Birds to See in Vermont in October
122 bird species on our list for Vermont are recorded regularly in October
Of these, the most often recorded are Blue Jay, American Crow, American Robin, White-breasted Nuthatch and Song Sparrow. New this month: Goldeneye, Pine Siskin, Snow Goose and Horned Lark and 16 more.
On the move in October
GBIF · OctArriving
At their peak
From Vermont’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 122 birds in October
122 birds
Blue JayCyanocitta cristataResidentCommon25–30 cmRecorded all year · 5.94% in Oct
American CrowCorvus brachyrhynchosResidentCommon41–53 cmRecorded all year · 5.39% in Oct
American RobinTurdus migratoriusResidentCommon20–28 cmRecorded all year · 3.58% in Oct
White-breasted NuthatchSitta carolinensisWinter visitorCommon13–14 cmRecorded all year · 3.38% in Oct
Song SparrowMelospiza melodiaSummer visitorCommon12–17 cmRecorded all year · 3.13% in Oct
Canada GooseBranta canadensisSummer visitorCommon76–110 cmRecorded all year · 2.71% in Oct
Downy WoodpeckerDryobates pubescensResidentCommon14–18 cmRecorded all year · 2.44% in Oct
Northern CardinalCardinalis cardinalisResidentCommon21–23 cmRecorded all year · 2.38% in Oct
Tufted TitmouseBaeolophus bicolorResidentCommon14–17 cmRecorded all year · 2.38% in Oct
Yellow-rumped WarblerSetophaga coronataSummer visitorCommon12–15 cmRegularly Apr–Oct · 2.33% in Oct
Common RavenCorvus coraxResidentCommon54–67 cmRecorded all year · 2.32% in Oct
Hairy WoodpeckerLeuconotopicus villosusResidentCommon18–26 cmRecorded all year · 1.82% in Oct
MallardAnas platyrhynchosResidentCommon50–65 cmRecorded all year · 1.75% in Oct
Mourning DoveZenaida macrouraResidentCommon23–34 cmRecorded all year · 1.66% in Oct
Ruby-crowned KingletCorthylio calendulaPassage migrantCommon9–11 cmRegularly Apr–Oct · 1.51% in Oct
Turkey VultureCathartes auraSummer visitorCommon62–81 cmRegularly Feb–Nov · 1.43% in Oct
Ring-billed GullLarus delawarensisResidentCommon43–54 cmRecorded all year · 1.41% in Oct
Red-bellied WoodpeckerMelanerpes carolinusResidentCommon23–26 cmRecorded all year · 1.28% in Oct
Common StarlingSturnus vulgarisResidentCommon21–23 cmRecorded all year · 1.27% in Oct
Red-winged BlackbirdAgelaius phoeniceusSummer visitorCommon17–23 cmRegularly Feb–Nov · 1.26% in Oct
Great Blue HeronArdea herodiasSummer visitorCommon91–137 cmRegularly Mar–Dec · 1.10% in Oct
Eastern BluebirdSialia sialisResidentCommon16–21 cmRecorded all year · 0.99% in Oct
Pileated WoodpeckerDryocopus pileatusResidentCommon40–49 cmRecorded all year · 0.96% in Oct
Northern FlickerColaptes auratusSummer visitorCommon28–31 cmRecorded all year · 0.91% in Oct
Red-tailed HawkButeo jamaicensisWinter visitorCommon45–65 cmRecorded all year · 0.84% in Oct
Chipping SparrowSpizella passerinaSummer visitorCommon12–15 cmRegularly Apr–Oct · 0.84% in Oct
House FinchHaemorhous mexicanusResidentCommon13–15 cmRecorded all year · 0.84% in Oct
Wood DuckAix sponsaSummer visitorCommon47–54 cmRegularly Mar–Nov · 0.82% in Oct
