Birds to See in Texas in October
178 bird species on our list for Texas are recorded regularly in October
Of these, the most often recorded are Northern Cardinal, Northern Mockingbird, Blue Jay, Turkey Vulture and Mourning Dove. New this month: Yellow-rumped Warbler, Gadwall, White-crowned Sparrow and Song Sparrow and 25 more.
On the move in October
GBIF · OctArriving
At their peak
Northern FlickerBusiest month of the year · Aug–Mar
Nashville WarblerBusiest month of the year · Sep–May
Sharp-shinned HawkBusiest month of the year · Sep–May
American BitternBusiest month of the year · Aug–May
Red-naped SapsuckerBusiest month of the year · Sep–Mar
Palm WarblerBusiest month of the year · Sep–May
From Texas’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 178 birds in October
178 birds
Northern CardinalCardinalis cardinalisResidentCommon21–23 cmRecorded all year · 3.20% in Oct
Northern MockingbirdMimus polyglottosResidentCommon21–26 cmRecorded all year · 3.13% in Oct
Blue JayCyanocitta cristataResidentCommon25–30 cmRecorded all year · 2.50% in Oct
Turkey VultureCathartes auraResidentCommon62–81 cmRecorded all year · 2.28% in Oct
Mourning DoveZenaida macrouraResidentCommon23–34 cmRecorded all year · 2.00% in Oct
White-winged DoveZenaida asiaticaResidentCommon27–30 cmRecorded all year · 1.98% in Oct
Great White EgretArdea albaResidentCommon80–104 cmRecorded all year · 1.80% in Oct
American CrowCorvus brachyrhynchosResidentCommon41–53 cmRecorded all year · 1.77% in Oct
Great Blue HeronArdea herodiasResidentCommon91–137 cmRecorded all year · 1.69% in Oct
Red-bellied WoodpeckerMelanerpes carolinusResidentCommon23–26 cmRecorded all year · 1.40% in Oct
House FinchHaemorhous mexicanusResidentCommon13–15 cmRecorded all year · 1.34% in Oct
Common StarlingSturnus vulgarisResidentCommon21–23 cmRecorded all year · 1.21% in Oct
House SparrowPasser domesticusResidentCommon14–17 cmRecorded all year · 1.19% in Oct
Ruby-crowned KingletCorthylio calendulaWinter visitorCommon9–11 cmRegularly Sep–Apr · 1.13% in Oct
Scissor-tailed FlycatcherTyrannus forficatusSummer visitorCommon28–38 cmRegularly Mar–Nov · 1.09% in Oct
Downy WoodpeckerDryobates pubescensResidentCommon14–18 cmRecorded all year · 0.99% in Oct
Red-winged BlackbirdAgelaius phoeniceusResidentCommon17–23 cmRecorded all year · 0.96% in Oct
Ruby-throated HummingbirdArchilochus colubrisSummer visitorCommon7–9 cmRegularly Mar–Nov · 0.82% in Oct
Eastern BluebirdSialia sialisResidentCommon16–21 cmRecorded all year · 0.81% in Oct
Red-tailed HawkButeo jamaicensisResidentCommon45–65 cmRecorded all year · 0.80% in Oct
Rock DoveColumba liviaResidentCommon29–37 cmRecorded all year · 0.77% in Oct
Pied-billed GrebePodilymbus podicepsWinter visitorCommon31–38 cmRecorded all year · 0.73% in Oct
OspreyPandion haliaetusWinter visitorCommon54–58 cmRecorded all year · 0.71% in Oct
