Birds to See in New Mexico in October
152 bird species on our list for New Mexico are recorded regularly in October
Of these, the most often recorded are House Finch, Northern Flicker, White-crowned Sparrow, Common Raven and American Robin. New this month: Sandhill Crane, Snow Goose, Bald Eagle and Cackling Goose and 16 more.
On the move in October
GBIF · OctArriving
At their peak
Ruby-crowned KingletBusiest month of the year · All year
Lincoln's SparrowBusiest month of the year · All year
Black-throated Blue WarblerBusiest month of the year · May
Grey PloverBusiest month of the year · Apr–May
American BitternBusiest month of the year · Aug–May
Cape May WarblerBusiest month of the year · Oct
From New Mexico’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 152 birds in October
152 birds
House FinchHaemorhous mexicanusResidentCommon13–15 cmRecorded all year · 3.98% in Oct
Northern FlickerColaptes auratusResidentCommon28–31 cmRecorded all year · 3.52% in Oct
White-crowned SparrowZonotrichia leucophrysWinter visitorCommon15–16 cmRegularly Sep–May · 3.01% in Oct
Common RavenCorvus coraxResidentCommon54–67 cmRecorded all year · 2.75% in Oct
American RobinTurdus migratoriusResidentCommon20–28 cmRecorded all year · 2.66% in Oct
Yellow-rumped WarblerSetophaga coronataResidentCommon12–15 cmRecorded all year · 2.25% in Oct
White-winged DoveZenaida asiaticaResidentCommon27–30 cmRecorded all year · 1.81% in Oct
Mourning DoveZenaida macrouraResidentCommon23–34 cmRecorded all year · 1.73% in Oct- Ruby-crowned KingletCorthylio calendulaWinter visitorCommon9–11 cmRecorded all year · 1.71% in Oct
American CrowCorvus brachyrhynchosResidentCommon41–53 cmRecorded all year · 1.62% in Oct
MallardAnas platyrhynchosResidentCommon50–65 cmRecorded all year · 1.50% in Oct
White-breasted NuthatchSitta carolinensisResidentCommon13–14 cmRecorded all year · 1.48% in Oct
House SparrowPasser domesticusResidentCommon14–17 cmRecorded all year · 1.45% in Oct
Chipping SparrowSpizella passerinaSummer visitorCommon12–15 cmRecorded all year · 1.33% in Oct
Red-winged BlackbirdAgelaius phoeniceusResidentCommon17–23 cmRecorded all year · 1.27% in Oct
Sandhill CraneAntigone canadensisWinter visitorCommon80–122 cmRegularly Oct–Mar · 1.26% in Oct
Say's PhoebeSayornis sayaResidentCommon17–20 cmRecorded all year · 1.24% in Oct
Red-tailed HawkButeo jamaicensisResidentCommon45–65 cmRecorded all year · 1.20% in Oct
Pine SiskinSpinus pinusResidentCommon11–14 cmRecorded all year · 1.13% in Oct
Eurasian Collared DoveStreptopelia decaoctoResidentCommon30–32 cmRecorded all year · 1.11% in Oct
Rock DoveColumba liviaResidentCommon29–37 cmRecorded all year · 1.07% in Oct
Song SparrowMelospiza melodiaWinter visitorCommon12–17 cmRecorded all year · 1.06% in Oct
Ladder-backed WoodpeckerDryobates scalarisResidentCommon16–19 cmRecorded all year · 1.02% in Oct
Canada GooseBranta canadensisWinter visitorCommon76–110 cmRecorded all year · 0.99% in Oct