White-crowned SparrowZonotrichia leucophrysPassage migrantCommon15–16 cmRegularly May–Nov · 0.78% in Oct
Swamp SparrowMelospiza georgianaSummer visitorCommon12–15 cmRegularly Apr–Nov · 0.77% in Oct
Gray CatbirdDumetella carolinensisSummer visitorCommon20–24 cmRegularly May–Oct · 0.72% in Oct
Common MerganserMergus merganserWinter visitorCommon58–68 cmRecorded all year · 0.69% in Oct
Hermit ThrushCatharus guttatusSummer visitorCommon14–18 cmRegularly Apr–Nov · 0.65% in Oct
Rock DoveColumba liviaWinter visitorCommon29–37 cmRecorded all year · 0.65% in Oct
Bald EagleHaliaeetus leucocephalusWinter visitorCommon70–102 cmRecorded all year · 0.64% in Oct
Common LoonGavia immerResidentCommon66–91 cmRegularly Apr–Feb · 0.64% in Oct
House SparrowPasser domesticusResidentCommon14–17 cmRecorded all year · 0.52% in Oct
Cedar WaxwingBombycilla cedrorumSummer visitorCommon15–18 cmRecorded all year · 0.49% in Oct
Palm WarblerSetophaga palmarumSummer visitorUncommon12–14 cmRegularly Apr–Oct · 0.41% in Oct
American Herring GullLarus smithsonianusWinter visitorCommon53–65 cmRecorded all year · 0.41% in Oct
American Black DuckAnas rubripesWinter visitorCommon54–59 cmRegularly Aug–Apr · 0.40% in Oct
Wild TurkeyMeleagris gallopavoResidentCommon100–125 cmRecorded all year · 0.38% in Oct
Pine SiskinSpinus pinusWinter visitorCommon11–14 cmRegularly Oct–May · 0.36% in Oct
Hooded MerganserLophodytes cucullatusWinter visitorCommon40–49 cmRecorded all year · 0.35% in Oct
Blue-headed VireoVireo solitariusSummer visitorCommon12–15 cmRegularly Apr–Oct · 0.35% in Oct
Common GrackleQuiscalus quisculaSummer visitorCommon28–34 cmRegularly Mar–Nov · 0.35% in Oct
Eurasian TealAnas creccaPassage migrantUncommon34–38 cmRegularly Mar–Dec · 0.34% in Oct
Barred OwlStrix variaResidentUncommon43–50 cmRecorded all year · 0.31% in Oct
Common YellowthroatGeothlypis trichasSummer visitorCommon11–13 cmRegularly May–Oct · 0.29% in Oct
Great White EgretArdea albaSummer visitorCommon80–104 cmRegularly Apr–Oct · 0.28% in Oct
Greater YellowlegsTringa melanoleucaPassage migrantUncommon29–40 cmRegularly Apr–Nov · 0.28% in Oct
Sharp-shinned HawkAccipiter striatusWinter visitorUncommon24–34 cmRecorded all year · 0.28% in Oct
Yellow-bellied SapsuckerSphyrapicus variusSummer visitorCommon19–22 cmRegularly Apr–Jan · 0.27% in Oct
Lincoln's SparrowMelospiza lincolniiSummer visitorUncommon13–15 cmRegularly May–Oct · 0.26% in Oct
Great Black-backed GullLarus marinusWinter visitorUncommon64–79 cmRegularly Jun–Apr · 0.25% in Oct
Ruffed GrouseBonasa umbellusResidentUncommon41–50 cmRecorded all year · 0.23% in Oct
Pied-billed GrebePodilymbus podicepsSummer visitorUncommon31–38 cmRegularly Mar–Dec · 0.23% in Oct
MerlinFalco columbariusSummer visitorUncommon24–33 cmRecorded all year · 0.21% in Oct
Peregrine FalconFalco peregrinusResidentUncommon34–58 cmRecorded all year · 0.17% in Oct
DunlinCalidris alpinaPassage migrantUncommon16–22 cmRegularly Sep–Nov · 0.17% in Oct
