Birds to See in Nova Scotia in August
149 bird species on our list for Nova Scotia are recorded regularly in August
Of these, the most often recorded are American Crow, American Herring Gull, Song Sparrow, Blue Jay and American Robin. New this month: Northern Pintail, American Golden-Plover, Dickcissel and Buff-breasted Sandpiper and 5 more.
On the move in August
GBIF · AugArriving
At their peak
Ruby-throated HummingbirdBusiest month of the year · May–Sep
Semipalmated PloverBusiest month of the year · Jul–Oct
Semipalmated SandpiperBusiest month of the year · Jul–Oct
Least SandpiperBusiest month of the year · Jul–Sep
Greater YellowlegsBusiest month of the year · Apr–May
Lesser YellowlegsBusiest month of the year · Jul–Oct
From Nova Scotia’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 149 birds in August
149 birds
American CrowCorvus brachyrhynchosResidentCommon41–53 cmRecorded all year · 4.25% in Aug
American Herring GullLarus smithsonianusResidentCommon53–65 cmRecorded all year · 3.95% in Aug
Song SparrowMelospiza melodiaResidentCommon12–17 cmRecorded all year · 3.89% in Aug
Blue JayCyanocitta cristataResidentCommon25–30 cmRecorded all year · 2.38% in Aug
American RobinTurdus migratoriusSummer visitorCommon20–28 cmRecorded all year · 2.30% in Aug
Mourning DoveZenaida macrouraResidentCommon23–34 cmRecorded all year · 2.19% in Aug
Great Black-backed GullLarus marinusResidentCommon64–79 cmRecorded all year · 2.13% in Aug- Ruby-throated HummingbirdArchilochus colubrisSummer visitorCommon7–9 cmRegularly May–Sep · 1.77% in Aug
Common StarlingSturnus vulgarisResidentCommon21–23 cmRecorded all year · 1.75% in Aug
Cedar WaxwingBombycilla cedrorumSummer visitorCommon15–18 cmRecorded all year · 1.69% in Aug- Semipalmated PloverCharadrius semipalmatusPassage migrantCommon17–19 cmRegularly Jul–Oct · 1.59% in Aug
Northern FlickerColaptes auratusResidentCommon28–31 cmRecorded all year · 1.58% in Aug
Great Blue HeronArdea herodiasSummer visitorCommon91–137 cmRegularly Apr–Dec · 1.55% in Aug
Common YellowthroatGeothlypis trichasSummer visitorCommon11–13 cmRegularly May–Oct · 1.50% in Aug- Semipalmated SandpiperCalidris pusillaPassage migrantCommon15–18 cmRegularly Jul–Oct · 1.48% in Aug
Northern Yellow WarblerSetophaga aestivaSummer visitorCommon12–13 cmRegularly May–Sep · 1.48% in Aug
American Black DuckAnas rubripesResidentCommon54–59 cmRecorded all year · 1.47% in Aug- Least SandpiperCalidris minutillaPassage migrantCommon13–15 cmRegularly Jul–Sep · 1.42% in Aug
Common RavenCorvus coraxResidentCommon54–67 cmRecorded all year · 1.37% in Aug- Greater YellowlegsTringa melanoleucaPassage migrantCommon29–40 cmRegularly Apr–Nov · 1.35% in Aug
Bald EagleHaliaeetus leucocephalusResidentCommon70–102 cmRecorded all year · 1.30% in Aug
MallardAnas platyrhynchosResidentCommon50–65 cmRecorded all year · 1.21% in Aug
Ring-billed GullLarus delawarensisWinter visitorCommon43–54 cmRecorded all year · 1.15% in Aug- Lesser YellowlegsTringa flavipesPassage migrantCommon23–27 cmRegularly Jul–Oct · 1.07% in Aug
