Birds to See in Ohio in October
151 bird species on our list for Ohio are recorded regularly in October
Of these, the most often recorded are Blue Jay, Northern Cardinal, Red-bellied Woodpecker, American Robin and Downy Woodpecker. New this month: Hooded Merganser, White-crowned Sparrow, Gadwall and Red-breasted Merganser and 24 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 · Apr–May
Yellow-bellied SapsuckerBusiest month of the year · Sep–May
Orange-crowned WarblerBusiest month of the year · Sep–May
Franklin's GullBusiest month of the year · Apr–Nov
Long-billed DowitcherBusiest month of the year · Mar–May
From Ohio’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 151 birds in October
151 birds
Blue JayCyanocitta cristataResidentCommon25–30 cmRecorded all year · 4.54% in Oct
Northern CardinalCardinalis cardinalisResidentCommon21–23 cmRecorded all year · 3.54% in Oct
Red-bellied WoodpeckerMelanerpes carolinusResidentCommon23–26 cmRecorded all year · 3.22% in Oct
American RobinTurdus migratoriusResidentCommon20–28 cmRecorded all year · 3.05% in Oct
Downy WoodpeckerDryobates pubescensResidentCommon14–18 cmRecorded all year · 2.79% in Oct
American CrowCorvus brachyrhynchosResidentCommon41–53 cmRecorded all year · 2.76% in Oct
Song SparrowMelospiza melodiaResidentCommon12–17 cmRecorded all year · 2.55% in Oct
White-breasted NuthatchSitta carolinensisResidentCommon13–14 cmRecorded all year · 2.48% in Oct
Turkey VultureCathartes auraSummer visitorCommon62–81 cmRecorded all year · 2.45% in Oct
Canada GooseBranta canadensisResidentCommon76–110 cmRecorded all year · 2.18% in Oct
Common StarlingSturnus vulgarisResidentCommon21–23 cmRecorded all year · 2.16% in Oct
Red-winged BlackbirdAgelaius phoeniceusSummer visitorCommon17–23 cmRecorded all year · 2.16% in Oct
Tufted TitmouseBaeolophus bicolorResidentCommon14–16 cmRecorded all year · 2.08% in Oct
Mourning DoveZenaida macrouraResidentCommon23–34 cmRecorded all year · 2.03% in Oct- Yellow-rumped WarblerSetophaga coronataWinter visitorCommon12–15 cmRegularly Sep–May · 1.99% in Oct
Northern FlickerColaptes auratusResidentCommon28–31 cmRecorded all year · 1.99% in Oct
House SparrowPasser domesticusResidentCommon14–17 cmRecorded all year · 1.84% in Oct
House FinchHaemorhous mexicanusResidentCommon13–15 cmRecorded all year · 1.79% in Oct
MallardAnas platyrhynchosResidentCommon50–65 cmRecorded all year · 1.78% in Oct
Great Blue HeronArdea herodiasResidentCommon91–137 cmRecorded all year · 1.60% in Oct
Ring-billed GullLarus delawarensisResidentCommon43–54 cmRecorded all year · 1.36% in Oct
Eastern BluebirdSialia sialisResidentCommon16–21 cmRecorded all year · 1.34% in Oct- Ruby-crowned KingletCorthylio calendulaPassage migrantCommon9–11 cmRegularly Apr–Dec · 1.22% in Oct
Red-tailed HawkButeo jamaicensisResidentCommon45–65 cmRecorded all year · 1.02% in Oct
Bald EagleHaliaeetus leucocephalusResidentCommon70–102 cmRecorded all year · 0.90% in Oct
