Birds to See in North Dakota in October
125 bird species on our list for North Dakota are recorded regularly in October
Of these, the most often recorded are American Robin, Canada Goose, Red-tailed Hawk, Mallard and Ring-billed Gull. New this month: Rough-legged Hawk, Goldeneye, Snow Goose and Cackling Goose and 19 more.
On the move in October
GBIF · OctArriving
At their peak
From North Dakota’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 125 birds in October
125 birds
American RobinTurdus migratoriusResidentCommon20–28 cmRecorded all year · 3.65% in Oct
Canada GooseBranta canadensisWinter visitorCommon76–110 cmRecorded all year · 2.97% in Oct
Red-tailed HawkButeo jamaicensisSummer visitorCommon45–65 cmRecorded all year · 2.57% in Oct
MallardAnas platyrhynchosResidentCommon50–65 cmRecorded all year · 2.40% in Oct
Ring-billed GullLarus delawarensisSummer visitorCommon43–54 cmRegularly Mar–Dec · 2.30% in Oct
Blue JayCyanocitta cristataWinter visitorCommon25–30 cmRecorded all year · 2.23% in Oct
White-breasted NuthatchSitta carolinensisWinter visitorCommon13–14 cmRecorded all year · 2.19% in Oct
American CrowCorvus brachyrhynchosWinter visitorCommon41–53 cmRecorded all year · 2.07% in Oct
House SparrowPasser domesticusWinter visitorCommon14–17 cmRecorded all year · 1.67% in Oct
Downy WoodpeckerDryobates pubescensWinter visitorCommon14–18 cmRecorded all year · 1.58% in Oct
Common StarlingSturnus vulgarisResidentCommon21–23 cmRecorded all year · 1.57% in Oct
House FinchHaemorhous mexicanusWinter visitorCommon13–15 cmRecorded all year · 1.46% in Oct
Yellow-rumped WarblerSetophaga coronataPassage migrantCommon12–15 cmRegularly Apr–Oct · 1.44% in Oct
Hairy WoodpeckerLeuconotopicus villosusWinter visitorCommon18–26 cmRecorded all year · 1.38% in Oct
GadwallMareca streperaSummer visitorCommon46–56 cmRegularly Mar–Jan · 1.35% in Oct
Red-winged BlackbirdAgelaius phoeniceusSummer visitorCommon17–23 cmRegularly Mar–Nov · 1.30% in Oct
Northern ShovelerSpatula clypeataSummer visitorCommon44–51 cmRegularly Mar–Nov · 1.25% in Oct
Bald EagleHaliaeetus leucocephalusWinter visitorCommon70–102 cmRecorded all year · 1.18% in Oct
Common PheasantPhasianus colchicusResidentCommon50–90 cmRecorded all year · 1.16% in Oct
Northern FlickerColaptes auratusResidentCommon28–31 cmRecorded all year · 1.16% in Oct
Ruddy DuckOxyura jamaicensisSummer visitorCommon35–43 cmRegularly Apr–Nov · 1.16% in Oct
Western MeadowlarkSturnella neglectaSummer visitorCommon16–26 cmRegularly Mar–Nov · 1.14% in Oct
American Tree SparrowSpizelloides arboreaWinter visitorCommon14–17 cmRegularly Oct–Apr · 1.13% in Oct
Eurasian TealAnas creccaSummer visitorCommon34–38 cmRegularly Mar–Jan · 1.07% in Oct
Common GrackleQuiscalus quisculaSummer visitorCommon28–34 cmRecorded all year · 1.00% in Oct
Song SparrowMelospiza melodiaSummer visitorCommon12–17 cmRegularly Apr–Nov · 1.00% in Oct
Greater YellowlegsTringa melanoleucaPassage migrantCommon29–40 cmRegularly Apr–Nov · 0.97% in Oct
Rock DoveColumba liviaWinter visitorCommon29–37 cmRecorded all year · 0.92% in Oct