Barn SwallowHirundo rusticaSummer visitorCommon17–19 cmRegularly Mar–Nov · 0.71% in Oct- Northern FlickerColaptes auratusWinter visitorCommon28–31 cmRegularly Aug–Mar · 0.70% in Oct
Orange-crowned WarblerLeiothlypis celataWinter visitorCommon11–14 cmRegularly Sep–Apr · 0.69% in Oct
Tufted TitmouseBaeolophus bicolorResidentCommon14–17 cmRecorded all year · 0.68% in Oct
Ladder-backed WoodpeckerDryobates scalarisResidentCommon16–19 cmRecorded all year · 0.67% in Oct
Golden-fronted WoodpeckerMelanerpes aurifronsResidentCommon21–26 cmRecorded all year · 0.66% in Oct
Lincoln's SparrowMelospiza lincolniiWinter visitorCommon13–15 cmRegularly Sep–May · 0.60% in Oct
American RobinTurdus migratoriusResidentCommon20–28 cmRecorded all year · 0.59% in Oct
Yellow-rumped WarblerSetophaga coronataWinter visitorCommon12–15 cmRegularly Oct–May · 0.59% in Oct- Nashville WarblerLeiothlypis ruficapillaWinter visitorCommon11–13 cmRegularly Sep–May · 0.54% in Oct
Eurasian Collared DoveStreptopelia decaoctoResidentCommon30–32 cmRecorded all year · 0.53% in Oct
Least SandpiperCalidris minutillaWinter visitorCommon13–15 cmRegularly Jul–May · 0.52% in Oct
MallardAnas platyrhynchosResidentCommon50–65 cmRecorded all year · 0.52% in Oct
Common YellowthroatGeothlypis trichasResidentCommon11–13 cmRecorded all year · 0.51% in Oct
Greater YellowlegsTringa melanoleucaWinter visitorCommon29–40 cmRecorded all year · 0.45% in Oct
Cattle EgretArdea ibisSummer visitorCommon46–56 cmRecorded all year · 0.42% in Oct
Gray CatbirdDumetella carolinensisWinter visitorCommon20–24 cmRegularly Aug–May · 0.39% in Oct
Northern ShovelerSpatula clypeataWinter visitorCommon44–51 cmRegularly Aug–Jun · 0.38% in Oct
Common GrackleQuiscalus quisculaResidentCommon28–34 cmRecorded all year · 0.33% in Oct
WilletTringa semipalmataResidentCommon33–41 cmRecorded all year · 0.32% in Oct
Chipping SparrowSpizella passerinaWinter visitorCommon12–15 cmRecorded all year · 0.32% in Oct
Eurasian TealAnas creccaWinter visitorCommon34–38 cmRegularly Aug–Apr · 0.31% in Oct
White-crowned SparrowZonotrichia leucophrysWinter visitorCommon15–16 cmRegularly Oct–May · 0.30% in Oct
Forster's TernSterna forsteriResidentUncommon33–36 cmRecorded all year · 0.28% in Oct
Pileated WoodpeckerDryocopus pileatusResidentUncommon40–49 cmRecorded all year · 0.26% in Oct
GadwallMareca streperaWinter visitorCommon46–56 cmRegularly Oct–May · 0.26% in Oct
Common RavenCorvus coraxResidentUncommon54–67 cmRecorded all year · 0.24% in Oct
American AvocetRecurvirostra americanaResidentUncommon43–51 cmRecorded all year · 0.23% in Oct- Sharp-shinned HawkAccipiter striatusWinter visitorUncommon24–34 cmRegularly Sep–May · 0.22% in Oct
Yellow-bellied SapsuckerSphyrapicus variusWinter visitorUncommon19–22 cmRegularly Oct–Apr · 0.22% in Oct
Northern PintailAnas acutaWinter visitorUncommon59–76 cmRegularly Sep–Mar · 0.21% in Oct
Ring-billed GullLarus delawarensisWinter visitorCommon43–54 cmRegularly Aug–May · 0.21% in Oct
