Birds to See in North Carolina in October
159 bird species on our list for North Carolina are recorded regularly in October
Of these, the most often recorded are Northern Cardinal, Blue Jay, American Crow, Tufted Titmouse and Red-bellied Woodpecker. New this month: Yellow-rumped Warbler, Ruby-crowned Kinglet, Yellow-bellied Sapsucker and Hermit Thrush and 18 more.
On the move in October
GBIF · OctArriving
At their peak
From North Carolina’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 159 birds in October
159 birds
Northern CardinalCardinalis cardinalisResidentCommon21–23 cmRecorded all year · 3.65% in Oct
Blue JayCyanocitta cristataResidentCommon25–30 cmRecorded all year · 3.38% in Oct
American CrowCorvus brachyrhynchosResidentCommon41–53 cmRecorded all year · 3.22% in Oct
Tufted TitmouseBaeolophus bicolorResidentCommon14–16 cmRecorded all year · 2.92% in Oct
Red-bellied WoodpeckerMelanerpes carolinusResidentCommon23–26 cmRecorded all year · 2.91% in Oct
Downy WoodpeckerDryobates pubescensResidentCommon14–18 cmRecorded all year · 2.45% in Oct
Northern MockingbirdMimus polyglottosResidentCommon21–26 cmRecorded all year · 2.39% in Oct
Eastern BluebirdSialia sialisResidentCommon16–21 cmRecorded all year · 2.30% in Oct
Northern FlickerColaptes auratusWinter visitorCommon28–31 cmRecorded all year · 2.15% in Oct
House FinchHaemorhous mexicanusResidentCommon13–15 cmRecorded all year · 1.82% in Oct
Mourning DoveZenaida macrouraResidentCommon23–34 cmRecorded all year · 1.79% in Oct
Turkey VultureCathartes auraResidentCommon62–81 cmRecorded all year · 1.77% in Oct
White-breasted NuthatchSitta carolinensisResidentCommon13–14 cmRecorded all year · 1.73% in Oct
Yellow-rumped WarblerSetophaga coronataWinter visitorCommon12–15 cmRegularly Oct–May · 1.50% in Oct
Song SparrowMelospiza melodiaResidentCommon12–17 cmRecorded all year · 1.49% in Oct
American RobinTurdus migratoriusResidentCommon20–28 cmRecorded all year · 1.47% in Oct
Great Blue HeronArdea herodiasResidentCommon91–137 cmRecorded all year · 1.39% in Oct
Ruby-crowned KingletCorthylio calendulaWinter visitorCommon9–11 cmRegularly Oct–Apr · 1.28% in Oct
Gray CatbirdDumetella carolinensisSummer visitorCommon20–24 cmRecorded all year · 1.24% in Oct
Canada GooseBranta canadensisResidentCommon76–110 cmRecorded all year · 1.05% in Oct
Pileated WoodpeckerDryocopus pileatusResidentCommon40–49 cmRecorded all year · 1.03% in Oct
Chipping SparrowSpizella passerinaResidentCommon12–15 cmRecorded all year · 0.89% in Oct
Palm WarblerSetophaga palmarumWinter visitorCommon12–14 cmRegularly Sep–May · 0.87% in Oct
Common StarlingSturnus vulgarisResidentCommon21–23 cmRecorded all year · 0.83% in Oct
Yellow-bellied SapsuckerSphyrapicus variusWinter visitorCommon19–22 cmRegularly Oct–Apr · 0.77% in Oct
Great White EgretArdea albaResidentCommon80–104 cmRecorded all year · 0.77% in Oct
MallardAnas platyrhynchosResidentCommon50–65 cmRecorded all year · 0.70% in Oct
Red-winged BlackbirdAgelaius phoeniceusResidentCommon17–23 cmRecorded all year · 0.63% in Oct
