Birds to See in Northern Ireland in August
132 bird species on our list for Northern Ireland are recorded regularly in August
Of these, the most often recorded are Woodpigeon, European Herring Gull, Barn Swallow, Hooded Crow and European Robin. New this month: Whooper Swan, Red-throated Loon, Sanderling and European Storm-petrel and 9 more.
On the move in August
GBIF · AugArriving
At their peak
From Northern Ireland’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 132 birds in August
132 birds
WoodpigeonColumba palumbusResidentCommon40–42 cmRecorded all year · 3.02% in Aug
European Herring GullLarus argentatusResidentCommon55–67 cmRecorded all year · 2.90% in Aug
Barn SwallowHirundo rusticaSummer visitorCommon17–19 cmRegularly Apr–Oct · 2.86% in Aug
Hooded CrowCorvus cornixResidentCommon44–51 cmRecorded all year · 2.75% in Aug
European RobinErithacus rubeculaResidentCommon13–14 cmRecorded all year · 2.74% in Aug
Lesser Black-backed GullLarus fuscusSummer visitorCommon52–64 cmRecorded all year · 2.57% in Aug
Black-headed GullChroicocephalus ridibundusResidentCommon38–44 cmRecorded all year · 2.55% in Aug
Common StarlingSturnus vulgarisResidentCommon21–23 cmRecorded all year · 2.32% in Aug
House SparrowPasser domesticusResidentCommon14–17 cmRecorded all year · 2.27% in Aug
MagpiePica picaResidentCommon44–46 cmRecorded all year · 2.17% in Aug
Eurasian WrenTroglodytes troglodytesResidentCommon9–10 cmRecorded all year · 2.13% in Aug
Pied WagtailMotacilla albaResidentCommon17–19 cmRecorded all year · 2.03% in Aug
House MartinDelichon urbicumSummer visitorCommon13–15 cmRegularly Apr–Sep · 2.00% in Aug
Blue TitCyanistes caeruleusResidentCommon11–12 cmRecorded all year · 1.97% in Aug
JackdawColoeus monedulaResidentCommon34–39 cmRecorded all year · 1.96% in Aug
Great CormorantPhalacrocorax carboResidentCommon80–100 cmRecorded all year · 1.94% in Aug
MallardAnas platyrhynchosResidentCommon50–65 cmRecorded all year · 1.81% in Aug
Eurasian OystercatcherHaematopus ostralegusResidentCommon40–45 cmRecorded all year · 1.80% in Aug
European GoldfinchCarduelis carduelisResidentCommon12–13 cmRecorded all year · 1.80% in Aug
Rock DoveColumba liviaResidentCommon29–37 cmRecorded all year · 1.68% in Aug
Great TitParus majorResidentCommonRecorded all year · 1.66% in Aug
ChaffinchFringilla coelebsResidentCommon14–16 cmRecorded all year · 1.63% in Aug
BlackbirdTurdus merulaResidentCommon24–25 cmRecorded all year · 1.61% in Aug
Grey HeronArdea cinereaResidentCommon90–98 cmRecorded all year · 1.61% in Aug
Coal TitPeriparus aterResidentCommon10–12 cmRecorded all year · 1.60% in Aug
RookCorvus frugilegusResidentCommon45–47 cmRecorded all year · 1.49% in Aug
Great Black-backed GullLarus marinusResidentCommon64–79 cmRecorded all year · 1.43% in Aug
CurlewNumenius arquataResidentCommon50–60 cmRecorded all year · 1.42% in Aug
RedshankTringa totanusWinter visitorCommon27–29 cmRecorded all year · 1.24% in Aug
DunnockPrunella modularisResidentCommon14–15 cmRecorded all year · 1.14% in Aug
