Birds to See in Galway in August
122 bird species on our list for Galway are recorded regularly in August
Of these, the most often recorded are European Herring Gull, Black-headed Gull, Hooded Crow, Grey Heron and Barn Swallow. New this month: Eurasian Wigeon, Grey Plover, Red Knot and Hen Harrier and 5 more.
On the move in August
GBIF · AugArriving
At their peak
From Galway’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 122 birds in August
122 birds
European Herring GullLarus argentatusResidentCommon55–67 cmRecorded all year · 4.58% in Aug
Black-headed GullChroicocephalus ridibundusResidentCommon38–44 cmRecorded all year · 3.30% in Aug
Hooded CrowCorvus cornixResidentCommon44–51 cmRecorded all year · 3.21% in Aug
Grey HeronArdea cinereaResidentCommon90–98 cmRecorded all year · 2.81% in Aug
Barn SwallowHirundo rusticaSummer visitorCommon17–19 cmRegularly Apr–Oct · 2.79% in Aug
MallardAnas platyrhynchosResidentCommon50–65 cmRecorded all year · 2.66% in Aug
Great Black-backed GullLarus marinusResidentCommon64–79 cmRecorded all year · 2.58% in Aug
Great CormorantPhalacrocorax carboResidentCommon80–100 cmRecorded all year · 2.55% in Aug
Common GullLarus canusResidentCommon40–46 cmRecorded all year · 2.54% in Aug
Pied WagtailMotacilla albaResidentCommon17–18 cmRecorded all year · 2.41% in Aug
Eurasian OystercatcherHaematopus ostralegusResidentCommon40–45 cmRecorded all year · 2.39% in Aug
European RobinErithacus rubeculaResidentCommon13–14 cmRecorded all year · 2.32% in Aug
CurlewNumenius arquataResidentCommon50–60 cmRecorded all year · 2.31% in Aug
RookCorvus frugilegusResidentCommon45–47 cmRecorded all year · 2.27% in Aug
Common StarlingSturnus vulgarisResidentCommon21–23 cmRecorded all year · 2.25% in Aug
JackdawColoeus monedulaResidentCommon34–39 cmRecorded all year · 2.08% in Aug
WoodpigeonColumba palumbusResidentCommon40–42 cmRecorded all year · 1.99% in Aug
Lesser Black-backed GullLarus fuscusSummer visitorCommon52–64 cmRegularly Feb–Oct · 1.93% in Aug
Little EgretEgretta garzettaResidentCommon55–65 cmRecorded all year · 1.93% in Aug
Eurasian WrenTroglodytes troglodytesResidentCommon9–10 cmRecorded all year · 1.77% in Aug
Mute SwanCygnus olorResidentCommon140–160 cmRecorded all year · 1.72% in Aug
MagpiePica picaResidentCommon44–46 cmRecorded all year · 1.67% in Aug
RedshankTringa totanusWinter visitorCommon27–29 cmRecorded all year · 1.67% in Aug
Sandwich TernThalasseus sandvicensisSummer visitorCommon36–41 cmRecorded all year · 1.53% in Aug
European GoldfinchCarduelis carduelisResidentCommon12–13 cmRecorded all year · 1.49% in Aug
Ringed PloverCharadrius hiaticulaResidentCommon17–19 cmRecorded all year · 1.40% in Aug
Rock DoveColumba liviaResidentCommon31–34 cmRecorded all year · 1.33% in Aug
European ShagGulosus aristotelisResidentCommon65–80 cmRecorded all year · 1.29% in Aug
LinnetLinaria cannabinaResidentCommon13–14 cmRecorded all year · 1.15% in Aug
Meadow PipitAnthus pratensisResidentCommon14–15 cmRecorded all year · 1.10% in Aug
BlackbirdTurdus merulaResidentCommon24–25 cmRecorded all year · 1.08% in Aug
GreenshankTringa nebulariaWinter visitorCommon30–35 cmRegularly Jun–Apr · 1.05% in Aug
Northern GannetMorus bassanusSummer visitorCommon87–100 cmRecorded all year · 0.99% in Aug
DunlinCalidris alpinaWinter visitorCommon16–22 cmRecorded all year · 0.94% in Aug
Rock PipitAnthus petrosusResidentCommon16–18 cmRecorded all year · 0.94% in Aug
Ruddy TurnstoneArenaria interpresWinter visitorCommon21–24 cmRegularly Jul–May · 0.91% in Aug
Manx ShearwaterPuffinus puffinusSummer visitorCommon30–38 cmRegularly Mar–Oct · 0.90% in Aug
Common TernSterna hirundoSummer visitorCommon31–35 cmRegularly Apr–Sep · 0.89% in Aug