Swamp SparrowMelospiza georgianaResidentCommon12–15 cmRecorded all year · 0.87% in Oct
Hairy WoodpeckerLeuconotopicus villosusResidentCommon18–26 cmRecorded all year · 0.86% in Oct
White-crowned SparrowZonotrichia leucophrysWinter visitorCommon15–16 cmRegularly Oct–May · 0.78% in Oct
Common GrackleQuiscalus quisculaSummer visitorCommon28–34 cmRecorded all year · 0.76% in Oct
Wood DuckAix sponsaSummer visitorCommon47–54 cmRecorded all year · 0.72% in Oct
Cedar WaxwingBombycilla cedrorumSummer visitorCommon15–18 cmRegularly May–Jan · 0.72% in Oct
Gray CatbirdDumetella carolinensisSummer visitorCommon20–24 cmRegularly Apr–Oct · 0.63% in Oct
Chipping SparrowSpizella passerinaSummer visitorCommon12–15 cmRegularly Mar–Nov · 0.61% in Oct
Pied-billed GrebePodilymbus podicepsWinter visitorCommon31–38 cmRecorded all year · 0.59% in Oct
Great White EgretArdea albaSummer visitorCommon80–104 cmRegularly Mar–Nov · 0.58% in Oct
Pileated WoodpeckerDryocopus pileatusResidentCommon40–49 cmRecorded all year · 0.56% in Oct
American Herring GullLarus smithsonianusResidentCommon53–65 cmRecorded all year · 0.56% in Oct
Northern MockingbirdMimus polyglottosResidentCommon21–26 cmRecorded all year · 0.47% in Oct
Palm WarblerSetophaga palmarumPassage migrantCommon12–14 cmRegularly Apr–Oct · 0.44% in Oct
Rock DoveColumba liviaResidentCommon31–34 cmRecorded all year · 0.42% in Oct- Yellow-bellied SapsuckerSphyrapicus variusWinter visitorUncommon19–22 cmRegularly Sep–May · 0.40% in Oct
Lincoln's SparrowMelospiza lincolniiPassage migrantUncommon13–15 cmRegularly May–Oct · 0.39% in Oct
Hermit ThrushCatharus guttatusWinter visitorUncommon14–18 cmRegularly Sep–May · 0.36% in Oct
Eurasian TealAnas creccaWinter visitorUncommon34–38 cmRegularly Aug–May · 0.31% in Oct
Nashville WarblerLeiothlypis ruficapillaPassage migrantCommon11–13 cmRegularly Apr–Oct · 0.29% in Oct
Common YellowthroatGeothlypis trichasSummer visitorCommon11–13 cmRegularly Apr–Oct · 0.29% in Oct
Tennessee WarblerLeiothlypis peregrinaPassage migrantCommon10–13 cmRegularly May–Oct · 0.29% in Oct
Greater YellowlegsTringa melanoleucaPassage migrantUncommon29–40 cmRegularly Mar–Nov · 0.28% in Oct
Red-headed WoodpeckerMelanerpes erythrocephalusResidentCommon19–23 cmRecorded all year · 0.28% in Oct
Bonaparte's GullChroicocephalus philadelphiaPassage migrantCommon28–38 cmRegularly Mar–Jan · 0.28% in Oct
Ruddy DuckOxyura jamaicensisWinter visitorCommon35–43 cmRegularly Jul–May · 0.27% in Oct
Trumpeter SwanCygnus buccinatorResidentUncommon139–157 cmRecorded all year · 0.24% in Oct
GadwallMareca streperaWinter visitorCommon46–56 cmRegularly Oct–May · 0.24% in Oct
Sandhill CraneAntigone canadensisResidentUncommon80–122 cmRecorded all year · 0.24% in Oct
Northern ShovelerSpatula clypeataWinter visitorCommon44–51 cmRegularly Sep–May · 0.23% in Oct
Black-throated Green WarblerSetophaga virensPassage migrantCommon11–12 cmRegularly Apr–Oct · 0.23% in Oct
Lesser YellowlegsTringa flavipesPassage migrantCommon23–27 cmRegularly Mar–Nov · 0.21% in Oct
