Birds to See in Virginia in October
159 bird species on our list for Virginia are recorded regularly in October
Of these, the most often recorded are Blue Jay, Northern Cardinal, American Crow, Red-bellied Woodpecker and Tufted Titmouse. New this month: Yellow-rumped Warbler, Yellow-bellied Sapsucker, Hermit Thrush and Swamp Sparrow and 15 more.
On the move in October
GBIF · OctArriving
At their peak
From Virginia’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 159 birds in October
159 birds
Blue JayCyanocitta cristataResidentCommon25–30 cmRecorded all year · 4.05% in Oct
Northern CardinalCardinalis cardinalisResidentCommon21–23 cmRecorded all year · 3.82% in Oct
American CrowCorvus brachyrhynchosResidentCommon41–53 cmRecorded all year · 3.58% in Oct
Red-bellied WoodpeckerMelanerpes carolinusResidentCommon23–26 cmRecorded all year · 3.15% in Oct
Tufted TitmouseBaeolophus bicolorResidentCommon14–17 cmRecorded all year · 2.71% in Oct
Downy WoodpeckerDryobates pubescensResidentCommon14–18 cmRecorded all year · 2.46% in Oct
Northern FlickerColaptes auratusResidentCommon28–31 cmRecorded all year · 2.46% in Oct
Northern MockingbirdMimus polyglottosResidentCommon21–26 cmRecorded all year · 2.37% in Oct
Turkey VultureCathartes auraResidentCommon62–81 cmRecorded all year · 2.26% in Oct
Eastern BluebirdSialia sialisResidentCommon16–21 cmRecorded all year · 2.19% in Oct
White-breasted NuthatchSitta carolinensisResidentCommon13–14 cmRecorded all year · 2.11% in Oct
Mourning DoveZenaida macrouraResidentCommon23–34 cmRecorded all year · 2.07% in Oct
American RobinTurdus migratoriusResidentCommon20–28 cmRecorded all year · 2.03% in Oct
Song SparrowMelospiza melodiaResidentCommon12–17 cmRecorded all year · 1.97% in Oct
House FinchHaemorhous mexicanusResidentCommon13–15 cmRecorded all year · 1.86% in Oct
Yellow-rumped WarblerSetophaga coronataWinter visitorCommon12–15 cmRegularly Oct–May · 1.83% in Oct
Common StarlingSturnus vulgarisResidentCommon21–23 cmRecorded all year · 1.61% in Oct
Canada GooseBranta canadensisResidentCommon76–110 cmRecorded all year · 1.43% in Oct
Ruby-crowned KingletCorthylio calendulaWinter visitorCommon9–11 cmRegularly Sep–May · 1.42% in Oct
Great Blue HeronArdea herodiasResidentCommon91–137 cmRecorded all year · 1.40% in Oct
Pileated WoodpeckerDryocopus pileatusResidentCommon40–49 cmRecorded all year · 1.21% in Oct
Gray CatbirdDumetella carolinensisSummer visitorCommon20–24 cmRecorded all year · 1.16% in Oct
Bald EagleHaliaeetus leucocephalusResidentCommon70–102 cmRecorded all year · 0.94% in Oct
MallardAnas platyrhynchosResidentCommon50–65 cmRecorded all year · 0.94% in Oct
Chipping SparrowSpizella passerinaSummer visitorCommon12–15 cmRecorded all year · 0.93% in Oct
Red-winged BlackbirdAgelaius phoeniceusResidentCommon17–23 cmRecorded all year · 0.91% in Oct
House SparrowPasser domesticusResidentCommon14–17 cmRecorded all year · 0.82% in Oct
Fish CrowCorvus ossifragusResidentCommon36–41 cmRecorded all year · 0.80% in Oct
Yellow-bellied SapsuckerSphyrapicus variusWinter visitorCommon19–22 cmRegularly Oct–Apr · 0.76% in Oct