Fish CrowCorvus ossifragusResidentCommon36–41 cmRecorded all year · 0.62% in Oct
Common YellowthroatGeothlypis trichasSummer visitorCommon11–13 cmRegularly Mar–Jan · 0.62% in Oct
American RedstartSetophaga ruticillaSummer visitorCommon11–14 cmRegularly Apr–Oct · 0.61% in Oct
Common GrackleQuiscalus quisculaResidentCommon28–34 cmRecorded all year · 0.55% in Oct
Cape May WarblerSetophaga tigrinaPassage migrantCommon12–14 cmRegularly Apr–Oct · 0.54% in Oct
Hairy WoodpeckerLeuconotopicus villosusResidentCommon18–26 cmRecorded all year · 0.53% in Oct
Red-tailed HawkButeo jamaicensisResidentCommon45–65 cmRecorded all year · 0.47% in Oct
Swamp SparrowMelospiza georgianaWinter visitorCommon12–15 cmRegularly Oct–Apr · 0.47% in Oct
Magnolia WarblerSetophaga magnoliaPassage migrantCommon11–13 cmRegularly May–Oct · 0.46% in Oct
Bald EagleHaliaeetus leucocephalusWinter visitorCommon70–102 cmRecorded all year · 0.45% in Oct
OspreyPandion haliaetusSummer visitorCommon54–58 cmRecorded all year · 0.45% in Oct
Black-throated Blue WarblerSetophaga caerulescensSummer visitorUncommon11–13 cmRegularly Apr–Oct · 0.44% in Oct
Rose-breasted GrosbeakPheucticus ludovicianusSummer visitorCommon18–22 cmRegularly Apr–Oct · 0.39% in Oct
Ruby-throated HummingbirdArchilochus colubrisSummer visitorCommon7–9 cmRegularly Apr–Oct · 0.39% in Oct
Cedar WaxwingBombycilla cedrorumResidentCommon15–18 cmRecorded all year · 0.38% in Oct
Pied-billed GrebePodilymbus podicepsWinter visitorCommon31–38 cmRegularly Aug–Apr · 0.38% in Oct
Blue-headed VireoVireo solitariusSummer visitorCommon12–15 cmRecorded all year · 0.36% in Oct
Swainson's ThrushCatharus ustulatusPassage migrantUncommon16–20 cmRegularly Apr–Oct · 0.35% in Oct
American Herring GullLarus smithsonianusResidentUncommon53–65 cmRecorded all year · 0.34% in Oct
Tennessee WarblerLeiothlypis peregrinaPassage migrantCommon10–13 cmRegularly Aug–Oct · 0.34% in Oct
Bay-breasted WarblerSetophaga castaneaPassage migrantUncommon14–14 cmRegularly May–Oct · 0.30% in Oct
House SparrowPasser domesticusResidentUncommon14–17 cmRecorded all year · 0.30% in Oct
Great Black-backed GullLarus marinusResidentUncommon64–79 cmRecorded all year · 0.28% in Oct
Ring-billed GullLarus delawarensisWinter visitorCommon43–54 cmRegularly Jul–May · 0.27% in Oct
Red-headed WoodpeckerMelanerpes erythrocephalusResidentUncommon19–23 cmRecorded all year · 0.27% in Oct
Rock DoveColumba liviaResidentUncommon29–37 cmRecorded all year · 0.27% in Oct
WilletTringa semipalmataResidentUncommon33–41 cmRecorded all year · 0.24% in Oct
SanderlingCalidris albaResidentUncommon18–20 cmRecorded all year · 0.24% in Oct
Scarlet TanagerPiranga olivaceaSummer visitorCommon16–19 cmRegularly Apr–Oct · 0.23% in Oct
Black-throated Green WarblerSetophaga virensSummer visitorUncommon11–12 cmRegularly Mar–Oct · 0.22% in Oct
Wood DuckAix sponsaResidentUncommon47–54 cmRecorded all year · 0.21% in Oct
Hermit ThrushCatharus guttatusWinter visitorCommon14–18 cmRegularly Oct–Jul · 0.21% in Oct
Forster's TernSterna forsteriResidentUncommon33–36 cmRecorded all year · 0.20% in Oct