Common StarlingSturnus vulgarisResidentCommon21–23 cmRecorded all year · 0.85% in Oct- Lincoln's SparrowMelospiza lincolniiWinter visitorCommon13–15 cmRecorded all year · 0.82% in Oct
Great Blue HeronArdea herodiasResidentCommon91–137 cmRecorded all year · 0.81% in Oct
Western MeadowlarkSturnella neglectaResidentCommon16–26 cmRecorded all year · 0.69% in Oct
Hermit ThrushCatharus guttatusResidentCommon14–18 cmRecorded all year · 0.64% in Oct
Pied-billed GrebePodilymbus podicepsWinter visitorCommon31–38 cmRecorded all year · 0.64% in Oct
Turkey VultureCathartes auraSummer visitorCommon62–81 cmRegularly Mar–Oct · 0.63% in Oct
Greater RoadrunnerGeococcyx californianusResidentCommon52–54 cmRecorded all year · 0.62% in Oct
Hairy WoodpeckerLeuconotopicus villosusResidentCommon18–26 cmRecorded all year · 0.60% in Oct
Wood DuckAix sponsaResidentCommon47–54 cmRecorded all year · 0.56% in Oct
Northern ShovelerSpatula clypeataWinter visitorCommon44–51 cmRegularly Aug–Jun · 0.49% in Oct
Eurasian TealAnas creccaWinter visitorCommon34–38 cmRegularly Aug–Jun · 0.49% in Oct
GadwallMareca streperaWinter visitorCommon46–56 cmRecorded all year · 0.48% in Oct
Downy WoodpeckerDryobates pubescensResidentCommon14–18 cmRecorded all year · 0.48% in Oct
Orange-crowned WarblerLeiothlypis celataSummer visitorCommon11–14 cmRegularly Apr–Oct · 0.45% in Oct
Barn SwallowHirundo rusticaSummer visitorCommon17–19 cmRegularly Mar–Oct · 0.44% in Oct
Mountain BluebirdSialia currucoidesResidentUncommon15–18 cmRecorded all year · 0.43% in Oct
Northern PintailAnas acutaWinter visitorCommon59–76 cmRegularly Aug–Apr · 0.42% in Oct
Red-naped SapsuckerSphyrapicus nuchalisResidentUncommon19–21 cmRecorded all year · 0.39% in Oct
Ruddy DuckOxyura jamaicensisWinter visitorCommon35–43 cmRecorded all year · 0.36% in Oct
Vesper SparrowPooecetes gramineusSummer visitorCommon13–17 cmRecorded all year · 0.34% in Oct
Marsh WrenCistothorus palustrisWinter visitorUncommon10–14 cmRegularly Sep–Apr · 0.34% in Oct
Sharp-shinned HawkAccipiter striatusWinter visitorUncommon24–34 cmRecorded all year · 0.29% in Oct
Ring-billed GullLarus delawarensisWinter visitorCommon43–54 cmRecorded all year · 0.27% in Oct
Acorn WoodpeckerMelanerpes formicivorusResidentUncommon20–24 cmRecorded all year · 0.27% in Oct
Horned LarkEremophila alpestrisResidentUncommon16–20 cmRecorded all year · 0.25% in Oct
Evening GrosbeakHesperiphona vespertinaResidentUncommon16–22 cmRecorded all year · 0.23% in Oct
Great Horned OwlBubo virginianusResidentUncommon46–63 cmRecorded all year · 0.23% in Oct
Northern MockingbirdMimus polyglottosSummer visitorCommon21–26 cmRecorded all year · 0.23% in Oct
Eastern BluebirdSialia sialisResidentUncommon16–21 cmRecorded all year · 0.20% in Oct
Long-billed DowitcherLimnodromus scolopaceusWinter visitorUncommon27–30 cmRegularly Jul–May · 0.18% in Oct
Snow GooseAnser caerulescensWinter visitorCommon69–84 cmRegularly Oct–May · 0.18% in Oct
Cedar WaxwingBombycilla cedrorumResidentUncommon15–18 cmRecorded all year · 0.18% in Oct