Snow GooseAnser caerulescensPassage migrantCommon69–84 cmRegularly Oct–Jun · 0.91% in Oct
Eurasian Collared DoveStreptopelia decaoctoWinter visitorCommon30–32 cmRecorded all year · 0.88% in Oct
Tundra SwanCygnus columbianusPassage migrantCommon120–150 cmRegularly Oct–Apr · 0.80% in Oct
Pied-billed GrebePodilymbus podicepsSummer visitorCommon31–38 cmRegularly Apr–Nov · 0.80% in Oct
Horned LarkEremophila alpestrisWinter visitorCommon16–20 cmRecorded all year · 0.75% in Oct
Ruby-crowned KingletCorthylio calendulaPassage migrantCommon9–11 cmRegularly Apr–Oct · 0.74% in Oct
Mourning DoveZenaida macrouraSummer visitorCommon23–34 cmRegularly Apr–Oct · 0.74% in Oct
Chipping SparrowSpizella passerinaSummer visitorCommon12–15 cmRegularly Apr–Oct · 0.70% in Oct
White-crowned SparrowZonotrichia leucophrysPassage migrantCommon15–16 cmRegularly Apr–Dec · 0.70% in Oct
Lapland LongspurCalcarius lapponicusWinter visitorCommon15–16 cmRegularly Oct–Apr · 0.70% in Oct
Northern PintailAnas acutaSummer visitorCommon59–76 cmRegularly Mar–Jan · 0.70% in Oct
Cedar WaxwingBombycilla cedrorumResidentCommon15–18 cmRecorded all year · 0.66% in Oct
Pine SiskinSpinus pinusWinter visitorCommon11–14 cmRegularly Aug–May · 0.63% in Oct
Hooded MerganserLophodytes cucullatusSummer visitorCommon40–49 cmRegularly Mar–Jan · 0.62% in Oct
MerlinFalco columbariusWinter visitorCommon24–33 cmRecorded all year · 0.56% in Oct
Orange-crowned WarblerLeiothlypis celataPassage migrantCommon11–14 cmRegularly Apr–Oct · 0.55% in Oct
Great Blue HeronArdea herodiasSummer visitorCommon91–137 cmRegularly Mar–Nov · 0.50% in Oct
Greater White-fronted GooseAnser albifronsPassage migrantCommon64–81 cmRegularly Oct–Apr · 0.49% in Oct
Franklin's GullLeucophaeus pipixcanSummer visitorCommon32–36 cmRegularly Apr–Nov · 0.49% in Oct
Cackling GooseBranta hutchinsiiWinter visitorCommon53–76 cmRegularly Oct–Apr · 0.48% in Oct
Sandhill CraneAntigone canadensisPassage migrantUncommon80–122 cmRegularly Sep–May · 0.47% in Oct
Common RavenCorvus coraxWinter visitorCommon54–67 cmRecorded all year · 0.47% in Oct
Fox SparrowPasserella iliacaPassage migrantCommon15–19 cmRegularly Sep–Apr · 0.45% in Oct
Black-necked GrebePodiceps nigricollisSummer visitorCommon28–34 cmRegularly Apr–Nov · 0.41% in Oct
Bonaparte's GullChroicocephalus philadelphiaPassage migrantUncommon28–38 cmRegularly Apr–Dec · 0.39% in Oct
Red-bellied WoodpeckerMelanerpes carolinusWinter visitorCommon23–26 cmRecorded all year · 0.39% in Oct
Lincoln's SparrowMelospiza lincolniiPassage migrantCommon13–15 cmRegularly Apr–Oct · 0.38% in Oct
Wood DuckAix sponsaSummer visitorCommon47–54 cmRegularly Mar–Jan · 0.34% in Oct
Sharp-shinned HawkAccipiter striatusWinter visitorUncommon24–34 cmRegularly Sep–May · 0.34% in Oct
American AvocetRecurvirostra americanaSummer visitorUncommon43–51 cmRegularly Apr–Nov · 0.33% in Oct
Great Horned OwlBubo virginianusWinter visitorCommon46–63 cmRecorded all year · 0.32% in Oct
Grey PartridgePerdix perdixWinter visitorCommon28–32 cmRecorded all year · 0.31% in Oct