Swamp SparrowMelospiza georgianaWinter visitorCommon12–15 cmRegularly Oct–May · 0.69% in Oct
Palm WarblerSetophaga palmarumPassage migrantCommon12–14 cmRegularly Sep–May · 0.67% in Oct
Hairy WoodpeckerLeuconotopicus villosusResidentCommon18–26 cmRecorded all year · 0.64% in Oct
Cedar WaxwingBombycilla cedrorumResidentCommon15–18 cmRecorded all year · 0.63% in Oct
Great White EgretArdea albaSummer visitorCommon80–104 cmRecorded all year · 0.62% in Oct
Red-tailed HawkButeo jamaicensisResidentCommon45–65 cmRecorded all year · 0.59% in Oct
Common RavenCorvus coraxResidentCommon54–67 cmRecorded all year · 0.53% in Oct
Common YellowthroatGeothlypis trichasSummer visitorCommon11–13 cmRegularly Apr–Oct · 0.52% in Oct
Common GrackleQuiscalus quisculaSummer visitorCommon28–34 cmRecorded all year · 0.51% in Oct
Rock DoveColumba liviaResidentCommon29–37 cmRecorded all year · 0.48% in Oct
Ring-billed GullLarus delawarensisWinter visitorCommon43–54 cmRegularly Jul–May · 0.46% in Oct
OspreyPandion haliaetusSummer visitorCommon54–58 cmRegularly Mar–Nov · 0.42% in Oct
American Herring GullLarus smithsonianusResidentCommon53–65 cmRecorded all year · 0.37% in Oct
Sharp-shinned HawkAccipiter striatusWinter visitorUncommon24–34 cmRegularly Aug–Apr · 0.34% in Oct
Hermit ThrushCatharus guttatusWinter visitorCommon14–18 cmRegularly Oct–May · 0.33% in Oct
Cape May WarblerSetophaga tigrinaPassage migrantCommon12–14 cmRegularly Apr–Oct · 0.33% in Oct
Wood DuckAix sponsaResidentCommon47–54 cmRecorded all year · 0.33% in Oct
Blue-headed VireoVireo solitariusSummer visitorUncommon12–15 cmRegularly Mar–Dec · 0.30% in Oct
Pied-billed GrebePodilymbus podicepsWinter visitorCommon31–38 cmRegularly Aug–Apr · 0.30% in Oct
American RedstartSetophaga ruticillaSummer visitorCommon11–14 cmRegularly Apr–Oct · 0.26% in Oct
Magnolia WarblerSetophaga magnoliaPassage migrantCommon11–13 cmRegularly May–Oct · 0.23% in Oct
Great Black-backed GullLarus marinusResidentUncommon64–79 cmRecorded all year · 0.23% in Oct
Swainson's ThrushCatharus ustulatusPassage migrantUncommon16–20 cmRegularly May–Oct · 0.21% in Oct
Red-headed WoodpeckerMelanerpes erythrocephalusResidentUncommon19–23 cmRecorded all year · 0.21% in Oct
Black-throated Blue WarblerSetophaga caerulescensSummer visitorUncommon11–13 cmRegularly Apr–Oct · 0.20% in Oct
MerlinFalco columbariusWinter visitorUncommon24–33 cmRegularly Aug–May · 0.19% in Oct
Ruby-throated HummingbirdArchilochus colubrisSummer visitorCommon7–9 cmRegularly Apr–Oct · 0.18% in Oct
Black-throated Green WarblerSetophaga virensSummer visitorUncommon11–12 cmRegularly Apr–Oct · 0.18% in Oct
Forster's TernSterna forsteriResidentUncommon33–36 cmRecorded all year · 0.18% in Oct
Pine SiskinSpinus pinusWinter visitorUncommon11–14 cmRegularly Oct–May · 0.18% in Oct
White-crowned SparrowZonotrichia leucophrysWinter visitorUncommon15–16 cmRegularly Oct–May · 0.18% in Oct
Blackpoll WarblerSetophaga striataPassage migrantUncommon13–15 cmRegularly May–Oct · 0.18% in Oct
