Birds to See in Rhode Island in October
135 bird species on our list for Rhode Island are recorded regularly in October
Of these, the most often recorded are Blue Jay, Song Sparrow, American Crow, Northern Cardinal and Yellow-rumped Warbler. New this month: Red-breasted Merganser, Hooded Merganser, Red-throated Loon and Brent Goose and 16 more.
On the move in October
GBIF · OctArriving
At their peak
Yellow-rumped WarblerBusiest month of the year · Sep–May
Swamp SparrowBusiest month of the year · Sep–Jun
Ruby-crowned KingletBusiest month of the year · Sep–May
Palm WarblerBusiest month of the year · Mar–May
Blue-headed VireoBusiest month of the year · Apr–Jun
Sharp-shinned HawkBusiest month of the year · Sep–May
From Rhode Island’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 135 birds in October
135 birds
Blue JayCyanocitta cristataResidentCommon25–30 cmRecorded all year · 3.76% in Oct
Song SparrowMelospiza melodiaResidentCommon12–17 cmRecorded all year · 3.53% in Oct
American CrowCorvus brachyrhynchosResidentCommon41–53 cmRecorded all year · 2.72% in Oct
Northern CardinalCardinalis cardinalisResidentCommon21–23 cmRecorded all year · 2.53% in Oct- Yellow-rumped WarblerSetophaga coronataWinter visitorCommon12–15 cmRegularly Sep–May · 2.50% in Oct
American Herring GullLarus smithsonianusResidentCommon53–65 cmRecorded all year · 2.39% in Oct
American RobinTurdus migratoriusResidentCommon20–28 cmRecorded all year · 2.27% in Oct
Tufted TitmouseBaeolophus bicolorResidentCommon14–16 cmRecorded all year · 2.19% in Oct
Downy WoodpeckerDryobates pubescensResidentCommon14–18 cmRecorded all year · 2.13% in Oct
Northern FlickerColaptes auratusResidentCommon28–31 cmRecorded all year · 2.00% in Oct
Red-bellied WoodpeckerMelanerpes carolinusResidentCommon23–26 cmRecorded all year · 1.85% in Oct
White-breasted NuthatchSitta carolinensisResidentCommon13–14 cmRecorded all year · 1.84% in Oct
Gray CatbirdDumetella carolinensisSummer visitorCommon20–24 cmRecorded all year · 1.83% in Oct
Mourning DoveZenaida macrouraResidentCommon23–34 cmRecorded all year · 1.77% in Oct
Canada GooseBranta canadensisResidentCommon76–110 cmRecorded all year · 1.65% in Oct
House FinchHaemorhous mexicanusResidentCommon13–15 cmRecorded all year · 1.59% in Oct
Great Black-backed GullLarus marinusResidentCommon64–79 cmRecorded all year · 1.50% in Oct
MallardAnas platyrhynchosResidentCommon50–65 cmRecorded all year · 1.42% in Oct- Swamp SparrowMelospiza georgianaWinter visitorCommon12–15 cmRegularly Sep–Jun · 1.39% in Oct
Ring-billed GullLarus delawarensisWinter visitorCommon43–54 cmRecorded all year · 1.37% in Oct
House SparrowPasser domesticusResidentCommon14–17 cmRecorded all year · 1.35% in Oct
Great Blue HeronArdea herodiasResidentCommon91–137 cmRecorded all year · 1.34% in Oct
Common StarlingSturnus vulgarisResidentCommon21–23 cmRecorded all year · 1.29% in Oct
Northern MockingbirdMimus polyglottosResidentCommon21–26 cmRecorded all year · 1.22% in Oct- Ruby-crowned KingletCorthylio calendulaWinter visitorCommon9–11 cmRegularly Sep–May · 0.98% in Oct
Mute SwanCygnus olorResidentCommon140–160 cmRecorded all year · 0.90% in Oct
Great White EgretArdea albaSummer visitorCommon80–104 cmRegularly Mar–Dec · 0.86% in Oct
Red-tailed HawkButeo jamaicensisResidentCommon45–65 cmRecorded all year · 0.84% in Oct
