Birds to See in Washington in October
147 bird species on our list for Washington are recorded regularly in October
Of these, the most often recorded are American Crow, Song Sparrow, Northern Flicker, American Robin and Mallard. New this month: Red-breasted Merganser, Trumpeter Swan, Rough-legged Hawk and Brent Goose and 9 more.
On the move in October
GBIF · OctArriving
At their peak
From Washington’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 147 birds in October
147 birds
American CrowCorvus brachyrhynchosResidentCommon41–53 cmRecorded all year · 3.43% in Oct
Song SparrowMelospiza melodiaResidentCommon12–17 cmRecorded all year · 3.30% in Oct
Northern FlickerColaptes auratusResidentCommon28–31 cmRecorded all year · 3.08% in Oct
American RobinTurdus migratoriusResidentCommon20–28 cmRecorded all year · 2.88% in Oct
MallardAnas platyrhynchosResidentCommon50–65 cmRecorded all year · 2.25% in Oct
House FinchHaemorhous mexicanusResidentCommon13–15 cmRecorded all year · 2.12% in Oct
Great Blue HeronArdea herodiasResidentCommon91–137 cmRecorded all year · 1.83% in Oct
Common StarlingSturnus vulgarisResidentCommon21–23 cmRecorded all year · 1.82% in Oct
Canada GooseBranta canadensisResidentCommon76–110 cmRecorded all year · 1.65% in Oct
Common RavenCorvus coraxResidentCommon54–67 cmRecorded all year · 1.43% in Oct
Bald EagleHaliaeetus leucocephalusResidentCommon70–102 cmRecorded all year · 1.35% in Oct
White-crowned SparrowZonotrichia leucophrysResidentCommon15–16 cmRecorded all year · 1.29% in Oct
Ruby-crowned KingletCorthylio calendulaWinter visitorCommon9–11 cmRegularly Sep–May · 1.27% in Oct
Yellow-rumped WarblerSetophaga coronataResidentCommon12–15 cmRecorded all year · 1.16% in Oct
Red-winged BlackbirdAgelaius phoeniceusResidentCommon17–23 cmRecorded all year · 1.16% in Oct
Red-tailed HawkButeo jamaicensisResidentCommon45–65 cmRecorded all year · 1.15% in Oct
Pacific WrenTroglodytes pacificusResidentCommon8–12 cmRecorded all year · 0.96% in Oct
Ring-billed GullLarus delawarensisResidentCommon43–54 cmRecorded all year · 0.89% in Oct
Rock DoveColumba liviaResidentCommon29–37 cmRecorded all year · 0.88% in Oct
Downy WoodpeckerDryobates pubescensResidentCommon14–18 cmRecorded all year · 0.82% in Oct
Pied-billed GrebePodilymbus podicepsResidentCommon31–38 cmRecorded all year · 0.82% in Oct
Horned GrebePodiceps auritusWinter visitorCommon31–38 cmRegularly Aug–May · 0.81% in Oct
Eurasian TealAnas creccaWinter visitorCommon34–38 cmRegularly Aug–Jun · 0.80% in Oct
Cackling GooseBranta hutchinsiiWinter visitorCommon53–76 cmRegularly Sep–May · 0.77% in Oct
Surf ScoterMelanitta perspicillataWinter visitorCommon48–60 cmRecorded all year · 0.77% in Oct
House SparrowPasser domesticusResidentCommon14–17 cmRecorded all year · 0.75% in Oct
Pine SiskinSpinus pinusResidentCommon11–14 cmRecorded all year · 0.75% in Oct
Fox SparrowPasserella iliacaWinter visitorCommon15–19 cmRegularly Jul–Apr · 0.72% in Oct
Cedar WaxwingBombycilla cedrorumSummer visitorCommon15–18 cmRegularly May–Feb · 0.68% in Oct
Common LoonGavia immerWinter visitorCommon66–91 cmRecorded all year · 0.67% in Oct
GadwallMareca streperaResidentCommon46–56 cmRecorded all year · 0.63% in Oct
Northern ShovelerSpatula clypeataWinter visitorCommon44–51 cmRecorded all year · 0.58% in Oct
Varied ThrushIxoreus naeviusWinter visitorCommon20–26 cmRecorded all year · 0.58% in Oct
Northern PintailAnas acutaWinter visitorCommon59–76 cmRegularly Aug–May · 0.55% in Oct