Greater YellowlegsTringa melanoleucaResidentUncommon29–40 cmRecorded all year · 0.17% in Oct
Rose-breasted GrosbeakPheucticus ludovicianusSummer visitorUncommon18–22 cmRegularly Apr–Oct · 0.16% in Oct
Tennessee WarblerLeiothlypis peregrinaPassage migrantUncommon10–13 cmRegularly May–Oct · 0.15% in Oct
American Black DuckAnas rubripesWinter visitorUncommon54–59 cmRegularly Jul–Apr · 0.15% in Oct
Peregrine FalconFalco peregrinusWinter visitorUncommon34–58 cmRecorded all year · 0.14% in Oct
Eurasian TealAnas creccaWinter visitorUncommon34–38 cmRegularly Aug–Apr · 0.13% in Oct
Ruddy DuckOxyura jamaicensisWinter visitorUncommon35–43 cmRegularly Oct–Apr · 0.13% in Oct
Scarlet TanagerPiranga olivaceaSummer visitorCommon16–19 cmRegularly Apr–Oct · 0.12% in Oct
SanderlingCalidris albaResidentUncommon18–20 cmRecorded all year · 0.12% in Oct
Barred OwlStrix variaResidentUncommon43–50 cmRecorded all year · 0.11% in Oct
Lincoln's SparrowMelospiza lincolniiPassage migrantUncommon13–15 cmRegularly May–Jan · 0.11% in Oct
Wild TurkeyMeleagris gallopavoResidentUncommon100–125 cmRecorded all year · 0.11% in Oct
Nashville WarblerLeiothlypis ruficapillaPassage migrantUncommon11–13 cmRegularly Apr–Oct · 0.09% in Oct
Bay-breasted WarblerSetophaga castaneaPassage migrantUncommon14–14 cmRegularly May–Oct · 0.09% in Oct
GadwallMareca streperaWinter visitorCommon46–56 cmRegularly Oct–Apr · 0.09% in Oct
Grey PloverPluvialis squatarolaResidentUncommon27–30 cmRecorded all year · 0.08% in Oct
Lesser Black-backed GullLarus fuscusWinter visitorUncommon52–64 cmRecorded all year · 0.08% in Oct
Eastern Screech-owlMegascops asioResidentUncommon16–25 cmRecorded all year · 0.08% in Oct
Northern ShovelerSpatula clypeataWinter visitorUncommon44–51 cmRegularly Aug–Apr · 0.08% in Oct
Great Horned OwlBubo virginianusResidentUncommon46–63 cmRecorded all year · 0.07% in Oct
Marsh WrenCistothorus palustrisWinter visitorUncommon10–14 cmRecorded all year · 0.07% in Oct
Gray-cheeked ThrushCatharus minimusPassage migrantUncommon16–17 cmRegularly May–Oct · 0.07% in Oct
Broad-winged HawkButeo platypterusSummer visitorUncommon34–44 cmRegularly Apr–Oct · 0.07% in Oct
WilletTringa semipalmataResidentUncommon33–41 cmRecorded all year · 0.07% in Oct
Lesser YellowlegsTringa flavipesPassage migrantUncommon23–27 cmRegularly Mar–Dec · 0.07% in Oct
Semipalmated PloverCharadrius semipalmatusSummer visitorUncommon17–19 cmRegularly May–Nov · 0.06% in Oct
DunlinCalidris alpinaWinter visitorUncommon16–22 cmRegularly Oct–May · 0.06% in Oct
OvenbirdSeiurus aurocapillaSummer visitorCommon12–15 cmRegularly Apr–Oct · 0.06% in Oct
Northern PintailAnas acutaWinter visitorUncommon59–76 cmRegularly Oct–Mar · 0.05% in Oct
Common LoonGavia immerWinter visitorUncommon66–91 cmRegularly Oct–Jun · 0.05% in Oct
Chestnut-sided WarblerSetophaga pensylvanicaSummer visitorUncommon10–14 cmRegularly Apr–Oct · 0.04% in Oct
Least SandpiperCalidris minutillaPassage migrantUncommon13–15 cmRegularly Apr–Oct · 0.04% in Oct
Semipalmated SandpiperCalidris pusillaSummer visitorUncommon15–18 cmRegularly May–Oct · 0.04% in Oct
