Birds to See in Tennessee in October
136 bird species on our list for Tennessee are recorded regularly in October
Of these, the most often recorded are Blue Jay, Northern Cardinal, American Crow, Tufted Titmouse and Red-bellied Woodpecker. New this month: Yellow-rumped Warbler, Ruby-crowned Kinglet, Yellow-bellied Sapsucker and Swamp Sparrow and 19 more.
On the move in October
GBIF · OctArriving
At their peak
From Tennessee’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 136 birds in October
136 birds
Blue JayCyanocitta cristataResidentCommon25–30 cmRecorded all year · 4.29% in Oct
Northern CardinalCardinalis cardinalisResidentCommon21–23 cmRecorded all year · 4.07% in Oct
American CrowCorvus brachyrhynchosResidentCommon41–53 cmRecorded all year · 3.55% in Oct
Tufted TitmouseBaeolophus bicolorResidentCommon14–16 cmRecorded all year · 3.25% in Oct
Red-bellied WoodpeckerMelanerpes carolinusResidentCommon23–26 cmRecorded all year · 3.22% in Oct
Northern MockingbirdMimus polyglottosResidentCommon21–26 cmRecorded all year · 2.96% in Oct
Downy WoodpeckerDryobates pubescensResidentCommon14–18 cmRecorded all year · 2.65% in Oct
Eastern BluebirdSialia sialisResidentCommon16–21 cmRecorded all year · 2.39% in Oct
American RobinTurdus migratoriusResidentCommon20–28 cmRecorded all year · 2.33% in Oct
Northern FlickerColaptes auratusWinter visitorCommon28–31 cmRecorded all year · 2.32% in Oct
Mourning DoveZenaida macrouraResidentCommon23–34 cmRecorded all year · 2.16% in Oct
House FinchHaemorhous mexicanusResidentCommon13–15 cmRecorded all year · 2.10% in Oct
White-breasted NuthatchSitta carolinensisResidentCommon13–14 cmRecorded all year · 1.99% in Oct
Turkey VultureCathartes auraResidentCommon62–81 cmRecorded all year · 1.68% in Oct
Yellow-rumped WarblerSetophaga coronataWinter visitorCommon12–15 cmRegularly Oct–May · 1.59% in Oct
Common StarlingSturnus vulgarisResidentCommon21–23 cmRecorded all year · 1.57% in Oct
Song SparrowMelospiza melodiaResidentCommon12–17 cmRecorded all year · 1.56% in Oct
Great Blue HeronArdea herodiasResidentCommon91–137 cmRecorded all year · 1.44% in Oct
Pileated WoodpeckerDryocopus pileatusResidentCommon40–49 cmRecorded all year · 1.11% in Oct
Canada GooseBranta canadensisResidentCommon76–110 cmRecorded all year · 1.01% in Oct
Tennessee WarblerLeiothlypis peregrinaPassage migrantCommon10–13 cmRegularly Apr–Oct · 0.99% in Oct
Ruby-crowned KingletCorthylio calendulaWinter visitorCommon9–11 cmRegularly Oct–May · 0.95% in Oct
MallardAnas platyrhynchosResidentCommon50–65 cmRecorded all year · 0.86% in Oct
Magnolia WarblerSetophaga magnoliaPassage migrantCommon11–13 cmRegularly May–Oct · 0.84% in Oct
Red-winged BlackbirdAgelaius phoeniceusResidentCommon17–23 cmRecorded all year · 0.83% in Oct
Red-tailed HawkButeo jamaicensisResidentCommon45–65 cmRecorded all year · 0.79% in Oct
Gray CatbirdDumetella carolinensisSummer visitorCommon20–24 cmRegularly Apr–Oct · 0.75% in Oct
Palm WarblerSetophaga palmarumWinter visitorCommon12–14 cmRegularly Sep–May · 0.74% in Oct
Rose-breasted GrosbeakPheucticus ludovicianusPassage migrantCommon18–22 cmRegularly Apr–Oct · 0.70% in Oct
Swamp SparrowMelospiza georgianaWinter visitorCommon12–15 cmRegularly Oct–Apr · 0.67% in Oct
Chipping SparrowSpizella passerinaResidentCommon12–15 cmRecorded all year · 0.65% in Oct
