Birds to See in New York in October
171 bird species on our list for New York are recorded regularly in October
Of these, the most often recorded are Blue Jay, American Robin, Northern Cardinal, American Crow and Song Sparrow. New this month: Red-breasted Merganser, Hooded Merganser, Brent Goose and Greater Scaup and 20 more.
On the move in October
GBIF · OctArriving
At their peak
Yellow-rumped WarblerBusiest month of the year · All year
Ruby-crowned KingletBusiest month of the year · Apr–May
Swamp SparrowBusiest month of the year · All year
Palm WarblerBusiest month of the year · Apr–May
Hermit ThrushBusiest month of the year · All year
White-crowned SparrowBusiest month of the year · Sep–May
From New York’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 171 birds in October
171 birds
Blue JayCyanocitta cristataResidentCommon25–30 cmRecorded all year · 4.14% in Oct
American RobinTurdus migratoriusResidentCommon20–28 cmRecorded all year · 2.84% in Oct
Northern CardinalCardinalis cardinalisResidentCommon21–23 cmRecorded all year · 2.67% in Oct
American CrowCorvus brachyrhynchosResidentCommon41–53 cmRecorded all year · 2.64% in Oct
Song SparrowMelospiza melodiaResidentCommon12–17 cmRecorded all year · 2.61% in Oct
Canada GooseBranta canadensisResidentCommon76–110 cmRecorded all year · 2.56% in Oct
Red-bellied WoodpeckerMelanerpes carolinusResidentCommon23–26 cmRecorded all year · 2.32% in Oct
Downy WoodpeckerDryobates pubescensResidentCommon14–18 cmRecorded all year · 2.25% in Oct- Yellow-rumped WarblerSetophaga coronataSummer visitorCommon12–15 cmRecorded all year · 2.14% in Oct
Mourning DoveZenaida macrouraResidentCommon23–34 cmRecorded all year · 2.13% in Oct
White-breasted NuthatchSitta carolinensisResidentCommon13–14 cmRecorded all year · 2.11% in Oct
Common StarlingSturnus vulgarisResidentCommon21–23 cmRecorded all year · 2.11% in Oct
House SparrowPasser domesticusResidentCommon14–17 cmRecorded all year · 1.84% in Oct- Ruby-crowned KingletCorthylio calendulaPassage migrantCommon9–11 cmRegularly Sep–May · 1.83% in Oct
Tufted TitmouseBaeolophus bicolorResidentCommon14–17 cmRecorded all year · 1.81% in Oct
MallardAnas platyrhynchosResidentCommon50–65 cmRecorded all year · 1.76% in Oct
Ring-billed GullLarus delawarensisWinter visitorCommon43–54 cmRecorded all year · 1.62% in Oct
Northern FlickerColaptes auratusResidentCommon28–31 cmRecorded all year · 1.61% in Oct
Gray CatbirdDumetella carolinensisSummer visitorCommon20–24 cmRegularly Apr–Dec · 1.31% in Oct
Red-winged BlackbirdAgelaius phoeniceusSummer visitorCommon17–23 cmRecorded all year · 1.26% in Oct
American Herring GullLarus smithsonianusWinter visitorCommon53–65 cmRecorded all year · 1.25% in Oct
House FinchHaemorhous mexicanusResidentCommon13–15 cmRecorded all year · 1.20% in Oct
Rock DoveColumba liviaResidentCommon29–37 cmRecorded all year · 1.20% in Oct
Red-tailed HawkButeo jamaicensisResidentCommon45–65 cmRecorded all year · 1.18% in Oct
Great Blue HeronArdea herodiasResidentCommon91–137 cmRecorded all year · 1.13% in Oct- Swamp SparrowMelospiza georgianaSummer visitorCommon12–15 cmRecorded all year · 1.11% in Oct
Northern MockingbirdMimus polyglottosResidentCommon21–26 cmRecorded all year · 1.11% in Oct
Turkey VultureCathartes auraResidentCommon62–81 cmRecorded all year · 1.05% in Oct
