Birds to See in Wisconsin in October
146 bird species on our list for Wisconsin are recorded regularly in October
Of these, the most often recorded are Blue Jay, American Crow, American Robin, Downy Woodpecker and White-breasted Nuthatch. New this month: American Tree Sparrow, Red-breasted Merganser, Tundra Swan and Fox Sparrow and 16 more.
On the move in October
GBIF · OctArriving
At their peak
Yellow-rumped WarblerBusiest month of the year · Apr–Nov
White-crowned SparrowBusiest month of the year · Apr–May
Eastern BluebirdBusiest month of the year · All year
Hermit ThrushBusiest month of the year · Apr–Dec
Orange-crowned WarblerBusiest month of the year · Apr–May
Long-billed DowitcherBusiest month of the year · Apr–May
From Wisconsin’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 146 birds in October
146 birds
Blue JayCyanocitta cristataResidentCommon25–30 cmRecorded all year · 4.16% in Oct
American CrowCorvus brachyrhynchosResidentCommon41–53 cmRecorded all year · 3.81% in Oct
American RobinTurdus migratoriusResidentCommon20–28 cmRecorded all year · 3.39% in Oct
Downy WoodpeckerDryobates pubescensResidentCommon14–18 cmRecorded all year · 3.07% in Oct
White-breasted NuthatchSitta carolinensisResidentCommon13–14 cmRecorded all year · 3.06% in Oct
Canada GooseBranta canadensisResidentCommon76–110 cmRecorded all year · 3.00% in Oct
Red-bellied WoodpeckerMelanerpes carolinusResidentCommon23–26 cmRecorded all year · 2.81% in Oct
Northern CardinalCardinalis cardinalisResidentCommon21–23 cmRecorded all year · 2.81% in Oct
MallardAnas platyrhynchosResidentCommon50–65 cmRecorded all year · 2.32% in Oct
Mourning DoveZenaida macrouraResidentCommon23–34 cmRecorded all year · 2.16% in Oct- Yellow-rumped WarblerSetophaga coronataSummer visitorCommon12–15 cmRegularly Apr–Nov · 2.07% in Oct
Red-winged BlackbirdAgelaius phoeniceusSummer visitorCommon17–23 cmRegularly Feb–Nov · 2.00% in Oct
Ring-billed GullLarus delawarensisResidentCommon43–54 cmRecorded all year · 1.93% in Oct
House FinchHaemorhous mexicanusResidentCommon13–15 cmRecorded all year · 1.91% in Oct
House SparrowPasser domesticusResidentCommon14–17 cmRecorded all year · 1.85% in Oct
Hairy WoodpeckerLeuconotopicus villosusResidentCommon18–26 cmRecorded all year · 1.81% in Oct
Song SparrowMelospiza melodiaSummer visitorCommon12–17 cmRecorded all year · 1.59% in Oct
Common StarlingSturnus vulgarisResidentCommon21–23 cmRecorded all year · 1.52% in Oct
Sandhill CraneAntigone canadensisSummer visitorCommon80–122 cmRegularly Feb–Dec · 1.44% in Oct
Cedar WaxwingBombycilla cedrorumSummer visitorCommon15–18 cmRecorded all year · 1.14% in Oct
Red-tailed HawkButeo jamaicensisWinter visitorCommon45–65 cmRecorded all year · 1.07% in Oct- White-crowned SparrowZonotrichia leucophrysWinter visitorCommon15–16 cmRegularly Sep–May · 1.04% in Oct
Bald EagleHaliaeetus leucocephalusWinter visitorCommon70–102 cmRecorded all year · 1.03% in Oct