SanderlingCalidris albaResidentUncommon18–20 cmRecorded all year · 0.20% in Oct
Canada GooseBranta canadensisResidentUncommon76–110 cmRecorded all year · 0.20% in Oct
Vesper SparrowPooecetes gramineusWinter visitorUncommon13–17 cmRegularly Sep–May · 0.19% in Oct
Lesser YellowlegsTringa flavipesWinter visitorUncommon23–27 cmRegularly Jul–May · 0.19% in Oct
Wood DuckAix sponsaResidentUncommon47–54 cmRecorded all year · 0.19% in Oct
Great Horned OwlBubo virginianusResidentUncommon46–63 cmRecorded all year · 0.19% in Oct
Marsh WrenCistothorus palustrisWinter visitorUncommon10–14 cmRegularly Jul–May · 0.19% in Oct
Lark SparrowChondestes grammacusSummer visitorCommon15–17 cmRecorded all year · 0.18% in Oct
Long-billed DowitcherLimnodromus scolopaceusWinter visitorUncommon27–30 cmRegularly Jul–May · 0.18% in Oct
Western MeadowlarkSturnella neglectaWinter visitorUncommon16–26 cmRecorded all year · 0.18% in Oct
Grey PloverPluvialis squatarolaResidentUncommon27–30 cmRecorded all year · 0.17% in Oct
Bald EagleHaliaeetus leucocephalusWinter visitorUncommon70–102 cmRecorded all year · 0.17% in Oct
Black-crowned Night-heronNycticorax nycticoraxResidentUncommon58–65 cmRecorded all year · 0.17% in Oct
Clay-colored SparrowSpizella pallidaWinter visitorUncommon13–15 cmRegularly Sep–May · 0.17% in Oct
Ruddy DuckOxyura jamaicensisWinter visitorUncommon35–43 cmRecorded all year · 0.17% in Oct
American RedstartSetophaga ruticillaPassage migrantUncommon11–14 cmRegularly Apr–Nov · 0.16% in Oct
Ruddy TurnstoneArenaria interpresResidentUncommon21–24 cmRecorded all year · 0.15% in Oct
Greater RoadrunnerGeococcyx californianusResidentUncommon52–54 cmRecorded all year · 0.15% in Oct
Broad-winged HawkButeo platypterusSummer visitorUncommon34–44 cmRegularly Mar–Nov · 0.15% in Oct
Black-throated Green WarblerSetophaga virensWinter visitorUncommon11–12 cmRegularly Aug–May · 0.14% in Oct
DickcisselSpiza americanaSummer visitorCommon14–16 cmRegularly Apr–Oct · 0.14% in Oct
Hermit ThrushCatharus guttatusWinter visitorUncommon14–18 cmRegularly Oct–May · 0.14% in Oct
Muscovy DuckCairina moschataResidentUncommon66–84 cmRecorded all year · 0.13% in Oct
MerlinFalco columbariusWinter visitorUncommon24–33 cmRegularly Sep–Apr · 0.13% in Oct
Sandhill CraneAntigone canadensisWinter visitorUncommon80–122 cmRegularly Oct–Mar · 0.12% in Oct
Swamp SparrowMelospiza georgianaWinter visitorUncommon12–15 cmRegularly Oct–Apr · 0.12% in Oct
Western SandpiperCalidris mauriWinter visitorUncommon14–17 cmRegularly Jul–May · 0.12% in Oct
Barred OwlStrix variaResidentUncommon43–50 cmRecorded all year · 0.12% in Oct
Magnolia WarblerSetophaga magnoliaPassage migrantUncommon11–13 cmRegularly Apr–Nov · 0.11% in Oct
Egyptian GooseAlopochen aegyptiacaResidentUncommon63–73 cmRecorded all year · 0.11% in Oct
Franklin's GullLeucophaeus pipixcanPassage migrantUncommon32–36 cmRegularly Oct–May · 0.11% in Oct