Baltimore OrioleIcterus galbulaSummer visitorCommon17–19 cmRecorded all year · 0.03% in Oct
Black-crowned Night-heronNycticorax nycticoraxResidentUncommon58–65 cmRecorded all year · 0.03% in Oct
Solitary SandpiperTringa solitariaPassage migrantUncommon19–23 cmRegularly Apr–Oct · 0.03% in Oct
Pectoral SandpiperCalidris melanotosPassage migrantUncommon19–23 cmRegularly Apr–Oct · 0.03% in Oct
Orange-crowned WarblerLeiothlypis celataWinter visitorUncommon11–14 cmRegularly Oct–Apr · 0.03% in Oct
Mute SwanCygnus olorResidentUncommon140–160 cmRecorded all year · 0.03% in Oct
BobolinkDolichonyx oryzivorusSummer visitorUncommon16–20 cmRegularly Apr–Oct · 0.03% in Oct
Horned LarkEremophila alpestrisWinter visitorUncommon16–20 cmRecorded all year · 0.03% in Oct
Vesper SparrowPooecetes gramineusSummer visitorRare13–17 cmRegularly Sep–Jul · 0.03% in Oct
Northern Yellow WarblerSetophaga aestivaSummer visitorUncommon12–13 cmRegularly Apr–Oct · 0.03% in Oct
Northern WaterthrushParkesia noveboracensisPassage migrantUncommon12–15 cmRegularly Apr–Oct · 0.03% in Oct
Common MerganserMergus merganserWinter visitorUncommon58–68 cmRecorded all year · 0.02% in Oct
Ruddy TurnstoneArenaria interpresResidentUncommon21–24 cmRecorded all year · 0.02% in Oct
Surf ScoterMelanitta perspicillataWinter visitorUncommon48–60 cmRegularly Oct–Mar · 0.02% in Oct
Virginia RailRallus limicolaResidentRare20–27 cmRecorded all year · 0.02% in Oct
Short-billed DowitcherLimnodromus griseusSummer visitorUncommon23–32 cmRecorded all year · 0.02% in Oct
Marbled GodwitLimosa fedoaWinter visitorRare40–50 cmRecorded all year · 0.02% in Oct
American Golden-PloverPluvialis dominicaPassage migrantRare24–28 cmRegularly Aug–Nov · 0.02% in Oct
Northern GannetMorus bassanusWinter visitorUncommon87–100 cmRegularly Oct–May · 0.02% in Oct
Muscovy DuckCairina moschataResidentRare66–84 cmRecorded all year · 0.02% in Oct
Eurasian Collared DoveStreptopelia decaoctoResidentRare30–32 cmRecorded all year · 0.02% in Oct
Philadelphia VireoVireo philadelphicusPassage migrantUncommon11–13 cmRegularly Sep–Oct · 0.02% in Oct
White-rumped SandpiperCalidris fuscicollisSummer visitorRare15–18 cmRegularly May–Nov · 0.02% in Oct
VeeryCatharus fuscescensSummer visitorUncommon16–19 cmRegularly Apr–Oct · 0.01% in Oct
Bonaparte's GullChroicocephalus philadelphiaWinter visitorUncommon28–38 cmRegularly Oct–May · 0.01% in Oct
American BitternBotaurus lentiginosusWinter visitorRare58–85 cmRegularly Sep–Jun · 0.01% in Oct
Sandwich TernThalasseus sandvicensisSummer visitorUncommon36–41 cmRegularly Apr–Oct · 0.01% in Oct
Clay-colored SparrowSpizella pallidaWinter visitorRare13–15 cmRegularly Sep–May · 0.01% in Oct
DickcisselSpiza americanaSummer visitorRare14–16 cmRegularly May–Feb · 0.01% in Oct
Western SandpiperCalidris mauriWinter visitorRare14–17 cmRegularly Jul–Apr · 0.01% in Oct
American AvocetRecurvirostra americanaSummer visitorRare43–51 cmRecorded all year · 0.01% in Oct
Common TernSterna hirundoSummer visitorUncommon31–35 cmRegularly Apr–Oct · 0.01% in Oct
