Birds to See in Montana in October
126 bird species on our list for Montana are recorded regularly in October
Of these, the most often recorded are Northern Flicker, Common Raven, Common Starling, Mallard and Canada Goose. New this month: Rough-legged Hawk, American Tree Sparrow, Bohemian Waxwing and Tundra Swan and 14 more.
On the move in October
GBIF · OctArriving
At their peak
Ring-billed GullBusiest month of the year · All year
Ruddy DuckBusiest month of the year · Mar–Jan
Common LoonBusiest month of the year · Apr–Dec
Black-necked GrebeBusiest month of the year · Apr–Dec
Pied-billed GrebeBusiest month of the year · Mar–Jan
Long-billed DowitcherBusiest month of the year · May
From Montana’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 126 birds in October
126 birds
Northern FlickerColaptes auratusResidentCommon28–31 cmRecorded all year · 3.56% in Oct
Common RavenCorvus coraxResidentCommon54–67 cmRecorded all year · 3.34% in Oct
Common StarlingSturnus vulgarisResidentCommon21–23 cmRecorded all year · 2.87% in Oct
MallardAnas platyrhynchosResidentCommon50–65 cmRecorded all year · 2.87% in Oct
Canada GooseBranta canadensisResidentCommon76–110 cmRecorded all year · 2.84% in Oct
American RobinTurdus migratoriusSummer visitorCommon20–28 cmRecorded all year · 2.74% in Oct
House FinchHaemorhous mexicanusResidentCommon13–15 cmRecorded all year · 2.28% in Oct
American CrowCorvus brachyrhynchosResidentCommon41–53 cmRecorded all year · 1.98% in Oct
Red-tailed HawkButeo jamaicensisResidentCommon45–65 cmRecorded all year · 1.90% in Oct
Eurasian Collared DoveStreptopelia decaoctoResidentCommon30–32 cmRecorded all year · 1.58% in Oct
House SparrowPasser domesticusResidentCommon14–17 cmRecorded all year · 1.56% in Oct
Bald EagleHaliaeetus leucocephalusWinter visitorCommon70–102 cmRecorded all year · 1.51% in Oct
Song SparrowMelospiza melodiaResidentCommon12–17 cmRecorded all year · 1.50% in Oct
White-crowned SparrowZonotrichia leucophrysSummer visitorCommon15–16 cmRegularly Apr–Nov · 1.42% in Oct- Ring-billed GullLarus delawarensisSummer visitorCommon43–54 cmRecorded all year · 1.34% in Oct
Pine SiskinSpinus pinusResidentCommon11–14 cmRecorded all year · 1.26% in Oct
Red-winged BlackbirdAgelaius phoeniceusSummer visitorCommon17–23 cmRecorded all year · 1.24% in Oct
Rock DoveColumba liviaResidentCommon29–37 cmRecorded all year · 1.21% in Oct
Yellow-rumped WarblerSetophaga coronataSummer visitorCommon12–15 cmRegularly Apr–Oct · 1.15% in Oct
Downy WoodpeckerDryobates pubescensWinter visitorCommon14–18 cmRecorded all year · 1.13% in Oct
Blue JayCyanocitta cristataWinter visitorCommon25–30 cmRecorded all year · 0.99% in Oct
GadwallMareca streperaResidentCommon46–56 cmRecorded all year · 0.93% in Oct
Eurasian TealAnas creccaWinter visitorCommon34–38 cmRecorded all year · 0.90% in Oct
Ruby-crowned KingletCorthylio calendulaSummer visitorCommon9–11 cmRegularly Apr–Nov · 0.85% in Oct
Common MerganserMergus merganserResidentCommon58–68 cmRecorded all year · 0.82% in Oct
Hooded MerganserLophodytes cucullatusWinter visitorCommon40–49 cmRecorded all year · 0.78% in Oct- Ruddy DuckOxyura jamaicensisSummer visitorCommon35–43 cmRegularly Mar–Jan · 0.77% in Oct
