Birds to See in New Hampshire in October
142 bird species on our list for New Hampshire are recorded regularly in October
Of these, the most often recorded are Blue Jay, American Crow, White-breasted Nuthatch, Song Sparrow and Yellow-rumped Warbler. New this month: Pine Siskin, Red-breasted Merganser, Snow Bunting and Horned Lark and 20 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
Swamp SparrowBusiest month of the year · Apr–Dec
Palm WarblerBusiest month of the year · Apr–May
White-crowned SparrowBusiest month of the year · May
Sharp-shinned HawkBusiest month of the year · All year
From New Hampshire’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 142 birds in October
142 birds
Blue JayCyanocitta cristataResidentCommon25–30 cmRecorded all year · 5.18% in Oct
American CrowCorvus brachyrhynchosResidentCommon41–53 cmRecorded all year · 3.92% in Oct
White-breasted NuthatchSitta carolinensisResidentCommon13–14 cmRecorded all year · 3.05% in Oct
Song SparrowMelospiza melodiaResidentCommon12–17 cmRecorded all year · 2.92% in Oct- Yellow-rumped WarblerSetophaga coronataSummer visitorCommon12–15 cmRegularly Apr–Nov · 2.85% in Oct
American RobinTurdus migratoriusResidentCommon20–28 cmRecorded all year · 2.78% in Oct
Downy WoodpeckerDryobates pubescensResidentCommon14–18 cmRecorded all year · 2.68% in Oct
Tufted TitmouseBaeolophus bicolorResidentCommon14–16 cmRecorded all year · 2.62% in Oct
Northern CardinalCardinalis cardinalisResidentCommon21–23 cmRecorded all year · 2.19% in Oct
Mourning DoveZenaida macrouraResidentCommon23–34 cmRecorded all year · 1.77% in Oct
Hairy WoodpeckerLeuconotopicus villosusResidentCommon18–26 cmRecorded all year · 1.76% in Oct
Common RavenCorvus coraxResidentCommon54–67 cmRecorded all year · 1.62% in Oct
Canada GooseBranta canadensisResidentCommon76–110 cmRecorded all year · 1.56% in Oct
Eastern BluebirdSialia sialisResidentCommon16–21 cmRecorded all year · 1.50% in Oct- Ruby-crowned KingletCorthylio calendulaPassage migrantCommon9–11 cmRegularly Apr–Dec · 1.47% in Oct
Red-bellied WoodpeckerMelanerpes carolinusResidentCommon23–26 cmRecorded all year · 1.40% in Oct
MallardAnas platyrhynchosResidentCommon50–65 cmRecorded all year · 1.30% in Oct
House FinchHaemorhous mexicanusResidentCommon13–15 cmRecorded all year · 1.26% in Oct- Swamp SparrowMelospiza georgianaSummer visitorCommon12–15 cmRegularly Apr–Dec · 1.19% in Oct
Chipping SparrowSpizella passerinaSummer visitorCommon12–15 cmRegularly Apr–Nov · 1.10% in Oct
American Herring GullLarus smithsonianusResidentCommon53–65 cmRecorded all year · 1.04% in Oct
Turkey VultureCathartes auraSummer visitorCommon62–81 cmRecorded all year · 1.02% in Oct
Northern FlickerColaptes auratusSummer visitorCommon28–31 cmRecorded all year · 1.00% in Oct
Common StarlingSturnus vulgarisResidentCommon21–23 cmRecorded all year · 0.98% in Oct
Great Blue HeronArdea herodiasSummer visitorCommon91–137 cmRegularly Mar–Jan · 0.95% in Oct
House SparrowPasser domesticusResidentCommon14–17 cmRecorded all year · 0.94% in Oct
Red-tailed HawkButeo jamaicensisResidentCommon45–65 cmRecorded all year · 0.92% in Oct- Palm WarblerSetophaga palmarumPassage migrantCommon12–14 cmRegularly Apr–Nov · 0.92% in Oct
Gray CatbirdDumetella carolinensisSummer visitorCommon20–24 cmRegularly May–Oct · 0.85% in Oct
Pileated WoodpeckerDryocopus pileatusResidentCommon40–49 cmRecorded all year · 0.84% in Oct
Ring-billed GullLarus delawarensisWinter visitorCommon43–54 cmRecorded all year · 0.82% in Oct