Bonaparte's GullChroicocephalus philadelphiaPassage migrantUncommon28–38 cmRegularly Apr–Dec · 0.16% in Oct
Grey PloverPluvialis squatarolaPassage migrantUncommon27–30 cmRegularly Aug–Nov · 0.16% in Oct
Fox SparrowPasserella iliacaPassage migrantUncommon15–19 cmRegularly Oct–Apr · 0.15% in Oct
Snow GooseAnser caerulescensPassage migrantUncommon69–84 cmRegularly Oct–Apr · 0.15% in Oct
Blackpoll WarblerSetophaga striataSummer visitorUncommon13–15 cmRegularly May–Oct · 0.14% in Oct
GoldeneyeBucephala clangulaWinter visitorCommon40–51 cmRegularly Oct–Apr · 0.13% in Oct
Northern PintailAnas acutaWinter visitorUncommon59–76 cmRegularly Aug–Apr · 0.13% in Oct
Evening GrosbeakHesperiphona vespertinaWinter visitorUncommon16–22 cmRegularly Oct–Jun · 0.12% in Oct
Tennessee WarblerLeiothlypis peregrinaPassage migrantUncommon10–13 cmRegularly May–Oct · 0.11% in Oct
Nashville WarblerLeiothlypis ruficapillaSummer visitorUncommon11–13 cmRegularly May–Oct · 0.10% in Oct
Black-throated Green WarblerSetophaga virensSummer visitorCommon11–12 cmRegularly May–Oct · 0.10% in Oct
Surf ScoterMelanitta perspicillataPassage migrantUncommon48–60 cmRegularly Oct–Dec · 0.10% in Oct
Greater ScaupAythya marilaWinter visitorUncommon39–56 cmRegularly Oct–Apr · 0.10% in Oct
Lesser YellowlegsTringa flavipesPassage migrantUncommon23–27 cmRegularly Apr–Oct · 0.09% in Oct
Northern MockingbirdMimus polyglottosResidentUncommon21–26 cmRecorded all year · 0.09% in Oct
OspreyPandion haliaetusSummer visitorCommon54–58 cmRegularly Mar–Oct · 0.09% in Oct
Pectoral SandpiperCalidris melanotosPassage migrantUncommon19–23 cmRegularly Aug–Nov · 0.09% in Oct
Horned GrebePodiceps auritusWinter visitorUncommon31–38 cmRegularly Oct–Apr · 0.08% in Oct
Swainson's ThrushCatharus ustulatusSummer visitorUncommon16–20 cmRegularly May–Oct · 0.08% in Oct
Marsh WrenCistothorus palustrisSummer visitorUncommon10–14 cmRegularly Apr–Oct · 0.08% in Oct
Semipalmated PloverCharadrius semipalmatusPassage migrantUncommon17–19 cmRegularly May–Oct · 0.07% in Oct
Red-breasted MerganserMergus serratorWinter visitorUncommon52–58 cmRegularly Oct–May · 0.07% in Oct
Red-throated LoonGavia stellataPassage migrantUncommon53–69 cmRegularly Oct–Dec · 0.07% in Oct
Semipalmated SandpiperCalidris pusillaPassage migrantUncommon15–18 cmRegularly Jul–Oct · 0.06% in Oct
American Golden-PloverPluvialis dominicaPassage migrantUncommon24–28 cmRegularly Aug–Oct · 0.06% in Oct
Magnolia WarblerSetophaga magnoliaSummer visitorCommon11–13 cmRegularly May–Oct · 0.06% in Oct
SanderlingCalidris albaPassage migrantUncommon18–20 cmRegularly Jul–Oct · 0.05% in Oct
Red-necked GrebePodiceps grisegenaPassage migrantUncommon40–50 cmRegularly Sep–May · 0.05% in Oct
Hudsonian GodwitLimosa haemasticaPassage migrantRare36–42 cmRegularly Sep–Oct · 0.05% in Oct
Vesper SparrowPooecetes gramineusSummer visitorRare13–17 cmRegularly Apr–Oct · 0.05% in Oct
Least SandpiperCalidris minutillaPassage migrantUncommon13–15 cmRegularly May–Oct · 0.05% in Oct
