Birds to See in Alberta in August
155 bird species on our list for Alberta are recorded regularly in August
Of these, the most often recorded are American Crow, American Robin, Cedar Waxwing, Mallard and Downy Woodpecker. New this month: Greater White-fronted Goose, Palm Warbler, American Golden-Plover and Lesser Black-backed Gull and 3 more.
On the move in August
GBIF · AugArriving
Greater White-fronted GooseRegular from August · Apr–May
Palm WarblerRegular from August · May–Jun
Buff-breasted SandpiperRegular from August · Aug–Sep
American Golden-PloverRegular from August · May
Lesser Black-backed GullRegular from August · Mar–Apr
White-rumped SandpiperRegular from August · May–Jun
At their peak
From Alberta’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 155 birds in August
155 birds
American CrowCorvus brachyrhynchosSummer visitorCommon41–53 cmRecorded all year · 3.18% in Aug
American RobinTurdus migratoriusSummer visitorCommon20–28 cmRecorded all year · 2.70% in Aug
Cedar WaxwingBombycilla cedrorumSummer visitorCommon15–18 cmRegularly May–Oct · 2.61% in Aug
MallardAnas platyrhynchosResidentCommon50–65 cmRecorded all year · 2.48% in Aug
Downy WoodpeckerDryobates pubescensWinter visitorCommon14–18 cmRecorded all year · 1.93% in Aug
House SparrowPasser domesticusResidentCommon14–17 cmRecorded all year · 1.85% in Aug
Northern Yellow WarblerSetophaga aestivaSummer visitorCommon12–13 cmRegularly May–Sep · 1.84% in Aug
Blue JayCyanocitta cristataWinter visitorCommon25–30 cmRecorded all year · 1.83% in Aug
Common RavenCorvus coraxWinter visitorCommon54–67 cmRecorded all year · 1.83% in Aug
Northern FlickerColaptes auratusResidentCommon28–31 cmRecorded all year · 1.78% in Aug
Ring-billed GullLarus delawarensisSummer visitorCommon43–54 cmRegularly Mar–Nov · 1.74% in Aug
Canada GooseBranta canadensisResidentCommon76–110 cmRecorded all year · 1.58% in Aug
Pine SiskinSpinus pinusResidentCommon11–14 cmRecorded all year · 1.40% in Aug
Yellow-rumped WarblerSetophaga coronataSummer visitorCommon12–15 cmRegularly Apr–Oct · 1.31% in Aug
House FinchHaemorhous mexicanusResidentCommon13–15 cmRecorded all year · 1.29% in Aug
White-breasted NuthatchSitta carolinensisWinter visitorCommon13–14 cmRecorded all year · 1.08% in Aug
Least FlycatcherEmpidonax minimusSummer visitorCommon12–14 cmRegularly May–Sep · 1.05% in Aug
Red-winged BlackbirdAgelaius phoeniceusSummer visitorCommon17–23 cmRegularly Apr–Oct · 0.95% in Aug
Song SparrowMelospiza melodiaSummer visitorCommon12–17 cmRegularly Mar–Oct · 0.94% in Aug
Clay-colored SparrowSpizella pallidaSummer visitorCommon13–15 cmRegularly May–Sep · 0.94% in Aug
Tennessee WarblerLeiothlypis peregrinaSummer visitorCommon10–13 cmRegularly May–Sep · 0.87% in Aug
Chipping SparrowSpizella passerinaSummer visitorCommon12–15 cmRegularly May–Sep · 0.86% in Aug
Rock DoveColumba liviaWinter visitorCommon29–37 cmRecorded all year · 0.86% in Aug
Red-tailed HawkButeo jamaicensisSummer visitorCommon45–65 cmRegularly Mar–Nov · 0.84% in Aug
Barn SwallowHirundo rusticaSummer visitorCommon17–19 cmRegularly May–Sep · 0.78% in Aug
