Birds to See in New Jersey in October
168 bird species on our list for New Jersey are recorded regularly in October
Of these, the most often recorded are Blue Jay, Yellow-rumped Warbler, Northern Cardinal, Song Sparrow and Mourning Dove. New this month: Brent Goose, Common Loon, Hermit Thrush and Ruddy Duck and 23 more.
On the move in October
GBIF · OctArriving
At their peak
Yellow-rumped WarblerBusiest month of the year · Sep–May
Ruby-crowned KingletBusiest month of the year · Sep–May
Swamp SparrowBusiest month of the year · All year
Sharp-shinned HawkBusiest month of the year · Sep–Apr
Palm WarblerBusiest month of the year · Apr–May
MerlinBusiest month of the year · Sep–May
From New Jersey’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 168 birds in October
168 birds
Blue JayCyanocitta cristataResidentCommon25–30 cmRecorded all year · 2.53% in Oct- Yellow-rumped WarblerSetophaga coronataWinter visitorCommon12–15 cmRegularly Sep–May · 2.49% in Oct
Northern CardinalCardinalis cardinalisResidentCommon21–23 cmRecorded all year · 2.09% in Oct
Song SparrowMelospiza melodiaResidentCommon12–17 cmRecorded all year · 1.93% in Oct
Mourning DoveZenaida macrouraResidentCommon23–34 cmRecorded all year · 1.84% in Oct
Turkey VultureCathartes auraResidentCommon62–81 cmRecorded all year · 1.82% in Oct
Northern FlickerColaptes auratusResidentCommon28–31 cmRecorded all year · 1.75% in Oct
Canada GooseBranta canadensisResidentCommon76–110 cmRecorded all year · 1.74% in Oct
Red-bellied WoodpeckerMelanerpes carolinusResidentCommon23–26 cmRecorded all year · 1.71% in Oct
American RobinTurdus migratoriusResidentCommon20–28 cmRecorded all year · 1.58% in Oct
American CrowCorvus brachyrhynchosResidentCommon41–53 cmRecorded all year · 1.57% in Oct
Gray CatbirdDumetella carolinensisSummer visitorCommon20–24 cmRegularly Apr–Feb · 1.55% in Oct
Northern MockingbirdMimus polyglottosResidentCommon21–26 cmRecorded all year · 1.55% in Oct
American Herring GullLarus smithsonianusResidentCommon53–65 cmRecorded all year · 1.53% in Oct- Ruby-crowned KingletCorthylio calendulaWinter visitorCommon9–11 cmRegularly Sep–May · 1.42% in Oct
MallardAnas platyrhynchosResidentCommon50–65 cmRecorded all year · 1.41% in Oct
Downy WoodpeckerDryobates pubescensResidentCommon14–18 cmRecorded all year · 1.39% in Oct
Great Blue HeronArdea herodiasResidentCommon91–137 cmRecorded all year · 1.38% in Oct
Common StarlingSturnus vulgarisResidentCommon21–23 cmRecorded all year · 1.36% in Oct
House FinchHaemorhous mexicanusResidentCommon13–15 cmRecorded all year · 1.26% in Oct
Red-winged BlackbirdAgelaius phoeniceusResidentCommon17–23 cmRecorded all year · 1.22% in Oct
Great White EgretArdea albaSummer visitorCommon80–104 cmRecorded all year · 1.21% in Oct
OspreyPandion haliaetusSummer visitorCommon54–58 cmRegularly Mar–Nov · 1.18% in Oct- Swamp SparrowMelospiza georgianaWinter visitorCommon12–15 cmRecorded all year · 1.16% in Oct
Tufted TitmouseBaeolophus bicolorResidentCommon14–17 cmRecorded all year · 1.15% in Oct- Sharp-shinned HawkAccipiter striatusWinter visitorCommon24–34 cmRegularly Sep–Apr · 1.12% in Oct
Great Black-backed GullLarus marinusResidentCommon64–79 cmRecorded all year · 1.11% in Oct
Bald EagleHaliaeetus leucocephalusResidentCommon70–102 cmRecorded all year · 1.04% in Oct