Ruby-crowned KingletCorthylio calendulaPassage migrantCommon9–11 cmRegularly Apr–Nov · 0.98% in Oct
Turkey VultureCathartes auraSummer visitorCommon62–81 cmRegularly Mar–Oct · 0.88% in Oct
Northern FlickerColaptes auratusSummer visitorCommon28–31 cmRecorded all year · 0.86% in Oct
Great Blue HeronArdea herodiasSummer visitorCommon91–137 cmRecorded all year · 0.83% in Oct- Eastern BluebirdSialia sialisSummer visitorCommon16–21 cmRecorded all year · 0.80% in Oct
American Herring GullLarus smithsonianusWinter visitorCommon53–65 cmRecorded all year · 0.77% in Oct
Pied-billed GrebePodilymbus podicepsSummer visitorCommon31–38 cmRegularly Mar–Nov · 0.73% in Oct- Hermit ThrushCatharus guttatusSummer visitorCommon14–18 cmRegularly Apr–Dec · 0.73% in Oct
Common GrackleQuiscalus quisculaSummer visitorCommon28–34 cmRegularly Mar–Nov · 0.73% in Oct
Swamp SparrowMelospiza georgianaSummer visitorCommon12–15 cmRegularly Apr–Jan · 0.73% in Oct
Palm WarblerSetophaga palmarumPassage migrantCommon12–14 cmRegularly Apr–Oct · 0.70% in Oct
Wood DuckAix sponsaSummer visitorCommon47–54 cmRegularly Mar–Jan · 0.69% in Oct
Pileated WoodpeckerDryocopus pileatusResidentCommon40–49 cmRecorded all year · 0.59% in Oct
Rock DoveColumba liviaWinter visitorCommon29–37 cmRecorded all year · 0.58% in Oct
Wild TurkeyMeleagris gallopavoResidentCommon100–125 cmRecorded all year · 0.56% in Oct
Pine SiskinSpinus pinusWinter visitorCommon11–14 cmRegularly Sep–May · 0.55% in Oct
Fox SparrowPasserella iliacaWinter visitorCommon15–19 cmRegularly Oct–Apr · 0.52% in Oct
Tufted TitmouseBaeolophus bicolorResidentCommon14–16 cmRecorded all year · 0.52% in Oct
Gray CatbirdDumetella carolinensisSummer visitorCommon20–24 cmRegularly May–Oct · 0.42% in Oct
Common RavenCorvus coraxResidentCommon54–67 cmRecorded all year · 0.41% in Oct
American Tree SparrowSpizelloides arboreaWinter visitorCommon14–17 cmRegularly Oct–Apr · 0.41% in Oct
Eurasian TealAnas creccaSummer visitorCommon34–38 cmRegularly Feb–Dec · 0.38% in Oct
Chipping SparrowSpizella passerinaSummer visitorCommon12–15 cmRegularly Apr–Oct · 0.35% in Oct
Lincoln's SparrowMelospiza lincolniiPassage migrantUncommon13–15 cmRegularly Apr–Oct · 0.35% in Oct
Yellow-bellied SapsuckerSphyrapicus variusSummer visitorCommon19–22 cmRegularly Mar–Oct · 0.34% in Oct
Trumpeter SwanCygnus buccinatorResidentCommon139–157 cmRecorded all year · 0.34% in Oct
Great White EgretArdea albaSummer visitorCommon80–104 cmRegularly Apr–Oct · 0.33% in Oct
GadwallMareca streperaWinter visitorCommon46–56 cmRegularly Sep–Jun · 0.32% in Oct
Northern ShovelerSpatula clypeataWinter visitorCommon44–51 cmRegularly Aug–May · 0.32% in Oct
Common LoonGavia immerSummer visitorCommon66–91 cmRegularly Mar–Dec · 0.31% in Oct
Ruddy DuckOxyura jamaicensisWinter visitorUncommon35–43 cmRecorded all year · 0.31% in Oct- Orange-crowned WarblerLeiothlypis celataPassage migrantUncommon11–14 cmRegularly Apr–Nov · 0.25% in Oct