GoldeneyeBucephala clangulaWinter visitorCommon40–51 cmRegularly Oct–Apr · 0.30% in Oct
Swamp SparrowMelospiza georgianaSummer visitorUncommon12–15 cmRegularly Apr–Oct · 0.29% in Oct
Rough-legged HawkButeo lagopusWinter visitorCommon46–59 cmRegularly Oct–Apr · 0.28% in Oct
Wild TurkeyMeleagris gallopavoResidentCommon100–125 cmRecorded all year · 0.27% in Oct
Hermit ThrushCatharus guttatusPassage migrantUncommon14–18 cmRegularly Apr–Dec · 0.26% in Oct
Turkey VultureCathartes auraSummer visitorCommon62–81 cmRegularly Apr–Oct · 0.25% in Oct
Northern CardinalCardinalis cardinalisWinter visitorCommon21–23 cmRecorded all year · 0.24% in Oct
Long-billed DowitcherLimnodromus scolopaceusPassage migrantUncommon27–30 cmRegularly Apr–Nov · 0.23% in Oct
Lesser YellowlegsTringa flavipesSummer visitorCommon23–27 cmRegularly Apr–Oct · 0.22% in Oct
Common LoonGavia immerSummer visitorUncommon66–91 cmRegularly Apr–Nov · 0.21% in Oct
Eastern BluebirdSialia sialisSummer visitorUncommon16–21 cmRegularly Mar–Nov · 0.21% in Oct
American Herring GullLarus smithsonianusPassage migrantCommon53–65 cmRegularly Oct–Apr · 0.20% in Oct
Snow BuntingPlectrophenax nivalisWinter visitorCommon15–18 cmRegularly Oct–Mar · 0.20% in Oct
Great White EgretArdea albaSummer visitorCommon80–104 cmRegularly Apr–Oct · 0.19% in Oct
Ross's GooseAnser rossiiPassage migrantUncommon57–64 cmRegularly Oct–Apr · 0.18% in Oct
Vesper SparrowPooecetes gramineusSummer visitorCommon13–17 cmRegularly Apr–Oct · 0.18% in Oct
Surf ScoterMelanitta perspicillataPassage migrantUncommon48–60 cmRegularly Oct–Nov · 0.17% in Oct
Red CrossbillLoxia curvirostraWinter visitorUncommon15–17 cmRegularly Jul–May · 0.16% in Oct
Horned GrebePodiceps auritusSummer visitorUncommon31–38 cmRegularly Apr–Nov · 0.15% in Oct
Trumpeter SwanCygnus buccinatorSummer visitorUncommon139–157 cmRegularly Mar–Nov · 0.15% in Oct
Golden EagleAquila chrysaetosWinter visitorCommon66–102 cmRegularly Jun–Apr · 0.15% in Oct
Pileated WoodpeckerDryocopus pileatusWinter visitorCommon40–49 cmRecorded all year · 0.14% in Oct
Pectoral SandpiperCalidris melanotosPassage migrantCommon19–23 cmRegularly Apr–Oct · 0.14% in Oct
Barn SwallowHirundo rusticaSummer visitorCommon17–19 cmRegularly May–Oct · 0.14% in Oct
Palm WarblerSetophaga palmarumPassage migrantUncommon12–14 cmRegularly Apr–Oct · 0.12% in Oct
American Golden-PloverPluvialis dominicaPassage migrantUncommon24–28 cmRegularly Apr–Nov · 0.12% in Oct
Clay-colored SparrowSpizella pallidaSummer visitorCommon13–15 cmRegularly May–Oct · 0.11% in Oct
Grey PloverPluvialis squatarolaSummer visitorUncommon27–30 cmRegularly May–Nov · 0.11% in Oct
Mountain BluebirdSialia currucoidesSummer visitorUncommon15–18 cmRegularly Mar–Oct · 0.09% in Oct
Marsh WrenCistothorus palustrisSummer visitorCommon10–14 cmRegularly May–Oct · 0.08% in Oct
Baird's SandpiperCalidris bairdiiSummer visitorUncommon14–17 cmRegularly Apr–Oct · 0.08% in Oct
Greater ScaupAythya marilaPassage migrantUncommon39–56 cmRegularly Oct–May · 0.08% in Oct
Nashville WarblerLeiothlypis ruficapillaPassage migrantUncommon11–13 cmRegularly May–Oct · 0.07% in Oct