Hairy WoodpeckerLeuconotopicus villosusResidentCommon18–26 cmRecorded all year · 0.73% in Oct- Common LoonGavia immerSummer visitorCommon66–91 cmRegularly Apr–Dec · 0.71% in Oct
- Black-necked GrebePodiceps nigricollisSummer visitorCommon28–34 cmRegularly Apr–Dec · 0.68% in Oct
- Pied-billed GrebePodilymbus podicepsSummer visitorCommon31–38 cmRegularly Mar–Jan · 0.68% in Oct
Western MeadowlarkSturnella neglectaSummer visitorCommon16–26 cmRegularly Mar–Oct · 0.67% in Oct
Cedar WaxwingBombycilla cedrorumSummer visitorCommon15–18 cmRegularly May–Mar · 0.65% in Oct
American Tree SparrowSpizelloides arboreaWinter visitorCommon14–17 cmRegularly Oct–Apr · 0.61% in Oct
White-breasted NuthatchSitta carolinensisWinter visitorCommon13–14 cmRecorded all year · 0.59% in Oct
Northern ShovelerSpatula clypeataSummer visitorCommon44–51 cmRegularly Mar–Dec · 0.58% in Oct
Common PheasantPhasianus colchicusResidentCommon50–90 cmRecorded all year · 0.57% in Oct
Sharp-shinned HawkAccipiter striatusWinter visitorCommon24–34 cmRecorded all year · 0.55% in Oct
Evening GrosbeakHesperiphona vespertinaResidentCommon16–22 cmRecorded all year · 0.54% in Oct
Golden EagleAquila chrysaetosResidentCommon66–102 cmRecorded all year · 0.49% in Oct
Northern PintailAnas acutaWinter visitorCommon59–76 cmRecorded all year · 0.48% in Oct
Great Blue HeronArdea herodiasResidentCommon91–137 cmRecorded all year · 0.48% in Oct
Rough-legged HawkButeo lagopusWinter visitorCommon46–59 cmRegularly Oct–Apr · 0.45% in Oct
Sandhill CraneAntigone canadensisSummer visitorCommon80–122 cmRegularly Mar–Nov · 0.41% in Oct
Pileated WoodpeckerDryocopus pileatusResidentCommon40–49 cmRecorded all year · 0.40% in Oct
MerlinFalco columbariusWinter visitorUncommon24–33 cmRecorded all year · 0.40% in Oct
Wild TurkeyMeleagris gallopavoWinter visitorCommon100–125 cmRecorded all year · 0.39% in Oct
Trumpeter SwanCygnus buccinatorWinter visitorCommon139–157 cmRecorded all year · 0.39% in Oct
Horned GrebePodiceps auritusPassage migrantUncommon31–38 cmRegularly Mar–Dec · 0.39% in Oct
GoldeneyeBucephala clangulaWinter visitorCommon40–51 cmRegularly Jul–May · 0.37% in Oct
Red CrossbillLoxia curvirostraResidentCommon15–17 cmRecorded all year · 0.36% in Oct
Horned LarkEremophila alpestrisResidentCommon16–20 cmRecorded all year · 0.35% in Oct
Common GrackleQuiscalus quisculaSummer visitorCommon28–34 cmRegularly Apr–Dec · 0.33% in Oct
Greater YellowlegsTringa melanoleucaPassage migrantCommon29–40 cmRegularly Apr–Nov · 0.32% in Oct- Long-billed DowitcherLimnodromus scolopaceusPassage migrantUncommon27–30 cmRegularly May–Nov · 0.30% in Oct
Mourning DoveZenaida macrouraSummer visitorCommon23–34 cmRecorded all year · 0.29% in Oct
Snow GooseAnser caerulescensPassage migrantCommon69–84 cmRegularly Oct–May · 0.28% in Oct
Grey PartridgePerdix perdixWinter visitorUncommon28–32 cmRecorded all year · 0.25% in Oct
Tundra SwanCygnus columbianusWinter visitorCommon120–150 cmRegularly Oct–Apr · 0.24% in Oct
Mountain BluebirdSialia currucoidesSummer visitorCommon15–18 cmRegularly Mar–Oct · 0.23% in Oct