Grey PloverPluvialis squatarolaResidentUncommon27–30 cmRecorded all year · 0.19% in Oct
Sharp-shinned HawkAccipiter striatusWinter visitorUncommon24–34 cmRecorded all year · 0.17% in Oct
Blackpoll WarblerSetophaga striataPassage migrantUncommon13–15 cmRegularly Apr–Oct · 0.17% in Oct
Greater YellowlegsTringa melanoleucaResidentUncommon29–40 cmRecorded all year · 0.17% in Oct
Pine SiskinSpinus pinusWinter visitorUncommon11–14 cmRegularly Oct–Jul · 0.16% in Oct
Barred OwlStrix variaResidentUncommon43–50 cmRecorded all year · 0.16% in Oct
Common RavenCorvus coraxResidentUncommon54–67 cmRecorded all year · 0.15% in Oct
Northern PintailAnas acutaWinter visitorUncommon59–76 cmRegularly Sep–Mar · 0.15% in Oct
American Black DuckAnas rubripesResidentUncommon54–59 cmRecorded all year · 0.14% in Oct
Semipalmated PloverCharadrius semipalmatusSummer visitorUncommon17–19 cmRecorded all year · 0.14% in Oct
Chestnut-sided WarblerSetophaga pensylvanicaSummer visitorCommon10–14 cmRegularly Apr–Oct · 0.13% in Oct
Marsh WrenCistothorus palustrisWinter visitorUncommon10–14 cmRecorded all year · 0.13% in Oct
Lesser Black-backed GullLarus fuscusWinter visitorUncommon52–64 cmRecorded all year · 0.13% in Oct
MerlinFalco columbariusWinter visitorUncommon24–33 cmRegularly Sep–May · 0.12% in Oct
Ruddy DuckOxyura jamaicensisWinter visitorCommon35–43 cmRegularly Oct–Apr · 0.12% in Oct
Peregrine FalconFalco peregrinusWinter visitorUncommon34–58 cmRecorded all year · 0.11% in Oct
Wild TurkeyMeleagris gallopavoResidentUncommon100–125 cmRecorded all year · 0.11% in Oct
Least SandpiperCalidris minutillaPassage migrantUncommon13–15 cmRegularly Apr–Jan · 0.10% in Oct
Gray-cheeked ThrushCatharus minimusPassage migrantUncommon16–17 cmRegularly May–Oct · 0.10% in Oct
DunlinCalidris alpinaWinter visitorUncommon16–22 cmRegularly Sep–Jun · 0.10% in Oct
Ruddy TurnstoneArenaria interpresResidentUncommon21–24 cmRecorded all year · 0.10% in Oct
GadwallMareca streperaWinter visitorUncommon46–56 cmRegularly Oct–Apr · 0.10% in Oct
Great Horned OwlBubo virginianusResidentUncommon46–63 cmRecorded all year · 0.10% in Oct
Northern ShovelerSpatula clypeataWinter visitorUncommon44–51 cmRegularly Sep–Apr · 0.09% in Oct
OvenbirdSeiurus aurocapillaSummer visitorCommon12–15 cmRegularly Apr–Oct · 0.09% in Oct
Sandwich TernThalasseus sandvicensisSummer visitorUncommon36–41 cmRegularly Apr–Nov · 0.09% in Oct
Eurasian TealAnas creccaWinter visitorUncommon34–38 cmRegularly Sep–Apr · 0.09% in Oct
Marbled GodwitLimosa fedoaWinter visitorUncommon40–50 cmRecorded all year · 0.08% in Oct
Lesser YellowlegsTringa flavipesWinter visitorUncommon23–27 cmRegularly Jul–May · 0.08% in Oct
White-crowned SparrowZonotrichia leucophrysWinter visitorUncommon15–16 cmRegularly Oct–May · 0.07% in Oct
Short-billed DowitcherLimnodromus griseusSummer visitorUncommon23–32 cmRecorded all year · 0.07% in Oct
Muscovy DuckCairina moschataResidentUncommon66–84 cmRecorded all year · 0.06% in Oct
American AvocetRecurvirostra americanaWinter visitorUncommon43–51 cmRecorded all year · 0.06% in Oct
