Birds to See in Nebraska in October
127 bird species on our list for Nebraska are recorded regularly in October
Of these, the most often recorded are American Robin, Blue Jay, Common Starling, Northern Flicker and Northern Cardinal. New this month: American Tree Sparrow, Sandhill Crane, Snow Goose and Cackling Goose and 14 more.
On the move in October
GBIF · OctArriving
At their peak
Yellow-rumped WarblerBusiest month of the year · Apr–May
White-crowned SparrowBusiest month of the year · Sep–May
Franklin's GullBusiest month of the year · Mar–Nov
Ruby-crowned KingletBusiest month of the year · Apr–May
Swamp SparrowBusiest month of the year · Mar–May
Marsh WrenBusiest month of the year · All year
From Nebraska’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 127 birds in October
127 birds
American RobinTurdus migratoriusResidentCommon20–28 cmRecorded all year · 4.34% in Oct
Blue JayCyanocitta cristataResidentCommon25–30 cmRecorded all year · 3.90% in Oct
Common StarlingSturnus vulgarisResidentCommon21–23 cmRecorded all year · 2.75% in Oct
Northern FlickerColaptes auratusResidentCommon28–31 cmRecorded all year · 2.74% in Oct
Northern CardinalCardinalis cardinalisResidentCommon21–23 cmRecorded all year · 2.37% in Oct
Downy WoodpeckerDryobates pubescensWinter visitorCommon14–18 cmRecorded all year · 2.27% in Oct
House SparrowPasser domesticusResidentCommon14–17 cmRecorded all year · 2.23% in Oct
Red-tailed HawkButeo jamaicensisWinter visitorCommon45–65 cmRecorded all year · 2.22% in Oct
Red-winged BlackbirdAgelaius phoeniceusSummer visitorCommon17–23 cmRecorded all year · 2.18% in Oct
Canada GooseBranta canadensisResidentCommon76–110 cmRecorded all year · 2.09% in Oct
Mourning DoveZenaida macrouraResidentCommon23–34 cmRecorded all year · 1.95% in Oct
House FinchHaemorhous mexicanusResidentCommon13–15 cmRecorded all year · 1.94% in Oct- Yellow-rumped WarblerSetophaga coronataWinter visitorCommon12–15 cmRegularly Sep–May · 1.90% in Oct
Red-bellied WoodpeckerMelanerpes carolinusResidentCommon23–26 cmRecorded all year · 1.86% in Oct
American CrowCorvus brachyrhynchosResidentCommon41–53 cmRecorded all year · 1.85% in Oct
White-breasted NuthatchSitta carolinensisResidentCommon13–14 cmRecorded all year · 1.75% in Oct
MallardAnas platyrhynchosResidentCommon50–65 cmRecorded all year · 1.64% in Oct
Song SparrowMelospiza melodiaResidentCommon12–17 cmRecorded all year · 1.54% in Oct
Ring-billed GullLarus delawarensisWinter visitorCommon43–54 cmRegularly Jul–May · 1.50% in Oct
Eurasian Collared DoveStreptopelia decaoctoResidentCommon30–32 cmRecorded all year · 1.45% in Oct
Great Blue HeronArdea herodiasSummer visitorCommon91–137 cmRecorded all year · 1.30% in Oct- White-crowned SparrowZonotrichia leucophrysWinter visitorCommon15–16 cmRegularly Sep–May · 1.28% in Oct
Pied-billed GrebePodilymbus podicepsSummer visitorCommon31–38 cmRegularly Mar–Dec · 1.26% in Oct
Lincoln's SparrowMelospiza lincolniiPassage migrantCommon13–15 cmRegularly Apr–Oct · 1.20% in Oct
Western MeadowlarkSturnella neglectaResidentCommon16–26 cmRecorded all year · 1.12% in Oct
Turkey VultureCathartes auraSummer visitorCommon62–81 cmRegularly Mar–Oct · 1.10% in Oct