Gray CatbirdDumetella carolinensisSummer visitorCommon20–24 cmRegularly May–Sep · 0.78% in Aug
Lesser YellowlegsTringa flavipesSummer visitorCommon23–27 cmRegularly Apr–Oct · 0.77% in Aug
Franklin's GullLeucophaeus pipixcanSummer visitorCommon32–36 cmRegularly Apr–Oct · 0.77% in Aug
Common StarlingSturnus vulgarisSummer visitorCommon21–23 cmRecorded all year · 0.74% in Aug
OspreyPandion haliaetusSummer visitorCommon54–58 cmRegularly Apr–Oct · 0.73% in Aug
Great Blue HeronArdea herodiasSummer visitorCommon91–137 cmRegularly Apr–Oct · 0.72% in Aug
MerlinFalco columbariusResidentCommon24–33 cmRecorded all year · 0.69% in Aug
Greater YellowlegsTringa melanoleucaSummer visitorCommon29–40 cmRegularly Apr–Nov · 0.67% in Aug
Hairy WoodpeckerLeuconotopicus villosusWinter visitorCommon18–26 cmRecorded all year · 0.67% in Aug
American RedstartSetophaga ruticillaSummer visitorCommon11–14 cmRegularly May–Sep · 0.65% in Aug
Lincoln's SparrowMelospiza lincolniiSummer visitorCommon13–15 cmRegularly Apr–Oct · 0.64% in Aug
GoldeneyeBucephala clangulaResidentCommon40–51 cmRecorded all year · 0.61% in Aug
Solitary SandpiperTringa solitariaSummer visitorCommon19–23 cmRegularly Apr–Sep · 0.59% in Aug
Northern ShovelerSpatula clypeataSummer visitorCommon44–51 cmRegularly Mar–Nov · 0.57% in Aug
Bald EagleHaliaeetus leucocephalusWinter visitorCommon70–102 cmRecorded all year · 0.53% in Aug
Mourning DoveZenaida macrouraSummer visitorCommon23–34 cmRegularly Apr–Oct · 0.53% in Aug
Common GrackleQuiscalus quisculaSummer visitorCommon28–34 cmRegularly Apr–Dec · 0.46% in Aug
Red-necked GrebePodiceps grisegenaSummer visitorCommon40–50 cmRegularly Apr–Nov · 0.46% in Aug
Northern WaterthrushParkesia noveboracensisSummer visitorUncommon12–15 cmRegularly May–Sep · 0.46% in Aug
Common MerganserMergus merganserResidentCommon58–68 cmRecorded all year · 0.45% in Aug
Ruddy DuckOxyura jamaicensisSummer visitorCommon35–43 cmRecorded all year · 0.44% in Aug
Ruby-throated HummingbirdArchilochus colubrisSummer visitorUncommon7–9 cmRegularly May–Sep · 0.42% in Aug
Rose-breasted GrosbeakPheucticus ludovicianusSummer visitorUncommon18–22 cmRegularly May–Sep · 0.39% in Aug
Pied-billed GrebePodilymbus podicepsSummer visitorCommon31–38 cmRegularly May–Dec · 0.38% in Aug
GadwallMareca streperaSummer visitorCommon46–56 cmRegularly Mar–Dec · 0.38% in Aug
Black-necked GrebePodiceps nigricollisSummer visitorUncommon28–34 cmRegularly Apr–Nov · 0.37% in Aug
Orange-crowned WarblerLeiothlypis celataSummer visitorCommon11–14 cmRegularly May–Oct · 0.35% in Aug
Eurasian TealAnas creccaSummer visitorCommon34–38 cmRegularly Mar–Jan · 0.34% in Aug
Least SandpiperCalidris minutillaPassage migrantUncommon13–15 cmRegularly May–Sep · 0.34% in Aug
Baird's SandpiperCalidris bairdiiPassage migrantUncommon14–17 cmRegularly May–Oct · 0.32% in Aug
Pileated WoodpeckerDryocopus pileatusWinter visitorCommon40–49 cmRecorded all year · 0.32% in Aug
Common LoonGavia immerSummer visitorUncommon66–91 cmRegularly Apr–Nov · 0.30% in Aug
Wilson's PhalaropePhalaropus tricolorSummer visitorUncommon22–24 cmRegularly May–Sep · 0.29% in Aug
