Birds to See in Pennsylvania in October
148 bird species on our list for Pennsylvania are recorded regularly in October
Of these, the most often recorded are Blue Jay, Northern Cardinal, American Crow, Red-bellied Woodpecker and American Robin. New this month: Ruddy Duck, Gadwall, Snow Goose and Fox Sparrow and 23 more.
On the move in October
GBIF · OctArriving
At their peak
Ruby-crowned KingletBusiest month of the year · Sep–May
Yellow-rumped WarblerBusiest month of the year · Sep–May
Palm WarblerBusiest month of the year · Apr–May
Sharp-shinned HawkBusiest month of the year · Aug–May
MerlinBusiest month of the year · All year
Vesper SparrowBusiest month of the year · Feb–Nov
From Pennsylvania’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 148 birds in October
148 birds
Blue JayCyanocitta cristataResidentCommon25–30 cmRecorded all year · 4.67% in Oct
Northern CardinalCardinalis cardinalisResidentCommon21–23 cmRecorded all year · 3.50% in Oct
American CrowCorvus brachyrhynchosResidentCommon41–53 cmRecorded all year · 3.39% in Oct
Red-bellied WoodpeckerMelanerpes carolinusResidentCommon23–26 cmRecorded all year · 3.26% in Oct
American RobinTurdus migratoriusResidentCommon20–28 cmRecorded all year · 3.15% in Oct
Song SparrowMelospiza melodiaResidentCommon12–17 cmRecorded all year · 2.87% in Oct
White-breasted NuthatchSitta carolinensisResidentCommon13–14 cmRecorded all year · 2.80% in Oct
Downy WoodpeckerDryobates pubescensResidentCommon14–18 cmRecorded all year · 2.79% in Oct
Tufted TitmouseBaeolophus bicolorResidentCommon14–17 cmRecorded all year · 2.50% in Oct
Mourning DoveZenaida macrouraResidentCommon23–34 cmRecorded all year · 2.40% in Oct
House FinchHaemorhous mexicanusResidentCommon13–15 cmRecorded all year · 2.21% in Oct
Turkey VultureCathartes auraResidentCommon62–81 cmRecorded all year · 2.18% in Oct
Canada GooseBranta canadensisResidentCommon76–110 cmRecorded all year · 2.06% in Oct
Northern FlickerColaptes auratusResidentCommon28–31 cmRecorded all year · 2.01% in Oct
Common StarlingSturnus vulgarisResidentCommon21–23 cmRecorded all year · 1.99% in Oct- Ruby-crowned KingletCorthylio calendulaWinter visitorCommon9–11 cmRegularly Sep–May · 1.72% in Oct
- Yellow-rumped WarblerSetophaga coronataWinter visitorCommon12–15 cmRegularly Sep–May · 1.64% in Oct
Eastern BluebirdSialia sialisResidentCommon16–21 cmRecorded all year · 1.54% in Oct
House SparrowPasser domesticusResidentCommon14–17 cmRecorded all year · 1.44% in Oct
Red-tailed HawkButeo jamaicensisResidentCommon45–65 cmRecorded all year · 1.34% in Oct
Gray CatbirdDumetella carolinensisSummer visitorCommon20–24 cmRegularly Apr–Oct · 1.30% in Oct
Red-winged BlackbirdAgelaius phoeniceusResidentCommon17–23 cmRecorded all year · 1.25% in Oct
MallardAnas platyrhynchosResidentCommon50–65 cmRecorded all year · 1.22% in Oct
Northern MockingbirdMimus polyglottosResidentCommon21–26 cmRecorded all year · 1.22% in Oct