Northern GannetMorus bassanusSummer visitorCommon87–100 cmRecorded all year · 1.12% in Aug
Common TernSterna hirundoSummer visitorCommon31–35 cmRegularly Apr–Sep · 1.02% in Aug
Common GullLarus canusResidentCommon40–46 cmRecorded all year · 1.00% in Aug
DunlinCalidris alpinaResidentCommon16–22 cmRecorded all year · 0.97% in Aug
GoldcrestRegulus regulusResidentCommon9–10 cmRecorded all year · 0.95% in Aug
MoorhenGallinula chloropusResidentCommon30–38 cmRecorded all year · 0.94% in Aug
Ringed PloverCharadrius hiaticulaResidentCommon17–19 cmRecorded all year · 0.94% in Aug
European ShagGulosus aristotelisResidentCommon65–80 cmRecorded all year · 0.93% in Aug
BuzzardButeo buteoResidentCommon51–57 cmRecorded all year · 0.85% in Aug
KittiwakeRissa tridactylaSummer visitorCommon37–41 cmRecorded all year · 0.84% in Aug
CootFulica atraResidentCommon36–42 cmRecorded all year · 0.81% in Aug
Eurasian Collared DoveStreptopelia decaoctoResidentCommon30–32 cmRecorded all year · 0.80% in Aug
FulmarFulmarus glacialisResidentCommon45–50 cmRegularly Dec–Sep · 0.77% in Aug
Meadow PipitAnthus pratensisResidentCommon14–15 cmRecorded all year · 0.75% in Aug
Little EgretEgretta garzettaResidentCommon55–65 cmRecorded all year · 0.73% in Aug
LinnetLinaria cannabinaResidentCommon13–14 cmRecorded all year · 0.72% in Aug
Mute SwanCygnus olorResidentCommon140–160 cmRecorded all year · 0.72% in Aug
Little GrebeTachybaptus ruficollisResidentCommon23–29 cmRecorded all year · 0.71% in Aug
Sand MartinRiparia ripariaSummer visitorCommon12–14 cmRegularly Mar–Sep · 0.71% in Aug
Black GuillemotCepphus grylleResidentCommon30–32 cmRecorded all year · 0.71% in Aug
Common SwiftApus apusSummer visitorCommon16–17 cmRegularly Apr–Aug · 0.69% in Aug
Black-tailed GodwitLimosa limosaResidentCommon40–44 cmRecorded all year · 0.67% in Aug
SparrowhawkAccipiter nisusResidentCommon28–38 cmRecorded all year · 0.66% in Aug
Sandwich TernThalasseus sandvicensisSummer visitorCommon36–41 cmRegularly Mar–Sep · 0.65% in Aug
EiderSomateria mollissimaResidentCommon50–71 cmRecorded all year · 0.64% in Aug
Eurasian TealAnas creccaWinter visitorCommon34–38 cmRecorded all year · 0.62% in Aug
Common RavenCorvus coraxResidentCommon54–67 cmRecorded all year · 0.61% in Aug
Northern LapwingVanellus vanellusResidentCommon28–31 cmRecorded all year · 0.59% in Aug
Willow WarblerPhylloscopus trochilusSummer visitorCommon11–13 cmRegularly Apr–Sep · 0.58% in Aug
Greylag GooseAnser anserResidentCommon75–90 cmRecorded all year · 0.56% in Aug
Ruddy TurnstoneArenaria interpresWinter visitorCommon21–24 cmRecorded all year · 0.56% in Aug
Manx ShearwaterPuffinus puffinusSummer visitorCommon30–38 cmRegularly Mar–Oct · 0.55% in Aug
Common ShelduckTadorna tadornaResidentCommon58–67 cmRecorded all year · 0.53% in Aug
Rock PipitAnthus petrosusResidentCommon16–18 cmRecorded all year · 0.53% in Aug
BullfinchPyrrhula pyrrhulaResidentCommon15–17 cmRecorded all year · 0.52% in Aug