Rock DoveColumba liviaResidentCommon29–37 cmRecorded all year · 1.00% in Aug
Barn SwallowHirundo rusticaSummer visitorCommon17–19 cmRegularly Apr–Sep · 1.00% in Aug
EiderSomateria mollissimaResidentCommon50–71 cmRecorded all year · 0.98% in Aug
Grey PloverPluvialis squatarolaSummer visitorCommon27–30 cmRegularly May–Feb · 0.98% in Aug
Common TernSterna hirundoSummer visitorCommon31–35 cmRegularly May–Oct · 0.96% in Aug
Yellow-rumped WarblerSetophaga coronataSummer visitorCommon12–15 cmRegularly Apr–Dec · 0.95% in Aug
American RedstartSetophaga ruticillaSummer visitorCommon11–14 cmRegularly May–Sep · 0.92% in Aug
Northern CardinalCardinalis cardinalisResidentCommon21–23 cmRecorded all year · 0.89% in Aug
Canada GooseBranta canadensisResidentCommon76–110 cmRecorded all year · 0.88% in Aug
Short-billed DowitcherLimnodromus griseusPassage migrantCommon23–32 cmRegularly Jul–Oct · 0.83% in Aug
Downy WoodpeckerDryobates pubescensResidentCommon14–18 cmRecorded all year · 0.82% in Aug
Northern GannetMorus bassanusSummer visitorCommon87–100 cmRegularly Apr–Dec · 0.80% in Aug
OspreyPandion haliaetusSummer visitorCommon54–58 cmRegularly Apr–Oct · 0.79% in Aug
Common GrackleQuiscalus quisculaSummer visitorCommon28–34 cmRegularly Mar–Nov · 0.79% in Aug
Gray CatbirdDumetella carolinensisSummer visitorCommon20–24 cmRegularly May–Oct · 0.72% in Aug
Alder FlycatcherEmpidonax alnorumSummer visitorCommon13–17 cmRegularly May–Aug · 0.70% in Aug
WilletTringa semipalmataSummer visitorCommon33–41 cmRegularly Apr–Sep · 0.61% in Aug
Magnolia WarblerSetophaga magnoliaSummer visitorCommon11–13 cmRegularly May–Sep · 0.61% in Aug
Common LoonGavia immerResidentCommon66–91 cmRecorded all year · 0.60% in Aug
Red-winged BlackbirdAgelaius phoeniceusSummer visitorCommon17–23 cmRegularly Feb–Dec · 0.58% in Aug
Black-throated Green WarblerSetophaga virensSummer visitorCommon11–12 cmRegularly May–Oct · 0.53% in Aug
Hairy WoodpeckerLeuconotopicus villosusResidentCommon18–26 cmRecorded all year · 0.52% in Aug
White-breasted NuthatchSitta carolinensisResidentCommon13–14 cmRecorded all year · 0.51% in Aug
Ruddy TurnstoneArenaria interpresPassage migrantUncommon21–24 cmRegularly May–Oct · 0.50% in Aug
Hermit ThrushCatharus guttatusSummer visitorCommon14–18 cmRegularly Apr–Nov · 0.48% in Aug
White-rumped SandpiperCalidris fuscicollisPassage migrantUncommon15–18 cmRegularly Jul–Nov · 0.48% in Aug
Swamp SparrowMelospiza georgianaSummer visitorCommon12–15 cmRegularly Apr–Feb · 0.45% in Aug
WhimbrelNumenius phaeopusPassage migrantUncommon40–46 cmRegularly Jul–Oct · 0.43% in Aug
Common PheasantPhasianus colchicusResidentCommon50–90 cmRecorded all year · 0.42% in Aug
SanderlingCalidris albaWinter visitorCommon18–20 cmRegularly Jul–Feb · 0.41% in Aug
Black GuillemotCepphus grylleResidentCommon30–32 cmRecorded all year · 0.41% in Aug
