Birds to See in Oklahoma in October
132 bird species on our list for Oklahoma are recorded regularly in October
Of these, the most often recorded are Blue Jay, American Crow, Northern Cardinal, Northern Flicker and Turkey Vulture. New this month: Song Sparrow, Gadwall, White-crowned Sparrow and Ruddy Duck and 18 more.
On the move in October
GBIF · OctArriving
At their peak
Northern FlickerBusiest month of the year · All year
Orange-crowned WarblerBusiest month of the year · Sep–May
Vesper SparrowBusiest month of the year · Sep–May
American AvocetBusiest month of the year · Mar–Dec
Sharp-shinned HawkBusiest month of the year · Sep–Apr
Marsh WrenBusiest month of the year · Sep–May
From Oklahoma’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 132 birds in October
132 birds
Blue JayCyanocitta cristataResidentCommon25–30 cmRecorded all year · 4.53% in Oct
American CrowCorvus brachyrhynchosResidentCommon41–53 cmRecorded all year · 4.01% in Oct
Northern CardinalCardinalis cardinalisResidentCommon21–23 cmRecorded all year · 3.53% in Oct- Northern FlickerColaptes auratusWinter visitorCommon28–31 cmRecorded all year · 2.60% in Oct
Turkey VultureCathartes auraSummer visitorCommon62–81 cmRecorded all year · 2.57% in Oct
Red-bellied WoodpeckerMelanerpes carolinusResidentCommon23–26 cmRecorded all year · 2.41% in Oct
Great Blue HeronArdea herodiasResidentCommon91–137 cmRecorded all year · 2.35% in Oct
Common StarlingSturnus vulgarisResidentCommon21–23 cmRecorded all year · 2.31% in Oct
Mourning DoveZenaida macrouraResidentCommon23–34 cmRecorded all year · 2.18% in Oct
Canada GooseBranta canadensisResidentCommon76–110 cmRecorded all year · 2.01% in Oct
Downy WoodpeckerDryobates pubescensResidentCommon14–18 cmRecorded all year · 1.79% in Oct
American RobinTurdus migratoriusResidentCommon20–28 cmRecorded all year · 1.75% in Oct
Northern MockingbirdMimus polyglottosResidentCommon21–26 cmRecorded all year · 1.65% in Oct
Tufted TitmouseBaeolophus bicolorResidentCommon14–16 cmRecorded all year · 1.58% in Oct
House SparrowPasser domesticusResidentCommon14–17 cmRecorded all year · 1.53% in Oct
MallardAnas platyrhynchosResidentCommon50–65 cmRecorded all year · 1.52% in Oct
Great White EgretArdea albaSummer visitorCommon80–104 cmRegularly Mar–Nov · 1.52% in Oct
Red-tailed HawkButeo jamaicensisResidentCommon45–65 cmRecorded all year · 1.49% in Oct
House FinchHaemorhous mexicanusResidentCommon13–15 cmRecorded all year · 1.33% in Oct
Yellow-rumped WarblerSetophaga coronataWinter visitorCommon12–15 cmRegularly Sep–May · 1.27% in Oct
Ring-billed GullLarus delawarensisWinter visitorCommon43–54 cmRegularly Aug–May · 1.26% in Oct
Scissor-tailed FlycatcherTyrannus forficatusSummer visitorCommon28–38 cmRegularly Mar–Oct · 1.17% in Oct
Eastern BluebirdSialia sialisResidentCommon16–21 cmRecorded all year · 1.15% in Oct
Red-winged BlackbirdAgelaius phoeniceusResidentCommon17–23 cmRecorded all year · 1.09% in Oct
Pied-billed GrebePodilymbus podicepsWinter visitorCommon31–38 cmRegularly Jul–May · 1.08% in Oct
Eurasian Collared DoveStreptopelia decaoctoResidentCommon30–32 cmRecorded all year · 0.99% in Oct
Franklin's GullLeucophaeus pipixcanPassage migrantCommon32–36 cmRegularly Mar–Dec · 0.88% in Oct
Rock DoveColumba liviaResidentCommon29–37 cmRecorded all year · 0.77% in Oct