Common GrackleQuiscalus quisculaSummer visitorCommon28–34 cmRecorded all year · 0.87% in Oct
Hairy WoodpeckerLeuconotopicus villosusResidentCommon18–26 cmRecorded all year · 0.86% in Oct
Chipping SparrowSpizella passerinaSummer visitorCommon12–15 cmRegularly Apr–Nov · 0.81% in Oct- Palm WarblerSetophaga palmarumPassage migrantCommon12–14 cmRegularly Apr–Nov · 0.80% in Oct
- Hermit ThrushCatharus guttatusSummer visitorCommon14–18 cmRecorded all year · 0.78% in Oct
Yellow-bellied SapsuckerSphyrapicus variusResidentCommon19–22 cmRecorded all year · 0.74% in Oct
Common RavenCorvus coraxResidentCommon54–67 cmRecorded all year · 0.68% in Oct
Eastern BluebirdSialia sialisResidentCommon16–21 cmRecorded all year · 0.66% in Oct
Common YellowthroatGeothlypis trichasSummer visitorCommon11–13 cmRegularly May–Oct · 0.64% in Oct
Cedar WaxwingBombycilla cedrorumSummer visitorCommon15–18 cmRecorded all year · 0.64% in Oct
Bald EagleHaliaeetus leucocephalusResidentCommon70–102 cmRecorded all year · 0.63% in Oct
Great Black-backed GullLarus marinusWinter visitorCommon64–79 cmRecorded all year · 0.58% in Oct
Wood DuckAix sponsaSummer visitorCommon47–54 cmRecorded all year · 0.56% in Oct
American Black DuckAnas rubripesWinter visitorCommon54–59 cmRecorded all year · 0.49% in Oct- White-crowned SparrowZonotrichia leucophrysWinter visitorUncommon15–16 cmRegularly Sep–May · 0.47% in Oct
Great White EgretArdea albaSummer visitorCommon80–104 cmRegularly Mar–Dec · 0.45% in Oct
Mute SwanCygnus olorResidentCommon140–160 cmRecorded all year · 0.45% in Oct
Blue-headed VireoVireo solitariusSummer visitorUncommon12–15 cmRegularly Apr–Nov · 0.43% in Oct
Pileated WoodpeckerDryocopus pileatusResidentCommon40–49 cmRecorded all year · 0.42% in Oct
Eurasian TealAnas creccaWinter visitorUncommon34–38 cmRegularly Jul–May · 0.38% in Oct
Black-throated Blue WarblerSetophaga caerulescensSummer visitorCommon11–13 cmRegularly Apr–Oct · 0.32% in Oct
OspreyPandion haliaetusSummer visitorCommon54–58 cmRegularly Mar–Oct · 0.32% in Oct
MerlinFalco columbariusWinter visitorUncommon24–33 cmRecorded all year · 0.31% in Oct
Blackpoll WarblerSetophaga striataPassage migrantUncommon13–15 cmRegularly May–Oct · 0.31% in Oct
Sharp-shinned HawkAccipiter striatusWinter visitorUncommon24–34 cmRecorded all year · 0.29% in Oct
Common MerganserMergus merganserWinter visitorCommon58–68 cmRecorded all year · 0.28% in Oct
Greater YellowlegsTringa melanoleucaSummer visitorUncommon29–40 cmRegularly Mar–Jan · 0.26% in Oct
Pine SiskinSpinus pinusWinter visitorUncommon11–14 cmRegularly Oct–Jun · 0.26% in Oct
GadwallMareca streperaWinter visitorCommon46–56 cmRecorded all year · 0.26% in Oct
Northern ShovelerSpatula clypeataWinter visitorUncommon44–51 cmRegularly Aug–May · 0.25% in Oct
Pied-billed GrebePodilymbus podicepsWinter visitorUncommon31–38 cmRecorded all year · 0.25% in Oct
Peregrine FalconFalco peregrinusWinter visitorUncommon34–58 cmRecorded all year · 0.23% in Oct
Swainson's ThrushCatharus ustulatusSummer visitorCommon16–20 cmRegularly May–Oct · 0.22% in Oct
Ruddy DuckOxyura jamaicensisWinter visitorCommon35–43 cmRegularly Jul–May · 0.22% in Oct
Common LoonGavia immerWinter visitorCommon66–91 cmRecorded all year · 0.21% in Oct
Lincoln's SparrowMelospiza lincolniiSummer visitorUncommon13–15 cmRegularly May–Nov · 0.20% in Oct
