentCommon15–18 cmRecorded all year · 0.67% in Oct
White-crowned SparrowZonotrichia leucophrysWinter visitorCommon15–16 cmRegularly Oct–May · 0.64% in Oct
Ring-billed GullLarus delawarensisWinter visitorCommon43–54 cmRegularly Jul–May · 0.62% in Oct
Chipping SparrowSpizella passerinaSummer visitorCommon12–15 cmRegularly Mar–Nov · 0.58% in Oct
Great White EgretArdea albaSummer visitorCommon80–104 cmRegularly Apr–Nov · 0.58% in Oct
Eurasian Tree SparrowPasser montanusResidentCommon13–14 cmRecorded all year · 0.56% in Oct- Lincoln's SparrowMelospiza lincolniiPassage migrantUncommon13–15 cmRegularly Apr–Dec · 0.48% in Oct
Gray CatbirdDumetella carolinensisSummer visitorCommon20–24 cmRegularly Apr–Oct · 0.43% in Oct
Wood DuckAix sponsaSummer visitorCommon47–54 cmRecorded all year · 0.43% in Oct
Yellow-bellied SapsuckerSphyrapicus variusWinter visitorCommon19–22 cmRegularly Sep–Apr · 0.41% in Oct
Nashville WarblerLeiothlypis ruficapillaPassage migrantCommon11–13 cmRegularly Apr–Oct · 0.41% in Oct
Rock DoveColumba liviaResidentCommon29–37 cmRecorded all year · 0.40% in Oct
GadwallMareca streperaWinter visitorCommon46–56 cmRegularly Oct–May · 0.40% in Oct- Orange-crowned WarblerLeiothlypis celataPassage migrantUncommon11–14 cmRegularly Apr–Nov · 0.37% in Oct
Northern ShovelerSpatula clypeataWinter visitorCommon44–51 cmRegularly Aug–May · 0.35% in Oct
Ruby-throated HummingbirdArchilochus colubrisSummer visitorCommon7–9 cmRegularly Apr–Oct · 0.34% in Oct
Barred OwlStrix variaResidentUncommon43–50 cmRecorded all year · 0.32% in Oct
Eurasian TealAnas creccaWinter visitorCommon34–38 cmRegularly Sep–Apr · 0.31% in Oct
Common YellowthroatGeothlypis trichasSummer visitorCommon11–13 cmRegularly Apr–Oct · 0.30% in Oct
Tennessee WarblerLeiothlypis peregrinaPassage migrantCommon10–13 cmRegularly Apr–Oct · 0.29% in Oct
Greater White-fronted GooseAnser albifronsWinter visitorCommon64–81 cmRegularly Oct–Apr · 0.28% in Oct- Franklin's GullLeucophaeus pipixcanPassage migrantUncommon32–36 cmRegularly Apr–Nov · 0.27% in Oct
Black-throated Green WarblerSetophaga virensPassage migrantUncommon11–12 cmRegularly Apr–Oct · 0.26% in Oct
Northern PintailAnas acutaWinter visitorUncommon59–76 cmRegularly Sep–Apr · 0.25% in Oct
Pine SiskinSpinus pinusWinter visitorUncommon11–14 cmRegularly Oct–May · 0.24% in Oct
Barn SwallowHirundo rusticaSummer visitorCommon17–19 cmRegularly Mar–Oct · 0.24% in Oct
Horned LarkEremophila alpestrisResidentUncommon16–20 cmRecorded all year · 0.23% in Oct
Ruddy DuckOxyura jamaicensisWinter visitorCommon35–43 cmRegularly Oct–Apr · 0.23% in Oct
Sharp-shinned HawkAccipiter striatusWinter visitorUncommon24–34 cmRegularly Sep–May · 0.20% in Oct
Rose-breasted GrosbeakPheucticus ludovicianusSummer visitorCommon18–22 cmRegularly Apr–Oct · 0.19% in Oct
OspreyPandion haliaetusSummer visitorUncommon54–58 cmRegularly Mar–Nov · 0.19% in Oct
Great Horned OwlBubo virginianusResidentUncommon46–63 cmRecorded all year · 0.19% in Oct
Palm WarblerSetophaga palmarumPassage migrantUncommon12–14 cmRegularly Apr–Oct · 0.17% in Oct
Greater YellowlegsTringa melanoleucaPassage migrantUncommon29–40 cmRegularly Mar–Nov · 0.17% in Oct
Bonaparte's GullChroicocephalus philadelphiaWinter visitorUncommon28–38 cmRegularly Oct–Apr · 0.17% in Oct
Wild TurkeyMeleagris gallopavoResidentUncommon100–125 cmRecorded all year · 0.17% in Oct
Marsh WrenCistothorus palustrisPassage migrantUncommon10–14 cmRegularly Apr–Jan · 0.16% in Oct