Eurasian Collared DoveStreptopelia decaoctoResidentCommon30–32 cmRecorded all year · 0.55% in Oct
Mourning DoveZenaida macrouraResidentCommon23–34 cmRecorded all year · 0.47% in Oct
Hooded MerganserLophodytes cucullatusWinter visitorCommon40–49 cmRecorded all year · 0.46% in Oct
Marsh WrenCistothorus palustrisResidentCommon10–14 cmRecorded all year · 0.44% in Oct
Wood DuckAix sponsaResidentCommon47–54 cmRecorded all year · 0.43% in Oct
Red-necked GrebePodiceps grisegenaWinter visitorUncommon40–50 cmRegularly Jul–May · 0.42% in Oct
Snow GooseAnser caerulescensWinter visitorUncommon69–84 cmRegularly Sep–May · 0.41% in Oct
Common MerganserMergus merganserWinter visitorCommon58–68 cmRecorded all year · 0.40% in Oct
Hairy WoodpeckerLeuconotopicus villosusResidentUncommon18–26 cmRecorded all year · 0.38% in Oct
Greater YellowlegsTringa melanoleucaResidentCommon29–40 cmRecorded all year · 0.34% in Oct
Pileated WoodpeckerDryocopus pileatusResidentUncommon40–49 cmRecorded all year · 0.32% in Oct
Bonaparte's GullChroicocephalus philadelphiaWinter visitorUncommon28–38 cmRecorded all year · 0.26% in Oct
Pacific LoonGavia pacificaWinter visitorUncommon58–74 cmRecorded all year · 0.26% in Oct
Greater White-fronted GooseAnser albifronsWinter visitorUncommon64–81 cmRegularly Aug–May · 0.26% in Oct
Lincoln's SparrowMelospiza lincolniiWinter visitorUncommon13–15 cmRecorded all year · 0.25% in Oct
MerlinFalco columbariusWinter visitorUncommon24–33 cmRecorded all year · 0.24% in Oct
Red CrossbillLoxia curvirostraResidentUncommon15–17 cmRecorded all year · 0.23% in Oct
Sharp-shinned HawkAccipiter striatusWinter visitorUncommon24–34 cmRecorded all year · 0.23% in Oct
Red-breasted MerganserMergus serratorWinter visitorCommon52–58 cmRegularly Oct–May · 0.22% in Oct
Western MeadowlarkSturnella neglectaResidentUncommon16–26 cmRecorded all year · 0.22% in Oct
DunlinCalidris alpinaWinter visitorUncommon16–22 cmRegularly Sep–May · 0.21% in Oct
Red-breasted SapsuckerSphyrapicus ruberResidentUncommon19–22 cmRecorded all year · 0.21% in Oct
Greater ScaupAythya marilaWinter visitorUncommon39–56 cmRegularly Aug–May · 0.20% in Oct
Great White EgretArdea albaResidentUncommon80–104 cmRecorded all year · 0.20% in Oct
Peregrine FalconFalco peregrinusResidentUncommon34–58 cmRecorded all year · 0.20% in Oct
Long-billed DowitcherLimnodromus scolopaceusWinter visitorUncommon27–30 cmRegularly Jul–May · 0.20% in Oct
Hermit ThrushCatharus guttatusResidentUncommon14–18 cmRecorded all year · 0.19% in Oct
Virginia RailRallus limicolaResidentUncommon20–27 cmRecorded all year · 0.19% in Oct
Ruddy DuckOxyura jamaicensisResidentUncommon35–43 cmRecorded all year · 0.18% in Oct
Grey PloverPluvialis squatarolaWinter visitorUncommon27–30 cmRecorded all year · 0.18% in Oct
American Herring GullLarus smithsonianusWinter visitorUncommon53–65 cmRegularly Aug–May · 0.18% in Oct
Great Horned OwlBubo virginianusResidentUncommon46–63 cmRecorded all year · 0.14% in Oct
Turkey VultureCathartes auraSummer visitorCommon62–81 cmRegularly Mar–Oct · 0.14% in Oct
Red-throated LoonGavia stellataWinter visitorUncommon53–69 cmRegularly Aug–May · 0.13% in Oct
Least SandpiperCalidris minutillaWinter visitorCommon13–15 cmRegularly Apr–Feb · 0.13% in Oct
Sandhill CraneAntigone canadensisWinter visitorUncommon80–122 cmRecorded all year · 0.13% in Oct
Barred OwlStrix variaResidentUncommon43–50 cmRecorded all year · 0.13% in Oct
Orange-crowned WarblerLeiothlypis celataSummer visitorCommon11–14 cmRecorded all year · 0.12% in Oct