Long-tailed TitAegithalos caudatusResidentCommon13–16 cmRecorded all year · 0.50% in Aug
StonechatSaxicola rubicolaResidentCommon12–13 cmRecorded all year · 0.50% in Aug
Tufted DuckAythya fuligulaResidentCommon40–47 cmRecorded all year · 0.47% in Aug
Common SandpiperActitis hypoleucosSummer visitorCommon18–20 cmRegularly Apr–Sep · 0.46% in Aug
Great Crested GrebePodiceps cristatusResidentCommon46–51 cmRecorded all year · 0.46% in Aug
WhimbrelNumenius phaeopusSummer visitorCommon40–46 cmRegularly Apr–Sep · 0.45% in Aug
BlackcapSylvia atricapillaResidentCommon13–15 cmRecorded all year · 0.44% in Aug
WheatearOenanthe oenantheSummer visitorCommon15–16 cmRegularly Mar–Oct · 0.43% in Aug
Sedge WarblerAcrocephalus schoenobaenusSummer visitorCommon12–13 cmRegularly Apr–Sep · 0.38% in Aug
Grey WagtailMotacilla cinereaResidentCommon17–20 cmRecorded all year · 0.36% in Aug
Common KingfisherAlcedo atthisResidentUncommon16–17 cmRecorded all year · 0.34% in Aug
GadwallMareca streperaResidentUncommon46–56 cmRecorded all year · 0.33% in Aug
RuffCalidris pugnaxPassage migrantUncommon20–32 cmRegularly Mar–Oct · 0.32% in Aug
RazorbillAlca tordaResidentCommon38–43 cmRecorded all year · 0.32% in Aug
Bar-tailed GodwitLimosa lapponicaWinter visitorUncommon37–41 cmRegularly Jul–May · 0.31% in Aug
Reed BuntingEmberiza schoeniclusResidentCommon14–16 cmRecorded all year · 0.31% in Aug
Song ThrushTurdus philomelosResidentCommon20–23 cmRecorded all year · 0.30% in Aug
Eurasian JayGarrulus glandariusResidentUncommon32–35 cmRecorded all year · 0.30% in Aug
Arctic TernSterna paradisaeaSummer visitorUncommon33–39 cmRegularly May–Oct · 0.29% in Aug
GreenfinchChloris chlorisResidentCommon15–16 cmRecorded all year · 0.28% in Aug
KestrelFalco tinnunculusResidentCommon32–39 cmRecorded all year · 0.27% in Aug
GreenshankTringa nebulariaPassage migrantUncommon30–35 cmRegularly Jul–Apr · 0.24% in Aug
Peregrine FalconFalco peregrinusResidentUncommon34–58 cmRecorded all year · 0.24% in Aug
Northern ShovelerSpatula clypeataResidentUncommon44–51 cmRecorded all year · 0.23% in Aug
Great SkuaStercorarius skuaSummer visitorUncommon50–58 cmRegularly Mar–Oct · 0.21% in Aug
TreecreeperCerthia familiarisResidentUncommon12–14 cmRecorded all year · 0.21% in Aug
Atlantic PuffinFratercula arcticaSummer visitorUncommon28–34 cmRegularly Mar–Sep · 0.21% in Aug
SanderlingCalidris albaResidentUncommon18–20 cmRegularly Mar–Jan · 0.21% in Aug
Red KnotCalidris canutusWinter visitorUncommon23–26 cmRegularly May–Feb · 0.20% in Aug
Arctic JaegerStercorarius parasiticusPassage migrantUncommon41–46 cmRegularly Jul–Oct · 0.19% in Aug
Common SnipeGallinago gallinagoResidentUncommon25–27 cmRecorded all year · 0.19% in Aug
WhitethroatCurruca communisSummer visitorCommon13–15 cmRegularly Apr–Sep · 0.19% in Aug
ChiffchaffPhylloscopus collybitaSummer visitorCommon10–12 cmRegularly Mar–Nov · 0.18% in Aug
European Storm-petrelHydrobates pelagicusPassage migrantUncommon14–18 cmRegularly Jun–Sep · 0.18% in Aug
Common PheasantPhasianus colchicusResidentCommon50–90 cmRecorded all year · 0.17% in Aug