Fox SparrowPasserella iliacaWinter visitorCommon15–19 cmRegularly Oct–Apr · 0.16% in Oct
Hermit ThrushCatharus guttatusWinter visitorUncommon14–18 cmRegularly Oct–May · 0.15% in Oct
Eurasian Collared DoveStreptopelia decaoctoResidentUncommon30–32 cmRecorded all year · 0.15% in Oct
Blue-headed VireoVireo solitariusPassage migrantUncommon12–15 cmRegularly Apr–Oct · 0.14% in Oct
Magnolia WarblerSetophaga magnoliaPassage migrantCommon11–13 cmRegularly May–Oct · 0.13% in Oct
Least SandpiperCalidris minutillaPassage migrantCommon13–15 cmRegularly Apr–Nov · 0.12% in Oct
Horned GrebePodiceps auritusWinter visitorUncommon31–38 cmRegularly Oct–Apr · 0.11% in Oct
Snow GooseAnser caerulescensWinter visitorCommon69–84 cmRegularly Oct–May · 0.10% in Oct
Common LoonGavia immerWinter visitorUncommon66–91 cmRegularly Aug–Apr · 0.09% in Oct
Lesser YellowlegsTringa flavipesPassage migrantUncommon23–27 cmRegularly Mar–Oct · 0.09% in Oct
Bay-breasted WarblerSetophaga castaneaPassage migrantUncommon14–14 cmRegularly May–Oct · 0.09% in Oct
MerlinFalco columbariusWinter visitorUncommon24–33 cmRegularly Sep–Apr · 0.08% in Oct
Vesper SparrowPooecetes gramineusPassage migrantUncommon13–17 cmRegularly Oct–May · 0.08% in Oct
American Herring GullLarus smithsonianusWinter visitorUncommon53–65 cmRegularly Oct–Apr · 0.08% in Oct
American RedstartSetophaga ruticillaSummer visitorCommon11–14 cmRegularly Apr–Oct · 0.07% in Oct
Long-billed DowitcherLimnodromus scolopaceusPassage migrantUncommon27–30 cmRegularly Mar–Nov · 0.07% in Oct
Fish CrowCorvus ossifragusSummer visitorCommon36–41 cmRegularly Mar–Oct · 0.07% in Oct
Western MeadowlarkSturnella neglectaWinter visitorUncommon16–26 cmRegularly Oct–Jul · 0.07% in Oct
Scissor-tailed FlycatcherTyrannus forficatusSummer visitorUncommon28–38 cmRegularly Apr–Oct · 0.07% in Oct
Pectoral SandpiperCalidris melanotosPassage migrantCommon19–23 cmRegularly Mar–Oct · 0.07% in Oct
Peregrine FalconFalco peregrinusResidentUncommon34–58 cmRecorded all year · 0.06% in Oct
American AvocetRecurvirostra americanaSummer visitorUncommon43–51 cmRegularly Apr–Nov · 0.06% in Oct
Chestnut-sided WarblerSetophaga pensylvanicaPassage migrantUncommon10–14 cmRegularly May–Oct · 0.05% in Oct
Broad-winged HawkButeo platypterusSummer visitorUncommon34–44 cmRegularly Apr–Oct · 0.05% in Oct
Hooded MerganserLophodytes cucullatusWinter visitorCommon40–49 cmRegularly Oct–Jun · 0.05% in Oct
Philadelphia VireoVireo philadelphicusPassage migrantUncommon11–13 cmRegularly Apr–Oct · 0.04% in Oct
Eastern Screech-owlMegascops asioWinter visitorUncommon16–25 cmRecorded all year · 0.04% in Oct
Mute SwanCygnus olorWinter visitorUncommon140–160 cmRecorded all year · 0.04% in Oct
Sandhill CraneAntigone canadensisResidentRare80–122 cmRecorded all year · 0.04% in Oct
Forster's TernSterna forsteriSummer visitorUncommon33–36 cmRegularly Apr–Oct · 0.04% in Oct
Solitary SandpiperTringa solitariaPassage migrantUncommon19–23 cmRegularly Apr–Oct · 0.04% in Oct
Clay-colored SparrowSpizella pallidaPassage migrantRare13–15 cmRegularly Apr–Nov · 0.03% in Oct
OvenbirdSeiurus aurocapillaSummer visitorUncommon12–15 cmRegularly Apr–Oct · 0.03% in Oct
Trumpeter SwanCygnus buccinatorWinter visitorCommon139–157 cmRegularly Oct–Apr · 0.03% in Oct
American Golden-PloverPluvialis dominicaPassage migrantUncommon24–28 cmRegularly Mar–Nov · 0.03% in Oct
Scarlet TanagerPiranga olivaceaSummer visitorUncommon16–19 cmRegularly Apr–Oct · 0.02% in Oct