White-breasted NuthatchSitta carolinensisResidentUncommon13–14 cmRecorded all year · 0.12% in Oct
Western SandpiperCalidris mauriPassage migrantCommon14–17 cmRegularly Apr–Nov · 0.11% in Oct
Common PheasantPhasianus colchicusResidentUncommon50–90 cmRecorded all year · 0.11% in Oct
OspreyPandion haliaetusSummer visitorCommon54–58 cmRegularly Apr–Oct · 0.11% in Oct
Evening GrosbeakHesperiphona vespertinaSummer visitorUncommon16–22 cmRecorded all year · 0.10% in Oct
Eurasian WigeonMareca penelopeWinter visitorUncommon42–51 cmRegularly Sep–Apr · 0.09% in Oct
Iceland GullLarus glaucoidesWinter visitorUncommon52–60 cmRegularly Sep–Apr · 0.08% in Oct
Marbled GodwitLimosa fedoaWinter visitorUncommon40–50 cmRegularly Jul–May · 0.08% in Oct
SanderlingCalidris albaWinter visitorUncommon18–20 cmRegularly Jul–May · 0.08% in Oct
Wild TurkeyMeleagris gallopavoResidentUncommon100–125 cmRecorded all year · 0.08% in Oct
Trumpeter SwanCygnus buccinatorWinter visitorCommon139–157 cmRegularly Oct–Mar · 0.08% in Oct
Common YellowthroatGeothlypis trichasSummer visitorCommon11–13 cmRegularly Apr–Oct · 0.07% in Oct
Horned LarkEremophila alpestrisResidentUncommon16–20 cmRecorded all year · 0.06% in Oct
Black-necked GrebePodiceps nigricollisResidentUncommon28–34 cmRecorded all year · 0.06% in Oct
Pectoral SandpiperCalidris melanotosPassage migrantUncommon19–23 cmRegularly Aug–Oct · 0.05% in Oct
Arctic JaegerStercorarius parasiticusPassage migrantUncommon41–46 cmRegularly May–Oct · 0.05% in Oct
Sooty ShearwaterArdenna griseaSummer visitorUncommon40–51 cmRegularly Mar–Oct · 0.05% in Oct
Lesser YellowlegsTringa flavipesPassage migrantUncommon23–27 cmRegularly Apr–Oct · 0.04% in Oct
Lapland LongspurCalcarius lapponicusWinter visitorRare15–16 cmRegularly Sep–Apr · 0.04% in Oct
Northern Pygmy-owlGlaucidium gnomaResidentRare15–17 cmRecorded all year · 0.04% in Oct
FulmarFulmarus glacialisSummer visitorUncommon45–50 cmRegularly Mar–Dec · 0.04% in Oct
Long-tailed DuckClangula hyemalisWinter visitorUncommon37–60 cmRegularly Oct–May · 0.04% in Oct
Tundra SwanCygnus columbianusWinter visitorUncommon120–150 cmRegularly Oct–Apr · 0.04% in Oct
Short-billed DowitcherLimnodromus griseusPassage migrantUncommon23–32 cmRegularly Apr–Oct · 0.04% in Oct
Rough-legged HawkButeo lagopusWinter visitorUncommon46–59 cmRegularly Oct–Apr · 0.04% in Oct
Ruffed GrouseBonasa umbellusResidentRare41–50 cmRecorded all year · 0.03% in Oct
Snow BuntingPlectrophenax nivalisWinter visitorRare15–18 cmRegularly Oct–Mar · 0.03% in Oct
WilletTringa semipalmataWinter visitorUncommon33–41 cmRegularly Jul–May · 0.03% in Oct
Golden EagleAquila chrysaetosResidentUncommon66–102 cmRecorded all year · 0.03% in Oct
American BitternBotaurus lentiginosusResidentUncommon58–85 cmRecorded all year · 0.03% in Oct
Semipalmated PloverCharadrius semipalmatusPassage migrantUncommon17–19 cmRegularly Apr–Jan · 0.03% in Oct
Mountain BluebirdSialia currucoidesSummer visitorUncommon15–18 cmRegularly Mar–Dec · 0.03% in Oct
Northern Saw-whet OwlAegolius acadicusWinter visitorRare17–21 cmRecorded all year · 0.02% in Oct
Lewis's WoodpeckerMelanerpes lewisSummer visitorUncommon26–28 cmRecorded all year · 0.02% in Oct
Cinnamon TealSpatula cyanopteraSummer visitorUncommon36–43 cmRegularly Jan–Oct · 0.02% in Oct
KittiwakeRissa tridactylaWinter visitorRare37–41 cmRegularly Sep–Jul · 0.02% in Oct
WhimbrelNumenius phaeopusSummer visitorUncommon40–46 cmRegularly Apr–Oct · 0.02% in Oct
Bar-tailed GodwitLimosa lapponicaPassage migrantRare37–41 cmRegularly Jul–Nov · 0.02% in Oct
