Birds to See in South Dakota in October
119 bird species on our list for South Dakota are recorded regularly in October
Of these, the most often recorded are American Robin, Blue Jay, Canada Goose, Mallard and House Sparrow. New this month: Snow Goose, American Tree Sparrow, Greater White-fronted Goose and Cackling Goose and 14 more.
On the move in October
GBIF · OctArriving
At their peak
Yellow-rumped WarblerBusiest month of the year · Apr–Dec
White-crowned SparrowBusiest month of the year · Apr–May
Pied-billed GrebeBusiest month of the year · Mar–Dec
Swamp SparrowBusiest month of the year · Apr–Dec
Sandhill CraneBusiest month of the year · Mar–Apr
Eastern BluebirdBusiest month of the year · All year
From South 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 119 birds in October
119 birds
American RobinTurdus migratoriusResidentCommon20–28 cmRecorded all year · 3.84% in Oct
Blue JayCyanocitta cristataResidentCommon25–30 cmRecorded all year · 3.16% in Oct
Canada GooseBranta canadensisResidentCommon76–110 cmRecorded all year · 2.69% in Oct
MallardAnas platyrhynchosResidentCommon50–65 cmRecorded all year · 2.45% in Oct
House SparrowPasser domesticusResidentCommon14–17 cmRecorded all year · 2.29% in Oct
Common StarlingSturnus vulgarisResidentCommon21–23 cmRecorded all year · 2.18% in Oct
American CrowCorvus brachyrhynchosResidentCommon41–53 cmRecorded all year · 2.12% in Oct
Ring-billed GullLarus delawarensisWinter visitorCommon43–54 cmRecorded all year · 2.10% in Oct
Red-tailed HawkButeo jamaicensisResidentCommon45–65 cmRecorded all year · 2.06% in Oct
Downy WoodpeckerDryobates pubescensWinter visitorCommon14–18 cmRecorded all year · 2.04% in Oct
White-breasted NuthatchSitta carolinensisWinter visitorCommon13–14 cmRecorded all year · 1.91% in Oct
Northern FlickerColaptes auratusResidentCommon28–31 cmRecorded all year · 1.88% in Oct
Western MeadowlarkSturnella neglectaSummer visitorCommon16–26 cmRegularly Mar–Jan · 1.80% in Oct
Red-winged BlackbirdAgelaius phoeniceusSummer visitorCommon17–23 cmRecorded all year · 1.73% in Oct
House FinchHaemorhous mexicanusWinter visitorCommon13–15 cmRecorded all year · 1.54% in Oct- Yellow-rumped WarblerSetophaga coronataSummer visitorCommon12–15 cmRegularly Apr–Dec · 1.54% in Oct
Eurasian Collared DoveStreptopelia decaoctoResidentCommon30–32 cmRecorded all year · 1.44% in Oct
Common GrackleQuiscalus quisculaSummer visitorCommon28–34 cmRegularly Mar–Dec · 1.39% in Oct
Rock DoveColumba liviaResidentCommon29–37 cmRecorded all year · 1.29% in Oct
Song SparrowMelospiza melodiaSummer visitorCommon12–17 cmRegularly Mar–Dec · 1.28% in Oct- White-crowned SparrowZonotrichia leucophrysPassage migrantCommon15–16 cmRegularly Sep–May · 1.27% in Oct
Common PheasantPhasianus colchicusResidentCommon50–90 cmRecorded all year · 1.20% in Oct
Mourning DoveZenaida macrouraSummer visitorCommon23–34 cmRegularly Mar–Dec · 1.19% in Oct
GadwallMareca streperaResidentCommon46–56 cmRecorded all year · 1.18% in Oct
