Birds to See in West Virginia in October
113 bird species on our list for West Virginia are recorded regularly in October
Of these, the most often recorded are Blue Jay, American Crow, Northern Cardinal, Tufted Titmouse and Red-bellied Woodpecker. New this month: American Black Duck, Gadwall, Ruddy Duck and White-crowned Sparrow and 11 more.
On the move in October
GBIF · OctArriving
At their peak
Yellow-rumped WarblerBusiest month of the year · Sep–Jul
Ruby-crowned KingletBusiest month of the year · Sep–May
Palm WarblerBusiest month of the year · Apr–May
Sharp-shinned HawkBusiest month of the year · All year
Lincoln's SparrowBusiest month of the year · Sep–Nov
Vesper SparrowBusiest month of the year · Mar–Nov
From West 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 113 birds in October
113 birds
Blue JayCyanocitta cristataResidentCommon25–30 cmRecorded all year · 5.15% in Oct
American CrowCorvus brachyrhynchosResidentCommon41–53 cmRecorded all year · 4.32% in Oct
Northern CardinalCardinalis cardinalisResidentCommon21–23 cmRecorded all year · 3.73% in Oct
Tufted TitmouseBaeolophus bicolorResidentCommon14–17 cmRecorded all year · 3.24% in Oct
Red-bellied WoodpeckerMelanerpes carolinusResidentCommon23–26 cmRecorded all year · 3.23% in Oct
Song SparrowMelospiza melodiaResidentCommon12–17 cmRecorded all year · 3.15% in Oct
White-breasted NuthatchSitta carolinensisResidentCommon13–14 cmRecorded all year · 2.97% in Oct
Turkey VultureCathartes auraResidentCommon62–81 cmRecorded all year · 2.83% in Oct
American RobinTurdus migratoriusResidentCommon20–28 cmRecorded all year · 2.69% in Oct
Downy WoodpeckerDryobates pubescensResidentCommon14–18 cmRecorded all year · 2.60% in Oct
Northern FlickerColaptes auratusResidentCommon28–31 cmRecorded all year · 2.22% in Oct
Mourning DoveZenaida macrouraResidentCommon23–34 cmRecorded all year · 2.14% in Oct
Common StarlingSturnus vulgarisResidentCommon21–23 cmRecorded all year · 2.12% in Oct
Eastern BluebirdSialia sialisResidentCommon16–21 cmRecorded all year · 1.96% in Oct
Northern MockingbirdMimus polyglottosResidentCommon21–26 cmRecorded all year · 1.75% in Oct
Common RavenCorvus coraxResidentCommon54–67 cmRecorded all year · 1.67% in Oct
House FinchHaemorhous mexicanusResidentCommon13–15 cmRecorded all year · 1.59% in Oct
Pileated WoodpeckerDryocopus pileatusResidentCommon40–49 cmRecorded all year · 1.57% in Oct- Yellow-rumped WarblerSetophaga coronataWinter visitorCommon12–15 cmRegularly Sep–Jul · 1.57% in Oct
Canada GooseBranta canadensisResidentCommon76–110 cmRecorded all year · 1.54% in Oct
Cedar WaxwingBombycilla cedrorumSummer visitorCommon15–18 cmRegularly May–Feb · 1.50% in Oct
House SparrowPasser domesticusResidentCommon14–17 cmRecorded all year · 1.36% in Oct- Ruby-crowned KingletCorthylio calendulaWinter visitorCommon9–11 cmRegularly Sep–May · 1.13% in Oct
Red-winged BlackbirdAgelaius phoeniceusSummer visitorCommon17–23 cmRecorded all year · 0.98% in Oct
MallardAnas platyrhynchosWinter visitorCommon50–65 cmRecorded all year · 0.95% in Oct
Great Blue HeronArdea herodiasResidentCommon91–137 cmRecorded all year · 0.94% in Oct
Red-tailed HawkButeo jamaicensisResidentCommon45–65 cmRecorded all year · 0.93% in Oct
Hairy WoodpeckerLeuconotopicus villosusResidentCommon18–26 cmRecorded all year · 0.92% in Oct
Chipping SparrowSpizella passerinaSummer visitorCommon12–15 cmRegularly Mar–Nov · 0.86% in Oct
Gray CatbirdDumetella carolinensisSummer visitorCommon20–24 cmRegularly Apr–Oct · 0.80% in Oct
Rock DoveColumba liviaResidentCommon29–37 cmRecorded all year · 0.65% in Oct- Palm WarblerSetophaga palmarumPassage migrantCommon12–14 cmRegularly Apr–Nov · 0.65% in Oct
Bald EagleHaliaeetus leucocephalusWinter visitorCommon70–102 cmRecorded all year · 0.62% in Oct