Semipalmated SandpiperCalidris pusillaSummer visitorUncommon15–18 cmRegularly May–Oct · 0.06% in Oct
Baltimore OrioleIcterus galbulaResidentUncommon17–19 cmRecorded all year · 0.06% in Oct
Nashville WarblerLeiothlypis ruficapillaPassage migrantUncommon11–13 cmRegularly Sep–Jan · 0.06% in Oct
Eastern Screech-owlMegascops asioResidentUncommon16–25 cmRecorded all year · 0.05% in Oct
Lincoln's SparrowMelospiza lincolniiPassage migrantUncommon13–15 cmRegularly Sep–Apr · 0.05% in Oct
Common TernSterna hirundoSummer visitorUncommon31–35 cmRegularly Apr–Oct · 0.05% in Oct
Orange-crowned WarblerLeiothlypis celataWinter visitorUncommon11–14 cmRegularly Oct–Apr · 0.05% in Oct
Black-crowned Night-heronNycticorax nycticoraxResidentUncommon58–65 cmRecorded all year · 0.05% in Oct
Northern WaterthrushParkesia noveboracensisPassage migrantUncommon12–15 cmRegularly Apr–Oct · 0.05% in Oct
Pectoral SandpiperCalidris melanotosPassage migrantUncommon19–23 cmRegularly Mar–Nov · 0.05% in Oct
Northern Yellow WarblerSetophaga aestivaSummer visitorUncommon12–13 cmRegularly Apr–Oct · 0.04% in Oct
Philadelphia VireoVireo philadelphicusPassage migrantUncommon11–13 cmRegularly Sep–Oct · 0.04% in Oct
Greylag GooseAnser anserResidentRare75–90 cmRecorded all year · 0.04% in Oct
Western SandpiperCalidris mauriWinter visitorUncommon14–17 cmRegularly Jul–May · 0.04% in Oct
BobolinkDolichonyx oryzivorusPassage migrantUncommon16–20 cmRegularly Apr–Oct · 0.04% in Oct
Mute SwanCygnus olorResidentUncommon140–160 cmRecorded all year · 0.03% in Oct
Northern GannetMorus bassanusWinter visitorUncommon87–100 cmRegularly Oct–May · 0.03% in Oct
VeeryCatharus fuscescensSummer visitorUncommon16–19 cmRegularly Apr–Oct · 0.03% in Oct
Piping PloverCharadrius melodusSummer visitorUncommon17–18 cmRecorded all year · 0.03% in Oct
Eurasian Collared DoveStreptopelia decaoctoResidentUncommon30–32 cmRecorded all year · 0.03% in Oct
Virginia RailRallus limicolaWinter visitorRare20–27 cmRecorded all year · 0.03% in Oct
White-rumped SandpiperCalidris fuscicollisSummer visitorRare15–18 cmRegularly May–Nov · 0.03% in Oct
Solitary SandpiperTringa solitariaPassage migrantUncommon19–23 cmRegularly Apr–Oct · 0.03% in Oct
American BitternBotaurus lentiginosusWinter visitorRare58–85 cmRegularly Aug–Jun · 0.02% in Oct
Bonaparte's GullChroicocephalus philadelphiaWinter visitorUncommon28–38 cmRegularly Oct–Apr · 0.02% in Oct
Long-billed DowitcherLimnodromus scolopaceusWinter visitorRare27–30 cmRegularly Jul–May · 0.02% in Oct
Broad-winged HawkButeo platypterusSummer visitorUncommon34–44 cmRegularly Apr–Oct · 0.02% in Oct
Red-cockaded WoodpeckerLeuconotopicus borealisResidentRare20–23 cmRecorded all year · 0.02% in Oct
Great ShearwaterArdenna gravisSummer visitorUncommon43–51 cmRegularly May–Oct · 0.02% in Oct
Common LoonGavia immerWinter visitorUncommon66–91 cmRegularly Oct–Aug · 0.02% in Oct
Say's PhoebeSayornis sayaPassage migrantRare17–20 cmRegularly Oct · 0.02% in Oct
Vesper SparrowPooecetes gramineusWinter visitorUncommon13–17 cmRegularly Oct–Jun · 0.02% in Oct