Northern PintailAnas acutaWinter visitorUncommon59–76 cmRegularly Sep–Apr · 0.23% in Oct
MerlinFalco columbariusResidentUncommon24–33 cmRecorded all year · 0.20% in Oct
Hooded MerganserLophodytes cucullatusWinter visitorCommon40–49 cmRecorded all year · 0.20% in Oct
Horned GrebePodiceps auritusPassage migrantUncommon31–38 cmRegularly Sep–May · 0.19% in Oct
Tennessee WarblerLeiothlypis peregrinaPassage migrantCommon10–13 cmRegularly May–Oct · 0.18% in Oct
Great Horned OwlBubo virginianusWinter visitorUncommon46–63 cmRecorded all year · 0.17% in Oct
Sharp-shinned HawkAccipiter striatusWinter visitorUncommon24–34 cmRecorded all year · 0.17% in Oct
Barred OwlStrix variaResidentUncommon43–50 cmRecorded all year · 0.16% in Oct
Common YellowthroatGeothlypis trichasSummer visitorCommon11–13 cmRegularly May–Oct · 0.16% in Oct
Nashville WarblerLeiothlypis ruficapillaSummer visitorCommon11–13 cmRegularly Apr–Oct · 0.15% in Oct
Common MerganserMergus merganserWinter visitorCommon58–68 cmRegularly Sep–May · 0.15% in Oct
Swainson's ThrushCatharus ustulatusPassage migrantCommon16–20 cmRegularly May–Oct · 0.15% in Oct
American Black DuckAnas rubripesWinter visitorUncommon54–59 cmRegularly Aug–Apr · 0.14% in Oct
Greater YellowlegsTringa melanoleucaPassage migrantUncommon29–40 cmRegularly Apr–Nov · 0.14% in Oct
Horned LarkEremophila alpestrisWinter visitorCommon16–20 cmRegularly Sep–Jun · 0.14% in Oct
Bonaparte's GullChroicocephalus philadelphiaSummer visitorUncommon28–38 cmRegularly Mar–Nov · 0.14% in Oct
Snow BuntingPlectrophenax nivalisWinter visitorUncommon15–18 cmRegularly Oct–Mar · 0.13% in Oct
Ruffed GrouseBonasa umbellusResidentUncommon41–50 cmRecorded all year · 0.13% in Oct
Red-breasted MerganserMergus serratorWinter visitorCommon52–58 cmRegularly Oct–May · 0.11% in Oct
Red-headed WoodpeckerMelanerpes erythrocephalusResidentUncommon19–23 cmRecorded all year · 0.11% in Oct
Common PheasantPhasianus colchicusResidentUncommon50–90 cmRecorded all year · 0.10% in Oct
Surf ScoterMelanitta perspicillataPassage migrantUncommon48–60 cmRegularly Oct–Apr · 0.09% in Oct
Lapland LongspurCalcarius lapponicusWinter visitorUncommon15–16 cmRegularly Sep–Apr · 0.09% in Oct
Pectoral SandpiperCalidris melanotosPassage migrantUncommon19–23 cmRegularly Apr–Nov · 0.09% in Oct
Lesser YellowlegsTringa flavipesPassage migrantUncommon23–27 cmRegularly Apr–Oct · 0.09% in Oct
Greater ScaupAythya marilaWinter visitorUncommon39–56 cmRegularly Oct–May · 0.09% in Oct
Peregrine FalconFalco peregrinusResidentUncommon34–58 cmRecorded all year · 0.08% in Oct
Blue-headed VireoVireo solitariusSummer visitorUncommon12–15 cmRegularly Apr–Oct · 0.08% in Oct
Cackling GooseBranta hutchinsiiWinter visitorUncommon53–76 cmRegularly Sep–Apr · 0.08% in Oct
American RedstartSetophaga ruticillaSummer visitorCommon11–14 cmRegularly May–Oct · 0.07% in Oct