Common GrackleQuiscalus quisculaSummer visitorCommon28–34 cmRecorded all year · 0.76% in Oct
Ruby-crowned KingletCorthylio calendulaWinter visitorCommon9–11 cmRegularly Sep–May · 0.75% in Oct
Lincoln's SparrowMelospiza lincolniiWinter visitorCommon13–15 cmRegularly Sep–May · 0.64% in Oct- Orange-crowned WarblerLeiothlypis celataWinter visitorCommon11–14 cmRegularly Sep–May · 0.63% in Oct
Bald EagleHaliaeetus leucocephalusWinter visitorCommon70–102 cmRecorded all year · 0.63% in Oct
White-breasted NuthatchSitta carolinensisResidentCommon13–14 cmRecorded all year · 0.61% in Oct
Pileated WoodpeckerDryocopus pileatusResidentCommon40–49 cmRecorded all year · 0.58% in Oct
Red-headed WoodpeckerMelanerpes erythrocephalusResidentCommon19–23 cmRecorded all year · 0.54% in Oct
GadwallMareca streperaWinter visitorCommon46–56 cmRegularly Oct–Apr · 0.53% in Oct
White-crowned SparrowZonotrichia leucophrysWinter visitorCommon15–16 cmRegularly Oct–May · 0.51% in Oct
Song SparrowMelospiza melodiaWinter visitorCommon12–17 cmRegularly Oct–Apr · 0.50% in Oct
Chipping SparrowSpizella passerinaSummer visitorCommon12–15 cmRecorded all year · 0.48% in Oct
OspreyPandion haliaetusPassage migrantCommon54–58 cmRegularly Mar–Nov · 0.48% in Oct
Eurasian TealAnas creccaWinter visitorCommon34–38 cmRegularly Aug–May · 0.47% in Oct
Northern ShovelerSpatula clypeataWinter visitorCommon44–51 cmRegularly Aug–May · 0.44% in Oct
Nashville WarblerLeiothlypis ruficapillaPassage migrantUncommon11–13 cmRegularly Apr–Oct · 0.40% in Oct
Least SandpiperCalidris minutillaWinter visitorUncommon13–15 cmRegularly Jul–May · 0.39% in Oct
Greater YellowlegsTringa melanoleucaWinter visitorCommon29–40 cmRegularly Jul–May · 0.38% in Oct- Vesper SparrowPooecetes gramineusWinter visitorUncommon13–17 cmRegularly Sep–May · 0.38% in Oct
Hairy WoodpeckerLeuconotopicus villosusResidentUncommon18–26 cmRecorded all year · 0.35% in Oct
White-winged DoveZenaida asiaticaResidentCommon27–30 cmRecorded all year · 0.33% in Oct- American AvocetRecurvirostra americanaSummer visitorUncommon43–51 cmRegularly Mar–Dec · 0.32% in Oct
Yellow-bellied SapsuckerSphyrapicus variusWinter visitorCommon19–22 cmRegularly Oct–Mar · 0.31% in Oct
Ruddy DuckOxyura jamaicensisWinter visitorCommon35–43 cmRegularly Oct–May · 0.30% in Oct
Swamp SparrowMelospiza georgianaWinter visitorUncommon12–15 cmRegularly Oct–Apr · 0.30% in Oct
Common YellowthroatGeothlypis trichasSummer visitorCommon11–13 cmRecorded all year · 0.30% in Oct
Western MeadowlarkSturnella neglectaResidentCommon16–26 cmRecorded all year · 0.30% in Oct
Forster's TernSterna forsteriResidentUncommon33–36 cmRecorded all year · 0.28% in Oct
Barred OwlStrix variaResidentUncommon43–50 cmRecorded all year · 0.27% in Oct
Wood DuckAix sponsaResidentUncommon47–54 cmRecorded all year · 0.27% in Oct
Barn SwallowHirundo rusticaSummer visitorCommon17–19 cmRegularly Mar–Oct · 0.27% in Oct
Northern PintailAnas acutaWinter visitorUncommon59–76 cmRegularly Aug–Apr · 0.26% in Oct
Great Horned OwlBubo virginianusResidentUncommon46–63 cmRecorded all year · 0.24% in Oct
Gray CatbirdDumetella carolinensisSummer visitorCommon20–24 cmRegularly Apr–Oct · 0.22% in Oct
