Birds to See in Ontario in August
159 bird species on our list for Ontario are recorded regularly in August
Of these, the most often recorded are Blue Jay, American Robin, American Crow, Song Sparrow and Mourning Dove. New this month: Great Black-backed Gull, Palm Warbler, Cape May Warbler and Blackpoll Warbler and 15 more.
On the move in August
GBIF · AugArriving
At their peak
Cedar WaxwingBusiest month of the year · All year
Great Blue HeronBusiest month of the year · All year
Ruby-throated HummingbirdBusiest month of the year · May–Sep
OspreyBusiest month of the year · Apr–Oct
Lesser YellowlegsBusiest month of the year · Apr–May
Least SandpiperBusiest month of the year · May
From Ontario’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 159 birds in August
159 birds
Blue JayCyanocitta cristataResidentCommon25–30 cmRecorded all year · 3.05% in Aug
American RobinTurdus migratoriusResidentCommon20–28 cmRecorded all year · 2.83% in Aug
American CrowCorvus brachyrhynchosResidentCommon41–53 cmRecorded all year · 2.65% in Aug
Song SparrowMelospiza melodiaSummer visitorCommon12–17 cmRecorded all year · 2.63% in Aug
Mourning DoveZenaida macrouraResidentCommon23–34 cmRecorded all year · 2.55% in Aug
Northern CardinalCardinalis cardinalisResidentCommon21–23 cmRecorded all year · 2.46% in Aug
Ring-billed GullLarus delawarensisResidentCommon43–54 cmRecorded all year · 2.43% in Aug
MallardAnas platyrhynchosResidentCommon50–65 cmRecorded all year · 2.11% in Aug- Cedar WaxwingBombycilla cedrorumSummer visitorCommon15–18 cmRecorded all year · 1.99% in Aug
Common GrackleQuiscalus quisculaSummer visitorCommon28–34 cmRegularly Feb–Nov · 1.95% in Aug
Canada GooseBranta canadensisResidentCommon76–110 cmRecorded all year · 1.94% in Aug
Downy WoodpeckerDryobates pubescensResidentCommon14–18 cmRecorded all year · 1.61% in Aug- Great Blue HeronArdea herodiasSummer visitorCommon91–137 cmRecorded all year · 1.59% in Aug
Red-winged BlackbirdAgelaius phoeniceusSummer visitorCommon17–23 cmRegularly Feb–Nov · 1.59% in Aug
Northern FlickerColaptes auratusSummer visitorCommon28–31 cmRecorded all year · 1.58% in Aug
Common StarlingSturnus vulgarisResidentCommon21–23 cmRecorded all year · 1.58% in Aug
Turkey VultureCathartes auraSummer visitorCommon62–81 cmRegularly Feb–Dec · 1.42% in Aug
Gray CatbirdDumetella carolinensisSummer visitorCommon20–24 cmRegularly May–Oct · 1.42% in Aug- Ruby-throated HummingbirdArchilochus colubrisSummer visitorCommon7–9 cmRegularly May–Sep · 1.32% in Aug
Barn SwallowHirundo rusticaSummer visitorCommon17–19 cmRegularly Apr–Sep · 1.32% in Aug
White-breasted NuthatchSitta carolinensisWinter visitorCommon13–14 cmRecorded all year · 1.29% in Aug
House SparrowPasser domesticusResidentCommon14–17 cmRecorded all year · 1.05% in Aug
American Herring GullLarus smithsonianusWinter visitorCommon53–65 cmRecorded all year · 1.01% in Aug
Wood DuckAix sponsaSummer visitorCommon47–54 cmRecorded all year · 0.98% in Aug
Chipping SparrowSpizella passerinaSummer visitorCommon12–15 cmRegularly Apr–Oct · 0.93% in Aug
American RedstartSetophaga ruticillaSummer visitorCommon11–14 cmRegularly May–Sep · 0.93% in Aug