Mistle ThrushTurdus viscivorusResidentCommon26–29 cmRecorded all year · 0.17% in Aug
TwiteLinaria flavirostrisSummer visitorCommon13–14 cmRecorded all year · 0.16% in Aug
Eurasian Tree SparrowPasser montanusResidentUncommon13–14 cmRecorded all year · 0.15% in Aug
Eurasian SiskinSpinus spinusResidentCommon11–13 cmRecorded all year · 0.14% in Aug
Eurasian SkylarkAlauda arvensisResidentCommon16–18 cmRecorded all year · 0.14% in Aug
PochardAythya ferinaResidentUncommon42–49 cmRecorded all year · 0.13% in Aug
Common RedpollAcanthis flammeaResidentCommon12–14 cmRecorded all year · 0.11% in Aug
Red-breasted MerganserMergus serratorWinter visitorUncommon52–58 cmRecorded all year · 0.11% in Aug
Golden PloverPluvialis apricariaWinter visitorUncommon26–29 cmRegularly Jul–May · 0.09% in Aug
Mediterranean GullIchthyaetus melanocephalusSummer visitorUncommon37–40 cmRecorded all year · 0.09% in Aug
Great Spotted WoodpeckerDendrocopos majorSummer visitorUncommon23–26 cmRegularly Mar–Dec · 0.09% in Aug
Eurasian WigeonMareca penelopeWinter visitorCommon42–51 cmRegularly Jul–May · 0.08% in Aug
Stock DoveColumba oenasResidentUncommon32–34 cmRegularly Mar–Aug · 0.07% in Aug
Water RailRallus aquaticusResidentUncommon23–28 cmRecorded all year · 0.06% in Aug
Sooty ShearwaterArdenna griseaPassage migrantUncommon40–51 cmRegularly Aug–Sep · 0.06% in Aug
Carrion CrowCorvus coroneWinter visitorUncommon45–47 cmRegularly Aug–May · 0.05% in Aug
Common ScoterMelanitta nigraWinter visitorUncommon43–54 cmRegularly Jul–Apr · 0.05% in Aug
DipperCinclus cinclusSummer visitorUncommon17–20 cmRegularly Mar–Jan · 0.05% in Aug
OspreyPandion haliaetusPassage migrantUncommon54–58 cmRegularly May–Aug · 0.05% in Aug
Whooper SwanCygnus cygnusWinter visitorCommon140–165 cmRegularly Aug–Apr · 0.05% in Aug
Little GullHydrocoloeus minutusPassage migrantUncommon25–30 cmRegularly May–Dec · 0.05% in Aug
Red-throated LoonGavia stellataResidentUncommon53–69 cmRegularly Aug–May · 0.05% in Aug
Spotted FlycatcherMuscicapa striataSummer visitorUncommon14–16 cmRegularly May–Sep · 0.04% in Aug
Canada GooseBranta canadensisResidentUncommon76–110 cmRegularly Jan–Oct · 0.04% in Aug
Red KiteMilvus milvusResidentUncommon60–66 cmRegularly Mar–Dec · 0.04% in Aug
YellowhammerEmberiza citrinellaSummer visitorUncommon16–17 cmRegularly Jan–Aug · 0.04% in Aug
Red CrossbillLoxia curvirostraSummer visitorUncommon15–17 cmRegularly Feb–Dec · 0.03% in Aug
Bonaparte's GullChroicocephalus philadelphiaPassage migrantUncommon28–38 cmRegularly Dec–Aug · records held back in Aug (protected)
Hen HarrierCircus cyaneusPassage migrantUncommon41–52 cmRegularly Dec–Oct · 0.03% in Aug
Little StintCalidris minutaPassage migrantRare13–15 cmRegularly Aug · 0.03% in Aug
Common Reed-warblerAcrocephalus scirpaceusSummer visitorRare13–14 cmRegularly May–Aug · 0.02% in Aug
Sabine's GullXema sabiniPassage migrantUncommon27–33 cmRegularly Aug–Sep · 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