American Herring GullLarus smithsonianusWinter visitorUncommon53–65 cmRecorded all year · 0.10% in Oct
Blue-headed VireoVireo solitariusWinter visitorUncommon12–15 cmRegularly Sep–May · 0.10% in Oct
Peregrine FalconFalco peregrinusWinter visitorUncommon34–58 cmRecorded all year · 0.10% in Oct
Northern Yellow WarblerSetophaga aestivaPassage migrantCommon12–13 cmRegularly Apr–Oct · 0.10% in Oct
Tennessee WarblerLeiothlypis peregrinaPassage migrantUncommon10–13 cmRegularly Apr–Nov · 0.10% in Oct
Semipalmated PloverCharadrius semipalmatusWinter visitorUncommon17–19 cmRecorded all year · 0.10% in Oct
White-breasted NuthatchSitta carolinensisResidentUncommon13–14 cmRecorded all year · 0.10% in Oct
Marbled GodwitLimosa fedoaResidentUncommon40–50 cmRecorded all year · 0.09% in Oct
Say's PhoebeSayornis sayaResidentUncommon17–20 cmRecorded all year · 0.09% in Oct
Pine SiskinSpinus pinusWinter visitorUncommon11–14 cmRegularly Oct–May · 0.09% in Oct
Piping PloverCharadrius melodusWinter visitorUncommon17–18 cmRegularly Jul–May · 0.09% in Oct
Song SparrowMelospiza melodiaWinter visitorCommon12–17 cmRegularly Oct–Apr · 0.09% in Oct
Monk ParakeetMyiopsitta monachusResidentUncommon29–31 cmRecorded all year · 0.08% in Oct
Scaly-breasted MuniaLonchura punctulataResidentUncommon11–12 cmRecorded all year · 0.08% in Oct
Wild TurkeyMeleagris gallopavoResidentUncommon100–125 cmRecorded all year · 0.08% in Oct
Eastern Screech-owlMegascops asioResidentUncommon16–25 cmRecorded all year · 0.08% in Oct
Stilt SandpiperCalidris himantopusWinter visitorUncommon18–23 cmRegularly Jul–May · 0.07% in Oct
Sandwich TernThalasseus sandvicensisSummer visitorUncommon36–41 cmRegularly Mar–Dec · 0.07% in Oct
Least FlycatcherEmpidonax minimusPassage migrantUncommon12–14 cmRegularly Apr–Dec · 0.07% in Oct
Rose-breasted GrosbeakPheucticus ludovicianusPassage migrantUncommon18–22 cmRegularly Oct–May · 0.06% in Oct
Red-headed WoodpeckerMelanerpes erythrocephalusResidentUncommon19–23 cmRecorded all year · 0.06% in Oct
Solitary SandpiperTringa solitariaWinter visitorUncommon19–23 cmRegularly Jul–May · 0.06% in Oct
Lesser Black-backed GullLarus fuscusWinter visitorUncommon52–64 cmRecorded all year · 0.05% in Oct
Baltimore OrioleIcterus galbulaPassage migrantCommon17–19 cmRegularly Apr–Oct · 0.05% in Oct
Short-billed DowitcherLimnodromus griseusWinter visitorUncommon23–32 cmRecorded all year · 0.05% in Oct
DunlinCalidris alpinaWinter visitorUncommon16–22 cmRegularly Oct–May · 0.05% in Oct
Acorn WoodpeckerMelanerpes formicivorusSummer visitorUncommon20–24 cmRecorded all year · 0.05% in Oct
Greater White-fronted GooseAnser albifronsWinter visitorUncommon64–81 cmRegularly Oct–Mar · 0.05% in Oct
Black-necked GrebePodiceps nigricollisWinter visitorUncommon28–34 cmRegularly Aug–May · 0.05% in Oct
Pectoral SandpiperCalidris melanotosPassage migrantUncommon19–23 cmRegularly Mar–Oct · 0.05% in Oct- American BitternBotaurus lentiginosusWinter visitorRare58–85 cmRegularly Aug–May · 0.04% in Oct