Snow GooseAnser caerulescensWinter visitorUncommon69–84 cmRegularly Oct–Mar · 0.01% in Oct
Least FlycatcherEmpidonax minimusSummer visitorUncommon12–14 cmRegularly Apr–Oct · 0.01% in Oct
Trumpeter SwanCygnus buccinatorWinter visitorRare139–157 cmRecorded all year · 0.01% in Oct
Glossy IbisPlegadis falcinellusSummer visitorUncommon48–66 cmRegularly Apr–Oct · 0.01% in Oct
WhimbrelNumenius phaeopusSummer visitorRare40–46 cmRegularly Apr–Feb · 0.01% in Oct
Cattle EgretArdea ibisSummer visitorRare46–56 cmRegularly Apr–Nov · 0.01% in Oct
Golden EagleAquila chrysaetosWinter visitorRare66–102 cmRegularly Sep–Mar · 0.01% in Oct
Stilt SandpiperCalidris himantopusPassage migrantRare18–23 cmRegularly Apr–Oct · 0.01% in Oct
Red KnotCalidris canutusSummer visitorRare23–26 cmRegularly Apr–Jan · 0.01% in Oct
Piping PloverCharadrius melodusSummer visitorRare17–18 cmRegularly Mar–Dec · 0.01% in Oct
Ruffed GrouseBonasa umbellusSummer visitorRare41–50 cmRecorded all year · 0.01% in Oct
Red-necked PhalaropePhalaropus lobatusPassage migrantRare18–19 cmRegularly May–Oct · 0.01% in Oct
Black-necked GrebePodiceps nigricollisPassage migrantRare28–34 cmRegularly Sep–Apr · 0.00% in Oct
Long-billed DowitcherLimnodromus scolopaceusWinter visitorRare27–30 cmRegularly Jul–May · 0.00% in Oct
Red CrossbillLoxia curvirostraSummer visitorRare15–17 cmRecorded all year · 0.00% in Oct
Great ShearwaterArdenna gravisPassage migrantRare43–51 cmRegularly Jun–Oct · 0.00% in Oct
Red JunglefowlGallus gallusResidentRare42–75 cmRecorded all year · 0.00% in Oct
Lark SparrowChondestes grammacusPassage migrantRare15–17 cmRegularly Aug–Apr · 0.00% in Oct
Hudsonian GodwitLimosa haemasticaPassage migrantRare36–42 cmRegularly Aug–Nov · 0.00% in Oct
Black-billed CuckooCoccyzus erythropthalmusSummer visitorRare28–32 cmRegularly Apr–Oct · 0.00% in Oct
Red-cockaded WoodpeckerLeuconotopicus borealisResidentRare20–23 cmRecorded all year · 0.00% in Oct
Northern Saw-whet OwlAegolius acadicusPassage migrantRare17–21 cmRegularly Jun–Jan · 0.00% in Oct
Mourning WarblerGeothlypis philadelphiaSummer visitorRare10–15 cmRegularly May–Oct · 0.00% in Oct
Buff-breasted SandpiperCalidris subruficollisPassage migrantRare18–20 cmRegularly Aug–Oct · 0.00% in Oct
Swan GooseAnser cygnoidesPassage migrantRare81–94 cmRegularly Sep–Apr · 0.00% in Oct
Indian PeafowlPavo cristatusSummer visitorRare86–230 cmRegularly Jan–Nov · 0.00% in Oct
Wilson's PhalaropePhalaropus tricolorPassage migrantRare22–24 cmRegularly May–Oct · 0.00% in Oct
Black SwanCygnus atratusPassage migrantRare110–142 cmRegularly Sep–Apr · 0.00% in Oct
Arctic JaegerStercorarius parasiticusPassage migrantRare41–46 cmRegularly Sep–Apr · 0.00% in Oct
Helmeted GuineafowlNumida meleagrisResidentRare53–63 cmRecorded all year · 0.00% in Oct
Lapland LongspurCalcarius lapponicusWinter visitorRare15–16 cmRegularly Oct–Feb · 0.00% in Oct
Yellow-bellied FlycatcherEmpidonax flaviventrisPassage migrantRare13–15 cmRegularly Aug–Oct · 0.00% in Oct
Western KingbirdTyrannus verticalisPassage migrantRare20–24 cmRegularly Sep–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