Burrowing OwlAthene cuniculariaSummer visitorRare19–25 cmRegularly Mar–Dec · 0.02% in Oct
Acorn WoodpeckerMelanerpes formicivorusResidentRare20–24 cmRecorded all year · 0.01% in Oct
Short-eared OwlAsio flammeusWinter visitorUncommon34–43 cmRegularly Oct–Apr · 0.01% in Oct
ChukarAlectoris chukarResidentRare32–38 cmRecorded all year · 0.01% in Oct
Pomarine JaegerStercorarius pomarinusPassage migrantUncommon46–51 cmRegularly Mar–Oct · 0.01% in Oct
Sabine's GullXema sabiniPassage migrantUncommon27–33 cmRegularly May–Oct · 0.01% in Oct
Black-crowned Night-heronNycticorax nycticoraxResidentRare58–65 cmRecorded all year · 0.01% in Oct
White-headed WoodpeckerPicoides albolarvatusResidentRare20–23 cmRecorded all year · 0.01% in Oct
Brent GooseBranta berniclaWinter visitorUncommon55–66 cmRegularly Oct–May · 0.01% in Oct
Sharp-tailed SandpiperCalidris acuminataPassage migrantRare17–22 cmRegularly Sep–Nov · 0.01% in Oct
Ruddy TurnstoneArenaria interpresWinter visitorRare21–24 cmRegularly Jul–May · 0.01% in Oct
Blue JayCyanocitta cristataWinter visitorRare25–30 cmRegularly Oct–Apr · 0.01% in Oct
Red KnotCalidris canutusPassage migrantRare23–26 cmRegularly Apr–Dec · 0.01% in Oct
American Golden-PloverPluvialis dominicaPassage migrantRare24–28 cmRegularly May–Oct · 0.01% in Oct
Grey PhalaropePhalaropus fulicariusPassage migrantUncommon20–22 cmRegularly May–Nov · 0.01% in Oct
Palm WarblerSetophaga palmarumWinter visitorRare12–14 cmRegularly Sep–Mar · 0.01% in Oct
Muscovy DuckCairina moschataResidentRare66–84 cmRecorded all year · 0.01% in Oct
Western Screech-owlMegascops kennicottiiResidentRare19–25 cmRecorded all year · 0.01% in Oct
Swamp SparrowMelospiza georgianaWinter visitorRare12–15 cmRegularly Oct–Mar · 0.01% in Oct
Grey PartridgePerdix perdixResidentRare28–32 cmRecorded all year · 0.01% in Oct
Leach's Storm-petrelHydrobates leucorhousSummer visitorRare18–21 cmRegularly May–Nov · 0.01% in Oct
Franklin's GullLeucophaeus pipixcanSummer visitorRare32–36 cmRegularly May–Dec · 0.01% in Oct
American Three-toed WoodpeckerPicoides dorsalisSummer visitorRare21–24 cmRegularly Mar–Oct · 0.01% in Oct
Pacific Golden-PloverPluvialis fulvaPassage migrantRare23–26 cmRegularly Apr–Nov · 0.01% in Oct
Bohemian WaxwingBombycilla garrulusWinter visitorRare19–23 cmRegularly Oct–Mar · 0.01% in Oct
American Tree SparrowSpizelloides arboreaWinter visitorRare14–17 cmRegularly Oct–Apr · 0.01% in Oct
Lesser Black-backed GullLarus fuscusWinter visitorRare52–64 cmRegularly Aug–Mar · 0.00% in Oct
American AvocetRecurvirostra americanaSummer visitorUncommon43–51 cmRegularly Apr–Dec · 0.00% in Oct
Black-backed WoodpeckerPicoides arcticusSummer visitorRare21–24 cmRecorded all year · 0.00% in Oct
Boreal OwlAegolius funereusResidentRare21–28 cmRegularly Sep–Oct · 0.00% in Oct
Broad-winged HawkButeo platypterusPassage migrantRare34–44 cmRegularly Apr–Oct · 0.00% in Oct
Clay-colored SparrowSpizella pallidaSummer visitorRare13–15 cmRegularly May–Nov · 0.00% in Oct
Northern WaterthrushParkesia noveboracensisResidentRare12–15 cmRegularly May–Feb · 0.00% in Oct
Mandarin DuckAix galericulataPassage migrantRare41–49 cmRegularly Apr–Dec · 0.00% in Oct
Northern MockingbirdMimus polyglottosWinter visitorRare21–26 cmRecorded all year · 0.00% in Oct
Ross's GooseAnser rossiiPassage migrantRare57–64 cmRegularly Oct–Apr · 0.00% in Oct
Greylag GooseAnser anserWinter visitorRare75–90 cmRegularly Jul–May · 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