60 birds were recorded seen in North Carolina in October in our iNaturalist sample; 6 of the top 50 are at their peak this month. The list is ranked by number of research-grade observations.
Top birds in October
Great Blue Heron
Northern Mockingbird
Red-shouldered Hawk
Northern Cardinal
Canada Goose
Carolina Wren
Eastern Phoebe
Mallard
Eastern Bluebird
Turkey Vulture
Sanderling
Downy Woodpecker
All birds seen in North Carolina in October
| # | Species | Scientific name | Family | Obs. | Peak in state |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Great Blue Heron | Ardea herodias | Herons, Egrets, and Bitterns | 824 | Apr (past peak) |
| 2 | Northern Mockingbird | Mimus polyglottos | Mockingbirds and Thrashers | 660 | Apr (past peak) |
| 3 | Red-shouldered Hawk | Buteo lineatus | Hawks, Eagles, and Kites | 642 | Jan (past peak) |
| 4 | Northern Cardinal | Cardinalis cardinalis | Cardinals and Allies | 622 | Apr (past peak) |
| 5 | Canada Goose | Branta canadensis | Ducks, Geese, and Swans | 459 | Apr (past peak) |
| 6 | Carolina Wren | Thryothorus ludovicianus | Wrens | 438 | Apr (past peak) |
| 7 | Eastern Phoebe | Sayornis phoebe | Tyrant Flycatchers | 432 | Apr (past peak) |
| 8 | Mallard | Anas platyrhynchos | Ducks, Geese, and Swans | 412 | Apr (past peak) |
| 9 | Eastern Bluebird | Sialia sialis | Thrushes | 376 | Apr (past peak) |
| 10 | Turkey Vulture | Cathartes aura | New World Vultures | 367 | Apr (past peak) |
| 11 | Sanderling | Calidris alba | Sandpipers and Allies | 328 | Aug (past peak) |
| 12 | Downy Woodpecker | Dryobates pubescens | Woodpeckers | 327 | Jan (past peak) |
| 13 | Great Egret | Ardea alba | Herons, Egrets, and Bitterns | 322 | Aug (past peak) |
| 14 | Red-tailed Hawk | Buteo jamaicensis | Hawks, Eagles, and Kites | 317 | Aug (past peak) |
| 15 | Wild Turkey | Meleagris gallopavo | Pheasants, Grouse, and Allies | 305 | Apr (past peak) |
| 16 | Blue Jay | Cyanocitta cristata | Crows, Jays, and Magpies | 291 | Apr (past peak) |
| 17 | Carolina Chickadee | Poecile carolinensis | Tits, Chickadees, and Titmice | 285 | Apr (past peak) |
| 18 | Laughing Gull | Leucophaeus atricilla | Gulls, Terns, and Skimmers | 276 | Aug (past peak) |
| 19 | American Robin | Turdus migratorius | Thrushes | 271 | Apr (past peak) |
| 20 | Tufted Titmouse | Baeolophus bicolor | Tits, Chickadees, and Titmice | 271 | Jan (past peak) |
| 21 | Palm Warbler | Setophaga palmarum | New World Warblers | 269 | Oct (peak) |
| 22 | Cape May Warbler | Setophaga tigrina | New World Warblers | 267 | Oct (peak) |
| 23 | Red-bellied Woodpecker | Melanerpes carolinus | Woodpeckers | 265 | Jan (past peak) |
| 24 | Song Sparrow | Melospiza melodia | New World Sparrows | 257 | Jan (past peak) |
| 25 | Boat-tailed Grackle | Quiscalus major | New World Blackbirds and Orioles | 254 | Jun (past peak) |
| 26 | Northern Flicker | Colaptes auratus | Woodpeckers | 246 | Oct (peak) |
| 27 | Willet | Tringa semipalmata | Sandpipers and Allies | 234 | Aug (past peak) |
| 28 | House Finch | Haemorhous mexicanus | Finches, Euphonias, and Allies | 230 | Apr (past peak) |
| 29 | Yellow-rumped Warbler | Setophaga coronata | New World Warblers | 228 | Jan (past peak) |
| 30 | Mourning Dove | Zenaida macroura | Pigeons and Doves | 227 | Apr (past peak) |
| 31 | Double-crested Cormorant | Nannopterum auritum | Cormorants and Shags | 227 | Mar (past peak) |
| 32 | Yellow-bellied Sapsucker | Sphyrapicus varius | Woodpeckers | 224 | Jan (past peak) |
| 33 | Barred Owl | Strix varia | Typical Owls | 204 | Apr (past peak) |
| 34 | Northern Parula | Setophaga americana | New World Warblers | 203 | Apr (past peak) |
| 35 | Black-throated Blue Warbler | Setophaga caerulescens | New World Warblers | 202 | Oct (peak) |
| 36 | Black Vulture | Coragyps atratus | New World Vultures | 198 | Apr (past peak) |
| 37 | Common Yellowthroat | Geothlypis trichas | New World Warblers | 194 | May (past peak) |
| 38 | Brown Thrasher | Toxostoma rufum | Mockingbirds and Thrashers | 193 | Apr (past peak) |
| 39 | Ruby-crowned Kinglet | Corthylio calendula | Kinglets | 189 | Jan (past peak) |
| 40 | Rose-breasted Grosbeak | Pheucticus ludovicianus | Cardinals and Allies | 187 | Apr (past peak) |
| 41 | Bald Eagle | Haliaeetus leucocephalus | Hawks, Eagles, and Kites | 186 | Jan (past peak) |
| 42 | Pine Warbler | Setophaga pinus | New World Warblers | 183 | Jan (past peak) |
| 43 | House Sparrow | Passer domesticus | Old World Sparrows | 182 | Apr (past peak) |
| 44 | Belted Kingfisher | Megaceryle alcyon | Kingfishers | 179 | Oct (peak) |
| 45 | Brown Pelican | Pelecanus occidentalis | Pelicans | 176 | Aug (past peak) |
| 46 | White Ibis | Eudocimus albus | Ibises and Spoonbills | 165 | Jul (past peak) |
| 47 | Gray Catbird | Dumetella carolinensis | Mockingbirds and Thrashers | 164 | Apr (past peak) |
| 48 | Chipping Sparrow | Spizella passerina | New World Sparrows | 152 | Apr (past peak) |
| 49 | Eastern Towhee | Pipilo erythrophthalmus | New World Sparrows | 146 | Apr (past peak) |
| 50 | Bay-breasted Warbler | Setophaga castanea | New World Warblers | 144 | Oct (peak) |