DunlinCalidris alpinaPassage migrantUncommon16–22 cmRegularly Oct–Jun · 0.02% in Oct
BobolinkDolichonyx oryzivorusSummer visitorUncommon16–20 cmRegularly Apr–Oct · 0.02% in Oct
Northern WaterthrushParkesia noveboracensisPassage migrantUncommon12–15 cmRegularly Apr–Oct · 0.02% in Oct
Grey PloverPluvialis squatarolaPassage migrantRare27–30 cmRegularly Apr–Nov · 0.02% in Oct
Stilt SandpiperCalidris himantopusPassage migrantUncommon18–23 cmRegularly Apr–Oct · 0.02% in Oct
Lesser Black-backed GullLarus fuscusWinter visitorUncommon52–64 cmRegularly Sep–Mar · 0.01% in Oct
Black-necked GrebePodiceps nigricollisPassage migrantRare28–34 cmRegularly Sep–Apr · 0.01% in Oct
Cattle EgretArdea ibisSummer visitorUncommon46–56 cmRegularly Apr–Nov · 0.01% in Oct
Ross's GooseAnser rossiiWinter visitorUncommon57–64 cmRegularly Oct–May · 0.01% in Oct
White-winged DoveZenaida asiaticaResidentRare27–30 cmRecorded all year · 0.01% in Oct
Baird's SandpiperCalidris bairdiiPassage migrantUncommon14–17 cmRegularly Mar–Nov · 0.01% in Oct
Sabine's GullXema sabiniPassage migrantRare27–33 cmRegularly Sep–Oct · 0.01% in Oct
Semipalmated PloverCharadrius semipalmatusPassage migrantUncommon17–19 cmRegularly Apr–Oct · 0.01% in Oct
American BitternBotaurus lentiginosusPassage migrantRare58–85 cmRegularly Mar–Dec · 0.01% in Oct
Surf ScoterMelanitta perspicillataPassage migrantUncommon48–60 cmRegularly Oct–Dec · 0.01% in Oct
Black-crowned Night-heronNycticorax nycticoraxSummer visitorUncommon58–65 cmRecorded all year · 0.01% in Oct
Cackling GooseBranta hutchinsiiWinter visitorUncommon53–76 cmRegularly Oct–Mar · 0.01% in Oct
Muscovy DuckCairina moschataResidentRare66–84 cmRecorded all year · 0.01% in Oct
Black-throated Blue WarblerSetophaga caerulescensPassage migrantRare11–13 cmRegularly May–Oct · 0.01% in Oct
Common PheasantPhasianus colchicusSummer visitorRare50–90 cmRecorded all year · 0.01% in Oct
Short-eared OwlAsio flammeusWinter visitorUncommon34–43 cmRegularly Oct–Mar · 0.01% in Oct
American Black DuckAnas rubripesWinter visitorUncommon54–59 cmRegularly Oct–Mar · 0.01% in Oct
Cape May WarblerSetophaga tigrinaPassage migrantRare12–14 cmRegularly Apr–Oct · 0.01% in Oct
Virginia RailRallus limicolaPassage migrantRare20–27 cmRegularly Aug–May · 0.01% in Oct
Yellow-bellied FlycatcherEmpidonax flaviventrisPassage migrantUncommon13–15 cmRegularly May–Oct · 0.01% in Oct
Tundra SwanCygnus columbianusWinter visitorUncommon120–150 cmRegularly Oct–Mar · 0.01% in Oct
Red-throated LoonGavia stellataWinter visitorRare53–69 cmRegularly Oct–Apr · 0.00% in Oct
Black-billed CuckooCoccyzus erythropthalmusSummer visitorRare28–32 cmRegularly May–Oct · 0.00% in Oct
Common TernSterna hirundoPassage migrantRare31–35 cmRegularly May–Oct · 0.00% in Oct
Golden EagleAquila chrysaetosWinter visitorRare66–102 cmRegularly Oct–Apr · 0.00% in Oct
Northern Saw-whet OwlAegolius acadicusPassage migrantRare17–21 cmRegularly Oct–Jan · 0.00% in Oct
SanderlingCalidris albaPassage migrantRare18–20 cmRegularly Apr–Oct · 0.00% in Oct
Swan GooseAnser cygnoidesWinter visitorRare81–94 cmRegularly Sep–Jun · 0.00% in Oct
Mandarin DuckAix galericulataScarceRare41–49 cmRegularly Oct · 0.00% in Oct
Greylag GooseAnser anserResidentRare75–90 cmRegularly May–Feb · 0.00% in Oct
Red CrossbillLoxia curvirostraPassage migrantRare15–17 cmRegularly Oct–Mar · 0.00% in Oct
Snow BuntingPlectrophenax nivalisPassage migrantRare15–18 cmRegularly Oct–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