OspreyPandion haliaetusSummer visitorUncommon54–58 cmRecorded all year · 0.18% in Oct
Greater YellowlegsTringa melanoleucaWinter visitorUncommon29–40 cmRecorded all year · 0.17% in Oct
Williamson's SapsuckerSphyrapicus thyroideusResidentUncommon21–25 cmRecorded all year · 0.17% in Oct
Common YellowthroatGeothlypis trichasSummer visitorCommon11–13 cmRegularly Apr–Dec · 0.17% in Oct
Least SandpiperCalidris minutillaWinter visitorUncommon13–15 cmRegularly Jul–May · 0.17% in Oct
Wild TurkeyMeleagris gallopavoResidentUncommon100–125 cmRecorded all year · 0.16% in Oct
American AvocetRecurvirostra americanaSummer visitorUncommon43–51 cmRecorded all year · 0.14% in Oct
Black-necked GrebePodiceps nigricollisWinter visitorUncommon28–34 cmRecorded all year · 0.14% in Oct
MerlinFalco columbariusWinter visitorUncommon24–33 cmRegularly Sep–Apr · 0.12% in Oct
Red CrossbillLoxia curvirostraResidentUncommon15–17 cmRecorded all year · 0.12% in Oct
Clay-colored SparrowSpizella pallidaPassage migrantUncommon13–15 cmRegularly May–Oct · 0.12% in Oct
Great White EgretArdea albaResidentUncommon80–104 cmRecorded all year · 0.11% in Oct
Virginia RailRallus limicolaResidentUncommon20–27 cmRecorded all year · 0.11% in Oct
Blue JayCyanocitta cristataResidentUncommon25–30 cmRecorded all year · 0.11% in Oct
Cinnamon TealSpatula cyanopteraSummer visitorCommon36–43 cmRegularly Jan–Oct · 0.10% in Oct
Baird's SandpiperCalidris bairdiiPassage migrantUncommon14–17 cmRegularly Apr–Oct · 0.09% in Oct
Golden EagleAquila chrysaetosWinter visitorUncommon66–102 cmRecorded all year · 0.09% in Oct
Common GrackleQuiscalus quisculaSummer visitorUncommon28–34 cmRegularly Mar–Nov · 0.08% in Oct
Black-crowned Night-heronNycticorax nycticoraxResidentUncommon58–65 cmRecorded all year · 0.08% in Oct
Gray CatbirdDumetella carolinensisResidentUncommon20–24 cmRecorded all year · 0.08% in Oct
Lewis's WoodpeckerMelanerpes lewisResidentUncommon26–28 cmRecorded all year · 0.07% in Oct
Peregrine FalconFalco peregrinusSummer visitorUncommon34–58 cmRecorded all year · 0.07% in Oct
Northern CardinalCardinalis cardinalisResidentUncommon21–23 cmRecorded all year · 0.07% in Oct
Pectoral SandpiperCalidris melanotosPassage migrantUncommon19–23 cmRegularly Apr–Nov · 0.06% in Oct
Bald EagleHaliaeetus leucocephalusWinter visitorCommon70–102 cmRegularly Oct–Mar · 0.06% in Oct
Lesser YellowlegsTringa flavipesPassage migrantUncommon23–27 cmRegularly Feb–Oct · 0.06% in Oct
Franklin's GullLeucophaeus pipixcanPassage migrantUncommon32–36 cmRegularly Mar–Nov · 0.06% in Oct
Cackling GooseBranta hutchinsiiWinter visitorUncommon53–76 cmRegularly Oct–Mar · 0.05% in Oct
Western Screech-owlMegascops kennicottiiResidentUncommon19–25 cmRecorded all year · 0.05% in Oct
Scissor-tailed FlycatcherTyrannus forficatusSummer visitorUncommon28–38 cmRegularly Apr–Oct · 0.04% in Oct
Hooded MerganserLophodytes cucullatusWinter visitorUncommon40–49 cmRegularly Oct–Mar · 0.04% in Oct
Common MerganserMergus merganserWinter visitorCommon58–68 cmRegularly Sep–Jun · 0.04% in Oct