Northern Yellow WarblerSetophaga aestivaSummer visitorCommon12–13 cmRegularly Apr–Sep · 0.88% in Aug
Common YellowthroatGeothlypis trichasSummer visitorCommon11–13 cmRegularly May–Oct · 0.84% in Aug
Rock DoveColumba liviaResidentCommon29–37 cmRecorded all year · 0.84% in Aug
Hairy WoodpeckerLeuconotopicus villosusResidentCommon18–26 cmRecorded all year · 0.83% in Aug
Baltimore OrioleIcterus galbulaSummer visitorCommon17–19 cmRegularly May–Aug · 0.80% in Aug
Common RavenCorvus coraxResidentCommon54–67 cmRecorded all year · 0.75% in Aug- OspreyPandion haliaetusSummer visitorCommon54–58 cmRegularly Apr–Oct · 0.73% in Aug
Great White EgretArdea albaSummer visitorCommon80–104 cmRegularly Apr–Nov · 0.72% in Aug- Lesser YellowlegsTringa flavipesPassage migrantCommon23–27 cmRegularly Apr–Oct · 0.60% in Aug
Yellow-rumped WarblerSetophaga coronataSummer visitorCommon12–15 cmRegularly Apr–Nov · 0.59% in Aug
House FinchHaemorhous mexicanusResidentCommon13–15 cmRecorded all year · 0.58% in Aug
Great Crested FlycatcherMyiarchus crinitusSummer visitorCommon17–22 cmRegularly May–Sep · 0.57% in Aug
Rose-breasted GrosbeakPheucticus ludovicianusSummer visitorCommon18–22 cmRegularly May–Sep · 0.53% in Aug
Common LoonGavia immerSummer visitorCommon66–91 cmRegularly Mar–Jan · 0.52% in Aug- Least SandpiperCalidris minutillaPassage migrantCommon13–15 cmRegularly May–Oct · 0.51% in Aug
Least FlycatcherEmpidonax minimusSummer visitorCommon12–14 cmRegularly May–Sep · 0.48% in Aug
Cape May WarblerSetophaga tigrinaPassage migrantUncommon12–14 cmRegularly May–Sep · 0.48% in Aug
Red-tailed HawkButeo jamaicensisWinter visitorCommon45–65 cmRecorded all year · 0.46% in Aug
Bald EagleHaliaeetus leucocephalusWinter visitorCommon70–102 cmRecorded all year · 0.45% in Aug
Swamp SparrowMelospiza georgianaSummer visitorCommon12–15 cmRegularly Apr–Feb · 0.45% in Aug
Chestnut-sided WarblerSetophaga pensylvanicaSummer visitorCommon10–14 cmRegularly May–Sep · 0.40% in Aug
Magnolia WarblerSetophaga magnoliaSummer visitorCommon11–13 cmRegularly May–Oct · 0.40% in Aug
Semipalmated SandpiperCalidris pusillaSummer visitorUncommon15–18 cmRegularly May–Oct · 0.38% in Aug
Bay-breasted WarblerSetophaga castaneaSummer visitorCommon14–14 cmRegularly May–Sep · 0.38% in Aug
Greater YellowlegsTringa melanoleucaSummer visitorUncommon29–40 cmRegularly Apr–Nov · 0.36% in Aug
Solitary SandpiperTringa solitariaPassage migrantUncommon19–23 cmRegularly Apr–Oct · 0.36% in Aug
MerlinFalco columbariusResidentCommon24–33 cmRecorded all year · 0.36% in Aug
Mute SwanCygnus olorResidentCommon140–160 cmRecorded all year · 0.36% in Aug
Pileated WoodpeckerDryocopus pileatusResidentCommon40–49 cmRecorded all year · 0.35% in Aug
Nashville WarblerLeiothlypis ruficapillaSummer visitorCommon11–13 cmRegularly Apr–Oct · 0.34% in Aug
Red-bellied WoodpeckerMelanerpes carolinusResidentCommon23–26 cmRecorded all year · 0.34% in Aug
Purple MartinProgne subisSummer visitorUncommon18–20 cmRegularly Apr–Sep · 0.33% in Aug
Semipalmated PloverCharadrius semipalmatusSummer visitorUncommon17–19 cmRegularly May–Oct · 0.32% in Aug
Common TernSterna hirundoSummer visitorUncommon31–35 cmRegularly Apr–Oct · 0.29% in Aug