Magnolia WarblerSetophaga magnoliaSummer visitorCommon11–13 cmRegularly May–Oct · 0.20% in Oct
American RedstartSetophaga ruticillaSummer visitorCommon11–14 cmRegularly May–Oct · 0.20% in Oct
Brent GooseBranta berniclaWinter visitorCommon55–66 cmRegularly Oct–May · 0.19% in Oct
Black-throated Green WarblerSetophaga virensSummer visitorCommon11–12 cmRegularly Apr–Oct · 0.18% in Oct
Northern PintailAnas acutaWinter visitorUncommon59–76 cmRegularly Aug–Apr · 0.18% in Oct
Wild TurkeyMeleagris gallopavoResidentUncommon100–125 cmRecorded all year · 0.15% in Oct
Grey PloverPluvialis squatarolaWinter visitorUncommon27–30 cmRecorded all year · 0.14% in Oct
Nashville WarblerLeiothlypis ruficapillaSummer visitorUncommon11–13 cmRegularly Apr–Oct · 0.14% in Oct
DunlinCalidris alpinaWinter visitorUncommon16–22 cmRegularly Aug–Jun · 0.14% in Oct
Fish CrowCorvus ossifragusResidentCommon36–41 cmRecorded all year · 0.13% in Oct
OvenbirdSeiurus aurocapillaSummer visitorCommon12–15 cmRegularly Apr–Oct · 0.13% in Oct
Tennessee WarblerLeiothlypis peregrinaPassage migrantUncommon10–13 cmRegularly May–Oct · 0.12% in Oct
Lesser YellowlegsTringa flavipesPassage migrantUncommon23–27 cmRegularly Apr–Oct · 0.11% in Oct
Scarlet TanagerPiranga olivaceaSummer visitorCommon16–19 cmRegularly May–Oct · 0.10% in Oct
Hooded MerganserLophodytes cucullatusWinter visitorCommon40–49 cmRegularly Oct–Jun · 0.10% in Oct
Bonaparte's GullChroicocephalus philadelphiaWinter visitorUncommon28–38 cmRegularly Jul–May · 0.10% in Oct
Surf ScoterMelanitta perspicillataWinter visitorUncommon48–60 cmRegularly Oct–Apr · 0.09% in Oct
Forster's TernSterna forsteriSummer visitorUncommon33–36 cmRegularly Apr–Nov · 0.09% in Oct
Black-crowned Night-heronNycticorax nycticoraxSummer visitorUncommon58–65 cmRecorded all year · 0.09% in Oct
Cape May WarblerSetophaga tigrinaPassage migrantUncommon12–14 cmRegularly May–Oct · 0.08% in Oct
Marsh WrenCistothorus palustrisSummer visitorUncommon10–14 cmRegularly Apr–Dec · 0.08% in Oct
Lesser Black-backed GullLarus fuscusWinter visitorUncommon52–64 cmRecorded all year · 0.08% in Oct
Barred OwlStrix variaResidentUncommon43–50 cmRecorded all year · 0.08% in Oct
Red-breasted MerganserMergus serratorWinter visitorCommon52–58 cmRegularly Oct–May · 0.08% in Oct
SanderlingCalidris albaWinter visitorUncommon18–20 cmRecorded all year · 0.08% in Oct
Great Horned OwlBubo virginianusWinter visitorUncommon46–63 cmRecorded all year · 0.08% in Oct
Pectoral SandpiperCalidris melanotosPassage migrantUncommon19–23 cmRegularly Apr–Nov · 0.07% in Oct
Monk ParakeetMyiopsitta monachusResidentUncommon29–31 cmRecorded all year · 0.07% in Oct
Rose-breasted GrosbeakPheucticus ludovicianusSummer visitorCommon18–22 cmRegularly Apr–Oct · 0.07% in Oct
Vesper SparrowPooecetes gramineusSummer visitorUncommon13–17 cmRegularly Apr–Feb · 0.07% in Oct
Greater ScaupAythya marilaWinter visitorCommon39–56 cmRegularly Oct–Apr · 0.07% in Oct
Semipalmated PloverCharadrius semipalmatusSummer visitorCommon17–19 cmRegularly May–Oct · 0.07% in Oct
Fox SparrowPasserella iliacaWinter visitorUncommon15–19 cmRegularly Oct–Apr · 0.06% in Oct
Eastern Screech-owlMegascops asioWinter visitorUncommon16–25 cmRecorded all year · 0.06% in Oct
Northern WaterthrushParkesia noveboracensisSummer visitorUncommon12–15 cmRegularly Apr–Oct · 0.06% in Oct
Sandhill CraneAntigone canadensisSummer visitorUncommon80–122 cmRecorded all year · 0.05% in Oct