White-breasted NuthatchSitta carolinensisResidentCommon13–14 cmRecorded all year · 1.02% in Oct- Palm WarblerSetophaga palmarumPassage migrantCommon12–14 cmRegularly Apr–Nov · 1.01% in Oct
House SparrowPasser domesticusResidentCommon14–17 cmRecorded all year · 0.97% in Oct
Ring-billed GullLarus delawarensisWinter visitorCommon43–54 cmRecorded all year · 0.91% in Oct
Mute SwanCygnus olorResidentCommon140–160 cmRecorded all year · 0.87% in Oct
Common YellowthroatGeothlypis trichasSummer visitorCommon11–13 cmRegularly Apr–Oct · 0.82% in Oct
Red-tailed HawkButeo jamaicensisResidentCommon45–65 cmRecorded all year · 0.81% in Oct- MerlinFalco columbariusWinter visitorCommon24–33 cmRegularly Sep–May · 0.76% in Oct
American Black DuckAnas rubripesWinter visitorCommon54–59 cmRecorded all year · 0.65% in Oct
Common GrackleQuiscalus quisculaResidentCommon28–34 cmRecorded all year · 0.64% in Oct
Eurasian TealAnas creccaWinter visitorCommon34–38 cmRegularly Aug–May · 0.63% in Oct
Greater YellowlegsTringa melanoleucaResidentCommon29–40 cmRecorded all year · 0.60% in Oct
Peregrine FalconFalco peregrinusWinter visitorCommon34–58 cmRecorded all year · 0.60% in Oct
Forster's TernSterna forsteriSummer visitorCommon33–36 cmRegularly Apr–Nov · 0.52% in Oct
Chipping SparrowSpizella passerinaSummer visitorCommon12–15 cmRecorded all year · 0.51% in Oct
Rock DoveColumba liviaResidentCommon29–37 cmRecorded all year · 0.51% in Oct
Yellow-bellied SapsuckerSphyrapicus variusWinter visitorCommon19–22 cmRegularly Sep–Jun · 0.51% in Oct
Hairy WoodpeckerLeuconotopicus villosusResidentCommon18–26 cmRecorded all year · 0.48% in Oct
Eastern BluebirdSialia sialisResidentCommon16–21 cmRecorded all year · 0.46% in Oct
Cedar WaxwingBombycilla cedrorumSummer visitorCommon15–18 cmRecorded all year · 0.46% in Oct
GadwallMareca streperaWinter visitorCommon46–56 cmRecorded all year · 0.45% in Oct
Blackpoll WarblerSetophaga striataPassage migrantUncommon13–15 cmRegularly May–Nov · 0.43% in Oct
Northern PintailAnas acutaWinter visitorCommon59–76 cmRegularly Sep–Apr · 0.42% in Oct
Wood DuckAix sponsaSummer visitorCommon47–54 cmRecorded all year · 0.42% in Oct
Northern ShovelerSpatula clypeataWinter visitorCommon44–51 cmRegularly Aug–Apr · 0.42% in Oct
Fish CrowCorvus ossifragusSummer visitorCommon36–41 cmRecorded all year · 0.40% in Oct
Lesser Black-backed GullLarus fuscusWinter visitorUncommon52–64 cmRecorded all year · 0.37% in Oct
Grey PloverPluvialis squatarolaResidentUncommon27–30 cmRecorded all year · 0.35% in Oct
DunlinCalidris alpinaWinter visitorUncommon16–22 cmRegularly Sep–Jun · 0.33% in Oct
Hermit ThrushCatharus guttatusWinter visitorCommon14–18 cmRegularly Oct–May · 0.33% in Oct
SanderlingCalidris albaResidentUncommon18–20 cmRecorded all year · 0.32% in Oct
American RedstartSetophaga ruticillaSummer visitorCommon11–14 cmRegularly May–Oct · 0.32% in Oct
Pied-billed GrebePodilymbus podicepsWinter visitorUncommon31–38 cmRegularly Aug–Apr · 0.30% in Oct
Common RavenCorvus coraxResidentUncommon54–67 cmRecorded all year · 0.29% in Oct
Black-throated Blue WarblerSetophaga caerulescensPassage migrantUncommon11–13 cmRegularly Apr–Oct · 0.28% in Oct
Lesser YellowlegsTringa flavipesSummer visitorCommon23–27 cmRegularly Mar–Nov · 0.27% in Oct