Hairy WoodpeckerLeuconotopicus villosusResidentCommon18–26 cmRecorded all year · 1.15% in Oct
Great Blue HeronArdea herodiasResidentCommon91–137 cmRecorded all year · 1.11% in Oct
Cedar WaxwingBombycilla cedrorumSummer visitorCommon15–18 cmRecorded all year · 1.02% in Oct
Chipping SparrowSpizella passerinaSummer visitorCommon12–15 cmRegularly Mar–Nov · 0.92% in Oct
Swamp SparrowMelospiza georgianaResidentCommon12–15 cmRecorded all year · 0.85% in Oct
Bald EagleHaliaeetus leucocephalusResidentCommon70–102 cmRecorded all year · 0.80% in Oct
Pileated WoodpeckerDryocopus pileatusResidentCommon40–49 cmRecorded all year · 0.77% in Oct
Yellow-bellied SapsuckerSphyrapicus variusWinter visitorCommon19–22 cmRecorded all year · 0.71% in Oct- Palm WarblerSetophaga palmarumPassage migrantCommon12–14 cmRegularly Apr–Nov · 0.67% in Oct
Common RavenCorvus coraxResidentCommon54–67 cmRecorded all year · 0.65% in Oct
Wood DuckAix sponsaSummer visitorCommon47–54 cmRecorded all year · 0.60% in Oct
Rock DoveColumba liviaResidentCommon29–37 cmRecorded all year · 0.57% in Oct
Common GrackleQuiscalus quisculaSummer visitorCommon28–34 cmRecorded all year · 0.54% in Oct
Common YellowthroatGeothlypis trichasSummer visitorCommon11–13 cmRegularly Apr–Oct · 0.48% in Oct- Sharp-shinned HawkAccipiter striatusWinter visitorUncommon24–34 cmRegularly Aug–May · 0.48% in Oct
Blue-headed VireoVireo solitariusSummer visitorUncommon12–15 cmRegularly Apr–Oct · 0.46% in Oct
Ring-billed GullLarus delawarensisWinter visitorCommon43–54 cmRecorded all year · 0.40% in Oct
Hermit ThrushCatharus guttatusResidentUncommon14–18 cmRecorded all year · 0.35% in Oct
Pied-billed GrebePodilymbus podicepsWinter visitorUncommon31–38 cmRegularly Aug–May · 0.32% in Oct
White-crowned SparrowZonotrichia leucophrysWinter visitorUncommon15–16 cmRegularly Oct–May · 0.32% in Oct
Pine SiskinSpinus pinusWinter visitorUncommon11–14 cmRegularly Oct–May · 0.29% in Oct
Black-throated Green WarblerSetophaga virensSummer visitorCommon11–12 cmRegularly Apr–Oct · 0.26% in Oct
Eurasian TealAnas creccaWinter visitorUncommon34–38 cmRegularly Aug–Apr · 0.25% in Oct
Fish CrowCorvus ossifragusResidentCommon36–41 cmRecorded all year · 0.24% in Oct
Lincoln's SparrowMelospiza lincolniiPassage migrantUncommon13–15 cmRegularly May–Oct · 0.24% in Oct
Blackpoll WarblerSetophaga striataPassage migrantUncommon13–15 cmRegularly May–Oct · 0.24% in Oct
Great White EgretArdea albaSummer visitorCommon80–104 cmRegularly Mar–Nov · 0.22% in Oct- MerlinFalco columbariusWinter visitorUncommon24–33 cmRecorded all year · 0.20% in Oct
American Black DuckAnas rubripesWinter visitorCommon54–59 cmRegularly Aug–Apr · 0.20% in Oct
OspreyPandion haliaetusSummer visitorCommon54–58 cmRegularly Mar–Nov · 0.19% in Oct
Ruddy DuckOxyura jamaicensisWinter visitorCommon35–43 cmRegularly Oct–May · 0.19% in Oct
Magnolia WarblerSetophaga magnoliaSummer visitorCommon11–13 cmRegularly May–Oct · 0.18% in Oct