Turkey VultureCathartes auraResidentCommon62–81 cmRecorded all year · 0.75% in Oct
Red-winged BlackbirdAgelaius phoeniceusSummer visitorCommon17–23 cmRecorded all year · 0.71% in Oct- Palm WarblerSetophaga palmarumPassage migrantCommon12–14 cmRegularly Sep–May · 0.69% in Oct
Chipping SparrowSpizella passerinaSummer visitorCommon12–15 cmRegularly Apr–Nov · 0.68% in Oct
Blackpoll WarblerSetophaga striataPassage migrantCommon13–15 cmRegularly May–Oct · 0.67% in Oct
American Black DuckAnas rubripesWinter visitorCommon54–59 cmRegularly Aug–Apr · 0.65% in Oct
Common GrackleQuiscalus quisculaSummer visitorCommon28–34 cmRecorded all year · 0.64% in Oct
Hairy WoodpeckerLeuconotopicus villosusResidentCommon18–26 cmRecorded all year · 0.60% in Oct
Common YellowthroatGeothlypis trichasSummer visitorCommon11–13 cmRegularly May–Oct · 0.60% in Oct
EiderSomateria mollissimaWinter visitorCommon50–71 cmRecorded all year · 0.52% in Oct
Wood DuckAix sponsaSummer visitorCommon47–54 cmRecorded all year · 0.48% in Oct
Eastern BluebirdSialia sialisResidentCommon16–21 cmRecorded all year · 0.48% in Oct- Blue-headed VireoVireo solitariusPassage migrantUncommon12–15 cmRegularly Apr–Nov · 0.46% in Oct
MerlinFalco columbariusWinter visitorUncommon24–33 cmRegularly Aug–Apr · 0.44% in Oct
Cedar WaxwingBombycilla cedrorumSummer visitorCommon15–18 cmRecorded all year · 0.44% in Oct
Rock DoveColumba liviaResidentCommon29–37 cmRecorded all year · 0.44% in Oct
OspreyPandion haliaetusSummer visitorCommon54–58 cmRegularly Mar–Oct · 0.43% in Oct
Greater YellowlegsTringa melanoleucaSummer visitorCommon29–40 cmRegularly Mar–Dec · 0.42% in Oct
Common RavenCorvus coraxResidentUncommon54–67 cmRecorded all year · 0.36% in Oct
Ruddy DuckOxyura jamaicensisWinter visitorCommon35–43 cmRegularly Sep–May · 0.35% in Oct- Sharp-shinned HawkAccipiter striatusWinter visitorUncommon24–34 cmRegularly Sep–May · 0.35% in Oct
Semipalmated PloverCharadrius semipalmatusSummer visitorCommon17–19 cmRegularly May–Oct · 0.33% in Oct
Grey PloverPluvialis squatarolaSummer visitorCommon27–30 cmRegularly Apr–Jan · 0.32% in Oct
Common LoonGavia immerWinter visitorCommon66–91 cmRecorded all year · 0.32% in Oct
Yellow-bellied SapsuckerSphyrapicus variusWinter visitorUncommon19–22 cmRegularly Sep–Apr · 0.31% in Oct
Fish CrowCorvus ossifragusResidentCommon36–41 cmRecorded all year · 0.30% in Oct
Hermit ThrushCatharus guttatusResidentCommon14–18 cmRecorded all year · 0.30% in Oct
SanderlingCalidris albaWinter visitorCommon18–20 cmRecorded all year · 0.29% in Oct
Wild TurkeyMeleagris gallopavoResidentUncommon100–125 cmRecorded all year · 0.25% in Oct
Eurasian TealAnas creccaWinter visitorUncommon34–38 cmRegularly Aug–Apr · 0.24% in Oct
Great CormorantPhalacrocorax carboWinter visitorCommon80–100 cmRegularly Sep–Apr · 0.24% in Oct
White-crowned SparrowZonotrichia leucophrysWinter visitorUncommon15–16 cmRegularly Sep–May · 0.23% in Oct
Peregrine FalconFalco peregrinusWinter visitorUncommon34–58 cmRecorded all year · 0.22% in Oct
Bald EagleHaliaeetus leucocephalusWinter visitorUncommon70–102 cmRecorded all year · 0.21% in Oct
Pied-billed GrebePodilymbus podicepsWinter visitorUncommon31–38 cmRegularly Sep–Apr · 0.20% in Oct
Pine SiskinSpinus pinusWinter visitorUncommon11–14 cmRegularly Oct–Apr · 0.20% in Oct
Surf ScoterMelanitta perspicillataWinter visitorCommon48–60 cmRegularly Oct–Apr · 0.20% in Oct