Pine SiskinSpinus pinusWinter visitorUncommon11–14 cmRegularly Oct–Apr · 0.24% in Oct
Blue-headed VireoVireo solitariusPassage migrantUncommon12–15 cmRegularly Apr–Nov · 0.24% in Oct
Ruddy DuckOxyura jamaicensisWinter visitorCommon35–43 cmRegularly Oct–Aug · 0.23% in Oct
White-crowned SparrowZonotrichia leucophrysWinter visitorUncommon15–16 cmRegularly Oct–May · 0.23% in Oct
Black-crowned Night-heronNycticorax nycticoraxSummer visitorUncommon58–65 cmRecorded all year · 0.23% in Oct
Semipalmated SandpiperCalidris pusillaSummer visitorCommon15–18 cmRegularly May–Oct · 0.22% in Oct
Surf ScoterMelanitta perspicillataWinter visitorUncommon48–60 cmRegularly Oct–Jun · 0.22% in Oct
Common LoonGavia immerWinter visitorCommon66–91 cmRegularly Oct–Jun · 0.22% in Oct
Broad-winged HawkButeo platypterusSummer visitorUncommon34–44 cmRegularly Apr–Nov · 0.21% in Oct
Northern GannetMorus bassanusWinter visitorCommon87–100 cmRegularly Oct–May · 0.21% in Oct
Cape May WarblerSetophaga tigrinaPassage migrantUncommon12–14 cmRegularly May–Oct · 0.20% in Oct
Semipalmated PloverCharadrius semipalmatusSummer visitorCommon17–19 cmRegularly May–Oct · 0.20% in Oct
Magnolia WarblerSetophaga magnoliaPassage migrantCommon11–13 cmRegularly May–Oct · 0.20% in Oct
Black-throated Green WarblerSetophaga virensPassage migrantUncommon11–12 cmRegularly Apr–Oct · 0.18% in Oct
Brent GooseBranta berniclaWinter visitorCommon55–66 cmRegularly Oct–May · 0.18% in Oct
Pileated WoodpeckerDryocopus pileatusResidentUncommon40–49 cmRecorded all year · 0.16% in Oct
Eurasian WigeonMareca penelopeWinter visitorUncommon42–51 cmRegularly Sep–Mar · 0.16% in Oct
Lincoln's SparrowMelospiza lincolniiPassage migrantUncommon13–15 cmRegularly May–Nov · 0.15% in Oct
Ruddy TurnstoneArenaria interpresResidentUncommon21–24 cmRecorded all year · 0.15% in Oct
Least SandpiperCalidris minutillaSummer visitorCommon13–15 cmRegularly Apr–Oct · 0.14% in Oct
Swainson's ThrushCatharus ustulatusPassage migrantUncommon16–20 cmRegularly May–Oct · 0.12% in Oct
Nashville WarblerLeiothlypis ruficapillaPassage migrantUncommon11–13 cmRegularly Apr–Jan · 0.12% in Oct
Short-billed DowitcherLimnodromus griseusSummer visitorUncommon23–32 cmRegularly Apr–Oct · 0.12% in Oct
Arctic JaegerStercorarius parasiticusPassage migrantUncommon41–46 cmRegularly Apr–Nov · 0.11% in Oct
BobolinkDolichonyx oryzivorusSummer visitorUncommon16–20 cmRegularly May–Oct · 0.11% in Oct
Tennessee WarblerLeiothlypis peregrinaPassage migrantUncommon10–13 cmRegularly May–Oct · 0.11% in Oct
Marsh WrenCistothorus palustrisSummer visitorCommon10–14 cmRegularly Apr–Jan · 0.11% in Oct
Pectoral SandpiperCalidris melanotosPassage migrantUncommon19–23 cmRegularly Apr–Nov · 0.11% in Oct
Virginia RailRallus limicolaResidentUncommon20–27 cmRecorded all year · 0.10% in Oct
Scarlet TanagerPiranga olivaceaSummer visitorCommon16–19 cmRegularly May–Oct · 0.09% in Oct
American BitternBotaurus lentiginosusWinter visitorUncommon58–85 cmRegularly Aug–May · 0.09% in Oct
Wild TurkeyMeleagris gallopavoResidentUncommon100–125 cmRecorded all year · 0.09% in Oct
Northern Yellow WarblerSetophaga aestivaSummer visitorCommon12–13 cmRegularly Apr–Oct · 0.08% in Oct
DickcisselSpiza americanaSummer visitorUncommon14–16 cmRegularly Mar–Jan · 0.08% in Oct
Long-billed DowitcherLimnodromus scolopaceusWinter visitorUncommon27–30 cmRegularly Jul–Apr · 0.07% in Oct