Blue-headed VireoVireo solitariusSummer visitorUncommon12–15 cmRegularly Apr–Oct · 0.20% in Oct
Bay-breasted WarblerSetophaga castaneaPassage migrantCommon14–14 cmRegularly May–Oct · 0.20% in Oct
Swainson's ThrushCatharus ustulatusPassage migrantCommon16–20 cmRegularly Apr–Oct · 0.20% in Oct
Pine SiskinSpinus pinusWinter visitorUncommon11–14 cmRegularly Oct–May · 0.18% in Oct
Pectoral SandpiperCalidris melanotosPassage migrantUncommon19–23 cmRegularly Mar–Nov · 0.17% in Oct
Blackpoll WarblerSetophaga striataPassage migrantUncommon13–15 cmRegularly May–Oct · 0.16% in Oct
Magnolia WarblerSetophaga magnoliaPassage migrantCommon11–13 cmRegularly May–Oct · 0.16% in Oct
Horned LarkEremophila alpestrisWinter visitorCommon16–20 cmRecorded all year · 0.16% in Oct
DunlinCalidris alpinaPassage migrantUncommon16–22 cmRegularly Apr–Nov · 0.14% in Oct
American Black DuckAnas rubripesWinter visitorCommon54–59 cmRegularly Oct–Apr · 0.14% in Oct
OspreyPandion haliaetusSummer visitorCommon54–58 cmRegularly Mar–Oct · 0.13% in Oct
Sharp-shinned HawkAccipiter striatusWinter visitorUncommon24–34 cmRecorded all year · 0.12% in Oct
Cape May WarblerSetophaga tigrinaPassage migrantUncommon12–14 cmRegularly May–Oct · 0.11% in Oct
Marsh WrenCistothorus palustrisSummer visitorUncommon10–14 cmRegularly Apr–Oct · 0.11% in Oct
Wild TurkeyMeleagris gallopavoResidentUncommon91–122 cmRecorded all year · 0.11% in Oct
Mute SwanCygnus olorWinter visitorUncommon140–160 cmRecorded all year · 0.11% in Oct
American RedstartSetophaga ruticillaSummer visitorCommon11–14 cmRegularly Apr–Oct · 0.11% in Oct
Least SandpiperCalidris minutillaPassage migrantCommon13–15 cmRegularly May–Oct · 0.10% in Oct
MerlinFalco columbariusWinter visitorUncommon24–33 cmRegularly Jul–May · 0.10% in Oct
Peregrine FalconFalco peregrinusWinter visitorUncommon34–58 cmRecorded all year · 0.10% in Oct
Northern PintailAnas acutaWinter visitorUncommon59–76 cmRegularly Sep–Apr · 0.10% in Oct
Barred OwlStrix variaResidentUncommon43–50 cmRecorded all year · 0.10% in Oct
Common LoonGavia immerPassage migrantCommon66–91 cmRegularly Oct–May · 0.10% in Oct
Great Horned OwlBubo virginianusWinter visitorUncommon46–63 cmRecorded all year · 0.09% in Oct
Black-throated Blue WarblerSetophaga caerulescensPassage migrantUncommon11–13 cmRegularly May–Oct · 0.09% in Oct- Orange-crowned WarblerLeiothlypis celataWinter visitorUncommon11–14 cmRegularly Sep–May · 0.08% in Oct
Rose-breasted GrosbeakPheucticus ludovicianusSummer visitorCommon18–22 cmRegularly Apr–Oct · 0.07% in Oct
Fox SparrowPasserella iliacaWinter visitorUncommon15–19 cmRegularly Oct–Apr · 0.06% in Oct
Gray-cheeked ThrushCatharus minimusPassage migrantUncommon16–17 cmRegularly May–Oct · 0.06% in Oct
Hooded MerganserLophodytes cucullatusWinter visitorCommon40–49 cmRegularly Oct–Jun · 0.06% in Oct
Horned GrebePodiceps auritusWinter visitorCommon31–38 cmRegularly Oct–Apr · 0.06% in Oct
Eastern Screech-owlMegascops asioResidentUncommon16–25 cmRecorded all year · 0.05% in Oct