Horned LarkEremophila alpestrisWinter visitorUncommon16–20 cmRecorded all year · 0.05% in Oct
Ruffed GrouseBonasa umbellusResidentUncommon41–50 cmRecorded all year · 0.05% in Oct
Horned GrebePodiceps auritusWinter visitorUncommon31–38 cmRegularly Oct–Apr · 0.05% in Oct
Trumpeter SwanCygnus buccinatorResidentUncommon139–157 cmRecorded all year · 0.05% in Oct
Snow GooseAnser caerulescensWinter visitorUncommon69–84 cmRegularly Oct–Apr · 0.05% in Oct
Semipalmated SandpiperCalidris pusillaSummer visitorCommon15–18 cmRegularly May–Oct · 0.04% in Oct
Common PheasantPhasianus colchicusResidentRare50–90 cmRecorded all year · 0.04% in Oct
Red-throated LoonGavia stellataWinter visitorUncommon53–69 cmRegularly Oct–Apr · 0.04% in Oct
Orange-crowned WarblerLeiothlypis celataWinter visitorUncommon11–14 cmRegularly Sep–May · 0.04% in Oct
Gray-cheeked ThrushCatharus minimusPassage migrantUncommon16–17 cmRegularly May–Oct · 0.04% in Oct
Long-billed DowitcherLimnodromus scolopaceusPassage migrantRare27–30 cmRegularly Jul–Jan · 0.03% in Oct
American Golden-PloverPluvialis dominicaPassage migrantUncommon24–28 cmRegularly Aug–Nov · 0.03% in Oct
Evening GrosbeakHesperiphona vespertinaWinter visitorUncommon16–22 cmRegularly Oct–May · 0.03% in Oct
Hudsonian GodwitLimosa haemasticaPassage migrantRare36–42 cmRegularly Jul–Nov · 0.03% in Oct
DickcisselSpiza americanaPassage migrantRare14–16 cmRegularly Jun–Jan · 0.03% in Oct
Solitary SandpiperTringa solitariaPassage migrantUncommon19–23 cmRegularly Apr–Oct · 0.03% in Oct
Common TernSterna hirundoSummer visitorUncommon31–35 cmRegularly Apr–Oct · 0.03% in Oct
Northern GannetMorus bassanusWinter visitorUncommon87–100 cmRegularly Sep–Jun · 0.03% in Oct
Great CormorantPhalacrocorax carboWinter visitorUncommon80–100 cmRegularly Sep–Apr · 0.03% in Oct
BobolinkDolichonyx oryzivorusSummer visitorUncommon16–20 cmRegularly May–Oct · 0.03% in Oct
Cackling GooseBranta hutchinsiiWinter visitorUncommon53–76 cmRegularly Oct–Mar · 0.03% in Oct
Red-necked GrebePodiceps grisegenaWinter visitorUncommon40–50 cmRegularly Sep–May · 0.02% in Oct
White-rumped SandpiperCalidris fuscicollisSummer visitorUncommon15–18 cmRegularly May–Nov · 0.02% in Oct
Bay-breasted WarblerSetophaga castaneaPassage migrantUncommon14–14 cmRegularly May–Oct · 0.02% in Oct
Ruddy TurnstoneArenaria interpresSummer visitorUncommon21–24 cmRegularly May–Feb · 0.02% in Oct
Clay-colored SparrowSpizella pallidaSummer visitorRare13–15 cmRegularly May–Feb · 0.02% in Oct
Broad-winged HawkButeo platypterusSummer visitorUncommon34–44 cmRegularly Apr–Oct · 0.02% in Oct
Red-headed WoodpeckerMelanerpes erythrocephalusResidentRare19–23 cmRecorded all year · 0.02% in Oct
EiderSomateria mollissimaWinter visitorUncommon50–71 cmRegularly Jun–Mar · 0.02% in Oct
Snow BuntingPlectrophenax nivalisWinter visitorUncommon15–18 cmRegularly Oct–Mar · 0.02% in Oct
Marbled GodwitLimosa fedoaPassage migrantRare40–50 cmRegularly May–Dec · 0.01% in Oct
Arctic JaegerStercorarius parasiticusPassage migrantRare41–46 cmRegularly Jun–Nov · 0.01% in Oct
Stilt SandpiperCalidris himantopusPassage migrantUncommon18–23 cmRegularly Jul–Oct · 0.01% in Oct
Short-billed DowitcherLimnodromus griseusPassage migrantUncommon23–32 cmRegularly May–Oct · 0.01% in Oct
Red KnotCalidris canutusResidentRare23–26 cmRegularly May–Feb · 0.01% in Oct