Yellow-bellied SapsuckerSphyrapicus variusWinter visitorCommon19–22 cmRegularly Oct–Apr · 0.65% in Oct
Common GrackleQuiscalus quisculaResidentCommon28–34 cmRecorded all year · 0.63% in Oct
Bay-breasted WarblerSetophaga castaneaPassage migrantCommon14–14 cmRegularly Apr–Oct · 0.56% in Oct
Black-throated Green WarblerSetophaga virensSummer visitorCommon11–12 cmRegularly Mar–Oct · 0.54% in Oct
Hairy WoodpeckerLeuconotopicus villosusResidentCommon18–26 cmRecorded all year · 0.53% in Oct
Great White EgretArdea albaSummer visitorCommon80–104 cmRecorded all year · 0.51% in Oct
Cedar WaxwingBombycilla cedrorumResidentCommon15–18 cmRecorded all year · 0.50% in Oct
Pied-billed GrebePodilymbus podicepsWinter visitorCommon31–38 cmRegularly Aug–Apr · 0.49% in Oct
House SparrowPasser domesticusResidentCommon14–17 cmRecorded all year · 0.48% in Oct
Bald EagleHaliaeetus leucocephalusResidentCommon70–102 cmRecorded all year · 0.48% in Oct
Rock DoveColumba liviaResidentCommon29–37 cmRecorded all year · 0.48% in Oct
Wood DuckAix sponsaResidentCommon47–54 cmRecorded all year · 0.48% in Oct
Common YellowthroatGeothlypis trichasSummer visitorCommon11–13 cmRegularly Apr–Oct · 0.44% in Oct
Ruby-throated HummingbirdArchilochus colubrisSummer visitorCommon7–9 cmRegularly Apr–Oct · 0.42% in Oct
Swainson's ThrushCatharus ustulatusPassage migrantCommon16–20 cmRegularly Apr–Oct · 0.39% in Oct
Red-headed WoodpeckerMelanerpes erythrocephalusResidentUncommon19–23 cmRecorded all year · 0.31% in Oct
American RedstartSetophaga ruticillaSummer visitorCommon11–14 cmRegularly Apr–Oct · 0.31% in Oct
Wild TurkeyMeleagris gallopavoResidentCommon100–125 cmRecorded all year · 0.29% in Oct
Hermit ThrushCatharus guttatusWinter visitorCommon14–18 cmRegularly Oct–Apr · 0.25% in Oct
Blue-headed VireoVireo solitariusSummer visitorUncommon12–15 cmRegularly Mar–Nov · 0.24% in Oct
Ring-billed GullLarus delawarensisWinter visitorCommon43–54 cmRegularly Aug–Apr · 0.22% in Oct
Cape May WarblerSetophaga tigrinaPassage migrantUncommon12–14 cmRegularly Apr–Oct · 0.20% in Oct
Fish CrowCorvus ossifragusResidentUncommon36–41 cmRecorded all year · 0.20% in Oct
Chestnut-sided WarblerSetophaga pensylvanicaPassage migrantCommon10–14 cmRegularly Apr–Oct · 0.20% in Oct
Lincoln's SparrowMelospiza lincolniiPassage migrantUncommon13–15 cmRegularly Oct–May · 0.19% in Oct
GadwallMareca streperaWinter visitorCommon46–56 cmRegularly Oct–Apr · 0.19% in Oct
Scarlet TanagerPiranga olivaceaSummer visitorCommon16–19 cmRegularly Apr–Oct · 0.18% in Oct
Barred OwlStrix variaResidentUncommon43–50 cmRecorded all year · 0.17% in Oct
OspreyPandion haliaetusSummer visitorCommon54–58 cmRegularly Feb–Nov · 0.16% in Oct
Orange-crowned WarblerLeiothlypis celataWinter visitorUncommon11–14 cmRegularly Sep–Apr · 0.16% in Oct
Northern ShovelerSpatula clypeataWinter visitorUncommon44–51 cmRegularly Aug–May · 0.14% in Oct
White-crowned SparrowZonotrichia leucophrysWinter visitorUncommon15–16 cmRegularly Oct–May · 0.14% in Oct
Nashville WarblerLeiothlypis ruficapillaPassage migrantUncommon11–13 cmRegularly Apr–Oct · 0.14% in Oct
Eurasian TealAnas creccaWinter visitorUncommon34–38 cmRegularly Sep–Apr · 0.13% in Oct
Marsh WrenCistothorus palustrisWinter visitorUncommon10–14 cmRegularly Sep–May · 0.13% in Oct