Magnolia WarblerSetophaga magnoliaPassage migrantCommon11–13 cmRegularly May–Oct · 0.07% in Oct
Marsh WrenCistothorus palustrisSummer visitorUncommon10–14 cmRegularly May–Oct · 0.06% in Oct
OspreyPandion haliaetusSummer visitorUncommon54–58 cmRegularly Apr–Oct · 0.06% in Oct
Tundra SwanCygnus columbianusWinter visitorCommon120–150 cmRegularly Oct–Apr · 0.06% in Oct
DunlinCalidris alpinaPassage migrantUncommon16–22 cmRegularly Apr–Nov · 0.06% in Oct
Grey PloverPluvialis squatarolaPassage migrantUncommon27–30 cmRegularly May–Nov · 0.05% in Oct
Snow GooseAnser caerulescensWinter visitorUncommon69–84 cmRegularly Sep–Apr · 0.05% in Oct
American Golden-PloverPluvialis dominicaPassage migrantUncommon24–28 cmRegularly Apr–Oct · 0.05% in Oct
Black-throated Green WarblerSetophaga virensSummer visitorCommon11–12 cmRegularly Apr–Oct · 0.05% in Oct- Long-billed DowitcherLimnodromus scolopaceusPassage migrantRare27–30 cmRegularly Apr–Nov · 0.04% in Oct
Northern WaterthrushParkesia noveboracensisSummer visitorUncommon12–15 cmRegularly Apr–Oct · 0.04% in Oct
Long-tailed DuckClangula hyemalisWinter visitorUncommon37–60 cmRegularly Oct–Apr · 0.04% in Oct
Eastern Screech-owlMegascops asioWinter visitorUncommon16–25 cmRegularly Jul–May · 0.04% in Oct
Broad-winged HawkButeo platypterusSummer visitorUncommon34–44 cmRegularly Apr–Oct · 0.03% in Oct
Blackpoll WarblerSetophaga striataPassage migrantUncommon13–15 cmRegularly May–Oct · 0.03% in Oct
Black-crowned Night-heronNycticorax nycticoraxSummer visitorUncommon58–65 cmRegularly Apr–Oct · 0.03% in Oct
Clay-colored SparrowSpizella pallidaSummer visitorUncommon13–15 cmRegularly Apr–Oct · 0.03% in Oct
Eurasian Collared DoveStreptopelia decaoctoResidentUncommon30–32 cmRecorded all year · 0.03% in Oct
Least SandpiperCalidris minutillaPassage migrantUncommon13–15 cmRegularly May–Oct · 0.03% in Oct
Red CrossbillLoxia curvirostraWinter visitorUncommon15–17 cmRegularly Jun–Apr · 0.02% in Oct
Red-necked GrebePodiceps grisegenaSummer visitorRare40–50 cmRegularly Apr–Jan · 0.02% in Oct
Gray-cheeked ThrushCatharus minimusPassage migrantUncommon16–17 cmRegularly May–Oct · 0.02% in Oct
Northern Saw-whet OwlAegolius acadicusWinter visitorRare17–21 cmRegularly Sep–Jun · 0.02% in Oct
Vesper SparrowPooecetes gramineusSummer visitorUncommon13–17 cmRegularly Apr–Oct · 0.02% in Oct
SanderlingCalidris albaSummer visitorUncommon18–20 cmRegularly May–Nov · 0.02% in Oct
Solitary SandpiperTringa solitariaPassage migrantUncommon19–23 cmRegularly Apr–Oct · 0.02% in Oct
Greater White-fronted GooseAnser albifronsPassage migrantUncommon64–81 cmRegularly Oct–Apr · 0.02% in Oct
Mute SwanCygnus olorWinter visitorUncommon140–160 cmRecorded all year · 0.02% in Oct
Lesser Black-backed GullLarus fuscusWinter visitorUncommon52–64 cmRegularly Sep–Jul · 0.02% in Oct
Black-throated Blue WarblerSetophaga caerulescensSummer visitorUncommon11–13 cmRegularly May–Oct · 0.02% in Oct