Hairy WoodpeckerLeuconotopicus villosusWinter visitorCommon18–26 cmRecorded all year · 1.13% in Oct
Red-bellied WoodpeckerMelanerpes carolinusWinter visitorCommon23–26 cmRecorded all year · 1.11% in Oct
Great Blue HeronArdea herodiasSummer visitorCommon91–137 cmRecorded all year · 1.10% in Oct- Pied-billed GrebePodilymbus podicepsSummer visitorCommon31–38 cmRegularly Mar–Dec · 1.03% in Oct
Northern CardinalCardinalis cardinalisResidentCommon21–23 cmRecorded all year · 0.98% in Oct
Bald EagleHaliaeetus leucocephalusWinter visitorCommon70–102 cmRecorded all year · 0.98% in Oct
Wild TurkeyMeleagris gallopavoResidentCommon100–125 cmRecorded all year · 0.90% in Oct
Franklin's GullLeucophaeus pipixcanSummer visitorCommon32–36 cmRegularly Mar–Jan · 0.86% in Oct
Chipping SparrowSpizella passerinaSummer visitorCommon12–15 cmRegularly Apr–Oct · 0.82% in Oct
Lincoln's SparrowMelospiza lincolniiPassage migrantCommon13–15 cmRegularly Apr–Oct · 0.79% in Oct
Cedar WaxwingBombycilla cedrorumResidentCommon15–18 cmRecorded all year · 0.78% in Oct
Ruby-crowned KingletCorthylio calendulaSummer visitorCommon9–11 cmRegularly Apr–Oct · 0.75% in Oct
Eurasian TealAnas creccaWinter visitorCommon34–38 cmRecorded all year · 0.70% in Oct
Turkey VultureCathartes auraSummer visitorCommon62–81 cmRegularly Apr–Oct · 0.67% in Oct
Wood DuckAix sponsaSummer visitorCommon47–54 cmRecorded all year · 0.65% in Oct
Northern ShovelerSpatula clypeataSummer visitorCommon44–51 cmRegularly Mar–Nov · 0.64% in Oct
American Tree SparrowSpizelloides arboreaWinter visitorCommon14–17 cmRegularly Oct–Apr · 0.61% in Oct
Orange-crowned WarblerLeiothlypis celataPassage migrantCommon11–14 cmRegularly Apr–Oct · 0.56% in Oct
Horned LarkEremophila alpestrisWinter visitorCommon16–20 cmRecorded all year · 0.48% in Oct
Northern PintailAnas acutaSummer visitorCommon59–76 cmRecorded all year · 0.44% in Oct
Ruddy DuckOxyura jamaicensisSummer visitorCommon35–43 cmRegularly Mar–Dec · 0.42% in Oct- Swamp SparrowMelospiza georgianaSummer visitorUncommon12–15 cmRegularly Apr–Dec · 0.39% in Oct
Fox SparrowPasserella iliacaPassage migrantUncommon15–19 cmRegularly Oct–Apr · 0.38% in Oct
Pine SiskinSpinus pinusWinter visitorCommon11–14 cmRecorded all year · 0.38% in Oct
Common MerganserMergus merganserWinter visitorCommon58–68 cmRecorded all year · 0.37% in Oct
Vesper SparrowPooecetes gramineusSummer visitorCommon13–17 cmRegularly Apr–Oct · 0.36% in Oct
Sharp-shinned HawkAccipiter striatusWinter visitorUncommon24–34 cmRegularly Aug–Apr · 0.34% in Oct- Sandhill CraneAntigone canadensisPassage migrantUncommon80–122 cmRegularly Sep–Apr · 0.32% in Oct
Greater YellowlegsTringa melanoleucaPassage migrantCommon29–40 cmRegularly Mar–Nov · 0.31% in Oct- Eastern BluebirdSialia sialisSummer visitorUncommon16–21 cmRecorded all year · 0.30% in Oct
Great Horned OwlBubo virginianusWinter visitorCommon46–63 cmRecorded all year · 0.29% in Oct
Great White EgretArdea albaSummer visitorCommon80–104 cmRegularly Apr–Nov · 0.28% in Oct