Swamp SparrowMelospiza georgianaResidentCommon12–15 cmRecorded all year · 0.62% in Oct
Yellow-bellied SapsuckerSphyrapicus variusWinter visitorCommon19–22 cmRegularly Sep–Jul · 0.61% in Oct
Blue-headed VireoVireo solitariusSummer visitorCommon12–15 cmRegularly Mar–Oct · 0.57% in Oct
Wood DuckAix sponsaSummer visitorCommon47–54 cmRecorded all year · 0.55% in Oct
Pied-billed GrebePodilymbus podicepsWinter visitorCommon31–38 cmRegularly Sep–Apr · 0.42% in Oct
Common GrackleQuiscalus quisculaSummer visitorCommon28–34 cmRecorded all year · 0.38% in Oct
Common YellowthroatGeothlypis trichasSummer visitorCommon11–13 cmRegularly Apr–Oct · 0.31% in Oct
White-crowned SparrowZonotrichia leucophrysWinter visitorUncommon15–16 cmRegularly Oct–May · 0.29% in Oct
Swainson's ThrushCatharus ustulatusPassage migrantCommon16–20 cmRegularly May–Oct · 0.28% in Oct
Wild TurkeyMeleagris gallopavoResidentUncommon100–125 cmRecorded all year · 0.24% in Oct- Sharp-shinned HawkAccipiter striatusWinter visitorUncommon24–34 cmRecorded all year · 0.24% in Oct
Cape May WarblerSetophaga tigrinaPassage migrantCommon12–14 cmRegularly May–Oct · 0.24% in Oct
Black-throated Green WarblerSetophaga virensSummer visitorCommon11–12 cmRegularly Apr–Oct · 0.24% in Oct
Pine SiskinSpinus pinusWinter visitorUncommon11–14 cmRegularly Oct–Jul · 0.22% in Oct
Hermit ThrushCatharus guttatusResidentUncommon14–18 cmRecorded all year · 0.22% in Oct- Lincoln's SparrowMelospiza lincolniiPassage migrantUncommon13–15 cmRegularly Sep–Nov · 0.21% in Oct
Tennessee WarblerLeiothlypis peregrinaPassage migrantCommon10–13 cmRegularly May–Oct · 0.21% in Oct
Magnolia WarblerSetophaga magnoliaSummer visitorCommon11–13 cmRegularly May–Oct · 0.20% in Oct
Rose-breasted GrosbeakPheucticus ludovicianusSummer visitorCommon18–22 cmRegularly Apr–Oct · 0.20% in Oct
Bay-breasted WarblerSetophaga castaneaPassage migrantCommon14–14 cmRegularly May–Oct · 0.20% in Oct
Blackpoll WarblerSetophaga striataPassage migrantUncommon13–15 cmRegularly May–Oct · 0.18% in Oct
Barred OwlStrix variaResidentUncommon43–50 cmRecorded all year · 0.13% in Oct
Fish CrowCorvus ossifragusSummer visitorUncommon36–41 cmRegularly Jan–Nov · 0.13% in Oct
Eastern Screech-owlMegascops asioWinter visitorUncommon16–25 cmRecorded all year · 0.12% in Oct
Black-throated Blue WarblerSetophaga caerulescensSummer visitorUncommon11–13 cmRegularly Apr–Oct · 0.12% in Oct
OspreyPandion haliaetusSummer visitorUncommon54–58 cmRegularly Mar–Oct · 0.11% in Oct
Scarlet TanagerPiranga olivaceaSummer visitorCommon16–19 cmRegularly Apr–Oct · 0.11% in Oct
Eurasian TealAnas creccaWinter visitorUncommon34–38 cmRegularly Sep–Apr · 0.11% in Oct
Red-headed WoodpeckerMelanerpes erythrocephalusResidentUncommon19–23 cmRecorded all year · 0.10% in Oct
Greater YellowlegsTringa melanoleucaPassage migrantUncommon29–40 cmRegularly Mar–Nov · 0.09% in Oct
Nashville WarblerLeiothlypis ruficapillaPassage migrantUncommon11–13 cmRegularly Apr–Oct · 0.09% in Oct
MerlinFalco columbariusResidentUncommon24–33 cmRecorded all year · 0.08% in Oct
American RedstartSetophaga ruticillaSummer visitorCommon11–14 cmRegularly Apr–Oct · 0.08% in Oct
Great White EgretArdea albaSummer visitorUncommon80–104 cmRegularly Mar–Nov · 0.08% in Oct
Common MerganserMergus merganserWinter visitorCommon58–68 cmRecorded all year · 0.08% in Oct
Peregrine FalconFalco peregrinusWinter visitorUncommon34–58 cmRecorded all year · 0.08% in Oct
Ruddy DuckOxyura jamaicensisWinter visitorUncommon35–43 cmRegularly Oct–Apr · 0.08% in Oct
American Black DuckAnas rubripesWinter visitorUncommon54–59 cmRegularly Oct–Mar · 0.08% in Oct
GadwallMareca streperaWinter visitorUncommon46–56 cmRegularly Oct–Apr · 0.06% in Oct
Great Horned OwlBubo virginianusWinter visitorUncommon46–63 cmRecorded all year · 0.06% in Oct