Hermit ThrushCatharus guttatusSummer visitorCommon14–18 cmRegularly Apr–Feb · 0.80% in Oct
Common LoonGavia immerResidentCommon66–91 cmRecorded all year · 0.77% in Oct
Red-winged BlackbirdAgelaius phoeniceusSummer visitorCommon17–23 cmRecorded all year · 0.69% in Oct
Wood DuckAix sponsaSummer visitorCommon47–54 cmRegularly Mar–Nov · 0.67% in Oct
Bald EagleHaliaeetus leucocephalusResidentCommon70–102 cmRecorded all year · 0.63% in Oct
Great Black-backed GullLarus marinusResidentCommon64–79 cmRecorded all year · 0.60% in Oct
Pine SiskinSpinus pinusWinter visitorCommon11–14 cmRegularly Oct–Jun · 0.60% in Oct
Rock DoveColumba liviaResidentCommon29–37 cmRecorded all year · 0.60% in Oct- White-crowned SparrowZonotrichia leucophrysPassage migrantCommon15–16 cmRegularly May–Nov · 0.56% in Oct
Wild TurkeyMeleagris gallopavoResidentCommon100–125 cmRecorded all year · 0.55% in Oct
Northern MockingbirdMimus polyglottosResidentCommon21–26 cmRecorded all year · 0.54% in Oct
Blue-headed VireoVireo solitariusSummer visitorCommon12–15 cmRegularly Apr–Oct · 0.50% in Oct
Common YellowthroatGeothlypis trichasSummer visitorCommon11–13 cmRegularly May–Oct · 0.48% in Oct
Common GrackleQuiscalus quisculaSummer visitorCommon28–34 cmRegularly Feb–Nov · 0.44% in Oct
Cedar WaxwingBombycilla cedrorumSummer visitorCommon15–18 cmRecorded all year · 0.43% in Oct- Sharp-shinned HawkAccipiter striatusWinter visitorUncommon24–34 cmRecorded all year · 0.43% in Oct
Yellow-bellied SapsuckerSphyrapicus variusSummer visitorCommon19–22 cmRecorded all year · 0.41% in Oct
American Black DuckAnas rubripesWinter visitorCommon54–59 cmRecorded all year · 0.41% in Oct
MerlinFalco columbariusSummer visitorUncommon24–33 cmRecorded all year · 0.36% in Oct
EiderSomateria mollissimaResidentCommon50–71 cmRecorded all year · 0.34% in Oct
Blackpoll WarblerSetophaga striataSummer visitorUncommon13–15 cmRegularly May–Nov · 0.33% in Oct
Greater YellowlegsTringa melanoleucaPassage migrantUncommon29–40 cmRegularly Apr–Nov · 0.33% in Oct
Eurasian TealAnas creccaWinter visitorUncommon34–38 cmRegularly Aug–May · 0.32% in Oct
Hooded MerganserLophodytes cucullatusWinter visitorCommon40–49 cmRecorded all year · 0.30% in Oct
Lincoln's SparrowMelospiza lincolniiPassage migrantUncommon13–15 cmRegularly May–Oct · 0.27% in Oct
Great White EgretArdea albaSummer visitorCommon80–104 cmRegularly Apr–Nov · 0.26% in Oct
Northern GannetMorus bassanusPassage migrantUncommon87–100 cmRegularly May–Jan · 0.25% in Oct
Barred OwlStrix variaResidentUncommon43–50 cmRecorded all year · 0.23% in Oct
Common MerganserMergus merganserWinter visitorCommon58–68 cmRecorded all year · 0.22% in Oct
Peregrine FalconFalco peregrinusWinter visitorUncommon34–58 cmRecorded all year · 0.20% in Oct
Surf ScoterMelanitta perspicillataWinter visitorCommon48–60 cmRegularly Sep–May · 0.19% in Oct
Pied-billed GrebePodilymbus podicepsSummer visitorUncommon31–38 cmRegularly Mar–Nov · 0.18% in Oct
OspreyPandion haliaetusSummer visitorCommon54–58 cmRegularly Mar–Oct · 0.17% in Oct
Ruffed GrouseBonasa umbellusResidentUncommon41–50 cmRecorded all year · 0.15% in Oct
Nashville WarblerLeiothlypis ruficapillaSummer visitorUncommon11–13 cmRegularly May–Oct · 0.14% in Oct
Black-throated Green WarblerSetophaga virensSummer visitorCommon11–12 cmRegularly Apr–Oct · 0.13% in Oct
Bonaparte's GullChroicocephalus philadelphiaSummer visitorUncommon28–38 cmRegularly Apr–Jan · 0.12% in Oct
Semipalmated PloverCharadrius semipalmatusPassage migrantUncommon17–19 cmRegularly May–Nov · 0.12% in Oct