DunlinCalidris alpinaWinter visitorUncommon16–22 cmRegularly Aug–Jun · 0.20% in Oct
Common PheasantPhasianus colchicusWinter visitorUncommon50–90 cmRecorded all year · 0.19% in Oct
Lincoln's SparrowMelospiza lincolniiPassage migrantUncommon13–15 cmRegularly Sep–Nov · 0.18% in Oct
Brent GooseBranta berniclaWinter visitorCommon55–66 cmRegularly Oct–May · 0.17% in Oct
American RedstartSetophaga ruticillaSummer visitorCommon11–14 cmRegularly May–Oct · 0.16% in Oct
Northern GannetMorus bassanusWinter visitorCommon87–100 cmRegularly Aug–Jun · 0.15% in Oct
Red-breasted MerganserMergus serratorWinter visitorCommon52–58 cmRegularly Oct–Apr · 0.15% in Oct
Nashville WarblerLeiothlypis ruficapillaPassage migrantUncommon11–13 cmRegularly Apr–Nov · 0.14% in Oct
Black-throated Green WarblerSetophaga virensPassage migrantUncommon11–12 cmRegularly May–Oct · 0.14% in Oct
Black-throated Blue WarblerSetophaga caerulescensPassage migrantUncommon11–13 cmRegularly May–Oct · 0.13% in Oct
Greater ScaupAythya marilaWinter visitorCommon39–56 cmRegularly Oct–Apr · 0.13% in Oct
Semipalmated SandpiperCalidris pusillaSummer visitorCommon15–18 cmRegularly May–Oct · 0.13% in Oct
GadwallMareca streperaWinter visitorCommon46–56 cmRegularly Oct–Apr · 0.13% in Oct
Pileated WoodpeckerDryocopus pileatusResidentUncommon40–49 cmRecorded all year · 0.11% in Oct
Cape May WarblerSetophaga tigrinaPassage migrantUncommon12–14 cmRegularly May–Nov · 0.10% in Oct
Red-throated LoonGavia stellataWinter visitorCommon53–69 cmRegularly Oct–May · 0.10% in Oct
Lesser Black-backed GullLarus fuscusWinter visitorUncommon52–64 cmRecorded all year · 0.09% in Oct
Ruddy TurnstoneArenaria interpresSummer visitorCommon21–24 cmRegularly May–Mar · 0.09% in Oct
Hooded MerganserLophodytes cucullatusWinter visitorCommon40–49 cmRegularly Oct–Apr · 0.09% in Oct
White-rumped SandpiperCalidris fuscicollisSummer visitorUncommon15–18 cmRegularly May–Nov · 0.09% in Oct
Great Horned OwlBubo virginianusWinter visitorUncommon46–63 cmRecorded all year · 0.08% in Oct
Marsh WrenCistothorus palustrisResidentUncommon10–14 cmRecorded all year · 0.08% in Oct
Red-headed WoodpeckerMelanerpes erythrocephalusPassage migrantUncommon19–23 cmRegularly Sep–May · 0.08% in Oct
Orange-crowned WarblerLeiothlypis celataWinter visitorUncommon11–14 cmRegularly Oct–Mar · 0.08% in Oct
Bonaparte's GullChroicocephalus philadelphiaResidentUncommon28–38 cmRecorded all year · 0.07% in Oct
DickcisselSpiza americanaPassage migrantUncommon14–16 cmRegularly Aug–Jan · 0.07% in Oct
BobolinkDolichonyx oryzivorusSummer visitorUncommon16–20 cmRegularly May–Oct · 0.07% in Oct
Black-crowned Night-heronNycticorax nycticoraxSummer visitorUncommon58–65 cmRegularly Feb–Nov · 0.06% in Oct
Northern PintailAnas acutaWinter visitorUncommon59–76 cmRegularly Sep–Mar · 0.06% in Oct
Clay-colored SparrowSpizella pallidaPassage migrantUncommon13–15 cmRegularly Sep–Dec · 0.06% in Oct
Barred OwlStrix variaResidentUncommon43–50 cmRecorded all year · 0.06% in Oct
Lesser YellowlegsTringa flavipesPassage migrantCommon23–27 cmRegularly Apr–Oct · 0.06% in Oct
Pectoral SandpiperCalidris melanotosPassage migrantUncommon19–23 cmRegularly Apr–Oct · 0.06% in Oct
American BitternBotaurus lentiginosusWinter visitorRare58–85 cmRegularly Jun–Apr · 0.05% in Oct
Magnolia WarblerSetophaga magnoliaPassage migrantUncommon11–13 cmRegularly May–Oct · 0.04% in Oct