Common GrackleQuiscalus quisculaSummer visitorCommon28–34 cmRegularly Mar–Nov · 1.10% in Oct- Franklin's GullLeucophaeus pipixcanSummer visitorCommon32–36 cmRegularly Mar–Nov · 1.05% in Oct
- Ruby-crowned KingletCorthylio calendulaPassage migrantCommon9–11 cmRegularly Apr–Dec · 0.99% in Oct
Bald EagleHaliaeetus leucocephalusWinter visitorCommon70–102 cmRecorded all year · 0.88% in Oct
Orange-crowned WarblerLeiothlypis celataPassage migrantCommon11–14 cmRegularly Apr–Oct · 0.86% in Oct
Chipping SparrowSpizella passerinaSummer visitorCommon12–15 cmRegularly Apr–Oct · 0.77% in Oct
Eurasian TealAnas creccaWinter visitorCommon34–38 cmRegularly Aug–May · 0.75% in Oct
Rock DoveColumba liviaResidentCommon29–37 cmRecorded all year · 0.72% in Oct
Northern ShovelerSpatula clypeataWinter visitorCommon44–51 cmRegularly Aug–Jun · 0.69% in Oct
Hairy WoodpeckerLeuconotopicus villosusWinter visitorCommon18–26 cmRecorded all year · 0.66% in Oct
Eastern BluebirdSialia sialisResidentCommon16–21 cmRecorded all year · 0.66% in Oct- Swamp SparrowMelospiza georgianaPassage migrantCommon12–15 cmRegularly Mar–Dec · 0.63% in Oct
GadwallMareca streperaWinter visitorCommon46–56 cmRegularly Sep–Jun · 0.63% in Oct
Wood DuckAix sponsaSummer visitorCommon47–54 cmRecorded all year · 0.58% in Oct
Ruddy DuckOxyura jamaicensisSummer visitorCommon35–43 cmRegularly Mar–Jan · 0.46% in Oct
Common PheasantPhasianus colchicusResidentCommon50–90 cmRecorded all year · 0.44% in Oct
Wild TurkeyMeleagris gallopavoResidentCommon100–125 cmRecorded all year · 0.43% in Oct
Cedar WaxwingBombycilla cedrorumResidentCommon15–18 cmRecorded all year · 0.41% in Oct
OspreyPandion haliaetusSummer visitorUncommon54–58 cmRegularly Apr–Nov · 0.40% in Oct
Nashville WarblerLeiothlypis ruficapillaPassage migrantCommon11–13 cmRegularly May–Oct · 0.40% in Oct
Vesper SparrowPooecetes gramineusSummer visitorUncommon13–17 cmRegularly Apr–Oct · 0.39% in Oct
American Tree SparrowSpizelloides arboreaWinter visitorCommon14–17 cmRegularly Oct–Apr · 0.36% in Oct
Greater YellowlegsTringa melanoleucaPassage migrantCommon29–40 cmRegularly Mar–Nov · 0.36% in Oct
Barn SwallowHirundo rusticaSummer visitorCommon17–19 cmRegularly Apr–Oct · 0.35% in Oct
Northern PintailAnas acutaWinter visitorCommon59–76 cmRegularly Aug–Jun · 0.31% in Oct
Pine SiskinSpinus pinusWinter visitorCommon11–14 cmRecorded all year · 0.31% in Oct
Horned LarkEremophila alpestrisResidentCommon16–20 cmRecorded all year · 0.30% in Oct
Sandhill CraneAntigone canadensisPassage migrantCommon80–122 cmRegularly Oct–Apr · 0.28% in Oct
Fox SparrowPasserella iliacaWinter visitorUncommon15–19 cmRegularly Oct–Apr · 0.27% in Oct
Gray CatbirdDumetella carolinensisSummer visitorCommon20–24 cmRegularly May–Oct · 0.27% in Oct
Sharp-shinned HawkAccipiter striatusWinter visitorUncommon24–34 cmRegularly Sep–Apr · 0.27% in Oct
Great Horned OwlBubo virginianusResidentUncommon46–63 cmRecorded all year · 0.27% in Oct
Clay-colored SparrowSpizella pallidaPassage migrantUncommon13–15 cmRegularly Apr–Oct · 0.26% in Oct- Marsh WrenCistothorus palustrisSummer visitorUncommon10–14 cmRecorded all year · 0.24% in Oct