Ruby-throated HummingbirdArchilochus colubrisSummer visitorCommon7–9 cmRegularly Apr–Oct · 0.07% in Oct
Great Horned OwlBubo virginianusWinter visitorUncommon46–63 cmRecorded all year · 0.07% in Oct
Great CormorantPhalacrocorax carboWinter visitorUncommon80–100 cmRegularly Sep–Apr · 0.07% in Oct
White-rumped SandpiperCalidris fuscicollisSummer visitorUncommon15–18 cmRegularly May–Nov · 0.07% in Oct
Red-throated LoonGavia stellataWinter visitorCommon53–69 cmRegularly Oct–May · 0.07% in Oct
Western SandpiperCalidris mauriPassage migrantUncommon14–17 cmRegularly Jul–Jan · 0.06% in Oct
Rose-breasted GrosbeakPheucticus ludovicianusSummer visitorCommon18–22 cmRegularly Apr–Oct · 0.06% in Oct
WilletTringa semipalmataSummer visitorUncommon33–41 cmRegularly Apr–Oct · 0.06% in Oct
Red KnotCalidris canutusSummer visitorUncommon23–26 cmRegularly May–Jan · 0.06% in Oct
Stilt SandpiperCalidris himantopusPassage migrantUncommon18–23 cmRegularly Apr–Oct · 0.06% in Oct
Common TernSterna hirundoSummer visitorCommon31–35 cmRegularly May–Oct · 0.06% in Oct
Baltimore OrioleIcterus galbulaSummer visitorCommon17–19 cmRegularly Apr–Jan · 0.06% in Oct
OvenbirdSeiurus aurocapillaSummer visitorCommon12–15 cmRegularly Apr–Oct · 0.06% in Oct
Vesper SparrowPooecetes gramineusWinter visitorUncommon13–17 cmRegularly Oct–Apr · 0.05% in Oct
Northern WaterthrushParkesia noveboracensisPassage migrantUncommon12–15 cmRegularly Apr–Oct · 0.05% in Oct
Glossy IbisPlegadis falcinellusSummer visitorCommon48–66 cmRegularly Apr–Oct · 0.05% in Oct
Marbled GodwitLimosa fedoaWinter visitorUncommon40–50 cmRegularly Jun–Feb · 0.04% in Oct
Red-headed WoodpeckerMelanerpes erythrocephalusResidentUncommon19–23 cmRecorded all year · 0.04% in Oct
Solitary SandpiperTringa solitariaPassage migrantUncommon19–23 cmRegularly Apr–Oct · 0.04% in Oct
American Golden-PloverPluvialis dominicaPassage migrantUncommon24–28 cmRegularly Aug–Nov · 0.04% in Oct
Gray-cheeked ThrushCatharus minimusPassage migrantRare16–17 cmRegularly May–Oct · 0.04% in Oct
Bonaparte's GullChroicocephalus philadelphiaWinter visitorUncommon28–38 cmRegularly Oct–May · 0.04% in Oct
Eastern Screech-owlMegascops asioResidentUncommon16–25 cmRecorded all year · 0.04% in Oct
Snow GooseAnser caerulescensWinter visitorUncommon69–84 cmRegularly Jul–May · 0.04% in Oct
American AvocetRecurvirostra americanaPassage migrantUncommon43–51 cmRegularly Jun–Nov · 0.03% in Oct
Chestnut-sided WarblerSetophaga pensylvanicaSummer visitorUncommon10–14 cmRegularly May–Oct · 0.03% in Oct
Clay-colored SparrowSpizella pallidaWinter visitorRare13–15 cmRegularly Sep–May · 0.03% in Oct
Orange-crowned WarblerLeiothlypis celataWinter visitorUncommon11–14 cmRegularly Oct–Apr · 0.03% in Oct
Bay-breasted WarblerSetophaga castaneaPassage migrantUncommon14–14 cmRegularly May–Oct · 0.03% in Oct
Black-necked GrebePodiceps nigricollisWinter visitorRare28–34 cmRegularly Oct–Mar · 0.03% in Oct
Barred OwlStrix variaResidentRare43–50 cmRecorded all year · 0.02% in Oct
Golden EagleAquila chrysaetosWinter visitorUncommon66–102 cmRegularly Oct–Feb · 0.02% in Oct
Philadelphia VireoVireo philadelphicusPassage migrantUncommon11–13 cmRegularly Sep–Oct · 0.02% in Oct
VeeryCatharus fuscescensSummer visitorUncommon16–19 cmRegularly May–Oct · 0.02% in Oct