- Red-naped SapsuckerSphyrapicus nuchalisWinter visitorRare19–21 cmRegularly Sep–Mar · 0.04% in Oct
Horned LarkEremophila alpestrisResidentUncommon16–20 cmRecorded all year · 0.04% in Oct
Sand MartinRiparia ripariaSummer visitorUncommon12–14 cmRegularly Mar–Oct · 0.04% in Oct
OvenbirdSeiurus aurocapillaPassage migrantUncommon12–15 cmRegularly Apr–Nov · 0.03% in Oct- Palm WarblerSetophaga palmarumWinter visitorRare12–14 cmRegularly Sep–May · 0.03% in Oct
Gull-billed TernGelochelidon niloticaSummer visitorUncommon33–42 cmRecorded all year · 0.03% in Oct
Northern WaterthrushParkesia noveboracensisPassage migrantUncommon12–15 cmRegularly Apr–Nov · 0.03% in Oct
Semipalmated SandpiperCalidris pusillaSummer visitorUncommon15–18 cmRegularly Mar–Oct · 0.03% in Oct
Hairy WoodpeckerLeuconotopicus villosusResidentRare18–26 cmRecorded all year · 0.03% in Oct
Snow GooseAnser caerulescensWinter visitorUncommon69–84 cmRegularly Oct–Mar · 0.03% in Oct
Swainson's ThrushCatharus ustulatusPassage migrantUncommon16–20 cmRegularly Apr–Oct · 0.03% in Oct
Fulvous Whistling-DuckDendrocygna bicolorResidentUncommon45–53 cmRecorded all year · 0.03% in Oct
Burrowing OwlAthene cuniculariaResidentRare19–25 cmRecorded all year · 0.03% in Oct
Virginia RailRallus limicolaWinter visitorRare20–27 cmRegularly Aug–May · 0.03% in Oct
Red KnotCalidris canutusSummer visitorRare23–26 cmRecorded all year · 0.03% in Oct
American Golden-PloverPluvialis dominicaPassage migrantUncommon24–28 cmRegularly Sep–May · 0.02% in Oct
Chestnut-sided WarblerSetophaga pensylvanicaPassage migrantUncommon10–14 cmRegularly Apr–Oct · 0.02% in Oct
Common TernSterna hirundoSummer visitorUncommon31–35 cmRecorded all year · 0.02% in Oct
Cinnamon TealSpatula cyanopteraWinter visitorUncommon36–43 cmRegularly Jul–May · 0.02% in Oct
Fish CrowCorvus ossifragusSummer visitorUncommon36–41 cmRecorded all year · 0.02% in Oct
Mourning WarblerGeothlypis philadelphiaPassage migrantUncommon10–15 cmRegularly May–Oct · 0.02% in Oct
Philadelphia VireoVireo philadelphicusPassage migrantUncommon11–13 cmRegularly Apr–Oct · 0.02% in Oct
Wilson's PhalaropePhalaropus tricolorSummer visitorUncommon22–24 cmRegularly Mar–Nov · 0.02% in Oct
Yellow-bellied FlycatcherEmpidonax flaviventrisPassage migrantUncommon13–15 cmRegularly May–Oct · 0.02% in Oct
Black TernChlidonias nigerSummer visitorUncommon22–26 cmRegularly Apr–Oct · 0.02% in Oct
Cackling GooseBranta hutchinsiiWinter visitorUncommon53–76 cmRecorded all year · 0.01% in Oct
Baird's SandpiperCalidris bairdiiPassage migrantUncommon14–17 cmRegularly Mar–Oct · 0.01% in Oct
Hooded MerganserLophodytes cucullatusWinter visitorUncommon40–49 cmRegularly Oct–Mar · 0.01% in Oct
Bay-breasted WarblerSetophaga castaneaPassage migrantUncommon14–14 cmRegularly Apr–Oct · 0.01% in Oct
Swan GooseAnser cygnoidesResidentRare81–94 cmRecorded all year · 0.01% in Oct