Common MerganserMergus merganserWinter visitorCommon58–68 cmRegularly Aug–Apr · 0.05% in Oct
Red-breasted MerganserMergus serratorWinter visitorCommon52–58 cmRegularly Oct–May · 0.05% in Oct
OvenbirdSeiurus aurocapillaSummer visitorUncommon12–15 cmRegularly Apr–Oct · 0.05% in Oct- Franklin's GullLeucophaeus pipixcanSummer visitorRare32–36 cmRegularly Apr–Nov · 0.05% in Oct
- Long-billed DowitcherLimnodromus scolopaceusPassage migrantRare27–30 cmRegularly Mar–Nov · 0.04% in Oct
Lesser Black-backed GullLarus fuscusWinter visitorUncommon52–64 cmRegularly Jul–Apr · 0.04% in Oct
Surf ScoterMelanitta perspicillataWinter visitorUncommon48–60 cmRegularly Oct–Apr · 0.04% in Oct
Grey PloverPluvialis squatarolaPassage migrantUncommon27–30 cmRegularly May–Nov · 0.04% in Oct
Vesper SparrowPooecetes gramineusSummer visitorUncommon13–17 cmRegularly Mar–Nov · 0.03% in Oct
Solitary SandpiperTringa solitariaPassage migrantUncommon19–23 cmRegularly Apr–Oct · 0.03% in Oct
Semipalmated SandpiperCalidris pusillaSummer visitorUncommon15–18 cmRegularly May–Oct · 0.03% in Oct
Semipalmated PloverCharadrius semipalmatusSummer visitorUncommon17–19 cmRegularly May–Oct · 0.03% in Oct
Forster's TernSterna forsteriSummer visitorUncommon33–36 cmRegularly Apr–Nov · 0.03% in Oct
American Golden-PloverPluvialis dominicaPassage migrantUncommon24–28 cmRegularly Apr–Oct · 0.03% in Oct
Black-crowned Night-heronNycticorax nycticoraxSummer visitorUncommon58–65 cmRecorded all year · 0.03% in Oct
Stilt SandpiperCalidris himantopusPassage migrantUncommon18–23 cmRegularly Jul–Oct · 0.03% in Oct
Scarlet TanagerPiranga olivaceaSummer visitorCommon16–19 cmRegularly Apr–Oct · 0.03% in Oct
Philadelphia VireoVireo philadelphicusPassage migrantUncommon11–13 cmRegularly May–Oct · 0.03% in Oct
Great Black-backed GullLarus marinusWinter visitorUncommon64–79 cmRegularly Aug–Apr · 0.03% in Oct
White-rumped SandpiperCalidris fuscicollisSummer visitorRare15–18 cmRegularly May–Nov · 0.03% in Oct
BobolinkDolichonyx oryzivorusSummer visitorUncommon16–20 cmRegularly May–Oct · 0.03% in Oct
Virginia RailRallus limicolaSummer visitorUncommon20–27 cmRegularly Jan–Oct · 0.02% in Oct
Common PheasantPhasianus colchicusResidentRare50–90 cmRecorded all year · 0.02% in Oct
SanderlingCalidris albaPassage migrantUncommon18–20 cmRegularly May–Nov · 0.02% in Oct
Hudsonian GodwitLimosa haemasticaPassage migrantRare36–42 cmRegularly Aug–Nov · 0.02% in Oct
Common TernSterna hirundoSummer visitorUncommon31–35 cmRegularly Apr–Nov · 0.02% in Oct
Least FlycatcherEmpidonax minimusPassage migrantUncommon12–14 cmRegularly May–Oct · 0.02% in Oct
Greater ScaupAythya marilaWinter visitorUncommon39–56 cmRegularly Oct–Apr · 0.02% in Oct
Common RavenCorvus coraxWinter visitorRare54–67 cmRecorded all year · 0.02% in Oct
Snow BuntingPlectrophenax nivalisWinter visitorUncommon15–18 cmRegularly Oct–Feb · 0.01% in Oct
Lapland LongspurCalcarius lapponicusWinter visitorUncommon15–16 cmRegularly Oct–Apr · 0.01% in Oct