Fish CrowCorvus ossifragusSummer visitorCommon36–41 cmRegularly Mar–Nov · 0.21% in Oct- Sharp-shinned HawkAccipiter striatusWinter visitorUncommon24–34 cmRegularly Sep–Apr · 0.21% in Oct
American Herring GullLarus smithsonianusWinter visitorCommon53–65 cmRegularly Oct–Mar · 0.20% in Oct
Pine SiskinSpinus pinusWinter visitorUncommon11–14 cmRegularly Sep–May · 0.19% in Oct
Ruby-throated HummingbirdArchilochus colubrisSummer visitorCommon7–9 cmRegularly Apr–Oct · 0.18% in Oct
Sandhill CraneAntigone canadensisWinter visitorUncommon80–122 cmRegularly Oct–Mar · 0.17% in Oct
Long-billed DowitcherLimnodromus scolopaceusPassage migrantUncommon27–30 cmRegularly Feb–Dec · 0.17% in Oct
Clay-colored SparrowSpizella pallidaPassage migrantUncommon13–15 cmRegularly Apr–Oct · 0.15% in Oct- Marsh WrenCistothorus palustrisWinter visitorUncommon10–14 cmRegularly Sep–May · 0.15% in Oct
Wild TurkeyMeleagris gallopavoResidentUncommon100–125 cmRecorded all year · 0.14% in Oct
Greater White-fronted GooseAnser albifronsWinter visitorUncommon64–81 cmRegularly Oct–Mar · 0.12% in Oct
Cattle EgretArdea ibisSummer visitorUncommon46–56 cmRegularly Apr–Oct · 0.12% in Oct
Cedar WaxwingBombycilla cedrorumWinter visitorCommon15–18 cmRegularly Sep–May · 0.11% in Oct
Lesser Black-backed GullLarus fuscusWinter visitorUncommon52–64 cmRegularly Sep–Mar · 0.11% in Oct
Greater RoadrunnerGeococcyx californianusResidentUncommon52–54 cmRecorded all year · 0.10% in Oct
Horned LarkEremophila alpestrisResidentUncommon16–20 cmRecorded all year · 0.10% in Oct
Lesser YellowlegsTringa flavipesPassage migrantUncommon23–27 cmRegularly Mar–Oct · 0.08% in Oct
MerlinFalco columbariusWinter visitorUncommon24–33 cmRegularly Sep–Apr · 0.08% in Oct
Black-crowned Night-heronNycticorax nycticoraxSummer visitorUncommon58–65 cmRecorded all year · 0.08% in Oct
Pectoral SandpiperCalidris melanotosPassage migrantUncommon19–23 cmRegularly Mar–Oct · 0.08% in Oct
Hermit ThrushCatharus guttatusWinter visitorUncommon14–18 cmRegularly Oct–Apr · 0.07% in Oct
Blue-headed VireoVireo solitariusPassage migrantUncommon12–15 cmRegularly Apr–Dec · 0.07% in Oct
Common RavenCorvus coraxResidentUncommon54–67 cmRecorded all year · 0.07% in Oct
Black-throated Green WarblerSetophaga virensPassage migrantUncommon11–12 cmRegularly Mar–Oct · 0.07% in Oct
Stilt SandpiperCalidris himantopusPassage migrantUncommon18–23 cmRegularly Apr–Oct · 0.06% in Oct
Muscovy DuckCairina moschataResidentUncommon66–84 cmRecorded all year · 0.06% in Oct
American Golden-PloverPluvialis dominicaPassage migrantUncommon24–28 cmRegularly Mar–Nov · 0.06% in Oct
Horned GrebePodiceps auritusWinter visitorUncommon31–38 cmRegularly Oct–Apr · 0.06% in Oct
Grey PloverPluvialis squatarolaPassage migrantRare27–30 cmRegularly Apr–Nov · 0.05% in Oct
Fox SparrowPasserella iliacaWinter visitorCommon15–19 cmRegularly Oct–Mar · 0.05% in Oct
Hooded MerganserLophodytes cucullatusWinter visitorCommon40–49 cmRegularly Oct–May · 0.05% in Oct
Mountain BluebirdSialia currucoidesWinter visitorUncommon15–18 cmRegularly Oct–Mar · 0.04% in Oct
Black-necked GrebePodiceps nigricollisWinter visitorUncommon28–34 cmRegularly Aug–May · 0.04% in Oct
Common LoonGavia immerWinter visitorUncommon66–91 cmRegularly Oct–May · 0.04% in Oct
Snow GooseAnser caerulescensWinter visitorUncommon69–84 cmRegularly Oct–Apr · 0.04% in Oct