Tennessee WarblerLeiothlypis peregrinaSummer visitorUncommon10–13 cmRegularly May–Oct · 0.27% in Aug
Black-throated Green WarblerSetophaga virensSummer visitorCommon11–12 cmRegularly Apr–Oct · 0.27% in Aug
American Black DuckAnas rubripesWinter visitorCommon54–59 cmRecorded all year · 0.27% in Aug
Eurasian TealAnas creccaWinter visitorCommon34–38 cmRecorded all year · 0.25% in Aug
Sandhill CraneAntigone canadensisResidentUncommon80–122 cmRecorded all year · 0.25% in Aug
Hooded MerganserLophodytes cucullatusWinter visitorCommon40–49 cmRecorded all year · 0.24% in Aug
Common MerganserMergus merganserWinter visitorCommon58–68 cmRecorded all year · 0.24% in Aug
Yellow-bellied SapsuckerSphyrapicus variusSummer visitorCommon19–22 cmRegularly Apr–Jan · 0.24% in Aug
Broad-winged HawkButeo platypterusSummer visitorUncommon34–44 cmRegularly Apr–Oct · 0.24% in Aug
Sand MartinRiparia ripariaSummer visitorUncommon12–14 cmRegularly Apr–Sep · 0.24% in Aug
Black-crowned Night-heronNycticorax nycticoraxSummer visitorUncommon58–65 cmRegularly Apr–Feb · 0.23% in Aug
Pied-billed GrebePodilymbus podicepsSummer visitorUncommon31–38 cmRecorded all year · 0.22% in Aug
Trumpeter SwanCygnus buccinatorResidentCommon139–157 cmRecorded all year · 0.22% in Aug
Wild TurkeyMeleagris gallopavoResidentCommon100–125 cmRecorded all year · 0.22% in Aug
Bonaparte's GullChroicocephalus philadelphiaSummer visitorCommon28–38 cmRegularly Mar–Jan · 0.18% in Aug
BobolinkDolichonyx oryzivorusSummer visitorUncommon16–20 cmRegularly May–Sep · 0.17% in Aug
Scarlet TanagerPiranga olivaceaSummer visitorUncommon16–19 cmRegularly May–Sep · 0.16% in Aug
VeeryCatharus fuscescensSummer visitorCommon16–19 cmRegularly May–Sep · 0.16% in Aug
Pectoral SandpiperCalidris melanotosPassage migrantUncommon19–23 cmRegularly Apr–Nov · 0.15% in Aug
Marsh WrenCistothorus palustrisSummer visitorUncommon10–14 cmRegularly Apr–Oct · 0.15% in Aug
Northern WaterthrushParkesia noveboracensisSummer visitorUncommon12–15 cmRegularly Apr–Sep · 0.14% in Aug
OvenbirdSeiurus aurocapillaSummer visitorCommon12–15 cmRegularly May–Sep · 0.14% in Aug
Yellow-bellied FlycatcherEmpidonax flaviventrisSummer visitorUncommon13–15 cmRegularly May–Sep · 0.13% in Aug
Alder FlycatcherEmpidonax alnorumSummer visitorCommon13–17 cmRegularly May–Aug · 0.13% in Aug
Swainson's ThrushCatharus ustulatusSummer visitorCommon16–20 cmRegularly May–Oct · 0.12% in Aug
Eastern BluebirdSialia sialisResidentUncommon16–21 cmRecorded all year · 0.12% in Aug
Black-throated Blue WarblerSetophaga caerulescensSummer visitorUncommon11–13 cmRegularly May–Oct · 0.12% in Aug
Philadelphia VireoVireo philadelphicusSummer visitorUncommon11–13 cmRegularly May–Sep · 0.11% in Aug
SanderlingCalidris albaPassage migrantUncommon18–20 cmRegularly May–Nov · 0.11% in Aug
Peregrine FalconFalco peregrinusWinter visitorUncommon34–58 cmRecorded all year · 0.11% in Aug
Baird's SandpiperCalidris bairdiiPassage migrantUncommon14–17 cmRegularly Aug–Oct · 0.10% in Aug
Willow FlycatcherEmpidonax trailliiSummer visitorUncommon13–17 cmRegularly May–Aug · 0.10% in Aug