Red-necked GrebePodiceps grisegenaSummer visitorUncommon40–50 cmRegularly Apr–Nov · 0.23% in Oct
Great Horned OwlBubo virginianusWinter visitorCommon46–63 cmRecorded all year · 0.22% in Oct
Marsh WrenCistothorus palustrisSummer visitorUncommon10–14 cmRecorded all year · 0.21% in Oct
Lincoln's SparrowMelospiza lincolniiSummer visitorCommon13–15 cmRegularly Apr–Oct · 0.20% in Oct
American Herring GullLarus smithsonianusWinter visitorUncommon53–65 cmRegularly Sep–Apr · 0.18% in Oct
OspreyPandion haliaetusSummer visitorCommon54–58 cmRegularly Apr–Oct · 0.17% in Oct
Ruffed GrouseBonasa umbellusResidentUncommon41–50 cmRecorded all year · 0.17% in Oct
Common YellowthroatGeothlypis trichasSummer visitorCommon11–13 cmRegularly May–Oct · 0.15% in Oct
Surf ScoterMelanitta perspicillataPassage migrantUncommon48–60 cmRegularly Oct–Nov · 0.15% in Oct
Lapland LongspurCalcarius lapponicusWinter visitorUncommon15–16 cmRegularly Sep–Mar · 0.14% in Oct
Wood DuckAix sponsaResidentUncommon47–54 cmRecorded all year · 0.14% in Oct
Orange-crowned WarblerLeiothlypis celataSummer visitorCommon11–14 cmRegularly Apr–Oct · 0.13% in Oct
Bonaparte's GullChroicocephalus philadelphiaSummer visitorUncommon28–38 cmRegularly Apr–Nov · 0.11% in Oct
Turkey VultureCathartes auraSummer visitorCommon62–81 cmRegularly Mar–Oct · 0.11% in Oct
Franklin's GullLeucophaeus pipixcanSummer visitorUncommon32–36 cmRegularly Apr–Nov · 0.09% in Oct
Bohemian WaxwingBombycilla garrulusWinter visitorCommon19–23 cmRegularly Oct–Apr · 0.09% in Oct
Pectoral SandpiperCalidris melanotosPassage migrantUncommon19–23 cmRegularly Jul–Nov · 0.09% in Oct
Chipping SparrowSpizella passerinaSummer visitorCommon12–15 cmRegularly May–Oct · 0.08% in Oct
Greater ScaupAythya marilaWinter visitorUncommon39–56 cmRegularly Oct–May · 0.07% in Oct
Hermit ThrushCatharus guttatusSummer visitorUncommon14–18 cmRegularly May–Nov · 0.07% in Oct
American AvocetRecurvirostra americanaSummer visitorUncommon43–51 cmRegularly Apr–Oct · 0.07% in Oct
Red-breasted MerganserMergus serratorWinter visitorUncommon52–58 cmRegularly Oct–May · 0.07% in Oct
Northern Pygmy-owlGlaucidium gnomaWinter visitorUncommon15–17 cmRegularly Aug–May · 0.06% in Oct
Pacific LoonGavia pacificaPassage migrantUncommon58–74 cmRegularly Oct–Nov · 0.06% in Oct
Snow BuntingPlectrophenax nivalisWinter visitorUncommon15–18 cmRegularly Oct–Mar · 0.06% in Oct
Greater White-fronted GooseAnser albifronsPassage migrantUncommon64–81 cmRegularly Sep–May · 0.05% in Oct
Peregrine FalconFalco peregrinusSummer visitorUncommon34–58 cmRegularly Mar–Oct · 0.05% in Oct
Cackling GooseBranta hutchinsiiWinter visitorUncommon53–76 cmRegularly Oct–Apr · 0.05% in Oct
Grey PloverPluvialis squatarolaPassage migrantRare27–30 cmRegularly May–Oct · 0.05% in Oct
Virginia RailRallus limicolaResidentUncommon20–27 cmRecorded all year · 0.04% in Oct
Lesser YellowlegsTringa flavipesPassage migrantCommon23–27 cmRegularly Apr–Oct · 0.04% in Oct
Pacific WrenTroglodytes pacificusSummer visitorUncommon8–12 cmRecorded all year · 0.04% in Oct
American Three-toed WoodpeckerPicoides dorsalisResidentUncommon21–24 cmRecorded all year · 0.04% in Oct