Least SandpiperCalidris minutillaPassage migrantCommon13–15 cmRegularly May–Oct · 0.06% in Oct
Forster's TernSterna forsteriSummer visitorUncommon33–36 cmRegularly Apr–Oct · 0.06% in Oct
Northern Saw-whet OwlAegolius acadicusWinter visitorUncommon17–21 cmRegularly Oct–Mar · 0.06% in Oct
Yellow-bellied SapsuckerSphyrapicus variusSummer visitorUncommon19–22 cmRegularly Apr–Oct · 0.06% in Oct
Gray CatbirdDumetella carolinensisSummer visitorCommon20–24 cmRegularly May–Oct · 0.06% in Oct
Red-necked GrebePodiceps grisegenaSummer visitorUncommon40–50 cmRegularly Apr–Nov · 0.06% in Oct
SanderlingCalidris albaSummer visitorUncommon18–20 cmRegularly May–Nov · 0.05% in Oct
Black-crowned Night-heronNycticorax nycticoraxSummer visitorUncommon58–65 cmRegularly Apr–Oct · 0.05% in Oct
Peregrine FalconFalco peregrinusSummer visitorUncommon34–58 cmRegularly Mar–Oct · 0.04% in Oct
Black-throated Blue WarblerSetophaga caerulescensPassage migrantRare11–13 cmRegularly Sep–Oct · 0.04% in Oct
Eastern Screech-owlMegascops asioWinter visitorUncommon16–25 cmRegularly Aug–May · 0.04% in Oct
Stilt SandpiperCalidris himantopusSummer visitorUncommon18–23 cmRegularly May–Oct · 0.04% in Oct
OspreyPandion haliaetusSummer visitorUncommon54–58 cmRegularly Apr–Oct · 0.04% in Oct
Red-breasted MerganserMergus serratorWinter visitorUncommon52–58 cmRegularly Oct–Apr · 0.03% in Oct
American BitternBotaurus lentiginosusSummer visitorUncommon58–85 cmRegularly Apr–Oct · 0.03% in Oct
Sabine's GullXema sabiniPassage migrantUncommon27–33 cmRegularly Sep–Oct · 0.02% in Oct
Barred OwlStrix variaWinter visitorUncommon43–50 cmRegularly Oct–May · 0.02% in Oct
Broad-winged HawkButeo platypterusPassage migrantUncommon34–44 cmRegularly Apr–Oct · 0.02% in Oct
DunlinCalidris alpinaPassage migrantUncommon16–22 cmRegularly Apr–Nov · 0.02% in Oct
Lesser Black-backed GullLarus fuscusPassage migrantUncommon52–64 cmRegularly Sep–Apr · 0.02% in Oct
Iceland GullLarus glaucoidesPassage migrantUncommon52–60 cmRegularly Oct–Jan · 0.02% in Oct
Red-necked PhalaropePhalaropus lobatusSummer visitorUncommon18–19 cmRegularly May–Oct · 0.02% in Oct
Short-eared OwlAsio flammeusWinter visitorUncommon34–43 cmRegularly Oct–Jul · 0.02% in Oct
American Black DuckAnas rubripesSummer visitorRare54–59 cmRegularly Apr–Nov · 0.02% in Oct
Bohemian WaxwingBombycilla garrulusWinter visitorUncommon19–23 cmRegularly Oct–Apr · 0.01% in Oct
Cattle EgretArdea ibisSummer visitorUncommon46–56 cmRegularly May–Oct · 0.01% in Oct
Evening GrosbeakHesperiphona vespertinaResidentRare16–22 cmRegularly Oct–Dec · 0.01% in Oct
Pacific LoonGavia pacificaResidentUncommon58–74 cmRegularly Oct–Nov · 0.01% in Oct
Virginia RailRallus limicolaSummer visitorUncommon20–27 cmRegularly May–Oct · 0.01% in Oct
Red-throated LoonGavia stellataScarceRare53–69 cmRegularly Oct · 0.01% in Oct
Common TernSterna hirundoSummer visitorUncommon31–35 cmRegularly May–Oct · 0.01% in Oct
Hudsonian GodwitLimosa haemasticaSummer visitorUncommon36–42 cmRegularly Apr–Oct · 0.01% 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