Grey PloverPluvialis squatarolaSummer visitorUncommon27–30 cmRegularly May–Jan · 0.12% in Oct
Swainson's ThrushCatharus ustulatusSummer visitorUncommon16–20 cmRegularly May–Oct · 0.11% in Oct
Red CrossbillLoxia curvirostraResidentUncommon15–17 cmRecorded all year · 0.11% in Oct
Semipalmated SandpiperCalidris pusillaPassage migrantCommon15–18 cmRegularly May–Oct · 0.10% in Oct
Evening GrosbeakHesperiphona vespertinaWinter visitorUncommon16–22 cmRegularly Oct–May · 0.10% in Oct
Ruddy DuckOxyura jamaicensisPassage migrantUncommon35–43 cmRegularly Oct–May · 0.10% in Oct
Lesser YellowlegsTringa flavipesPassage migrantUncommon23–27 cmRegularly May–Oct · 0.10% in Oct
Fox SparrowPasserella iliacaWinter visitorUncommon15–19 cmRegularly Oct–Jul · 0.09% in Oct
Red-throated LoonGavia stellataWinter visitorUncommon53–69 cmRegularly Oct–Apr · 0.08% in Oct
Red-breasted MerganserMergus serratorWinter visitorCommon52–58 cmRegularly Oct–May · 0.08% in Oct
Orange-crowned WarblerLeiothlypis celataPassage migrantUncommon11–14 cmRegularly Sep–Jan · 0.08% in Oct
Black-throated Blue WarblerSetophaga caerulescensSummer visitorCommon11–13 cmRegularly May–Oct · 0.07% in Oct
Pectoral SandpiperCalidris melanotosPassage migrantUncommon19–23 cmRegularly Jul–Nov · 0.07% in Oct
Magnolia WarblerSetophaga magnoliaSummer visitorCommon11–13 cmRegularly May–Oct · 0.07% in Oct
Solitary SandpiperTringa solitariaPassage migrantUncommon19–23 cmRegularly May–Oct · 0.07% in Oct
DunlinCalidris alpinaWinter visitorUncommon16–22 cmRegularly Sep–May · 0.07% in Oct
Great CormorantPhalacrocorax carboWinter visitorUncommon80–100 cmRegularly Sep–May · 0.07% in Oct
Northern PintailAnas acutaWinter visitorUncommon59–76 cmRegularly Sep–Apr · 0.07% in Oct
SanderlingCalidris albaWinter visitorUncommon18–20 cmRegularly Jul–Mar · 0.07% in Oct
Horned LarkEremophila alpestrisWinter visitorUncommon16–20 cmRegularly Oct–Apr · 0.06% in Oct
Tennessee WarblerLeiothlypis peregrinaPassage migrantUncommon10–13 cmRegularly May–Oct · 0.06% in Oct
BobolinkDolichonyx oryzivorusSummer visitorUncommon16–20 cmRegularly May–Oct · 0.06% in Oct
Snow BuntingPlectrophenax nivalisWinter visitorCommon15–18 cmRegularly Oct–Mar · 0.06% in Oct
DickcisselSpiza americanaWinter visitorUncommon14–16 cmRegularly Aug–Feb · 0.05% in Oct
Black GuillemotCepphus grylleResidentUncommon30–32 cmRegularly May–Mar · 0.05% in Oct
Broad-winged HawkButeo platypterusSummer visitorCommon34–44 cmRegularly Apr–Oct · 0.05% in Oct
Mute SwanCygnus olorWinter visitorUncommon140–160 cmRecorded all year · 0.05% in Oct
Common PheasantPhasianus colchicusWinter visitorRare50–90 cmRegularly Sep–Jul · 0.04% in Oct
Clay-colored SparrowSpizella pallidaPassage migrantUncommon13–15 cmRegularly May–Jan · 0.04% in Oct
Great Horned OwlBubo virginianusWinter visitorUncommon46–63 cmRecorded all year · 0.04% in Oct
Cape May WarblerSetophaga tigrinaPassage migrantUncommon12–14 cmRegularly May–Oct · 0.04% in Oct
Greater ScaupAythya marilaWinter visitorUncommon39–56 cmRegularly Oct–Apr · 0.04% in Oct
American Golden-PloverPluvialis dominicaPassage migrantRare24–28 cmRegularly Sep–Oct · 0.04% in Oct
Vesper SparrowPooecetes gramineusSummer visitorRare13–17 cmRegularly Apr–Nov · 0.04% in Oct
Red-necked GrebePodiceps grisegenaWinter visitorUncommon40–50 cmRegularly Oct–Apr · 0.04% in Oct
Least SandpiperCalidris minutillaPassage migrantCommon13–15 cmRegularly May–Oct · 0.03% in Oct