Blue-headed VireoVireo solitariusSummer visitorCommon12–15 cmRegularly May–Oct · 0.35% in Aug
Great ShearwaterArdenna gravisPassage migrantUncommon43–51 cmRegularly Jun–Nov · 0.34% in Aug
Eurasian TealAnas creccaWinter visitorCommon34–38 cmRecorded all year · 0.34% in Aug
Chestnut-sided WarblerSetophaga pensylvanicaSummer visitorCommon10–14 cmRegularly May–Sep · 0.34% in Aug
Palm WarblerSetophaga palmarumSummer visitorCommon12–14 cmRegularly Apr–Nov · 0.30% in Aug
MerlinFalco columbariusWinter visitorCommon24–33 cmRecorded all year · 0.30% in Aug
Bonaparte's GullChroicocephalus philadelphiaWinter visitorCommon28–38 cmRegularly Jul–Mar · 0.29% in Aug
Wood DuckAix sponsaResidentUncommon47–54 cmRecorded all year · 0.28% in Aug
Solitary SandpiperTringa solitariaPassage migrantUncommon19–23 cmRegularly Jul–Oct · 0.28% in Aug
Least FlycatcherEmpidonax minimusSummer visitorCommon12–14 cmRegularly May–Sep · 0.27% in Aug
Pileated WoodpeckerDryocopus pileatusResidentUncommon40–49 cmRecorded all year · 0.22% in Aug
OvenbirdSeiurus aurocapillaSummer visitorCommon12–15 cmRegularly May–Sep · 0.22% in Aug
Red-tailed HawkButeo jamaicensisWinter visitorCommon45–65 cmRecorded all year · 0.20% in Aug
Turkey VultureCathartes auraResidentUncommon62–81 cmRecorded all year · 0.19% in Aug
House SparrowPasser domesticusResidentUncommon14–17 cmRecorded all year · 0.19% in Aug
Peregrine FalconFalco peregrinusWinter visitorUncommon34–58 cmRecorded all year · 0.18% in Aug
Red CrossbillLoxia curvirostraResidentUncommon15–17 cmRecorded all year · 0.17% in Aug
Sand MartinRiparia ripariaSummer visitorUncommon12–14 cmRegularly May–Sep · 0.16% in Aug
Atlantic PuffinFratercula arcticaSummer visitorUncommon28–34 cmRegularly May–Dec · 0.16% in Aug
Leach's Storm-petrelHydrobates leucorhousSummer visitorUncommon18–21 cmRegularly May–Oct · 0.16% in Aug
Nashville WarblerLeiothlypis ruficapillaSummer visitorUncommon11–13 cmRegularly May–Nov · 0.16% in Aug
Great CormorantPhalacrocorax carboWinter visitorUncommon80–100 cmRecorded all year · 0.14% in Aug
Broad-winged HawkButeo platypterusSummer visitorUncommon34–44 cmRegularly Apr–Feb · 0.12% in Aug
Yellow-bellied SapsuckerSphyrapicus variusSummer visitorCommon19–22 cmRegularly Apr–Oct · 0.12% in Aug
Northern WaterthrushParkesia noveboracensisSummer visitorUncommon12–15 cmRegularly May–Sep · 0.11% in Aug
Red KnotCalidris canutusWinter visitorUncommon23–26 cmRegularly Jul–Feb · 0.11% in Aug
Chipping SparrowSpizella passerinaSummer visitorUncommon12–15 cmRecorded all year · 0.11% in Aug
Red-necked PhalaropePhalaropus lobatusPassage migrantUncommon18–19 cmRegularly Apr–Oct · 0.11% in Aug
Hooded MerganserLophodytes cucullatusWinter visitorCommon40–49 cmRecorded all year · 0.10% in Aug
Sharp-shinned HawkAccipiter striatusWinter visitorUncommon24–34 cmRecorded all year · 0.10% in Aug
Common MerganserMergus merganserWinter visitorCommon58–68 cmRecorded all year · 0.10% in Aug
BobolinkDolichonyx oryzivorusSummer visitorUncommon16–20 cmRegularly May–Oct · 0.10% in Aug
