Birds in Massachusetts in October: What to Photograph (60 Species)

60 birds were recorded seen in Massachusetts in October in our iNaturalist sample; 3 of the top 50 are at their peak this month. The list is ranked by number of research-grade observations.

Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec

Top birds in October

Canada Goose1,033 obs.

Wild Turkey985 obs.

Mallard953 obs.

Red-tailed Hawk949 obs.

Blue Jay916 obs.

Great Blue Heron855 obs.

Double-crested Cormorant815 obs.

Yellow-rumped Warbler770 obs.

Black-capped Chickadee741 obs.

Song Sparrow713 obs.

House Sparrow710 obs.

Downy Woodpecker635 obs.

All birds seen in Massachusetts in October

#	Species	Scientific name	Family	Obs.	Peak in state
1	Canada Goose	Branta canadensis	Ducks, Geese, and Swans	1,033	Apr (past peak)
2	Wild Turkey	Meleagris gallopavo	Pheasants, Grouse, and Allies	985	Apr (past peak)
3	Mallard	Anas platyrhynchos	Ducks, Geese, and Swans	953	Apr (past peak)
4	Red-tailed Hawk	Buteo jamaicensis	Hawks, Eagles, and Kites	949	Apr (past peak)
5	Blue Jay	Cyanocitta cristata	Crows, Jays, and Magpies	916	Apr (past peak)
6	Great Blue Heron	Ardea herodias	Herons, Egrets, and Bitterns	855	May (past peak)
7	Double-crested Cormorant	Nannopterum auritum	Cormorants and Shags	815	Aug (past peak)
8	Yellow-rumped Warbler	Setophaga coronata	New World Warblers	770	Oct (peak)
9	Black-capped Chickadee	Poecile atricapillus	Tits, Chickadees, and Titmice	741	Apr (past peak)
10	Song Sparrow	Melospiza melodia	New World Sparrows	713	Apr (past peak)
11	House Sparrow	Passer domesticus	Old World Sparrows	710	Apr (past peak)
12	Downy Woodpecker	Dryobates pubescens	Woodpeckers	635	Apr (past peak)
13	American Herring Gull	Larus smithsonianus	Gulls, Terns, and Skimmers	635	Aug (past peak)
14	Mute Swan	Cygnus olor	Ducks, Geese, and Swans	547	Apr (past peak)
15	American Robin	Turdus migratorius	Thrushes	513	Apr (past peak)
16	Tufted Titmouse	Baeolophus bicolor	Tits, Chickadees, and Titmice	506	Apr (past peak)
17	White-throated Sparrow	Zonotrichia albicollis	New World Sparrows	493	Apr (past peak)
18	Northern Cardinal	Cardinalis cardinalis	Cardinals and Allies	452	Apr (past peak)
19	Mourning Dove	Zenaida macroura	Pigeons and Doves	446	Apr (past peak)
20	White-breasted Nuthatch	Sitta carolinensis	Nuthatches	398	Apr (past peak)
21	Cooper's Hawk	Astur cooperii	Hawks, Eagles, and Kites	389	Dec (rising)
22	Ring-billed Gull	Larus delawarensis	Gulls, Terns, and Skimmers	384	Aug (past peak)
23	Red-bellied Woodpecker	Melanerpes carolinus	Woodpeckers	369	Apr (past peak)
24	Dark-eyed Junco	Junco hyemalis	New World Sparrows	367	Jan (past peak)
25	Swamp Sparrow	Melospiza georgiana	New World Sparrows	351	Oct (peak)
26	House Finch	Haemorhous mexicanus	Finches, Euphonias, and Allies	323	Apr (past peak)
27	Northern Mockingbird	Mimus polyglottos	Mockingbirds and Thrashers	319	Apr (past peak)
28	Savannah Sparrow	Passerculus sandwichensis	New World Sparrows	314	Apr (past peak)
29	Ruby-crowned Kinglet	Corthylio calendula	Kinglets	309	Apr (past peak)
30	European Starling	Sturnus vulgaris	Starlings	295	Apr (past peak)
31	Great Black-backed Gull	Larus marinus	Gulls, Terns, and Skimmers	293	Aug (past peak)
32	Laughing Gull	Leucophaeus atricilla	Gulls, Terns, and Skimmers	286	Aug (past peak)
33	Palm Warbler	Setophaga palmarum	New World Warblers	282	Apr (past peak)
34	Chipping Sparrow	Spizella passerina	New World Sparrows	278	Apr (past peak)
35	Blackpoll Warbler	Setophaga striata	New World Warblers	275	Oct (peak)
36	Eastern Phoebe	Sayornis phoebe	Tyrant Flycatchers	272	Apr (past peak)
37	American Goldfinch	Spinus tristis	Finches, Euphonias, and Allies	269	Aug (past peak)
38	Turkey Vulture	Cathartes aura	New World Vultures	233	Apr (past peak)
39	Common Eider	Somateria mollissima	Ducks, Geese, and Swans	233	Jan (past peak)
40	Great Egret	Ardea alba	Herons, Egrets, and Bitterns	233	Aug (past peak)
41	Eastern Bluebird	Sialia sialis	Thrushes	230	Apr (past peak)
42	Carolina Wren	Thryothorus ludovicianus	Wrens	226	Apr (past peak)
43	Bald Eagle	Haliaeetus leucocephalus	Hawks, Eagles, and Kites	212	Apr (past peak)
44	Common Grackle	Quiscalus quiscula	New World Blackbirds and Orioles	208	Apr (past peak)
45	Greater Yellowlegs	Tringa melanoleuca	Sandpipers and Allies	199	Aug (past peak)
46	Northern Flicker	Colaptes auratus	Woodpeckers	199	Apr (past peak)
47	Barred Owl	Strix varia	Typical Owls	190	May (past peak)
48	Black-bellied Plover	Pluvialis squatarola	Plovers and Lapwings	185	Sep (past peak)
49	Sanderling	Calidris alba	Sandpipers and Allies	182	Aug (past peak)
50	American Black Duck	Anas rubripes	Ducks, Geese, and Swans	179	Jan (past peak)

Birds Seen in Massachusetts in October

Top birds in October

All birds seen in Massachusetts in October