FulmarFulmarus glacialisPassage migrantRare45–50 cmRegularly May–Jan · 0.03% in Oct
White-rumped SandpiperCalidris fuscicollisPassage migrantUncommon15–18 cmRegularly May–Nov · 0.03% in Oct
Lesser Black-backed GullLarus fuscusWinter visitorUncommon52–64 cmRegularly Aug–May · 0.03% in Oct
Horned GrebePodiceps auritusWinter visitorUncommon31–38 cmRegularly Oct–Apr · 0.03% in Oct
KittiwakeRissa tridactylaWinter visitorUncommon37–41 cmRegularly Oct–Feb · 0.03% in Oct
Fish CrowCorvus ossifragusSummer visitorUncommon36–41 cmRecorded all year · 0.03% in Oct
Lark SparrowChondestes grammacusPassage migrantRare15–17 cmRegularly Aug–Oct · 0.03% in Oct
Lapland LongspurCalcarius lapponicusWinter visitorUncommon15–16 cmRegularly Oct–Mar · 0.02% in Oct
Sandhill CraneAntigone canadensisSummer visitorRare80–122 cmRegularly Mar–Nov · 0.02% in Oct
Brent GooseBranta berniclaPassage migrantRare55–66 cmRegularly Oct–Jun · 0.02% in Oct
Ruddy TurnstoneArenaria interpresSummer visitorUncommon21–24 cmRegularly May–Oct · 0.02% in Oct
Great ShearwaterArdenna gravisPassage migrantUncommon43–51 cmRegularly Jul–Nov · 0.02% in Oct
Long-billed DowitcherLimnodromus scolopaceusResidentRare27–30 cmRegularly Oct–Nov · 0.02% in Oct
Marsh WrenCistothorus palustrisSummer visitorUncommon10–14 cmRegularly Apr–Nov · 0.02% in Oct
Atlantic PuffinFratercula arcticaPassage migrantRare28–34 cmRegularly Jun–Jan · 0.02% in Oct
Northern Saw-whet OwlAegolius acadicusWinter visitorRare17–21 cmRecorded all year · 0.02% in Oct
Golden EagleAquila chrysaetosWinter visitorUncommon66–102 cmRegularly Sep–Mar · 0.02% in Oct
King EiderSomateria spectabilisPassage migrantRare46–64 cmRegularly Oct–Dec · 0.02% in Oct
Pomarine JaegerStercorarius pomarinusPassage migrantRare46–51 cmRegularly Aug–Jan · 0.02% in Oct
Eastern Screech-owlMegascops asioWinter visitorRare16–25 cmRegularly Jul–May · 0.02% in Oct
Philadelphia VireoVireo philadelphicusSummer visitorUncommon11–13 cmRegularly May–Oct · 0.01% in Oct
Hudsonian GodwitLimosa haemasticaPassage migrantRare36–42 cmRegularly Oct · 0.01% in Oct
American BitternBotaurus lentiginosusSummer visitorUncommon58–85 cmRegularly Apr–Oct · 0.01% in Oct
Red-headed WoodpeckerMelanerpes erythrocephalusSummer visitorRare19–23 cmRegularly Feb–Dec · 0.01% in Oct
Black-backed WoodpeckerPicoides arcticusResidentRare21–24 cmRecorded all year · 0.01% in Oct
Northern ShovelerSpatula clypeataWinter visitorUncommon44–51 cmRegularly Aug–May · 0.01% in Oct
GadwallMareca streperaWinter visitorRare46–56 cmRegularly Sep–May · 0.01% in Oct
Black-crowned Night-heronNycticorax nycticoraxSummer visitorUncommon58–65 cmRegularly Apr–Oct · 0.01% in Oct
Short-billed DowitcherLimnodromus griseusPassage migrantUncommon23–32 cmRegularly May–Oct · 0.01% in Oct
Black-billed CuckooCoccyzus erythropthalmusSummer visitorUncommon28–32 cmRegularly May–Oct · 0.01% in Oct
Stilt SandpiperCalidris himantopusPassage migrantRare18–23 cmRegularly Jul–Oct · 0.01% in Oct
Grey PhalaropePhalaropus fulicariusResidentRare20–22 cmRegularly Sep–Oct · 0.01% in Oct
Snow GooseAnser caerulescensWinter visitorUncommon69–84 cmRegularly Oct–Apr · 0.01% in Oct
Rough-legged HawkButeo lagopusWinter visitorRare46–59 cmRegularly Oct–Mar · 0.01% in Oct
Virginia RailRallus limicolaSummer visitorUncommon20–27 cmRegularly Apr–Nov · 0.01% in Oct
Cackling GooseBranta hutchinsiiPassage migrantRare53–76 cmRegularly Oct–Dec · 0.00% in Oct
Short-eared OwlAsio flammeusPassage migrantRare34–43 cmRegularly Oct–Mar · 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