Northern Saw-whet OwlAegolius acadicusWinter visitorUncommon17–21 cmRegularly Oct–Mar · 0.01% in Oct
Cattle EgretArdea ibisSummer visitorRare46–56 cmRegularly Apr–Nov · 0.01% in Oct
American AvocetRecurvirostra americanaPassage migrantUncommon43–51 cmRegularly Apr–Nov · 0.01% in Oct
Broad-winged HawkButeo platypterusSummer visitorUncommon34–44 cmRegularly Apr–Oct · 0.01% in Oct
Pomarine JaegerStercorarius pomarinusPassage migrantRare46–51 cmRegularly Oct–Nov · 0.01% in Oct
American BitternBotaurus lentiginosusSummer visitorRare58–85 cmRegularly Mar–Nov · 0.01% in Oct
Arctic JaegerStercorarius parasiticusPassage migrantRare41–46 cmRegularly Sep–Nov · 0.01% in Oct
Grey PhalaropePhalaropus fulicariusPassage migrantRare20–22 cmRegularly Oct–Dec · 0.01% in Oct
Mourning WarblerGeothlypis philadelphiaPassage migrantUncommon10–15 cmRegularly May–Oct · 0.01% in Oct
Red-necked GrebePodiceps grisegenaWinter visitorUncommon40–50 cmRegularly Oct–Mar · 0.01% in Oct
Snow GooseAnser caerulescensWinter visitorUncommon69–84 cmRegularly Oct–Apr · 0.01% in Oct
Red-necked PhalaropePhalaropus lobatusPassage migrantRare18–19 cmRegularly May–Oct · 0.01% in Oct
Greater White-fronted GooseAnser albifronsWinter visitorUncommon64–81 cmRegularly Oct–Mar · 0.01% in Oct
Ross's GooseAnser rossiiWinter visitorRare57–64 cmRegularly Oct–Apr · 0.01% in Oct
Greylag GooseAnser anserWinter visitorRare75–90 cmRecorded all year · 0.01% in Oct
Long-tailed DuckClangula hyemalisWinter visitorUncommon37–60 cmRegularly Oct–Apr · 0.01% in Oct
Red-throated LoonGavia stellataWinter visitorUncommon53–69 cmRegularly Oct–Apr · 0.01% in Oct
Black-necked GrebePodiceps nigricollisPassage migrantRare28–34 cmRegularly Sep–Apr · 0.01% in Oct
Cackling GooseBranta hutchinsiiWinter visitorUncommon53–76 cmRegularly Oct–Mar · 0.01% in Oct
Evening GrosbeakHesperiphona vespertinaPassage migrantUncommon16–22 cmRegularly Oct–Apr · 0.01% in Oct
Baird's SandpiperCalidris bairdiiPassage migrantUncommon14–17 cmRegularly Aug–Oct · 0.00% in Oct
Sabine's GullXema sabiniPassage migrantRare27–33 cmRegularly Sep–Nov · 0.00% in Oct
Clay-colored SparrowSpizella pallidaSummer visitorRare13–15 cmRegularly Apr–Oct · 0.00% in Oct
Eurasian Collared DoveStreptopelia decaoctoWinter visitorRare30–32 cmRecorded all year · 0.00% in Oct
Marbled GodwitLimosa fedoaSummer visitorRare40–50 cmRegularly Apr–Oct · 0.00% in Oct
Fish CrowCorvus ossifragusResidentRare36–41 cmRecorded all year · 0.00% in Oct
Red CrossbillLoxia curvirostraPassage migrantRare15–17 cmRegularly Oct–Mar · 0.00% in Oct
Ruddy TurnstoneArenaria interpresPassage migrantRare21–24 cmRegularly May–Oct · 0.00% in Oct
Muscovy DuckCairina moschataResidentRare66–84 cmRecorded all year · 0.00% in Oct
Golden EagleAquila chrysaetosWinter visitorRare66–102 cmRegularly Oct–Apr · 0.00% in Oct
Ruffed GrouseBonasa umbellusWinter visitorRare41–50 cmRegularly Oct–Jun · 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