Bonaparte's GullChroicocephalus philadelphiaWinter visitorCommon28–38 cmRegularly Oct–Apr · 0.04% in Oct
Ladder-backed WoodpeckerDryobates scalarisResidentUncommon16–19 cmRecorded all year · 0.04% in Oct
Common PheasantPhasianus colchicusResidentRare50–90 cmRecorded all year · 0.04% in Oct
Swan GooseAnser cygnoidesResidentRare81–94 cmRecorded all year · 0.04% in Oct
Peregrine FalconFalco peregrinusPassage migrantUncommon34–58 cmRegularly Mar–Nov · 0.04% in Oct
Baird's SandpiperCalidris bairdiiPassage migrantUncommon14–17 cmRegularly Mar–Oct · 0.04% in Oct
Eastern Screech-owlMegascops asioResidentRare16–25 cmRecorded all year · 0.04% in Oct
Virginia RailRallus limicolaWinter visitorRare20–27 cmRegularly Sep–May · 0.03% in Oct
Broad-winged HawkButeo platypterusSummer visitorUncommon34–44 cmRegularly Apr–Oct · 0.03% in Oct
Burrowing OwlAthene cuniculariaSummer visitorUncommon19–25 cmRegularly Mar–Nov · 0.03% in Oct
American BitternBotaurus lentiginosusSummer visitorRare58–85 cmRegularly Mar–Nov · 0.03% in Oct
Semipalmated PloverCharadrius semipalmatusPassage migrantUncommon17–19 cmRegularly Apr–Oct · 0.02% in Oct
Solitary SandpiperTringa solitariaPassage migrantUncommon19–23 cmRegularly Mar–Oct · 0.02% in Oct
Sabine's GullXema sabiniPassage migrantUncommon27–33 cmRegularly Sep–Oct · 0.02% in Oct
Say's PhoebeSayornis sayaSummer visitorUncommon17–20 cmRegularly Mar–Jan · 0.02% in Oct
Red-necked PhalaropePhalaropus lobatusPassage migrantRare18–19 cmRegularly May–Oct · 0.02% in Oct
Semipalmated SandpiperCalidris pusillaSummer visitorUncommon15–18 cmRegularly Mar–Oct · 0.02% in Oct
Greater ScaupAythya marilaWinter visitorUncommon39–56 cmRegularly Oct–Mar · 0.02% in Oct
Red-naped SapsuckerSphyrapicus nuchalisResidentRare19–21 cmRegularly Sep–Oct · 0.01% in Oct
Western SandpiperCalidris mauriPassage migrantUncommon14–17 cmRegularly Apr–Oct · 0.01% in Oct
Golden-fronted WoodpeckerMelanerpes aurifronsResidentRare21–26 cmRegularly Sep–Jul · 0.01% in Oct
SanderlingCalidris albaPassage migrantRare18–20 cmRegularly Apr–Oct · 0.01% in Oct
Common TernSterna hirundoPassage migrantRare31–35 cmRegularly Sep–Oct · 0.01% in Oct
DunlinCalidris alpinaWinter visitorRare16–22 cmRegularly Oct–May · 0.01% in Oct
WilletTringa semipalmataPassage migrantUncommon33–41 cmRegularly Apr–Oct · 0.01% in Oct
Palm WarblerSetophaga palmarumPassage migrantRare12–14 cmRegularly Apr–Oct · 0.01% in Oct
Ross's GooseAnser rossiiWinter visitorUncommon57–64 cmRegularly Oct–Mar · 0.01% in Oct
Sand MartinRiparia ripariaPassage migrantUncommon12–14 cmRegularly Apr–Oct · 0.01% in Oct
OvenbirdSeiurus aurocapillaSummer visitorUncommon12–15 cmRegularly Apr–Oct · 0.01% in Oct
Mourning WarblerGeothlypis philadelphiaPassage migrantUncommon10–15 cmRegularly May–Oct · 0.01% in Oct
Golden EagleAquila chrysaetosWinter visitorRare66–102 cmRecorded all year · 0.01% in Oct
Greylag GooseAnser anserResidentRare75–90 cmRegularly Mar–Jan · 0.01% in Oct
Cinnamon TealSpatula cyanopteraPassage migrantUncommon36–43 cmRegularly Feb–Oct · 0.00% in Oct
Marbled GodwitLimosa fedoaPassage migrantUncommon40–50 cmRegularly Apr–Oct · 0.00% in Oct
Northern Saw-whet OwlAegolius acadicusPassage migrantRare17–21 cmRegularly Oct–Nov · 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