GoldcrestRegulus regulusResidentCommon9–10 cmRecorded all year · 0.88% in Aug
House SparrowPasser domesticusResidentCommon14–17 cmRecorded all year · 0.85% in Aug
Blue TitCyanistes caeruleusResidentCommon11–12 cmRecorded all year · 0.84% in Aug
StonechatSaxicola rubicolaResidentCommon12–13 cmRecorded all year · 0.84% in Aug
House MartinDelichon urbicumSummer visitorCommon13–15 cmRegularly Apr–Sep · 0.77% in Aug
Northern LapwingVanellus vanellusResidentCommon28–31 cmRecorded all year · 0.75% in Aug
Sand MartinRiparia ripariaSummer visitorCommon12–14 cmRegularly Mar–Sep · 0.74% in Aug
Common RavenCorvus coraxResidentCommon54–67 cmRecorded all year · 0.72% in Aug
ChaffinchFringilla coelebsResidentCommon14–16 cmRecorded all year · 0.71% in Aug
MoorhenGallinula chloropusResidentCommon30–38 cmRecorded all year · 0.68% in Aug
Great TitParus majorResidentCommonRecorded all year · 0.62% in Aug
SanderlingCalidris albaWinter visitorCommon18–20 cmRegularly Jul–May · 0.62% in Aug
WheatearOenanthe oenantheSummer visitorCommon15–16 cmRegularly Mar–Oct · 0.60% in Aug
KittiwakeRissa tridactylaSummer visitorCommon37–41 cmRecorded all year · 0.59% in Aug
Little GrebeTachybaptus ruficollisResidentCommon23–29 cmRecorded all year · 0.59% in Aug
WhimbrelNumenius phaeopusPassage migrantCommon40–46 cmRegularly Apr–Oct · 0.56% in Aug
FulmarFulmarus glacialisSummer visitorCommon45–50 cmRegularly Mar–Oct · 0.54% in Aug
Bar-tailed GodwitLimosa lapponicaWinter visitorCommon37–41 cmRegularly Jul–May · 0.52% in Aug
DunnockPrunella modularisResidentCommon14–15 cmRecorded all year · 0.52% in Aug
Black-tailed GodwitLimosa limosaWinter visitorCommon40–44 cmRecorded all year · 0.48% in Aug
GreenfinchChloris chlorisResidentCommon15–16 cmRecorded all year · 0.46% in Aug
Grey WagtailMotacilla cinereaResidentCommon17–20 cmRecorded all year · 0.46% in Aug
European Storm-petrelHydrobates pelagicusSummer visitorUncommon14–18 cmRegularly May–Oct · 0.45% in Aug
Eurasian Collared DoveStreptopelia decaoctoResidentCommon30–32 cmRecorded all year · 0.43% in Aug
SparrowhawkAccipiter nisusResidentCommon28–38 cmRecorded all year · 0.43% in Aug
Eurasian TealAnas creccaWinter visitorCommon34–38 cmRecorded all year · 0.42% in Aug
RazorbillAlca tordaResidentUncommon38–43 cmRegularly Dec–Oct · 0.38% in Aug
KestrelFalco tinnunculusResidentCommon32–39 cmRecorded all year · 0.37% in Aug
Peregrine FalconFalco peregrinusResidentUncommon34–58 cmRecorded all year · 0.35% in Aug
Common SandpiperActitis hypoleucosSummer visitorCommon18–20 cmRegularly Feb–Dec · 0.34% in Aug
Willow WarblerPhylloscopus trochilusSummer visitorCommon11–13 cmRegularly Mar–Oct · 0.33% in Aug
Arctic TernSterna paradisaeaSummer visitorUncommon33–39 cmRegularly Apr–Sep · 0.32% in Aug
Long-tailed TitAegithalos caudatusResidentCommon13–16 cmRecorded all year · 0.31% in Aug
Coal TitPeriparus aterResidentCommon10–12 cmRecorded all year · 0.30% in Aug
CootFulica atraResidentUncommon36–42 cmRecorded all year · 0.29% in Aug
Song ThrushTurdus philomelosResidentCommon20–23 cmRecorded all year · 0.29% in Aug
Eurasian SkylarkAlauda arvensisSummer visitorCommon16–18 cmRecorded all year · 0.28% in Aug
BuzzardButeo buteoResidentUncommon51–57 cmRecorded all year · 0.28% in Aug
Greylag GooseAnser anserResidentUncommon75–90 cmRecorded all year · 0.28% in Aug
Sooty ShearwaterArdenna griseaPassage migrantUncommon40–51 cmRegularly Jul–Sep · 0.28% in Aug
Black GuillemotCepphus grylleResidentCommon30–32 cmRecorded all year · 0.25% in Aug
BlackcapSylvia atricapillaSummer visitorCommon13–15 cmRegularly Dec–Oct · 0.25% in Aug
BullfinchPyrrhula pyrrhulaResidentCommon15–17 cmRecorded all year · 0.24% in Aug
Red KnotCalidris canutusWinter visitorUncommon23–26 cmRegularly Aug–Mar · 0.24% in Aug