Gray-cheeked ThrushCatharus minimusPassage migrantUncommon16–17 cmRegularly Apr–Oct · 0.12% in Oct
Great Horned OwlBubo virginianusResidentUncommon46–63 cmRecorded all year · 0.12% in Oct
Philadelphia VireoVireo philadelphicusPassage migrantUncommon11–13 cmRegularly Apr–Oct · 0.12% in Oct
Sharp-shinned HawkAccipiter striatusWinter visitorUncommon24–34 cmRecorded all year · 0.11% in Oct
OvenbirdSeiurus aurocapillaSummer visitorUncommon12–15 cmRegularly Apr–Oct · 0.11% in Oct
Greater YellowlegsTringa melanoleucaPassage migrantUncommon29–40 cmRegularly Mar–Nov · 0.09% in Oct
Pine SiskinSpinus pinusWinter visitorUncommon11–14 cmRegularly Oct–May · 0.09% in Oct
Least SandpiperCalidris minutillaPassage migrantUncommon13–15 cmRegularly Mar–Jan · 0.09% in Oct
Eastern Screech-owlMegascops asioResidentUncommon16–25 cmRecorded all year · 0.08% in Oct
Common RavenCorvus coraxResidentUncommon54–67 cmRecorded all year · 0.08% in Oct
Eurasian Collared DoveStreptopelia decaoctoResidentUncommon30–32 cmRecorded all year · 0.07% in Oct
Ruddy DuckOxyura jamaicensisWinter visitorUncommon35–43 cmRegularly Oct–Apr · 0.07% in Oct
Northern PintailAnas acutaWinter visitorUncommon59–76 cmRegularly Sep–Mar · 0.06% in Oct
American Herring GullLarus smithsonianusWinter visitorUncommon53–65 cmRegularly Sep–Apr · 0.06% in Oct
Lesser YellowlegsTringa flavipesPassage migrantUncommon23–27 cmRegularly Mar–Nov · 0.06% in Oct
Northern WaterthrushParkesia noveboracensisPassage migrantUncommon12–15 cmRegularly Apr–Oct · 0.06% in Oct
Pectoral SandpiperCalidris melanotosPassage migrantUncommon19–23 cmRegularly Mar–Oct · 0.06% in Oct
MerlinFalco columbariusWinter visitorUncommon24–33 cmRegularly Aug–Apr · 0.05% in Oct
Greater White-fronted GooseAnser albifronsWinter visitorUncommon64–81 cmRegularly Oct–Mar · 0.05% in Oct
Vesper SparrowPooecetes gramineusWinter visitorUncommon13–17 cmRegularly Oct–Apr · 0.04% in Oct
Peregrine FalconFalco peregrinusWinter visitorRare34–58 cmRecorded all year · 0.04% in Oct
Black-throated Blue WarblerSetophaga caerulescensSummer visitorUncommon11–13 cmRegularly Apr–Oct · 0.04% in Oct
Common LoonGavia immerWinter visitorCommon66–91 cmRegularly Oct–May · 0.04% in Oct
Forster's TernSterna forsteriWinter visitorUncommon33–36 cmRegularly Jul–May · 0.04% in Oct
Bonaparte's GullChroicocephalus philadelphiaWinter visitorCommon28–38 cmRegularly Oct–Apr · 0.03% in Oct
Horned LarkEremophila alpestrisWinter visitorUncommon16–20 cmRecorded all year · 0.03% in Oct
Lesser Black-backed GullLarus fuscusWinter visitorRare52–64 cmRegularly Aug–Apr · 0.03% in Oct
DunlinCalidris alpinaPassage migrantUncommon16–22 cmRegularly Oct–May · 0.03% in Oct
Broad-winged HawkButeo platypterusSummer visitorUncommon34–44 cmRegularly Apr–Oct · 0.03% in Oct
Long-billed DowitcherLimnodromus scolopaceusPassage migrantUncommon27–30 cmRegularly Mar–Nov · 0.03% in Oct
American AvocetRecurvirostra americanaPassage migrantRare43–51 cmRegularly Apr–Nov · 0.03% in Oct
DickcisselSpiza americanaSummer visitorUncommon14–16 cmRegularly Apr–Oct · 0.03% in Oct
Franklin's GullLeucophaeus pipixcanPassage migrantRare32–36 cmRegularly Jun–Dec · 0.02% in Oct
Virginia RailRallus limicolaWinter visitorRare20–27 cmRegularly Sep–May · 0.02% in Oct
BobolinkDolichonyx oryzivorusPassage migrantUncommon16–20 cmRegularly Apr–Oct · 0.02% in Oct