Black-throated Blue WarblerSetophaga caerulescensSummer visitorUncommon11–13 cmRegularly Apr–Oct · 0.17% in Oct
Common MerganserMergus merganserWinter visitorCommon58–68 cmRecorded all year · 0.16% in Oct
Tennessee WarblerLeiothlypis peregrinaPassage migrantUncommon10–13 cmRegularly May–Oct · 0.16% in Oct
Swainson's ThrushCatharus ustulatusPassage migrantUncommon16–20 cmRegularly May–Oct · 0.16% in Oct
Peregrine FalconFalco peregrinusResidentUncommon34–58 cmRecorded all year · 0.14% in Oct
Lesser YellowlegsTringa flavipesPassage migrantUncommon23–27 cmRegularly Apr–Oct · 0.14% in Oct
Greater YellowlegsTringa melanoleucaPassage migrantUncommon29–40 cmRegularly Mar–Nov · 0.14% in Oct
American Herring GullLarus smithsonianusWinter visitorCommon53–65 cmRecorded all year · 0.13% in Oct
Nashville WarblerLeiothlypis ruficapillaPassage migrantUncommon11–13 cmRegularly Apr–Oct · 0.13% in Oct
Great Horned OwlBubo virginianusWinter visitorUncommon46–63 cmRecorded all year · 0.12% in Oct
Northern ShovelerSpatula clypeataWinter visitorUncommon44–51 cmRegularly Sep–Apr · 0.12% in Oct
Cape May WarblerSetophaga tigrinaPassage migrantUncommon12–14 cmRegularly May–Oct · 0.12% in Oct
Wild TurkeyMeleagris gallopavoResidentUncommon100–125 cmRecorded all year · 0.12% in Oct
Eastern Screech-owlMegascops asioWinter visitorUncommon16–25 cmRecorded all year · 0.11% in Oct
GadwallMareca streperaWinter visitorUncommon46–56 cmRegularly Oct–Apr · 0.10% in Oct
American RedstartSetophaga ruticillaSummer visitorCommon11–14 cmRegularly May–Oct · 0.10% in Oct
Mute SwanCygnus olorResidentUncommon140–160 cmRecorded all year · 0.10% in Oct
Common PheasantPhasianus colchicusWinter visitorUncommon50–90 cmRegularly Oct–Aug · 0.09% in Oct
Rose-breasted GrosbeakPheucticus ludovicianusSummer visitorCommon18–22 cmRegularly Apr–Oct · 0.08% in Oct
Pectoral SandpiperCalidris melanotosPassage migrantUncommon19–23 cmRegularly Mar–Nov · 0.08% in Oct
Scarlet TanagerPiranga olivaceaSummer visitorCommon16–19 cmRegularly May–Oct · 0.07% in Oct
Common LoonGavia immerWinter visitorUncommon66–91 cmRegularly Oct–May · 0.06% in Oct
Northern PintailAnas acutaWinter visitorUncommon59–76 cmRegularly Sep–Apr · 0.06% in Oct
Barred OwlStrix variaResidentUncommon43–50 cmRecorded all year · 0.05% in Oct
Solitary SandpiperTringa solitariaPassage migrantUncommon19–23 cmRegularly Apr–Oct · 0.05% in Oct
Marsh WrenCistothorus palustrisSummer visitorUncommon10–14 cmRegularly Apr–Feb · 0.05% in Oct
Broad-winged HawkButeo platypterusSummer visitorUncommon34–44 cmRegularly Apr–Oct · 0.05% in Oct
Horned LarkEremophila alpestrisWinter visitorUncommon16–20 cmRecorded all year · 0.05% in Oct
Least SandpiperCalidris minutillaPassage migrantUncommon13–15 cmRegularly May–Oct · 0.05% in Oct
Fox SparrowPasserella iliacaWinter visitorUncommon15–19 cmRegularly Oct–Apr · 0.04% in Oct