American Golden-PloverPluvialis dominicaPassage migrantRare24–28 cmRegularly Mar–Nov · 0.02% in Oct
Horned LarkEremophila alpestrisResidentRare16–20 cmRecorded all year · 0.02% in Oct
Clay-colored SparrowSpizella pallidaWinter visitorRare13–15 cmRegularly Sep–Apr · 0.02% in Oct
DickcisselSpiza americanaSummer visitorRare14–16 cmRegularly May–Feb · 0.02% in Oct
Cattle EgretArdea ibisSummer visitorUncommon46–56 cmRecorded all year · 0.02% in Oct
Red KnotCalidris canutusSummer visitorUncommon23–26 cmRecorded all year · 0.02% in Oct
Red CrossbillLoxia curvirostraResidentRare15–17 cmRecorded all year · 0.01% in Oct
Horned GrebePodiceps auritusWinter visitorUncommon31–38 cmRegularly Oct–Apr · 0.01% in Oct
Painted BuntingPasserina cirisSummer visitorUncommon12–14 cmRegularly Dec–Oct · 0.01% in Oct
Stilt SandpiperCalidris himantopusPassage migrantUncommon18–23 cmRegularly May–Oct · 0.01% in Oct
Glossy IbisPlegadis falcinellusSummer visitorUncommon48–66 cmRegularly Jan–Oct · 0.01% in Oct
Eurasian WigeonMareca penelopeWinter visitorRare42–51 cmRegularly Oct–Feb · 0.01% in Oct
Surf ScoterMelanitta perspicillataWinter visitorUncommon48–60 cmRegularly Oct–Jun · 0.01% in Oct
Hudsonian GodwitLimosa haemasticaPassage migrantRare36–42 cmRegularly Aug–Oct · 0.01% in Oct
Red-necked PhalaropePhalaropus lobatusPassage migrantUncommon18–19 cmRegularly May–Oct · 0.01% in Oct
WhimbrelNumenius phaeopusSummer visitorUncommon40–46 cmRegularly Apr–Oct · 0.01% in Oct
Least FlycatcherEmpidonax minimusSummer visitorUncommon12–14 cmRegularly Apr–Oct · 0.01% in Oct
Egyptian GooseAlopochen aegyptiacaResidentRare63–73 cmRecorded all year · 0.01% in Oct
Ruffed GrouseBonasa umbellusSummer visitorRare41–50 cmRecorded all year · 0.01% in Oct
Black-billed CuckooCoccyzus erythropthalmusSummer visitorRare28–32 cmRegularly Apr–Oct · 0.01% in Oct
Pomarine JaegerStercorarius pomarinusPassage migrantRare46–51 cmRegularly Apr–Oct · 0.01% in Oct
Lark SparrowChondestes grammacusWinter visitorRare15–17 cmRegularly Aug–Jun · 0.01% in Oct
Franklin's GullLeucophaeus pipixcanPassage migrantRare32–36 cmRegularly Oct–Nov · 0.00% in Oct
Greater ScaupAythya marilaWinter visitorUncommon39–56 cmRegularly Oct–Apr · 0.00% in Oct
Baird's SandpiperCalidris bairdiiPassage migrantRare14–17 cmRegularly Aug–Oct · 0.00% in Oct
Yellow-bellied FlycatcherEmpidonax flaviventrisPassage migrantRare13–15 cmRegularly Aug–Oct · 0.00% in Oct
Swan GooseAnser cygnoidesWinter visitorRare81–94 cmRecorded all year · 0.00% in Oct
Arctic JaegerStercorarius parasiticusWinter visitorRare41–46 cmRegularly Aug–Jun · 0.00% in Oct
Brent GooseBranta berniclaWinter visitorRare55–66 cmRegularly Oct–Apr · 0.00% in Oct
Western KingbirdTyrannus verticalisPassage migrantRare20–24 cmRegularly Sep–Jan · 0.00% in Oct
Mourning WarblerGeothlypis philadelphiaPassage migrantRare10–15 cmRegularly May–Oct · 0.00% in Oct
Northern Saw-whet OwlAegolius acadicusResidentRare17–21 cmRecorded all year · 0.00% in Oct
White-winged DoveZenaida asiaticaSummer visitorRare27–30 cmRegularly Apr–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