Horned LarkEremophila alpestrisWinter visitorUncommon16–20 cmRegularly Oct–Mar · 0.05% in Oct
Long-tailed DuckClangula hyemalisWinter visitorUncommon37–60 cmRegularly Oct–Apr · 0.04% in Oct
Red CrossbillLoxia curvirostraWinter visitorUncommon15–17 cmRecorded all year · 0.04% in Oct
Northern Saw-whet OwlAegolius acadicusWinter visitorRare17–21 cmRecorded all year · 0.04% in Oct
Fish CrowCorvus ossifragusResidentUncommon36–41 cmRecorded all year · 0.04% in Oct
Great Horned OwlBubo virginianusWinter visitorUncommon46–63 cmRecorded all year · 0.04% in Oct
Black-backed WoodpeckerPicoides arcticusResidentUncommon21–24 cmRecorded all year · 0.04% in Oct
Ruddy DuckOxyura jamaicensisPassage migrantRare35–43 cmRegularly Oct–May · 0.04% in Oct
White-rumped SandpiperCalidris fuscicollisPassage migrantRare15–18 cmRegularly May–Nov · 0.04% in Oct
Brent GooseBranta berniclaPassage migrantRare55–66 cmRegularly Oct–Nov · 0.04% in Oct
Sandhill CraneAntigone canadensisSummer visitorRare80–122 cmRegularly Mar–Nov · 0.03% in Oct
Solitary SandpiperTringa solitariaPassage migrantUncommon19–23 cmRegularly May–Oct · 0.03% in Oct
Northern ShovelerSpatula clypeataPassage migrantUncommon44–51 cmRegularly Mar–Nov · 0.03% in Oct
Golden EagleAquila chrysaetosWinter visitorRare66–102 cmRegularly Sep–Apr · 0.03% in Oct
Orange-crowned WarblerLeiothlypis celataPassage migrantRare11–14 cmRegularly May–Oct · 0.03% in Oct
Broad-winged HawkButeo platypterusSummer visitorUncommon34–44 cmRegularly Apr–Oct · 0.03% in Oct
GadwallMareca streperaPassage migrantUncommon46–56 cmRegularly Sep–May · 0.03% in Oct
Stilt SandpiperCalidris himantopusPassage migrantRare18–23 cmRegularly Aug–Oct · 0.02% in Oct
American BitternBotaurus lentiginosusSummer visitorUncommon58–85 cmRegularly Apr–Oct · 0.02% in Oct
Long-billed DowitcherLimnodromus scolopaceusResidentRare27–30 cmRegularly Sep–Oct · 0.02% in Oct
Eastern Screech-owlMegascops asioWinter visitorUncommon16–25 cmRecorded all year · 0.02% in Oct
Cackling GooseBranta hutchinsiiPassage migrantRare53–76 cmRegularly Oct–Mar · 0.02% in Oct
Black-crowned Night-heronNycticorax nycticoraxSummer visitorUncommon58–65 cmRegularly Apr–Oct · 0.01% in Oct
Lapland LongspurCalcarius lapponicusWinter visitorUncommon15–16 cmRegularly Oct–Mar · 0.01% in Oct
Ross's GooseAnser rossiiPassage migrantRare57–64 cmRegularly Oct–Nov · 0.01% in Oct
Little GullHydrocoloeus minutusResidentRare25–30 cmRegularly Aug–Nov · 0.01% in Oct
DickcisselSpiza americanaPassage migrantRare14–16 cmRegularly Sep–Oct · 0.01% in Oct
Grey PhalaropePhalaropus fulicariusResidentRare20–22 cmRegularly Oct · 0.01% in Oct
Common PheasantPhasianus colchicusWinter visitorRare50–90 cmRegularly Sep–Jul · 0.01% in Oct
KittiwakeRissa tridactylaResidentRare37–41 cmRegularly Oct–Nov · 0.00% in Oct
Greater White-fronted GooseAnser albifronsPassage migrantRare64–81 cmRegularly Oct–Mar · 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