Red-headed WoodpeckerMelanerpes erythrocephalusResidentUncommon19–23 cmRecorded all year · 0.04% in Oct
Great Black-backed GullLarus marinusWinter visitorUncommon64–79 cmRegularly Jul–Apr · 0.04% in Oct
DunlinCalidris alpinaPassage migrantUncommon16–22 cmRegularly Apr–Nov · 0.04% in Oct
Bay-breasted WarblerSetophaga castaneaPassage migrantUncommon14–14 cmRegularly May–Oct · 0.04% in Oct- Vesper SparrowPooecetes gramineusSummer visitorRare13–17 cmRegularly Feb–Nov · 0.04% in Oct
Golden EagleAquila chrysaetosWinter visitorUncommon66–102 cmRegularly Oct–Mar · 0.04% in Oct
Gray-cheeked ThrushCatharus minimusPassage migrantUncommon16–17 cmRegularly May–Oct · 0.04% in Oct
Lesser Black-backed GullLarus fuscusWinter visitorUncommon52–64 cmRegularly Sep–Apr · 0.03% in Oct
Chestnut-sided WarblerSetophaga pensylvanicaSummer visitorUncommon10–14 cmRegularly May–Oct · 0.03% in Oct
Snow GooseAnser caerulescensWinter visitorUncommon69–84 cmRegularly Oct–Apr · 0.03% in Oct
Bonaparte's GullChroicocephalus philadelphiaWinter visitorUncommon28–38 cmRegularly Sep–May · 0.03% in Oct
Ruffed GrouseBonasa umbellusResidentRare41–50 cmRecorded all year · 0.03% in Oct
Forster's TernSterna forsteriPassage migrantRare33–36 cmRegularly Apr–Nov · 0.02% in Oct
Surf ScoterMelanitta perspicillataWinter visitorRare48–60 cmRegularly Oct–May · 0.02% in Oct
Orange-crowned WarblerLeiothlypis celataWinter visitorRare11–14 cmRegularly Sep–May · 0.02% in Oct
Horned GrebePodiceps auritusWinter visitorUncommon31–38 cmRegularly Oct–Apr · 0.02% in Oct
American Golden-PloverPluvialis dominicaPassage migrantRare24–28 cmRegularly Aug–Oct · 0.02% in Oct
Sandhill CraneAntigone canadensisResidentUncommon80–122 cmRecorded all year · 0.02% in Oct
Semipalmated SandpiperCalidris pusillaSummer visitorUncommon15–18 cmRegularly May–Oct · 0.02% in Oct
BobolinkDolichonyx oryzivorusSummer visitorUncommon16–20 cmRegularly May–Oct · 0.02% in Oct
Evening GrosbeakHesperiphona vespertinaWinter visitorUncommon16–22 cmRegularly Oct–May · 0.02% in Oct
Red-breasted MerganserMergus serratorWinter visitorUncommon52–58 cmRegularly Oct–May · 0.02% in Oct
Grey PloverPluvialis squatarolaPassage migrantRare27–30 cmRegularly Apr–Nov · 0.01% in Oct
Northern Saw-whet OwlAegolius acadicusWinter visitorRare17–21 cmRegularly Oct–Apr · 0.01% in Oct
White-rumped SandpiperCalidris fuscicollisPassage migrantRare15–18 cmRegularly May–Nov · 0.01% in Oct
Stilt SandpiperCalidris himantopusPassage migrantRare18–23 cmRegularly Jul–Oct · 0.01% in Oct
American BitternBotaurus lentiginosusPassage migrantRare58–85 cmRegularly Apr–Nov · 0.01% in Oct
DickcisselSpiza americanaSummer visitorRare14–16 cmRegularly May–Feb · 0.01% in Oct
Greater ScaupAythya marilaWinter visitorUncommon39–56 cmRegularly Oct–Apr · 0.01% in Oct
Cackling GooseBranta hutchinsiiWinter visitorUncommon53–76 cmRegularly Oct–Mar · 0.01% in Oct
Long-billed DowitcherLimnodromus scolopaceusPassage migrantRare27–30 cmRegularly May–Nov · 0.01% in Oct