Great ShearwaterArdenna gravisSummer visitorUncommon43–51 cmRegularly May–Nov · 0.04% in Oct
Virginia RailRallus limicolaResidentRare20–27 cmRecorded all year · 0.04% in Oct
Horned LarkEremophila alpestrisWinter visitorUncommon16–20 cmRegularly Oct–Mar · 0.04% in Oct
Vesper SparrowPooecetes gramineusPassage migrantRare13–17 cmRegularly Oct–Apr · 0.04% in Oct
Tennessee WarblerLeiothlypis peregrinaPassage migrantUncommon10–13 cmRegularly May–Oct · 0.03% in Oct
Scarlet TanagerPiranga olivaceaSummer visitorCommon16–19 cmRegularly May–Oct · 0.03% in Oct
American Golden-PloverPluvialis dominicaPassage migrantUncommon24–28 cmRegularly Aug–Oct · 0.03% in Oct
Eastern Screech-owlMegascops asioWinter visitorRare16–25 cmRecorded all year · 0.03% in Oct
Lapland LongspurCalcarius lapponicusWinter visitorUncommon15–16 cmRegularly Oct–Feb · 0.03% in Oct
Swainson's ThrushCatharus ustulatusPassage migrantUncommon16–20 cmRegularly May–Oct · 0.03% in Oct
Forster's TernSterna forsteriPassage migrantUncommon33–36 cmRegularly Jul–Oct · 0.03% in Oct
Solitary SandpiperTringa solitariaPassage migrantUncommon19–23 cmRegularly Apr–Oct · 0.03% in Oct
Philadelphia VireoVireo philadelphicusPassage migrantUncommon11–13 cmRegularly Sep–Oct · 0.02% in Oct
Bay-breasted WarblerSetophaga castaneaPassage migrantUncommon14–14 cmRegularly May–Oct · 0.02% in Oct
Western KingbirdTyrannus verticalisPassage migrantUncommon20–24 cmRegularly Oct–Nov · 0.02% in Oct
Northern ShovelerSpatula clypeataWinter visitorUncommon44–51 cmRegularly Oct–Apr · 0.02% in Oct
Hudsonian GodwitLimosa haemasticaPassage migrantRare36–42 cmRegularly Aug–Oct · 0.02% in Oct
Red KnotCalidris canutusSummer visitorUncommon23–26 cmRegularly May–Oct · 0.02% in Oct
Northern WaterthrushParkesia noveboracensisSummer visitorUncommon12–15 cmRegularly Apr–Oct · 0.02% in Oct
Arctic JaegerStercorarius parasiticusPassage migrantRare41–46 cmRegularly May–Nov · 0.01% in Oct
Northern Saw-whet OwlAegolius acadicusWinter visitorRare17–21 cmRegularly Oct–Mar · 0.01% in Oct
Stilt SandpiperCalidris himantopusPassage migrantUncommon18–23 cmRegularly Jul–Oct · 0.01% in Oct
Manx ShearwaterPuffinus puffinusPassage migrantRare30–38 cmRegularly Jun–Nov · 0.01% in Oct
Black-billed CuckooCoccyzus erythropthalmusSummer visitorRare28–32 cmRegularly May–Oct · 0.01% in Oct
Chestnut-sided WarblerSetophaga pensylvanicaSummer visitorUncommon10–14 cmRegularly May–Oct · 0.01% in Oct
Long-billed DowitcherLimnodromus scolopaceusResidentRare27–30 cmRegularly Oct–Nov · 0.01% in Oct
Muscovy DuckCairina moschataWinter visitorRare66–84 cmRecorded all year · 0.01% in Oct
KittiwakeRissa tridactylaWinter visitorUncommon37–41 cmRegularly Oct–Mar · 0.01% in Oct
WhimbrelNumenius phaeopusPassage migrantUncommon40–46 cmRegularly Jul–Oct · 0.01% in Oct
Least FlycatcherEmpidonax minimusSummer visitorUncommon12–14 cmRegularly May–Oct · 0.01% in Oct
Gray-cheeked ThrushCatharus minimusPassage migrantRare16–17 cmRegularly Sep–Oct · 0.01% in Oct
Greylag GooseAnser anserSummer visitorRare75–90 cmRegularly Feb–Dec · 0.01% in Oct
Cackling GooseBranta hutchinsiiWinter visitorUncommon53–76 cmRegularly Oct–Mar · 0.00% in Oct
Pomarine JaegerStercorarius pomarinusPassage migrantRare46–51 cmRegularly Jun–Nov · 0.00% in Oct
FulmarFulmarus glacialisResidentRare45–50 cmRegularly Oct–May · 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