Short-billed DowitcherLimnodromus griseusPassage migrantUncommon23–32 cmRegularly May–Sep · 0.10% in Aug
Blue-headed VireoVireo solitariusSummer visitorUncommon12–15 cmRegularly Apr–Oct · 0.10% in Aug
Great Black-backed GullLarus marinusWinter visitorCommon64–79 cmRegularly Aug–May · 0.09% in Aug
Black-billed CuckooCoccyzus erythropthalmusSummer visitorUncommon28–32 cmRegularly May–Sep · 0.09% in Aug
Sharp-shinned HawkAccipiter striatusWinter visitorUncommon24–34 cmRecorded all year · 0.09% in Aug
Stilt SandpiperCalidris himantopusPassage migrantUncommon18–23 cmRegularly Jul–Oct · 0.08% in Aug
Ruffed GrouseBonasa umbellusResidentUncommon41–50 cmRecorded all year · 0.08% in Aug
Virginia RailRallus limicolaSummer visitorUncommon20–27 cmRegularly Apr–Oct · 0.08% in Aug
Hermit ThrushCatharus guttatusSummer visitorCommon14–18 cmRegularly Apr–Feb · 0.08% in Aug
Red CrossbillLoxia curvirostraWinter visitorUncommon15–17 cmRecorded all year · 0.08% in Aug
Barred OwlStrix variaResidentUncommon43–50 cmRecorded all year · 0.07% in Aug
Red-necked GrebePodiceps grisegenaSummer visitorUncommon40–50 cmRecorded all year · 0.07% in Aug
Grey PloverPluvialis squatarolaPassage migrantUncommon27–30 cmRegularly Apr–Nov · 0.07% in Aug
Red-headed WoodpeckerMelanerpes erythrocephalusSummer visitorUncommon19–23 cmRegularly Apr–Feb · 0.07% in Aug
GadwallMareca streperaWinter visitorCommon46–56 cmRecorded all year · 0.06% in Aug
Northern ShovelerSpatula clypeataWinter visitorUncommon44–51 cmRegularly Aug–Jun · 0.06% in Aug
Mourning WarblerGeothlypis philadelphiaSummer visitorUncommon10–15 cmRegularly May–Sep · 0.06% in Aug
American BitternBotaurus lentiginosusSummer visitorUncommon58–85 cmRegularly Apr–Oct · 0.06% in Aug
Blackpoll WarblerSetophaga striataPassage migrantUncommon13–15 cmRegularly May–Oct · 0.06% in Aug
Eastern Screech-owlMegascops asioWinter visitorUncommon16–25 cmRecorded all year · 0.06% in Aug
Pine SiskinSpinus pinusWinter visitorCommon11–14 cmRecorded all year · 0.05% in Aug
White-rumped SandpiperCalidris fuscicollisSummer visitorRare15–18 cmRegularly May–Nov · 0.04% in Aug
Palm WarblerSetophaga palmarumPassage migrantCommon12–14 cmRegularly Apr–Oct · 0.04% in Aug
Red-necked PhalaropePhalaropus lobatusPassage migrantRare18–19 cmRegularly May–Sep · 0.04% in Aug
Tufted TitmouseBaeolophus bicolorResidentUncommon14–17 cmRecorded all year · 0.04% in Aug
Ruddy TurnstoneArenaria interpresSummer visitorUncommon21–24 cmRegularly May–Oct · 0.04% in Aug
Northern MockingbirdMimus polyglottosResidentUncommon21–26 cmRecorded all year · 0.04% in Aug
Great Horned OwlBubo virginianusWinter visitorUncommon46–63 cmRecorded all year · 0.03% in Aug
Horned LarkEremophila alpestrisWinter visitorCommon16–20 cmRecorded all year · 0.03% in Aug
Ruddy DuckOxyura jamaicensisWinter visitorUncommon35–43 cmRecorded all year · 0.03% in Aug
Northern PintailAnas acutaWinter visitorUncommon59–76 cmRegularly Aug–May · 0.03% in Aug
Red KnotCalidris canutusPassage migrantRare23–26 cmRegularly May–Oct · 0.03% in Aug
Wilson's PhalaropePhalaropus tricolorSummer visitorRare22–24 cmRegularly Apr–Sep · 0.03% in Aug