Franklin's GullLeucophaeus pipixcanSummer visitorRare32–36 cmRegularly Apr–Nov · 0.02% in Oct
Short-eared OwlAsio flammeusWinter visitorUncommon34–43 cmRegularly Oct–Apr · 0.02% in Oct
Forster's TernSterna forsteriSummer visitorUncommon33–36 cmRegularly Apr–Oct · 0.01% in Oct
American BitternBotaurus lentiginosusSummer visitorUncommon58–85 cmRegularly Apr–Oct · 0.01% in Oct
Ross's GooseAnser rossiiWinter visitorRare57–64 cmRegularly Oct–Apr · 0.01% in Oct
Black-necked GrebePodiceps nigricollisPassage migrantRare28–34 cmRegularly Apr–Dec · 0.01% in Oct
Virginia RailRallus limicolaSummer visitorUncommon20–27 cmRegularly Apr–Oct · 0.01% in Oct
Semipalmated PloverCharadrius semipalmatusSummer visitorUncommon17–19 cmRegularly May–Oct · 0.01% in Oct
Philadelphia VireoVireo philadelphicusPassage migrantUncommon11–13 cmRegularly May–Oct · 0.01% in Oct
Great TitParus majorWinter visitorRareRegularly Sep–Jun · 0.01% in Oct
Red-throated LoonGavia stellataWinter visitorRare53–69 cmRegularly Oct–May · 0.01% in Oct
Evening GrosbeakHesperiphona vespertinaWinter visitorUncommon16–22 cmRegularly Oct–May · 0.01% in Oct
Common TernSterna hirundoSummer visitorUncommon31–35 cmRegularly Apr–Oct · 0.01% in Oct
Iceland GullLarus glaucoidesWinter visitorUncommon52–60 cmRegularly Oct–May · 0.01% in Oct
Greylag GooseAnser anserWinter visitorRare75–90 cmRecorded all year · 0.01% in Oct
Pacific LoonGavia pacificaPassage migrantRare58–74 cmRegularly Oct–Dec · 0.01% in Oct
Arctic JaegerStercorarius parasiticusPassage migrantRare41–46 cmRegularly Sep–Nov · 0.01% in Oct
Eurasian Tree SparrowPasser montanusWinter visitorRare13–14 cmRegularly Oct–Jun · 0.01% in Oct
Sabine's GullXema sabiniPassage migrantRare27–33 cmRegularly Sep–Oct · 0.01% in Oct
Western MeadowlarkSturnella neglectaResidentRare16–26 cmRegularly Oct–Aug · 0.01% in Oct
Cattle EgretArdea ibisSummer visitorRare46–56 cmRegularly Apr–Nov · 0.00% in Oct
Hudsonian GodwitLimosa haemasticaPassage migrantRare36–42 cmRegularly Apr–Nov · 0.00% in Oct
White-rumped SandpiperCalidris fuscicollisPassage migrantRare15–18 cmRegularly May–Nov · 0.00% in Oct
Golden EagleAquila chrysaetosWinter visitorUncommon66–102 cmRegularly Oct–Mar · 0.00% in Oct
American AvocetRecurvirostra americanaSummer visitorRare43–51 cmRegularly Apr–Nov · 0.00% in Oct
European GoldfinchCarduelis carduelisResidentRare12–13 cmRecorded all year · 0.00% in Oct
Buff-breasted SandpiperCalidris subruficollisPassage migrantRare18–20 cmRegularly Aug–Oct · 0.00% in Oct
Whooper SwanCygnus cygnusPassage migrantRare140–165 cmRegularly Apr–Oct · 0.00% in Oct
ChukarAlectoris chukarResidentRare32–38 cmRegularly Apr–Dec · 0.00% in Oct
Northern MockingbirdMimus polyglottosSummer visitorRare21–26 cmRegularly Apr–Jan · 0.00% in Oct
Red KnotCalidris canutusPassage migrantRare23–26 cmRegularly May–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