Cape May WarblerSetophaga tigrinaSummer visitorUncommon12–14 cmRegularly May–Oct · 0.10% in Aug
Grey PhalaropePhalaropus fulicariusPassage migrantUncommon20–22 cmRegularly Jul–Nov · 0.09% in Aug
Bay-breasted WarblerSetophaga castaneaSummer visitorUncommon14–14 cmRegularly May–Sep · 0.09% in Aug
Pectoral SandpiperCalidris melanotosPassage migrantUncommon19–23 cmRegularly Jul–Nov · 0.09% in Aug
Sooty ShearwaterArdenna griseaSummer visitorUncommon40–51 cmRegularly May–Oct · 0.09% in Aug
Ruffed GrouseBonasa umbellusResidentCommon41–50 cmRecorded all year · 0.08% in Aug
Piping PloverCharadrius melodusSummer visitorUncommon17–18 cmRegularly Apr–Sep · 0.08% in Aug
Ruby-crowned KingletCorthylio calendulaSummer visitorCommon9–11 cmRegularly Apr–Feb · 0.08% in Aug
Barred OwlStrix variaResidentUncommon43–50 cmRecorded all year · 0.08% in Aug
Black-throated Blue WarblerSetophaga caerulescensSummer visitorUncommon11–13 cmRegularly May–Oct · 0.07% in Aug
Blackpoll WarblerSetophaga striataSummer visitorCommon13–15 cmRegularly May–Oct · 0.07% in Aug
Yellow-bellied FlycatcherEmpidonax flaviventrisSummer visitorUncommon13–15 cmRegularly May–Sep · 0.06% in Aug
Swainson's ThrushCatharus ustulatusSummer visitorUncommon16–20 cmRegularly May–Oct · 0.06% in Aug
Manx ShearwaterPuffinus puffinusPassage migrantUncommon30–38 cmRegularly Jun–Sep · 0.06% in Aug
American Golden-PloverPluvialis dominicaPassage migrantUncommon24–28 cmRegularly Aug–Nov · 0.05% in Aug
Pied-billed GrebePodilymbus podicepsSummer visitorUncommon31–38 cmRecorded all year · 0.05% in Aug
VeeryCatharus fuscescensSummer visitorUncommon16–19 cmRegularly May–Sep · 0.05% in Aug
Rose-breasted GrosbeakPheucticus ludovicianusSummer visitorUncommon18–22 cmRegularly Apr–Oct · 0.05% in Aug
Lesser Black-backed GullLarus fuscusWinter visitorUncommon52–64 cmRecorded all year · 0.05% in Aug
Pine SiskinSpinus pinusWinter visitorCommon11–14 cmRecorded all year · 0.05% in Aug
RazorbillAlca tordaResidentUncommon38–43 cmRecorded all year · 0.05% in Aug
Surf ScoterMelanitta perspicillataWinter visitorCommon48–60 cmRecorded all year · 0.05% in Aug
Arctic TernSterna paradisaeaSummer visitorUncommon33–39 cmRegularly May–Sep · 0.04% in Aug
Baltimore OrioleIcterus galbulaResidentUncommon17–19 cmRecorded all year · 0.04% in Aug
Northern MockingbirdMimus polyglottosResidentUncommon21–26 cmRecorded all year · 0.04% in Aug
GadwallMareca streperaResidentUncommon46–56 cmRecorded all year · 0.04% in Aug
Great White EgretArdea albaSummer visitorUncommon80–104 cmRegularly Apr–Jan · 0.04% in Aug
KittiwakeRissa tridactylaResidentUncommon37–41 cmRecorded all year · 0.03% in Aug
Baird's SandpiperCalidris bairdiiPassage migrantRare14–17 cmRegularly Aug–Oct · 0.03% in Aug
Hudsonian GodwitLimosa haemasticaPassage migrantUncommon36–42 cmRegularly Jul–Nov · 0.03% in Aug
Great Horned OwlBubo virginianusResidentUncommon46–63 cmRecorded all year · 0.03% in Aug