American AvocetRecurvirostra americanaSummer visitorCommon43–51 cmRegularly Apr–Oct · 0.29% in Aug
Semipalmated SandpiperCalidris pusillaSummer visitorUncommon15–18 cmRegularly Apr–Sep · 0.28% in Aug
White-crowned SparrowZonotrichia leucophrysSummer visitorCommon15–16 cmRegularly Apr–Oct · 0.28% in Aug
Common YellowthroatGeothlypis trichasSummer visitorCommon11–13 cmRegularly May–Sep · 0.27% in Aug
Black TernChlidonias nigerSummer visitorCommon22–26 cmRegularly May–Aug · 0.26% in Aug
Baltimore OrioleIcterus galbulaSummer visitorCommon17–19 cmRegularly May–Aug · 0.26% in Aug
Swainson's ThrushCatharus ustulatusSummer visitorCommon16–20 cmRegularly May–Sep · 0.25% in Aug
Pectoral SandpiperCalidris melanotosPassage migrantUncommon19–23 cmRegularly May–Oct · 0.23% in Aug
Long-billed DowitcherLimnodromus scolopaceusPassage migrantUncommon27–30 cmRegularly May–Oct · 0.22% in Aug
Magnolia WarblerSetophaga magnoliaSummer visitorUncommon11–13 cmRegularly May–Sep · 0.22% in Aug
Eurasian Collared DoveStreptopelia decaoctoResidentCommon30–32 cmRecorded all year · 0.22% in Aug
Wood DuckAix sponsaResidentUncommon47–54 cmRecorded all year · 0.21% in Aug
Ruby-crowned KingletCorthylio calendulaSummer visitorCommon9–11 cmRegularly Apr–Oct · 0.21% in Aug
Western MeadowlarkSturnella neglectaSummer visitorCommon16–26 cmRegularly Mar–Oct · 0.21% in Aug
WilletTringa semipalmataSummer visitorUncommon33–41 cmRegularly Apr–Sep · 0.20% in Aug
Vesper SparrowPooecetes gramineusSummer visitorCommon13–17 cmRegularly Apr–Sep · 0.20% in Aug
Marsh WrenCistothorus palustrisSummer visitorUncommon10–14 cmRegularly Apr–Oct · 0.20% in Aug
Northern PintailAnas acutaSummer visitorCommon59–76 cmRegularly Mar–Jan · 0.20% in Aug
Stilt SandpiperCalidris himantopusPassage migrantUncommon18–23 cmRegularly May–Oct · 0.19% in Aug
Purple MartinProgne subisSummer visitorUncommon18–20 cmRegularly Apr–Aug · 0.18% in Aug
Marbled GodwitLimosa fedoaSummer visitorUncommon40–50 cmRegularly Apr–Sep · 0.18% in Aug
Black-crowned Night-heronNycticorax nycticoraxSummer visitorUncommon58–65 cmRegularly Apr–Oct · 0.18% in Aug
Forster's TernSterna forsteriSummer visitorUncommon33–36 cmRegularly Apr–Sep · 0.17% in Aug
Sand MartinRiparia ripariaSummer visitorUncommon12–14 cmRegularly May–Aug · 0.17% in Aug
Yellow-bellied SapsuckerSphyrapicus variusSummer visitorUncommon19–22 cmRegularly Apr–Sep · 0.17% in Aug
Western KingbirdTyrannus verticalisSummer visitorUncommon20–24 cmRegularly May–Aug · 0.17% in Aug
OvenbirdSeiurus aurocapillaSummer visitorUncommon12–15 cmRegularly May–Sep · 0.16% in Aug
Sharp-shinned HawkAccipiter striatusWinter visitorUncommon24–34 cmRecorded all year · 0.16% in Aug
Blackpoll WarblerSetophaga striataSummer visitorUncommon13–15 cmRegularly May–Sep · 0.16% in Aug
Alder FlycatcherEmpidonax alnorumSummer visitorCommon13–17 cmRegularly May–Aug · 0.16% in Aug
Red-necked PhalaropePhalaropus lobatusSummer visitorUncommon18–19 cmRegularly May–Sep · 0.16% in Aug
Great Horned OwlBubo virginianusWinter visitorCommon46–63 cmRecorded all year · 0.15% in Aug