Least SandpiperCalidris minutillaPassage migrantCommon13–15 cmRegularly Apr–Nov · 0.21% in Oct
MerlinFalco columbariusWinter visitorUncommon24–33 cmRegularly Sep–Apr · 0.19% in Oct
American Herring GullLarus smithsonianusWinter visitorCommon53–65 cmRegularly Sep–Apr · 0.19% in Oct
Snow GooseAnser caerulescensWinter visitorCommon69–84 cmRegularly Oct–Apr · 0.18% in Oct
Horned GrebePodiceps auritusPassage migrantUncommon31–38 cmRegularly Oct–Apr · 0.16% in Oct
Long-billed DowitcherLimnodromus scolopaceusPassage migrantUncommon27–30 cmRegularly Mar–Nov · 0.16% in Oct
Red-headed WoodpeckerMelanerpes erythrocephalusSummer visitorCommon19–23 cmRegularly Apr–Feb · 0.15% in Oct
Bonaparte's GullChroicocephalus philadelphiaPassage migrantUncommon28–38 cmRegularly Sep–May · 0.15% in Oct
Greater White-fronted GooseAnser albifronsWinter visitorCommon64–81 cmRegularly Oct–Mar · 0.14% in Oct
Black-necked GrebePodiceps nigricollisSummer visitorUncommon28–34 cmRegularly Mar–Dec · 0.14% in Oct
Hooded MerganserLophodytes cucullatusWinter visitorCommon40–49 cmRegularly Oct–Jul · 0.13% in Oct
Common YellowthroatGeothlypis trichasSummer visitorCommon11–13 cmRegularly May–Oct · 0.13% in Oct
American AvocetRecurvirostra americanaSummer visitorUncommon43–51 cmRegularly Apr–Nov · 0.12% in Oct
Lesser YellowlegsTringa flavipesPassage migrantCommon23–27 cmRegularly Mar–Oct · 0.12% in Oct
Hermit ThrushCatharus guttatusWinter visitorUncommon14–18 cmRegularly Sep–May · 0.11% in Oct
Barred OwlStrix variaResidentUncommon43–50 cmRecorded all year · 0.11% in Oct
Great White EgretArdea albaSummer visitorUncommon80–104 cmRegularly Apr–Nov · 0.11% in Oct
Pectoral SandpiperCalidris melanotosPassage migrantUncommon19–23 cmRegularly Apr–Oct · 0.10% in Oct
Red CrossbillLoxia curvirostraResidentUncommon15–17 cmRecorded all year · 0.10% in Oct
Ruby-throated HummingbirdArchilochus colubrisSummer visitorCommon7–9 cmRegularly May–Oct · 0.10% in Oct
Tufted TitmouseBaeolophus bicolorResidentUncommon14–17 cmRecorded all year · 0.10% in Oct
Cackling GooseBranta hutchinsiiWinter visitorCommon53–76 cmRegularly Oct–Mar · 0.09% in Oct
Eastern Screech-owlMegascops asioWinter visitorUncommon16–25 cmRecorded all year · 0.09% in Oct
Yellow-bellied SapsuckerSphyrapicus variusWinter visitorUncommon19–22 cmRegularly Sep–Apr · 0.09% in Oct
Stilt SandpiperCalidris himantopusPassage migrantUncommon18–23 cmRegularly Apr–Oct · 0.08% in Oct
Common LoonGavia immerSummer visitorUncommon66–91 cmRegularly Mar–Dec · 0.07% in Oct
Surf ScoterMelanitta perspicillataPassage migrantUncommon48–60 cmRegularly Oct–Apr · 0.07% in Oct
Blue-headed VireoVireo solitariusPassage migrantUncommon12–15 cmRegularly May–Oct · 0.07% in Oct
Lesser Black-backed GullLarus fuscusWinter visitorUncommon52–64 cmRegularly Sep–Apr · 0.05% in Oct
Mountain BluebirdSialia currucoidesResidentUncommon15–18 cmRecorded all year · 0.05% in Oct
Baird's SandpiperCalidris bairdiiPassage migrantUncommon14–17 cmRegularly Mar–Oct · 0.05% in Oct
Peregrine FalconFalco peregrinusWinter visitorUncommon34–58 cmRecorded all year · 0.04% in Oct
Lapland LongspurCalcarius lapponicusWinter visitorUncommon15–16 cmRegularly Oct–Mar · 0.04% in Oct