Western SandpiperCalidris mauriPassage migrantUncommon14–17 cmRegularly Apr–Oct · 0.04% in Oct
Nashville WarblerLeiothlypis ruficapillaPassage migrantUncommon11–13 cmRegularly Apr–Oct · 0.04% in Oct
Swamp SparrowMelospiza georgianaWinter visitorUncommon12–15 cmRegularly Oct–Apr · 0.04% in Oct
Common PheasantPhasianus colchicusResidentUncommon50–90 cmRecorded all year · 0.04% in Oct
Cattle EgretArdea ibisSummer visitorUncommon46–56 cmRegularly Mar–Nov · 0.04% in Oct
Stilt SandpiperCalidris himantopusPassage migrantUncommon18–23 cmRegularly Apr–Oct · 0.03% in Oct
Ross's GooseAnser rossiiWinter visitorUncommon57–64 cmRegularly Oct–Apr · 0.03% in Oct
DickcisselSpiza americanaPassage migrantUncommon14–16 cmRegularly Jun–Oct · 0.03% in Oct
Red-necked PhalaropePhalaropus lobatusPassage migrantUncommon18–19 cmRegularly Apr–Oct · 0.02% in Oct
Swainson's ThrushCatharus ustulatusSummer visitorUncommon16–20 cmRegularly Apr–Oct · 0.02% in Oct
Northern Pygmy-owlGlaucidium gnomaResidentRare15–17 cmRecorded all year · 0.02% in Oct
American Herring GullLarus smithsonianusWinter visitorUncommon53–65 cmRegularly Oct–Apr · 0.02% in Oct- Black-throated Blue WarblerSetophaga caerulescensPassage migrantRare11–13 cmRegularly May–Nov · 0.02% in Oct
Red-headed WoodpeckerMelanerpes erythrocephalusSummer visitorRare19–23 cmRegularly Apr–Dec · 0.02% in Oct
DunlinCalidris alpinaWinter visitorRare16–22 cmRegularly Sep–Apr · 0.02% in Oct- Grey PloverPluvialis squatarolaPassage migrantRare27–30 cmRegularly Apr–Nov · 0.02% in Oct
Yellow-bellied SapsuckerSphyrapicus variusWinter visitorRare19–22 cmRegularly Oct–Apr · 0.02% in Oct
Fox SparrowPasserella iliacaWinter visitorRare15–19 cmRegularly Oct–Jul · 0.02% in Oct
Surf ScoterMelanitta perspicillataPassage migrantRare48–60 cmRegularly Oct–Nov · 0.02% in Oct- American BitternBotaurus lentiginosusWinter visitorRare58–85 cmRegularly Aug–May · 0.02% in Oct
American Three-toed WoodpeckerPicoides dorsalisSummer visitorUncommon21–24 cmRecorded all year · 0.02% in Oct
Broad-winged HawkButeo platypterusPassage migrantRare34–44 cmRegularly Apr–Oct · 0.01% in Oct
Muscovy DuckCairina moschataResidentRare66–84 cmRecorded all year · 0.01% in Oct
Burrowing OwlAthene cuniculariaSummer visitorUncommon19–25 cmRecorded all year · 0.01% in Oct
Wilson's PhalaropePhalaropus tricolorSummer visitorUncommon22–24 cmRegularly Apr–Oct · 0.01% in Oct
Blue-headed VireoVireo solitariusResidentRare12–15 cmRegularly Sep–Oct · 0.01% in Oct
Sabine's GullXema sabiniPassage migrantRare27–33 cmRegularly Sep–Oct · 0.01% in Oct
Common LoonGavia immerWinter visitorUncommon66–91 cmRegularly Sep–May · 0.01% in Oct
Gila WoodpeckerMelanerpes uropygialisResidentRare20–25 cmRecorded all year · 0.01% in Oct
Forster's TernSterna forsteriSummer visitorRare33–36 cmRegularly Apr–Oct · 0.01% in Oct- Cape May WarblerSetophaga tigrinaPassage migrantRare12–14 cmRegularly Oct · 0.01% in Oct
Philadelphia VireoVireo philadelphicusPassage migrantRare11–13 cmRegularly May–Oct · 0.01% in Oct