Marsh WrenCistothorus palustrisResidentUncommon10–14 cmRegularly Sep–Apr · 0.06% in Oct
Solitary SandpiperTringa solitariaPassage migrantUncommon19–23 cmRegularly Apr–Oct · 0.06% in Oct
OvenbirdSeiurus aurocapillaSummer visitorCommon12–15 cmRegularly Apr–Oct · 0.06% in Oct
Gray-cheeked ThrushCatharus minimusPassage migrantUncommon16–17 cmRegularly May–Oct · 0.05% in Oct
Ruffed GrouseBonasa umbellusResidentUncommon41–50 cmRecorded all year · 0.05% in Oct
Common LoonGavia immerWinter visitorUncommon66–91 cmRegularly Oct–May · 0.03% in Oct
Broad-winged HawkButeo platypterusSummer visitorUncommon34–44 cmRegularly Apr–Oct · 0.03% in Oct
Orange-crowned WarblerLeiothlypis celataResidentRare11–14 cmRegularly Sep–Feb · 0.03% in Oct
Pectoral SandpiperCalidris melanotosPassage migrantRare19–23 cmRegularly Mar–Oct · 0.03% in Oct
Lesser YellowlegsTringa flavipesPassage migrantUncommon23–27 cmRegularly Apr–Oct · 0.03% in Oct
Red CrossbillLoxia curvirostraResidentUncommon15–17 cmRecorded all year · 0.03% in Oct- Vesper SparrowPooecetes gramineusSummer visitorRare13–17 cmRegularly Mar–Nov · 0.03% in Oct
Chestnut-sided WarblerSetophaga pensylvanicaSummer visitorUncommon10–14 cmRegularly Apr–Oct · 0.03% in Oct
Muscovy DuckCairina moschataResidentRare66–84 cmRecorded all year · 0.03% in Oct
Philadelphia VireoVireo philadelphicusPassage migrantUncommon11–13 cmRegularly May–Oct · 0.02% in Oct
Northern ShovelerSpatula clypeataWinter visitorUncommon44–51 cmRegularly Aug–Apr · 0.02% in Oct
Least FlycatcherEmpidonax minimusSummer visitorUncommon12–14 cmRegularly Apr–Oct · 0.02% in Oct
American Herring GullLarus smithsonianusWinter visitorUncommon53–65 cmRegularly Jul–May · 0.02% in Oct
Northern PintailAnas acutaWinter visitorUncommon59–76 cmRegularly Oct–Mar · 0.02% in Oct
Fox SparrowPasserella iliacaWinter visitorUncommon15–19 cmRegularly Oct–Apr · 0.02% in Oct
Horned LarkEremophila alpestrisWinter visitorUncommon16–20 cmRegularly Sep–Jul · 0.02% in Oct
BobolinkDolichonyx oryzivorusSummer visitorUncommon16–20 cmRegularly Apr–Oct · 0.02% in Oct
Mute SwanCygnus olorResidentRare140–160 cmRecorded all year · 0.01% in Oct
Golden EagleAquila chrysaetosWinter visitorUncommon66–102 cmRegularly Sep–Apr · 0.01% in Oct
Least SandpiperCalidris minutillaPassage migrantUncommon13–15 cmRegularly Apr–Oct · 0.01% in Oct
Northern WaterthrushParkesia noveboracensisSummer visitorUncommon12–15 cmRegularly Apr–Oct · 0.01% in Oct
Virginia RailRallus limicolaSummer visitorRare20–27 cmRegularly Mar–Dec · 0.01% in Oct
DunlinCalidris alpinaPassage migrantRare16–22 cmRegularly Oct–May · 0.01% in Oct
American Golden-PloverPluvialis dominicaPassage migrantRare24–28 cmRegularly Sep–Oct · 0.01% in Oct
Black-billed CuckooCoccyzus erythropthalmusSummer visitorUncommon28–32 cmRegularly May–Oct · 0.01% in Oct
Northern Saw-whet OwlAegolius acadicusSummer visitorRare17–21 cmRegularly Mar–Dec · 0.01% in Oct
Horned GrebePodiceps auritusWinter visitorUncommon31–38 cmRegularly Oct–Apr · 0.01% in Oct
Surf ScoterMelanitta perspicillataPassage migrantRare48–60 cmRegularly Oct–Mar · 0.01% in Oct
American BitternBotaurus lentiginosusResidentRare58–85 cmRegularly Apr–Oct · 0.01% in Oct
Semipalmated PloverCharadrius semipalmatusPassage migrantUncommon17–19 cmRegularly May–Oct · 0.01% in Oct
Black-crowned Night-heronNycticorax nycticoraxResidentRare58–65 cmRegularly Apr–Oct · 0.01% in Oct
Snow GooseAnser caerulescensWinter visitorUncommon69–84 cmRegularly Oct–Mar · 0.01% in Oct
DickcisselSpiza americanaSummer visitorRare14–16 cmRegularly May–Oct · 0.00% in Oct
Common PheasantPhasianus colchicusSummer visitorRare50–90 cmRegularly Mar–Nov · 0.00% in Oct
Yellow-bellied FlycatcherEmpidonax flaviventrisPassage migrantRare13–15 cmRegularly Aug–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