Trumpeter SwanCygnus buccinatorWinter visitorUncommon139–157 cmRecorded all year · 0.04% in Oct
Pileated WoodpeckerDryocopus pileatusResidentUncommon40–49 cmRecorded all year · 0.04% in Oct
Sabine's GullXema sabiniPassage migrantUncommon27–33 cmRegularly Sep–Oct · 0.03% in Oct
Palm WarblerSetophaga palmarumPassage migrantUncommon12–14 cmRegularly Apr–Oct · 0.03% in Oct
Cattle EgretArdea ibisSummer visitorUncommon46–56 cmRegularly Apr–Oct · 0.03% in Oct
Ross's GooseAnser rossiiWinter visitorUncommon57–64 cmRegularly Oct–Apr · 0.03% in Oct
Virginia RailRallus limicolaSummer visitorUncommon20–27 cmRecorded all year · 0.03% in Oct
Grey PloverPluvialis squatarolaPassage migrantRare27–30 cmRegularly Apr–Nov · 0.03% in Oct
Tennessee WarblerLeiothlypis peregrinaPassage migrantUncommon10–13 cmRegularly May–Oct · 0.03% in Oct
American Golden-PloverPluvialis dominicaPassage migrantRare24–28 cmRegularly Mar–Oct · 0.03% in Oct
Forster's TernSterna forsteriSummer visitorUncommon33–36 cmRegularly Apr–Oct · 0.03% in Oct
DunlinCalidris alpinaPassage migrantUncommon16–22 cmRegularly Oct–May · 0.02% in Oct
Greater ScaupAythya marilaWinter visitorUncommon39–56 cmRegularly Oct–Apr · 0.02% in Oct
White-winged DoveZenaida asiaticaResidentUncommon27–30 cmRecorded all year · 0.02% in Oct
Black-throated Green WarblerSetophaga virensPassage migrantUncommon11–12 cmRegularly May–Oct · 0.02% in Oct
American BitternBotaurus lentiginosusSummer visitorUncommon58–85 cmRegularly Apr–Oct · 0.02% in Oct
Semipalmated SandpiperCalidris pusillaSummer visitorUncommon15–18 cmRegularly Apr–Oct · 0.02% in Oct
SanderlingCalidris albaSummer visitorUncommon18–20 cmRegularly Apr–Oct · 0.02% in Oct
Red-necked GrebePodiceps grisegenaResidentUncommon40–50 cmRegularly Oct–Dec · 0.02% in Oct
Broad-winged HawkButeo platypterusPassage migrantUncommon34–44 cmRegularly Apr–Oct · 0.02% in Oct
Mute SwanCygnus olorSummer visitorRare140–160 cmRegularly Feb–Nov · 0.01% in Oct
Northern Saw-whet OwlAegolius acadicusWinter visitorRare17–21 cmRegularly Oct–Jun · 0.01% in Oct
Semipalmated PloverCharadrius semipalmatusPassage migrantUncommon17–19 cmRegularly Apr–Oct · 0.01% in Oct
Short-eared OwlAsio flammeusWinter visitorUncommon34–43 cmRegularly Oct–Jul · 0.01% in Oct
Iceland GullLarus glaucoidesWinter visitorUncommon52–60 cmRegularly Oct–Apr · 0.01% in Oct
Golden EagleAquila chrysaetosWinter visitorUncommon66–102 cmRecorded all year · 0.01% in Oct
Black-crowned Night-heronNycticorax nycticoraxSummer visitorRare58–65 cmRegularly Apr–Oct · 0.01% in Oct
Common TernSterna hirundoPassage migrantUncommon31–35 cmRegularly May–Oct · 0.01% in Oct
Red-necked PhalaropePhalaropus lobatusPassage migrantRare18–19 cmRegularly May–Oct · 0.01% in Oct
Muscovy DuckCairina moschataResidentRare66–84 cmRegularly Jun–Mar · 0.01% in Oct
Cinnamon TealSpatula cyanopteraSummer visitorUncommon36–43 cmRegularly Mar–Oct · 0.00% in Oct
Greylag GooseAnser anserResidentRare75–90 cmRegularly Jun–Mar · 0.00% in Oct
Common RavenCorvus coraxResidentRare54–67 cmRegularly Jun–Jan · 0.00% in Oct
Great Black-backed GullLarus marinusResidentRare64–79 cmRegularly Apr–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