Mountain BluebirdSialia currucoidesWinter visitorRare15–18 cmRegularly Oct–Mar · 0.01% in Oct
Mute SwanCygnus olorResidentRare140–160 cmRecorded all year · 0.01% in Oct
Common LoonGavia immerWinter visitorUncommon66–91 cmRegularly Oct–Jun · 0.01% in Oct
Greylag GooseAnser anserResidentRare75–90 cmRecorded all year · 0.01% in Oct
Varied ThrushIxoreus naeviusPassage migrantRare20–26 cmRegularly Oct · 0.01% in Oct
Ross's GooseAnser rossiiWinter visitorUncommon57–64 cmRegularly Oct–Mar · 0.01% in Oct
Pomarine JaegerStercorarius pomarinusSummer visitorRare46–51 cmRegularly Mar–Jan · 0.01% in Oct
Cape May WarblerSetophaga tigrinaPassage migrantRare12–14 cmRegularly Apr–Nov · 0.01% in Oct
Black-throated Blue WarblerSetophaga caerulescensWinter visitorRare11–13 cmRegularly Sep–May · 0.01% in Oct
Lewis's WoodpeckerMelanerpes lewisPassage migrantRare26–28 cmRegularly Oct–Apr · 0.01% in Oct
Williamson's SapsuckerSphyrapicus thyroideusWinter visitorRare21–25 cmRegularly Sep–Mar · 0.01% in Oct
Red-cockaded WoodpeckerLeuconotopicus borealisResidentRare20–23 cmRecorded all year · 0.00% in Oct
Glossy IbisPlegadis falcinellusSummer visitorRare48–66 cmRecorded all year · 0.00% in Oct
Grey PhalaropePhalaropus fulicariusPassage migrantRare20–22 cmRegularly Oct · 0.00% in Oct
Red-necked PhalaropePhalaropus lobatusPassage migrantRare18–19 cmRegularly May–Nov · 0.00% in Oct
Surf ScoterMelanitta perspicillataWinter visitorRare48–60 cmRegularly Oct–May · 0.00% in Oct
Golden EagleAquila chrysaetosResidentRare66–102 cmRecorded all year · 0.00% in Oct
Indian PeafowlPavo cristatusSummer visitorRare86–230 cmRecorded all year · 0.00% in Oct
Horned GrebePodiceps auritusWinter visitorRare31–38 cmRegularly Oct–Apr · 0.00% in Oct
Common PheasantPhasianus colchicusResidentRare50–90 cmRecorded all year · 0.00% in Oct
Western Screech-owlMegascops kennicottiiSummer visitorRare19–25 cmRecorded all year · 0.00% in Oct
Short-eared OwlAsio flammeusWinter visitorRare34–43 cmRegularly Oct–Mar · 0.00% in Oct
BudgerigarMelopsittacus undulatusSummer visitorRare18–20 cmRegularly Feb–Dec · 0.00% in Oct
Sabine's GullXema sabiniPassage migrantRare27–33 cmRegularly Sep–Nov · 0.00% in Oct
Black-billed CuckooCoccyzus erythropthalmusPassage migrantRare28–32 cmRegularly Apr–Oct · 0.00% in Oct
Mandarin DuckAix galericulataPassage migrantRare41–49 cmRegularly Oct–Feb · 0.00% in Oct
Red JunglefowlGallus gallusResidentRare42–75 cmRecorded all year · 0.00% in Oct
Ferruginous Pygmy-owlGlaucidium brasilianumWinter visitorRare15–19 cmRegularly Oct–Jun · 0.00% in Oct
Helmeted GuineafowlNumida meleagrisSummer visitorRare53–63 cmRecorded all year · 0.00% in Oct
Red CrossbillLoxia curvirostraWinter visitorRare15–17 cmRegularly Jul–May · 0.00% in Oct
Flammulated OwlPsiloscops flammeolusSummer visitorRare15–17 cmRegularly Apr–Oct · 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