Common SnipeGallinago gallinagoResidentCommon25–27 cmRecorded all year · 0.23% in Aug
Reed BuntingEmberiza schoeniclusResidentCommon14–16 cmRecorded all year · 0.23% in Aug
ChiffchaffPhylloscopus collybitaSummer visitorCommon10–12 cmRegularly Mar–Nov · 0.22% in Aug
Great Crested GrebePodiceps cristatusResidentCommon46–51 cmRecorded all year · 0.22% in Aug
Common PheasantPhasianus colchicusResidentCommon50–90 cmRecorded all year · 0.21% in Aug
Common ShelduckTadorna tadornaResidentCommon58–67 cmRecorded all year · 0.20% in Aug
Sedge WarblerAcrocephalus schoenobaenusSummer visitorCommon12–13 cmRegularly Apr–Aug · 0.20% in Aug
Common SwiftApus apusSummer visitorCommon16–17 cmRegularly May–Aug · 0.18% in Aug
Arctic JaegerStercorarius parasiticusSummer visitorUncommon41–46 cmRegularly Apr–Oct · 0.17% in Aug
Eurasian WigeonMareca penelopeWinter visitorCommon42–51 cmRegularly Aug–Apr · 0.17% in Aug
Great SkuaStercorarius skuaSummer visitorUncommon50–58 cmRegularly Apr–Oct · 0.17% in Aug
Northern ShovelerSpatula clypeataWinter visitorCommon44–51 cmRecorded all year · 0.17% in Aug
Red-billed ChoughPyrrhocorax pyrrhocoraxResidentUncommon39–43 cmRecorded all year · 0.16% in Aug
Mediterranean GullIchthyaetus melanocephalusResidentUncommon37–40 cmRegularly Dec–Oct · 0.15% in Aug
TreecreeperCerthia familiarisResidentUncommon12–14 cmRecorded all year · 0.14% in Aug
Little TernSternula albifronsSummer visitorUncommon21–25 cmRegularly Apr–Aug · 0.12% in Aug
Mistle ThrushTurdus viscivorusResidentCommon26–29 cmRecorded all year · 0.12% in Aug
Common RedpollAcanthis flammeaResidentUncommon12–14 cmRecorded all year · 0.11% in Aug
Eurasian SiskinSpinus spinusResidentUncommon11–13 cmRecorded all year · 0.11% in Aug
Atlantic PuffinFratercula arcticaSummer visitorUncommon28–34 cmRegularly Apr–Aug · 0.10% in Aug
Common KingfisherAlcedo atthisResidentUncommon16–17 cmRegularly May–Feb · 0.10% in Aug
Red-breasted MerganserMergus serratorWinter visitorCommon52–58 cmRecorded all year · 0.10% in Aug
Eurasian JayGarrulus glandariusResidentUncommon32–35 cmRecorded all year · 0.09% in Aug
Golden PloverPluvialis apricariaWinter visitorCommon26–29 cmRecorded all year · 0.09% in Aug
RuffCalidris pugnaxPassage migrantUncommon20–32 cmRegularly Aug–Oct · 0.09% in Aug
Tufted DuckAythya fuligulaResidentCommon40–47 cmRecorded all year · 0.09% in Aug
GadwallMareca streperaWinter visitorCommon46–56 cmRecorded all year · 0.08% in Aug
DipperCinclus cinclusWinter visitorUncommon17–20 cmRegularly Jul–May · 0.06% in Aug
Hen HarrierCircus cyaneusWinter visitorUncommon41–52 cmRegularly Aug–Mar · 0.06% in Aug
Western Marsh-harrierCircus aeruginosusWinter visitorUncommon48–56 cmRegularly Jul–Apr · 0.06% in Aug
Little GullHydrocoloeus minutusResidentUncommon25–30 cmRegularly Jan–Oct · 0.05% in Aug
Sabine's GullXema sabiniPassage migrantUncommon27–33 cmRegularly Aug · 0.05% in Aug
Spotted RedshankTringa erythropusPassage migrantUncommon29–31 cmRegularly Aug–Jan · 0.05% in Aug
WhitethroatCurruca communisSummer visitorUncommon13–15 cmRegularly Apr–Sep · 0.05% in Aug
Greater White-fronted GooseAnser albifronsWinter visitorUncommon64–81 cmRegularly Apr–Feb · records held back in Aug (protected)
Grey PloverPluvialis squatarolaWinter visitorUncommon27–30 cmRegularly Aug–Apr · 0.04% in Aug
Water RailRallus aquaticusSummer visitorUncommon23–28 cmRegularly Mar–Jan · 0.04% in Aug
PochardAythya ferinaWinter visitorUncommon42–49 cmRegularly Aug–Jun · 0.03% in Aug
White-tailed Sea-eagleHaliaeetus albicillaWinter visitorUncommon66–94 cmRegularly Jun–Mar · 0.03% in Aug
Red CrossbillLoxia curvirostraResidentUncommon15–17 cmRegularly Dec–Oct · 0.02% 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