Bonaparte's GullChroicocephalus philadelphiaSummer visitorUncommon28–38 cmRegularly Apr–Nov · 0.15% in Aug
Turkey VultureCathartes auraSummer visitorUncommon62–81 cmRegularly Apr–Sep · 0.15% in Aug
Semipalmated PloverCharadrius semipalmatusPassage migrantUncommon17–19 cmRegularly May–Sep · 0.15% in Aug
Blue-headed VireoVireo solitariusSummer visitorUncommon12–15 cmRegularly May–Sep · 0.14% in Aug
Philadelphia VireoVireo philadelphicusSummer visitorUncommon11–13 cmRegularly May–Sep · 0.13% in Aug
Horned GrebePodiceps auritusSummer visitorUncommon31–38 cmRegularly Apr–Dec · 0.13% in Aug
Hooded MerganserLophodytes cucullatusWinter visitorCommon40–49 cmRecorded all year · 0.12% in Aug
Red CrossbillLoxia curvirostraResidentUncommon15–17 cmRecorded all year · 0.12% in Aug
Evening GrosbeakHesperiphona vespertinaResidentUncommon16–22 cmRecorded all year · 0.11% in Aug
Grey PloverPluvialis squatarolaSummer visitorUncommon27–30 cmRegularly May–Oct · 0.11% in Aug
Mourning WarblerGeothlypis philadelphiaSummer visitorUncommon10–15 cmRegularly May–Sep · 0.11% in Aug
Sandhill CraneAntigone canadensisSummer visitorUncommon80–122 cmRegularly Apr–Oct · 0.10% in Aug
Mountain BluebirdSialia currucoidesSummer visitorUncommon15–18 cmRegularly Mar–Oct · 0.10% in Aug
Common TernSterna hirundoSummer visitorUncommon31–35 cmRegularly May–Sep · 0.09% in Aug
Short-billed DowitcherLimnodromus griseusSummer visitorUncommon23–32 cmRegularly May–Sep · 0.08% in Aug
Ruffed GrouseBonasa umbellusResidentUncommon41–50 cmRecorded all year · 0.08% in Aug
Peregrine FalconFalco peregrinusSummer visitorUncommon34–58 cmRegularly Mar–Oct · 0.08% in Aug
American Three-toed WoodpeckerPicoides dorsalisResidentUncommon21–24 cmRecorded all year · 0.08% in Aug
Broad-winged HawkButeo platypterusSummer visitorUncommon34–44 cmRegularly Apr–Oct · 0.07% in Aug
Grey PartridgePerdix perdixWinter visitorCommon28–32 cmRecorded all year · 0.07% in Aug
American Herring GullLarus smithsonianusSummer visitorCommon53–65 cmRegularly Mar–Nov · 0.07% in Aug
Bay-breasted WarblerSetophaga castaneaSummer visitorUncommon14–14 cmRegularly May–Sep · 0.07% in Aug
Say's PhoebeSayornis sayaSummer visitorUncommon17–20 cmRegularly Apr–Sep · 0.06% in Aug
Cinnamon TealSpatula cyanopteraSummer visitorUncommon36–43 cmRegularly Apr–Sep · 0.06% in Aug
Swamp SparrowMelospiza georgianaSummer visitorUncommon12–15 cmRegularly May–Oct · 0.06% in Aug
Trumpeter SwanCygnus buccinatorWinter visitorCommon139–157 cmRecorded all year · 0.06% in Aug
Horned LarkEremophila alpestrisResidentUncommon16–20 cmRecorded all year · 0.06% in Aug
Common PheasantPhasianus colchicusResidentUncommon50–90 cmRecorded all year · 0.05% in Aug
SanderlingCalidris albaSummer visitorUncommon18–20 cmRegularly May–Oct · 0.05% in Aug- Greater White-fronted GooseAnser albifronsPassage migrantCommon64–81 cmRegularly Apr–Nov · 0.05% in Aug
- Palm WarblerSetophaga palmarumPassage migrantUncommon12–14 cmRegularly May–Oct · 0.05% in Aug
Nashville WarblerLeiothlypis ruficapillaSummer visitorRare11–13 cmRegularly May–Oct · 0.05% in Aug
Red-naped SapsuckerSphyrapicus nuchalisSummer visitorUncommon19–21 cmRegularly Apr–Sep · 0.05% in Aug