Philadelphia VireoVireo philadelphicusPassage migrantUncommon11–13 cmRegularly May–Oct · 0.01% in Oct
Brent GooseBranta berniclaPassage migrantRare55–66 cmRegularly May–Dec · 0.01% in Oct
Clay-colored SparrowSpizella pallidaResidentRare13–15 cmRegularly Sep–Jul · 0.01% in Oct
Semipalmated PloverCharadrius semipalmatusSummer visitorUncommon17–19 cmRegularly May–Oct · 0.01% in Oct
Red-necked GrebePodiceps grisegenaWinter visitorRare40–50 cmRegularly Oct–Apr · 0.01% in Oct
Hudsonian GodwitLimosa haemasticaPassage migrantRare36–42 cmRegularly Aug–Oct · 0.01% in Oct
Virginia RailRallus limicolaSummer visitorUncommon20–27 cmRecorded all year · 0.01% in Oct
Black-crowned Night-heronNycticorax nycticoraxSummer visitorUncommon58–65 cmRegularly Apr–Oct · 0.01% in Oct
Cattle EgretArdea ibisPassage migrantRare46–56 cmRegularly Apr–Nov · 0.01% in Oct
Great CormorantPhalacrocorax carboWinter visitorRare80–100 cmRegularly Oct–Mar · 0.01% in Oct
Long-tailed DuckClangula hyemalisWinter visitorUncommon37–60 cmRegularly Oct–Apr · 0.01% in Oct
Muscovy DuckCairina moschataWinter visitorRare66–84 cmRecorded all year · 0.01% in Oct
Common TernSterna hirundoSummer visitorRare31–35 cmRegularly Apr–Nov · 0.01% in Oct
SanderlingCalidris albaPassage migrantRare18–20 cmRegularly May–Nov · 0.01% in Oct
Eurasian Collared DoveStreptopelia decaoctoResidentRare30–32 cmRecorded all year · 0.01% in Oct
Greater White-fronted GooseAnser albifronsWinter visitorRare64–81 cmRegularly Oct–Mar · 0.00% in Oct
Red-throated LoonGavia stellataWinter visitorRare53–69 cmRegularly Oct–Apr · 0.00% in Oct
Trumpeter SwanCygnus buccinatorResidentRare139–157 cmRecorded all year · 0.00% in Oct
Buff-breasted SandpiperCalidris subruficollisPassage migrantRare18–20 cmRegularly Aug–Oct · 0.00% in Oct
American AvocetRecurvirostra americanaSummer visitorRare43–51 cmRegularly Apr–Oct · 0.00% in Oct
Snow BuntingPlectrophenax nivalisWinter visitorUncommon15–18 cmRegularly Oct–Feb · 0.00% in Oct
Red CrossbillLoxia curvirostraWinter visitorRare15–17 cmRegularly Jul–May · 0.00% in Oct
Mourning WarblerGeothlypis philadelphiaSummer visitorRare10–15 cmRegularly May–Oct · 0.00% in Oct
Lapland LongspurCalcarius lapponicusWinter visitorRare15–16 cmRegularly Oct–Mar · 0.00% in Oct
Red-necked PhalaropePhalaropus lobatusPassage migrantRare18–19 cmRegularly May–Oct · 0.00% in Oct
Wilson's PhalaropePhalaropus tricolorPassage migrantRare22–24 cmRegularly May–Oct · 0.00% in Oct
Greylag GooseAnser anserResidentRare75–90 cmRecorded all year · 0.00% in Oct
ChukarAlectoris chukarWinter visitorRare32–38 cmRegularly Jun–Apr · 0.00% in Oct
Arctic JaegerStercorarius parasiticusPassage migrantRare41–46 cmRegularly Sep–Nov · 0.00% in Oct
Franklin's GullLeucophaeus pipixcanPassage migrantRare32–36 cmRegularly Aug–Nov · 0.00% in Oct
Swan GooseAnser cygnoidesWinter visitorRare81–94 cmRegularly Oct–Apr · 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