Lincoln's SparrowMelospiza lincolniiSummer visitorUncommon13–15 cmRecorded all year · 0.03% in Aug
Tennessee WarblerLeiothlypis peregrinaSummer visitorUncommon10–13 cmRegularly May–Oct · 0.03% in Aug
Mourning WarblerGeothlypis philadelphiaSummer visitorUncommon10–15 cmRegularly May–Sep · 0.03% in Aug
Pomarine JaegerStercorarius pomarinusPassage migrantUncommon46–51 cmRegularly Jul–Dec · 0.02% in Aug
Northern ShovelerSpatula clypeataResidentUncommon44–51 cmRecorded all year · 0.02% in Aug
Eastern BluebirdSialia sialisResidentUncommon16–21 cmRecorded all year · 0.02% in Aug
Black-billed CuckooCoccyzus erythropthalmusSummer visitorRare28–32 cmRegularly May–Oct · 0.02% in Aug
Long-tailed JaegerStercorarius longicaudusPassage migrantRare48–58 cmRegularly Aug–Sep · 0.02% in Aug
Northern PintailAnas acutaWinter visitorUncommon59–76 cmRegularly Aug–May · 0.02% in Aug
American BitternBotaurus lentiginosusSummer visitorUncommon58–85 cmRegularly Apr–Nov · 0.02% in Aug
Buff-breasted SandpiperCalidris subruficollisPassage migrantUncommon18–20 cmRegularly Aug–Sep · 0.02% in Aug
Stilt SandpiperCalidris himantopusPassage migrantRare18–23 cmRegularly Jul–Oct · 0.02% in Aug
Sandhill CraneAntigone canadensisSummer visitorRare80–122 cmRegularly Mar–Dec · 0.01% in Aug
Arctic JaegerStercorarius parasiticusSummer visitorRare41–46 cmRegularly May–Dec · 0.01% in Aug
Roseate TernSterna dougalliiSummer visitorUncommon33–41 cmRegularly May–Aug · 0.01% in Aug
Wilson's PhalaropePhalaropus tricolorPassage migrantRare22–24 cmRegularly May–Sep · 0.01% in Aug
FulmarFulmarus glacialisSummer visitorRare45–50 cmRegularly May–Nov · 0.01% in Aug
Lark SparrowChondestes grammacusPassage migrantRare15–17 cmRegularly Aug–Jan · 0.01% in Aug
DickcisselSpiza americanaWinter visitorUncommon14–16 cmRegularly Aug–Feb · 0.01% in Aug
House FinchHaemorhous mexicanusResidentRare13–15 cmRecorded all year · 0.01% in Aug
Philadelphia VireoVireo philadelphicusSummer visitorUncommon11–13 cmRegularly May–Oct · 0.01% in Aug
Upland SandpiperBartramia longicaudaPassage migrantRare28–32 cmRegularly Apr–Aug · 0.00% in Aug
Great Crested FlycatcherMyiarchus crinitusSummer visitorRare17–22 cmRegularly May–Aug · 0.00% in Aug
Vesper SparrowPooecetes gramineusSummer visitorRare13–17 cmRegularly Apr–Dec · 0.00% in Aug
Black-backed WoodpeckerPicoides arcticusResidentRare21–24 cmRecorded all year · 0.00% in Aug
Prothonotary WarblerProtonotaria citreaPassage migrantRare13–14 cmRegularly Aug–Sep · 0.00% in Aug
Black TernChlidonias nigerPassage migrantRare22–26 cmRegularly Jun–Sep · 0.00% in Aug
Scarlet TanagerPiranga olivaceaSummer visitorRare16–19 cmRegularly Apr–Oct · 0.00% in Aug
Helmeted GuineafowlNumida meleagrisSummer visitorRare53–63 cmRegularly Apr–Sep · 0.00% in Aug
Willow FlycatcherEmpidonax trailliiSummer visitorRare13–17 cmRegularly May–Aug · 0.00% in Aug
Black-crowned Night-heronNycticorax nycticoraxSummer visitorRare58–65 cmRegularly Apr–Sep · 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