Muscovy DuckCairina moschataResidentRare66–84 cmRecorded all year · 0.02% in Oct
Black-crowned Night-heronNycticorax nycticoraxResidentUncommon58–65 cmRecorded all year · 0.02% in Oct
Clay-colored SparrowSpizella pallidaPassage migrantRare13–15 cmRegularly Oct · 0.02% in Oct
Horned GrebePodiceps auritusWinter visitorUncommon31–38 cmRegularly Oct–Mar · 0.02% in Oct
Fox SparrowPasserella iliacaWinter visitorUncommon15–19 cmRegularly Oct–Mar · 0.02% in Oct
VeeryCatharus fuscescensSummer visitorUncommon16–19 cmRegularly Apr–Oct · 0.02% in Oct
Stilt SandpiperCalidris himantopusPassage migrantUncommon18–23 cmRegularly Apr–Oct · 0.02% in Oct
Grey PloverPluvialis squatarolaPassage migrantRare27–30 cmRegularly Apr–Nov · 0.02% in Oct
Mute SwanCygnus olorWinter visitorRare140–160 cmRecorded all year · 0.02% in Oct
Least FlycatcherEmpidonax minimusPassage migrantUncommon12–14 cmRegularly Apr–Oct · 0.01% in Oct
American Golden-PloverPluvialis dominicaPassage migrantRare24–28 cmRegularly Aug–Apr · 0.01% in Oct
American Black DuckAnas rubripesWinter visitorUncommon54–59 cmRegularly Oct–Mar · 0.01% in Oct
Semipalmated SandpiperCalidris pusillaSummer visitorUncommon15–18 cmRegularly Apr–Oct · 0.01% in Oct
Scissor-tailed FlycatcherTyrannus forficatusSummer visitorUncommon28–38 cmRegularly Apr–Oct · 0.01% in Oct
Cattle EgretArdea ibisSummer visitorUncommon46–56 cmRegularly Mar–Nov · 0.01% in Oct
Surf ScoterMelanitta perspicillataWinter visitorRare48–60 cmRegularly Oct–Apr · 0.01% in Oct
Red CrossbillLoxia curvirostraResidentRare15–17 cmRecorded all year · 0.01% in Oct
Semipalmated PloverCharadrius semipalmatusSummer visitorUncommon17–19 cmRegularly Apr–Oct · 0.01% in Oct
American BitternBotaurus lentiginosusPassage migrantRare58–85 cmRegularly Sep–May · 0.01% in Oct
Yellow-bellied FlycatcherEmpidonax flaviventrisPassage migrantRare13–15 cmRegularly May–Oct · 0.01% in Oct
Western SandpiperCalidris mauriPassage migrantUncommon14–17 cmRegularly Apr–Oct · 0.01% in Oct
SanderlingCalidris albaPassage migrantUncommon18–20 cmRegularly May–Oct · 0.00% in Oct
Common TernSterna hirundoPassage migrantRare31–35 cmRegularly May–Oct · 0.00% in Oct
Mourning WarblerGeothlypis philadelphiaPassage migrantRare10–15 cmRegularly May–Oct · 0.00% in Oct
Ruffed GrouseBonasa umbellusSummer visitorRare41–50 cmRegularly Feb–Dec · 0.00% in Oct
Baird's SandpiperCalidris bairdiiPassage migrantRare14–17 cmRegularly Apr–Oct · 0.00% in Oct
White-rumped SandpiperCalidris fuscicollisPassage migrantUncommon15–18 cmRegularly Apr–Oct · 0.00% in Oct
Common MerganserMergus merganserWinter visitorUncommon58–68 cmRecorded all year · 0.00% in Oct
Black-billed CuckooCoccyzus erythropthalmusPassage migrantRare28–32 cmRegularly Apr–Oct · 0.00% in Oct
Black-necked GrebePodiceps nigricollisWinter visitorRare28–34 cmRegularly Oct–Mar · 0.00% in Oct
Golden EagleAquila chrysaetosWinter visitorRare66–102 cmRegularly Oct–Mar · 0.00% in Oct
Lark SparrowChondestes grammacusSummer visitorRare15–17 cmRegularly Apr–Oct · 0.00% in Oct
Northern Saw-whet OwlAegolius acadicusSummer visitorRare17–21 cmRegularly Apr–Jan · 0.00% in Oct
Western MeadowlarkSturnella neglectaWinter visitorRare16–26 cmRegularly Oct–Mar · 0.00% in Oct
Greylag GooseAnser anserResidentRare75–90 cmRegularly Mar–Jan · 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