Lesser Black-backed GullLarus fuscusWinter visitorUncommon52–64 cmRecorded all year · 0.03% in Aug
Lincoln's SparrowMelospiza lincolniiSummer visitorUncommon13–15 cmRegularly May–Oct · 0.03% in Aug
Forster's TernSterna forsteriSummer visitorUncommon33–36 cmRegularly Apr–Oct · 0.02% in Aug
American Golden-PloverPluvialis dominicaPassage migrantUncommon24–28 cmRegularly May–Oct · 0.02% in Aug
Evening GrosbeakHesperiphona vespertinaWinter visitorUncommon16–22 cmRegularly Aug–May · 0.02% in Aug
Black-backed WoodpeckerPicoides arcticusResidentRare21–24 cmRecorded all year · 0.02% in Aug
Black TernChlidonias nigerSummer visitorUncommon22–26 cmRegularly May–Sep · 0.02% in Aug
Marbled GodwitLimosa fedoaSummer visitorRare40–50 cmRegularly Apr–Sep · 0.02% in Aug
Vesper SparrowPooecetes gramineusSummer visitorUncommon13–17 cmRegularly Apr–Oct · 0.02% in Aug
Hudsonian GodwitLimosa haemasticaPassage migrantRare36–42 cmRegularly Jun–Nov · 0.02% in Aug
Buff-breasted SandpiperCalidris subruficollisPassage migrantRare18–20 cmRegularly Aug–Oct · 0.02% in Aug
DunlinCalidris alpinaPassage migrantUncommon16–22 cmRegularly Apr–Dec · 0.02% in Aug
WhimbrelNumenius phaeopusSummer visitorRare40–46 cmRegularly May–Sep · 0.02% in Aug
Clay-colored SparrowSpizella pallidaSummer visitorUncommon13–15 cmRegularly May–Sep · 0.01% in Aug
Fish CrowCorvus ossifragusResidentRare36–41 cmRecorded all year · 0.01% in Aug
WilletTringa semipalmataSummer visitorRare33–41 cmRegularly Apr–Sep · 0.01% in Aug
American AvocetRecurvirostra americanaPassage migrantRare43–51 cmRegularly Apr–Oct · 0.01% in Aug
Upland SandpiperBartramia longicaudaSummer visitorUncommon28–32 cmRegularly Apr–Aug · 0.01% in Aug
Western SandpiperCalidris mauriPassage migrantRare14–17 cmRegularly May–Sep · 0.01% in Aug
Long-billed DowitcherLimnodromus scolopaceusPassage migrantRare27–30 cmRegularly Apr–Nov · 0.01% in Aug
Arctic JaegerStercorarius parasiticusPassage migrantRare41–46 cmRegularly Aug–Nov · 0.01% in Aug
Little GullHydrocoloeus minutusResidentRare25–30 cmRecorded all year · 0.01% in Aug
Piping PloverCharadrius melodusSummer visitorRare17–18 cmRegularly Apr–Sep · 0.00% in Aug
Franklin's GullLeucophaeus pipixcanSummer visitorRare32–36 cmRegularly May–Oct · 0.00% in Aug
Long-tailed JaegerStercorarius longicaudusPassage migrantRare48–58 cmRegularly Aug–Oct · 0.00% in Aug
Muscovy DuckCairina moschataWinter visitorRare66–84 cmRecorded all year · 0.00% in Aug
Common PheasantPhasianus colchicusResidentRare50–90 cmRecorded all year · 0.00% in Aug
Glossy IbisPlegadis falcinellusPassage migrantRare48–66 cmRegularly May–Aug · 0.00% in Aug
DickcisselSpiza americanaSummer visitorRare14–16 cmRegularly May–Jan · 0.00% in Aug
American Three-toed WoodpeckerPicoides dorsalisWinter visitorRare21–24 cmRecorded all year · 0.00% in Aug
Lark SparrowChondestes grammacusPassage migrantRare15–17 cmRegularly Apr–Oct · 0.00% in Aug
Arctic TernSterna paradisaeaSummer visitorRare33–39 cmRegularly May–Oct · 0.00% in Aug
Eurasian Collared DoveStreptopelia decaoctoSummer visitorRare30–32 cmRegularly Mar–Aug · 0.00% in Aug
White-winged DoveZenaida asiaticaSummer visitorRare27–30 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