Mountain BluebirdSialia currucoidesSummer visitorCommon15–18 cmRegularly Mar–Nov · 0.27% in Oct
Red CrossbillLoxia curvirostraResidentCommon15–17 cmRecorded all year · 0.26% in Oct
Barn SwallowHirundo rusticaSummer visitorCommon17–19 cmRegularly Apr–Oct · 0.25% in Oct
OspreyPandion haliaetusSummer visitorCommon54–58 cmRegularly Apr–Nov · 0.24% in Oct
Golden EagleAquila chrysaetosWinter visitorCommon66–102 cmRecorded all year · 0.23% in Oct
Greater White-fronted GooseAnser albifronsPassage migrantCommon64–81 cmRegularly Oct–Apr · 0.22% in Oct
Bonaparte's GullChroicocephalus philadelphiaPassage migrantCommon28–38 cmRegularly Sep–Apr · 0.21% in Oct
American Herring GullLarus smithsonianusWinter visitorCommon53–65 cmRegularly Oct–Apr · 0.21% in Oct
Clay-colored SparrowSpizella pallidaSummer visitorCommon13–15 cmRegularly Apr–Oct · 0.21% in Oct
Snow GooseAnser caerulescensWinter visitorCommon69–84 cmRegularly Oct–Apr · 0.20% in Oct
Marsh WrenCistothorus palustrisSummer visitorUncommon10–14 cmRegularly Apr–Dec · 0.19% in Oct
MerlinFalco columbariusWinter visitorUncommon24–33 cmRegularly Aug–Apr · 0.19% in Oct
Hooded MerganserLophodytes cucullatusWinter visitorCommon40–49 cmRegularly Oct–Jun · 0.18% in Oct
Common LoonGavia immerSummer visitorUncommon66–91 cmRegularly Mar–Nov · 0.17% in Oct
Nashville WarblerLeiothlypis ruficapillaPassage migrantUncommon11–13 cmRegularly May–Oct · 0.15% in Oct
Black-necked GrebePodiceps nigricollisSummer visitorUncommon28–34 cmRegularly Apr–Nov · 0.15% in Oct
Gray CatbirdDumetella carolinensisSummer visitorCommon20–24 cmRegularly May–Oct · 0.15% in Oct
Lesser Black-backed GullLarus fuscusWinter visitorUncommon52–64 cmRegularly Sep–Apr · 0.14% in Oct
Long-billed DowitcherLimnodromus scolopaceusPassage migrantUncommon27–30 cmRegularly Apr–Oct · 0.14% in Oct
Lesser YellowlegsTringa flavipesPassage migrantCommon23–27 cmRegularly Apr–Oct · 0.12% in Oct
Lapland LongspurCalcarius lapponicusWinter visitorUncommon15–16 cmRegularly Oct–Apr · 0.12% in Oct
Horned GrebePodiceps auritusPassage migrantUncommon31–38 cmRegularly Sep–May · 0.12% in Oct
American AvocetRecurvirostra americanaSummer visitorUncommon43–51 cmRegularly Apr–Oct · 0.11% in Oct
Common YellowthroatGeothlypis trichasSummer visitorCommon11–13 cmRegularly May–Oct · 0.09% in Oct
Hermit ThrushCatharus guttatusPassage migrantUncommon14–18 cmRegularly Apr–Dec · 0.08% in Oct
Tundra SwanCygnus columbianusPassage migrantUncommon120–150 cmRegularly Oct–Apr · 0.08% in Oct
Least SandpiperCalidris minutillaPassage migrantUncommon13–15 cmRegularly Apr–Oct · 0.07% in Oct
Pectoral SandpiperCalidris melanotosPassage migrantCommon19–23 cmRegularly Apr–Oct · 0.07% in Oct
Eastern Screech-owlMegascops asioWinter visitorUncommon16–25 cmRecorded all year · 0.06% in Oct
Cackling GooseBranta hutchinsiiWinter visitorCommon53–76 cmRegularly Oct–Apr · 0.06% in Oct
Surf ScoterMelanitta perspicillataPassage migrantUncommon48–60 cmRegularly Oct–Nov · 0.06% in Oct
Black-crowned Night-heronNycticorax nycticoraxSummer visitorUncommon58–65 cmRegularly Apr–Oct · 0.06% in Oct