Red CrossbillLoxia curvirostraResidentUncommon15–17 cmRecorded all year · 0.01% in Oct
Tundra SwanCygnus columbianusWinter visitorUncommon120–150 cmRegularly Oct–Apr · 0.01% in Oct
Virginia RailRallus limicolaSummer visitorUncommon20–27 cmRegularly Mar–Jan · 0.01% in Oct
American BitternBotaurus lentiginosusSummer visitorRare58–85 cmRecorded all year · 0.01% in Oct
American AvocetRecurvirostra americanaPassage migrantRare43–51 cmRegularly Apr–Nov · 0.01% in Oct
Lapland LongspurCalcarius lapponicusWinter visitorRare15–16 cmRegularly Oct–Apr · 0.01% in Oct
Great ShearwaterArdenna gravisPassage migrantRare43–51 cmRegularly Jun–Nov · 0.01% in Oct
Philadelphia VireoVireo philadelphicusPassage migrantUncommon11–13 cmRegularly May–Oct · 0.01% in Oct
Northern Saw-whet OwlAegolius acadicusWinter visitorRare17–21 cmRegularly Oct–Jun · 0.01% in Oct
Western KingbirdTyrannus verticalisPassage migrantRare20–24 cmRegularly Oct–Nov · 0.01% in Oct
Cattle EgretArdea ibisPassage migrantRare46–56 cmRegularly Apr–Nov · 0.01% in Oct
Lark SparrowChondestes grammacusWinter visitorRare15–17 cmRegularly Aug–Apr · 0.01% in Oct
Golden EagleAquila chrysaetosWinter visitorRare66–102 cmRegularly Oct–Apr · 0.01% in Oct
Glossy IbisPlegadis falcinellusSummer visitorUncommon48–66 cmRegularly Apr–Oct · 0.01% in Oct
Ross's GooseAnser rossiiWinter visitorRare57–64 cmRegularly Oct–Mar · 0.01% in Oct
Greater White-fronted GooseAnser albifronsWinter visitorRare64–81 cmRegularly Oct–Mar · 0.01% in Oct
WheatearOenanthe oenanthePassage migrantRare15–16 cmRegularly Sep–Oct · 0.01% in Oct
Say's PhoebeSayornis sayaPassage migrantRare17–20 cmRegularly Sep–Oct · 0.00% in Oct
Eurasian WigeonMareca penelopeWinter visitorRare42–51 cmRegularly Sep–Apr · 0.00% in Oct
Black-necked GrebePodiceps nigricollisWinter visitorRare28–34 cmRegularly Oct–Mar · 0.00% in Oct
KittiwakeRissa tridactylaWinter visitorRare37–41 cmRegularly Sep–Feb · 0.00% in Oct
Baird's SandpiperCalidris bairdiiPassage migrantRare14–17 cmRegularly Aug–Oct · 0.00% in Oct
Muscovy DuckCairina moschataWinter visitorRare66–84 cmRecorded all year · 0.00% in Oct
Pomarine JaegerStercorarius pomarinusPassage migrantRare46–51 cmRegularly Aug–Nov · 0.00% in Oct
Black-backed WoodpeckerPicoides arcticusResidentRare21–24 cmRecorded all year · 0.00% in Oct
WhimbrelNumenius phaeopusSummer visitorRare40–46 cmRegularly May–Oct · 0.00% in Oct
BudgerigarMelopsittacus undulatusSummer visitorRare18–20 cmRegularly Apr–Nov · 0.00% in Oct
Greylag GooseAnser anserResidentRare75–90 cmRecorded all year · 0.00% in Oct
Little GullHydrocoloeus minutusWinter visitorRare25–30 cmRegularly Aug–Apr · 0.00% in Oct
Franklin's GullLeucophaeus pipixcanPassage migrantRare32–36 cmRegularly May–Oct · 0.00% in Oct
King EiderSomateria spectabilisWinter visitorRare46–64 cmRegularly Jun–Apr · 0.00% in Oct
Grey PhalaropePhalaropus fulicariusPassage migrantRare20–22 cmRegularly Sep–Dec · 0.00% in Oct
Long-tailed JaegerStercorarius longicaudusPassage migrantRare48–58 cmRegularly Aug–Oct · 0.00% in Oct
Western SandpiperCalidris mauriPassage migrantRare14–17 cmRegularly Jul–Oct · 0.00% in Oct
Manx ShearwaterPuffinus puffinusPassage migrantRare30–38 cmRegularly Jun–Nov · 0.00% in Oct
Mandarin DuckAix galericulataPassage migrantRare41–49 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