Greater ScaupAythya marilaWinter visitorUncommon39–56 cmRegularly Oct–Apr · 0.02% in Oct
Horned LarkEremophila alpestrisWinter visitorUncommon16–20 cmRecorded all year · 0.01% in Oct
EiderSomateria mollissimaWinter visitorUncommon50–71 cmRegularly Oct–Mar · 0.01% in Oct
Cattle EgretArdea ibisSummer visitorRare46–56 cmRegularly Mar–Nov · 0.01% in Oct
Piping PloverCharadrius melodusSummer visitorUncommon17–18 cmRegularly Mar–Oct · 0.01% in Oct
WhimbrelNumenius phaeopusSummer visitorUncommon40–46 cmRegularly Apr–Oct · 0.01% in Oct
Sandhill CraneAntigone canadensisWinter visitorUncommon80–122 cmRecorded all year · 0.01% in Oct
Lapland LongspurCalcarius lapponicusWinter visitorRare15–16 cmRegularly Oct–Feb · 0.01% in Oct
Black-billed CuckooCoccyzus erythropthalmusSummer visitorUncommon28–32 cmRegularly May–Oct · 0.01% in Oct
Evening GrosbeakHesperiphona vespertinaPassage migrantRare16–22 cmRegularly May–Dec · 0.01% in Oct
Least FlycatcherEmpidonax minimusSummer visitorUncommon12–14 cmRegularly May–Oct · 0.01% in Oct
Lark SparrowChondestes grammacusPassage migrantRare15–17 cmRegularly Apr–Jan · 0.01% in Oct
Cackling GooseBranta hutchinsiiWinter visitorUncommon53–76 cmRegularly Oct–Mar · 0.01% in Oct
Hudsonian GodwitLimosa haemasticaPassage migrantRare36–42 cmRegularly Aug–Nov · 0.01% in Oct
Monk ParakeetMyiopsitta monachusResidentRare29–31 cmRecorded all year · 0.01% in Oct
Wilson's PhalaropePhalaropus tricolorSummer visitorRare22–24 cmRegularly May–Oct · 0.01% in Oct
Muscovy DuckCairina moschataWinter visitorRare66–84 cmRecorded all year · 0.01% in Oct
Northern Saw-whet OwlAegolius acadicusWinter visitorRare17–21 cmRegularly Oct–Mar · 0.01% in Oct
Rough-legged HawkButeo lagopusWinter visitorRare46–59 cmRegularly Oct–Mar · 0.00% in Oct
Common PheasantPhasianus colchicusResidentRare50–90 cmRecorded all year · 0.00% in Oct
Greater White-fronted GooseAnser albifronsWinter visitorUncommon64–81 cmRegularly Oct–Mar · 0.00% in Oct
Western KingbirdTyrannus verticalisPassage migrantRare20–24 cmRegularly Sep–Dec · 0.00% in Oct
KittiwakeRissa tridactylaPassage migrantUncommon37–41 cmRegularly Oct–Feb · 0.00% in Oct
Yellow-bellied FlycatcherEmpidonax flaviventrisPassage migrantRare13–15 cmRegularly May–Oct · 0.00% in Oct
Red-necked PhalaropePhalaropus lobatusPassage migrantRare18–19 cmRegularly May–Oct · 0.00% in Oct
Baird's SandpiperCalidris bairdiiPassage migrantRare14–17 cmRegularly Aug–Oct · 0.00% in Oct
Eurasian Collared DoveStreptopelia decaoctoResidentRare30–32 cmRegularly May–Oct · 0.00% in Oct
Red-necked GrebePodiceps grisegenaWinter visitorRare40–50 cmRegularly Oct–Apr · 0.00% in Oct
White-winged DoveZenaida asiaticaResidentRare27–30 cmRegularly Aug–Dec · 0.00% in Oct
Mourning WarblerGeothlypis philadelphiaPassage migrantRare10–15 cmRegularly May–Oct · 0.00% in Oct
Pacific LoonGavia pacificaPassage migrantRare58–74 cmRegularly Oct–Apr · 0.00% in Oct
Pomarine JaegerStercorarius pomarinusPassage migrantRare46–51 cmRegularly Jun–Dec · 0.00% in Oct
Greylag GooseAnser anserSummer visitorRare75–90 cmRegularly Feb–Dec · 0.00% in Oct
Ruffed GrouseBonasa umbellusSummer visitorRare41–50 cmRegularly Apr–Nov · 0.00% in Oct
BudgerigarMelopsittacus undulatusPassage migrantRare18–20 cmRegularly May–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