Trumpeter SwanCygnus buccinatorWinter visitorUncommon139–157 cmRecorded all year · 0.05% in Oct
Burrowing OwlAthene cuniculariaSummer visitorUncommon19–25 cmRegularly Apr–Oct · 0.05% in Oct
Northern Saw-whet OwlAegolius acadicusWinter visitorUncommon17–21 cmRegularly Oct–Mar · 0.05% in Oct
Grey PloverPluvialis squatarolaResidentRare27–30 cmRegularly Apr–Oct · 0.04% in Oct
Red-necked GrebePodiceps grisegenaSummer visitorUncommon40–50 cmRegularly Apr–Nov · 0.04% in Oct
Stilt SandpiperCalidris himantopusSummer visitorUncommon18–23 cmRegularly Apr–Oct · 0.04% in Oct
Short-eared OwlAsio flammeusWinter visitorUncommon34–43 cmRegularly Oct–Jul · 0.04% in Oct
American Golden-PloverPluvialis dominicaPassage migrantUncommon24–28 cmRegularly Apr–Oct · 0.04% in Oct
Say's PhoebeSayornis sayaSummer visitorUncommon17–20 cmRegularly Apr–Oct · 0.04% in Oct
Yellow-bellied SapsuckerSphyrapicus variusSummer visitorUncommon19–22 cmRegularly Apr–Oct · 0.04% in Oct
Baird's SandpiperCalidris bairdiiPassage migrantUncommon14–17 cmRegularly Mar–Oct · 0.03% in Oct
Cattle EgretArdea ibisSummer visitorUncommon46–56 cmRegularly Apr–Oct · 0.03% in Oct
Forster's TernSterna forsteriSummer visitorUncommon33–36 cmRegularly Apr–Oct · 0.03% in Oct
Peregrine FalconFalco peregrinusSummer visitorUncommon34–58 cmRegularly Mar–Oct · 0.03% in Oct
American BitternBotaurus lentiginosusSummer visitorUncommon58–85 cmRegularly Apr–Oct · 0.03% in Oct
Broad-winged HawkButeo platypterusSummer visitorUncommon34–44 cmRegularly Apr–Oct · 0.03% in Oct
Pileated WoodpeckerDryocopus pileatusWinter visitorUncommon40–49 cmRegularly Oct–Aug · 0.03% in Oct
Solitary SandpiperTringa solitariaPassage migrantUncommon19–23 cmRegularly Apr–Oct · 0.03% in Oct
Grey PartridgePerdix perdixResidentRare28–32 cmRecorded all year · 0.03% in Oct
Blue-headed VireoVireo solitariusPassage migrantUncommon12–15 cmRegularly May–Oct · 0.02% in Oct
Ross's GooseAnser rossiiWinter visitorUncommon57–64 cmRegularly Oct–Apr · 0.02% in Oct
Black-backed WoodpeckerPicoides arcticusSummer visitorRare21–24 cmRegularly Apr–Nov · 0.02% in Oct
Black-throated Green WarblerSetophaga virensPassage migrantRare11–12 cmRegularly May–Oct · 0.02% in Oct
Common RavenCorvus coraxResidentRare54–67 cmRegularly May–Nov · 0.02% in Oct
Iceland GullLarus glaucoidesWinter visitorUncommon52–60 cmRegularly Oct–Apr · 0.02% in Oct
Ruffed GrouseBonasa umbellusSummer visitorRare41–50 cmRegularly May–Oct · 0.02% in Oct
American Three-toed WoodpeckerPicoides dorsalisSummer visitorRare21–24 cmRegularly Jan–Oct · 0.01% in Oct
DunlinCalidris alpinaPassage migrantUncommon16–22 cmRegularly Apr–Oct · 0.01% in Oct
Palm WarblerSetophaga palmarumPassage migrantUncommon12–14 cmRegularly Apr–Oct · 0.01% in Oct
Semipalmated PloverCharadrius semipalmatusPassage migrantUncommon17–19 cmRegularly Apr–Oct · 0.01% in Oct
Virginia RailRallus limicolaSummer visitorUncommon20–27 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