Cape May WarblerSetophaga tigrinaSummer visitorUncommon12–14 cmRegularly May–Sep · 0.04% in Aug
Hermit ThrushCatharus guttatusSummer visitorUncommon14–18 cmRegularly Apr–Oct · 0.04% in Aug
Black-throated Green WarblerSetophaga virensSummer visitorRare11–12 cmRegularly May–Sep · 0.04% in Aug
Golden EagleAquila chrysaetosWinter visitorUncommon66–102 cmRecorded all year · 0.04% in Aug
Great White EgretArdea albaSummer visitorRare80–104 cmRegularly May–Oct · 0.03% in Aug
Hudsonian GodwitLimosa haemasticaPassage migrantRare36–42 cmRegularly Apr–Sep · 0.03% in Aug
Lark SparrowChondestes grammacusSummer visitorUncommon15–17 cmRegularly May–Aug · 0.03% in Aug
Varied ThrushIxoreus naeviusSummer visitorUncommon20–26 cmRecorded all year · 0.03% in Aug
Pacific WrenTroglodytes pacificusSummer visitorUncommon8–12 cmRegularly Apr–Oct · 0.03% in Aug
Chestnut-sided WarblerSetophaga pensylvanicaSummer visitorRare10–14 cmRegularly May–Sep · 0.03% in Aug
Willow FlycatcherEmpidonax trailliiSummer visitorUncommon13–17 cmRegularly May–Aug · 0.02% in Aug- Buff-breasted SandpiperCalidris subruficollisPassage migrantRare18–20 cmRegularly Aug–Sep · 0.02% in Aug
Fox SparrowPasserella iliacaSummer visitorUncommon15–19 cmRegularly Apr–Jan · 0.02% in Aug
American BitternBotaurus lentiginosusSummer visitorRare58–85 cmRegularly May–Oct · 0.02% in Aug
Upland SandpiperBartramia longicaudaSummer visitorUncommon28–32 cmRegularly May–Aug · 0.02% in Aug
VeeryCatharus fuscescensSummer visitorUncommon16–19 cmRegularly May–Aug · 0.02% in Aug
Virginia RailRallus limicolaSummer visitorRare20–27 cmRegularly Apr–Sep · 0.01% in Aug
Yellow-bellied FlycatcherEmpidonax flaviventrisSummer visitorRare13–15 cmRegularly May–Sep · 0.01% in Aug
Western SandpiperCalidris mauriPassage migrantRare14–17 cmRegularly May–Sep · 0.01% in Aug
Black-backed WoodpeckerPicoides arcticusWinter visitorUncommon21–24 cmRecorded all year · 0.01% in Aug
BobolinkDolichonyx oryzivorusSummer visitorUncommon16–20 cmRegularly May–Aug · 0.01% in Aug
Ruddy TurnstoneArenaria interpresPassage migrantRare21–24 cmRegularly May–Aug · 0.01% in Aug
Barred OwlStrix variaResidentRare43–50 cmRecorded all year · 0.01% in Aug
Long-eared OwlAsio otusSummer visitorRare35–40 cmRegularly Feb–Dec · 0.01% in Aug
Short-eared OwlAsio flammeusWinter visitorUncommon34–43 cmRecorded all year · 0.01% in Aug- American Golden-PloverPluvialis dominicaPassage migrantUncommon24–28 cmRegularly May–Oct · 0.01% in Aug
Great Crested FlycatcherMyiarchus crinitusSummer visitorRare17–22 cmRegularly May–Aug · 0.00% in Aug- Lesser Black-backed GullLarus fuscusPassage migrantRare52–64 cmRegularly Aug–Apr · 0.00% in Aug
- White-rumped SandpiperCalidris fuscicollisPassage migrantRare15–18 cmRegularly May–Aug · 0.00% in Aug
ChukarAlectoris chukarSummer visitorRare32–38 cmRegularly Jan–Oct · 0.00% in Aug
Wild TurkeyMeleagris gallopavoWinter visitorRare100–125 cmRecorded all year · 0.00% in Aug
DunlinCalidris alpinaPassage migrantRare16–22 cmRegularly Apr–Oct · 0.00% in Aug
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