Varied ThrushIxoreus naeviusSummer visitorUncommon20–26 cmRegularly Feb–Dec · 0.03% in Oct
Lewis's WoodpeckerMelanerpes lewisResidentUncommon26–28 cmRecorded all year · 0.03% in Oct
Baird's SandpiperCalidris bairdiiPassage migrantUncommon14–17 cmRegularly May–Oct · 0.03% in Oct
Northern Saw-whet OwlAegolius acadicusWinter visitorUncommon17–21 cmRecorded all year · 0.03% in Oct
Common RedpollAcanthis flammeaWinter visitorCommon12–14 cmRegularly Oct–Apr · 0.03% in Oct
Sabine's GullXema sabiniPassage migrantUncommon27–33 cmRegularly Sep–Oct · 0.03% in Oct
Swamp SparrowMelospiza georgianaPassage migrantRare12–15 cmRegularly Sep–Feb · 0.03% in Oct
Ross's GooseAnser rossiiPassage migrantUncommon57–64 cmRegularly Oct–Apr · 0.03% in Oct
Lesser Black-backed GullLarus fuscusPassage migrantRare52–64 cmRegularly Oct–Apr · 0.02% in Oct
Iceland GullLarus glaucoidesPassage migrantUncommon52–60 cmRegularly Oct–Mar · 0.02% in Oct
Broad-winged HawkButeo platypterusPassage migrantUncommon34–44 cmRegularly May–Oct · 0.02% in Oct
ChukarAlectoris chukarWinter visitorRare32–38 cmRecorded all year · 0.02% in Oct
Red-throated LoonGavia stellataPassage migrantRare53–69 cmRegularly Oct–Nov · 0.02% in Oct
Short-eared OwlAsio flammeusResidentUncommon34–43 cmRecorded all year · 0.02% in Oct
Least SandpiperCalidris minutillaPassage migrantUncommon13–15 cmRegularly May–Oct · 0.02% in Oct
American Golden-PloverPluvialis dominicaPassage migrantRare24–28 cmRegularly May–Oct · 0.02% in Oct
Fox SparrowPasserella iliacaSummer visitorUncommon15–19 cmRegularly Mar–Nov · 0.02% in Oct
Black-backed WoodpeckerPicoides arcticusResidentRare21–24 cmRecorded all year · 0.02% in Oct
Grey PhalaropePhalaropus fulicariusResidentRare20–22 cmRegularly Oct · 0.02% in Oct
Nashville WarblerLeiothlypis ruficapillaSummer visitorUncommon11–13 cmRegularly Apr–Oct · 0.01% in Oct
Red-necked PhalaropePhalaropus lobatusSummer visitorUncommon18–19 cmRegularly May–Oct · 0.01% in Oct
Palm WarblerSetophaga palmarumPassage migrantRare12–14 cmRegularly May–Oct · 0.01% in Oct
DunlinCalidris alpinaPassage migrantRare16–22 cmRegularly Sep–May · 0.01% in Oct
Eastern Screech-owlMegascops asioSummer visitorRare16–25 cmRegularly Feb–Dec · 0.01% in Oct
Barred OwlStrix variaResidentRare43–50 cmRecorded all year · 0.01% in Oct
Boreal OwlAegolius funereusSummer visitorRare21–28 cmRegularly Mar–Oct · 0.01% in Oct
Burrowing OwlAthene cuniculariaSummer visitorUncommon19–25 cmRegularly Apr–Oct · 0.01% in Oct
Magnolia WarblerSetophaga magnoliaPassage migrantRare11–13 cmRegularly May–Oct · 0.01% in Oct
SanderlingCalidris albaPassage migrantUncommon18–20 cmRegularly May–Oct · 0.01% in Oct
Northern MockingbirdMimus polyglottosSummer visitorRare21–26 cmRegularly May–Oct · 0.00% in Oct
Common TernSterna hirundoSummer visitorUncommon31–35 cmRegularly Apr–Oct · 0.00% in Oct
Tennessee WarblerLeiothlypis peregrinaSummer visitorUncommon10–13 cmRegularly May–Oct · 0.00% in Oct
Short-billed DowitcherLimnodromus griseusPassage migrantRare23–32 cmRegularly May–Oct · 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