Semipalmated PloverCharadrius semipalmatusPassage migrantRare17–19 cmRegularly Apr–Nov · 0.01% in Oct
Chestnut-sided WarblerSetophaga pensylvanicaPassage migrantRare10–14 cmRegularly May–Oct · 0.01% in Oct
Horned GrebePodiceps auritusWinter visitorRare31–38 cmRegularly Oct–Apr · 0.01% in Oct
WilletTringa semipalmataSummer visitorUncommon33–41 cmRegularly Apr–Oct · 0.01% in Oct
Swan GooseAnser cygnoidesWinter visitorRare81–94 cmRecorded all year · 0.01% in Oct
Northern Saw-whet OwlAegolius acadicusResidentRare17–21 cmRecorded all year · 0.01% in Oct
OvenbirdSeiurus aurocapillaPassage migrantRare12–15 cmRegularly May–Oct · 0.01% in Oct
SanderlingCalidris albaPassage migrantRare18–20 cmRegularly Apr–Oct · 0.01% in Oct
Tennessee WarblerLeiothlypis peregrinaPassage migrantRare10–13 cmRegularly Apr–Oct · 0.01% in Oct
Bonaparte's GullChroicocephalus philadelphiaPassage migrantUncommon28–38 cmRegularly Oct–May · 0.01% in Oct
Rose-breasted GrosbeakPheucticus ludovicianusPassage migrantUncommon18–22 cmRegularly Apr–Oct · 0.01% in Oct
Greater White-fronted GooseAnser albifronsWinter visitorUncommon64–81 cmRegularly Sep–May · 0.01% in Oct
Lesser Black-backed GullLarus fuscusWinter visitorRare52–64 cmRegularly Sep–Apr · 0.01% in Oct
Black-throated Green WarblerSetophaga virensPassage migrantRare11–12 cmRegularly May–Oct · 0.00% in Oct
Least FlycatcherEmpidonax minimusPassage migrantRare12–14 cmRegularly May–Oct · 0.00% in Oct
Magnolia WarblerSetophaga magnoliaPassage migrantRare11–13 cmRegularly May–Oct · 0.00% in Oct
American RedstartSetophaga ruticillaPassage migrantUncommon11–14 cmRegularly Apr–Oct · 0.00% in Oct
Flammulated OwlPsiloscops flammeolusSummer visitorRare15–17 cmRegularly Apr–Oct · 0.00% in Oct
Grey PhalaropePhalaropus fulicariusResidentRare20–22 cmRegularly Sep–Oct · 0.00% in Oct
Marbled GodwitLimosa fedoaSummer visitorRare40–50 cmRegularly Apr–Oct · 0.00% in Oct
Palm WarblerSetophaga palmarumPassage migrantRare12–14 cmRegularly Apr–Oct · 0.00% in Oct
Arizona WoodpeckerPicoides arizonaeSummer visitorRare19–21 cmRegularly Mar–Jan · 0.00% in Oct
Ruby-throated HummingbirdArchilochus colubrisPassage migrantRare7–9 cmRegularly Sep–Oct · 0.00% in Oct
Common TernSterna hirundoPassage migrantRare31–35 cmRegularly Aug–Oct · 0.00% in Oct
American Golden-PloverPluvialis dominicaPassage migrantRare24–28 cmRegularly Apr–Oct · 0.00% in Oct
Greylag GooseAnser anserWinter visitorRare75–90 cmRegularly Aug–Jun · 0.00% in Oct
Monk ParakeetMyiopsitta monachusWinter visitorRare29–31 cmRegularly Jul–May · 0.00% in Oct
Whiskered Screech-owlMegascops trichopsisSummer visitorRare18–23 cmRegularly Mar–Oct · 0.00% in Oct
Scarlet TanagerPiranga olivaceaPassage migrantRare16–19 cmRegularly May–Oct · 0.00% in Oct
Egyptian GooseAlopochen aegyptiacaWinter visitorRare63–73 cmRegularly Aug–Jun · 0.00% in Oct
Pacific LoonGavia pacificaResidentRare58–74 cmRegularly Oct–Jan · 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