Birds to See in Wales in August
181 bird species on our list for Wales are recorded regularly in August
Of these, the most often recorded are European Herring Gull, Carrion Crow, Woodpigeon, European Robin and Barn Swallow. New this month: Eurasian Wigeon, Merlin, Grey Plover and Purple Sandpiper and 16 more.
On the move in August
GBIF · AugArriving
At their peak
From Wales’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 181 birds in August
181 birds
European Herring GullLarus argentatusResidentCommon55–67 cmRecorded all year · 3.36% in Aug
Carrion CrowCorvus coroneResidentCommon45–47 cmRecorded all year · 3.32% in Aug
WoodpigeonColumba palumbusResidentCommon40–42 cmRecorded all year · 3.20% in Aug
European RobinErithacus rubeculaResidentCommon13–14 cmRecorded all year · 2.79% in Aug
Barn SwallowHirundo rusticaSummer visitorCommon17–19 cmRegularly Apr–Oct · 2.78% in Aug
Black-headed GullChroicocephalus ridibundusResidentCommon38–44 cmRecorded all year · 2.33% in Aug
MagpiePica picaResidentCommon44–46 cmRecorded all year · 2.25% in Aug
JackdawColoeus monedulaResidentCommon34–39 cmRecorded all year · 2.13% in Aug
Lesser Black-backed GullLarus fuscusResidentCommon52–64 cmRecorded all year · 2.10% in Aug
Blue TitCyanistes caeruleusResidentCommon11–12 cmRecorded all year · 2.09% in Aug
European GoldfinchCarduelis carduelisResidentCommon12–13 cmRecorded all year · 2.01% in Aug
Great CormorantPhalacrocorax carboResidentCommon80–100 cmRecorded all year · 1.96% in Aug
Eurasian WrenTroglodytes troglodytesResidentCommon9–10 cmRecorded all year · 1.93% in Aug
BlackbirdTurdus merulaResidentCommon24–25 cmRecorded all year · 1.84% in Aug
MallardAnas platyrhynchosResidentCommon50–65 cmRecorded all year · 1.84% in Aug
Eurasian OystercatcherHaematopus ostralegusResidentCommon40–45 cmRecorded all year · 1.69% in Aug
BuzzardButeo buteoResidentCommon51–57 cmRecorded all year · 1.61% in Aug
House MartinDelichon urbicumSummer visitorCommon13–15 cmRegularly Apr–Oct · 1.57% in Aug
House SparrowPasser domesticusResidentCommon14–17 cmRecorded all year · 1.50% in Aug
Pied WagtailMotacilla albaResidentCommon17–19 cmRecorded all year · 1.50% in Aug
Great TitParus majorResidentCommonRecorded all year · 1.47% in Aug
Grey HeronArdea cinereaResidentCommon90–98 cmRecorded all year · 1.45% in Aug
ChiffchaffPhylloscopus collybitaSummer visitorCommon10–12 cmRecorded all year · 1.43% in Aug
CurlewNumenius arquataResidentCommon50–60 cmRecorded all year · 1.36% in Aug
Great Black-backed GullLarus marinusResidentCommon64–79 cmRecorded all year · 1.31% in Aug
Little EgretEgretta garzettaResidentCommon55–65 cmRecorded all year · 1.28% in Aug
Common RavenCorvus coraxResidentCommon54–67 cmRecorded all year · 1.27% in Aug
LinnetLinaria cannabinaSummer visitorCommon13–14 cmRecorded all year · 1.23% in Aug
MoorhenGallinula chloropusResidentCommon30–38 cmRecorded all year · 1.13% in Aug
StonechatSaxicola rubicolaResidentCommon12–13 cmRecorded all year · 1.12% in Aug
Common StarlingSturnus vulgarisResidentCommon21–23 cmRecorded all year · 1.09% in Aug
DunnockPrunella modularisResidentCommon14–15 cmRecorded all year · 1.03% in Aug
Mute SwanCygnus olorResidentCommon140–160 cmRecorded all year · 1.02% in Aug
ChaffinchFringilla coelebsResidentCommon14–16 cmRecorded all year · 0.98% in Aug
Canada GooseBranta canadensisResidentCommon76–110 cmRecorded all year · 0.97% in Aug
Northern GannetMorus bassanusSummer visitorCommon87–100 cmRegularly Feb–Dec · 0.93% in Aug
Rock DoveColumba liviaResidentCommon29–37 cmRecorded all year · 0.92% in Aug
Meadow PipitAnthus pratensisResidentCommon14–15 cmRecorded all year · 0.91% in Aug
Willow WarblerPhylloscopus trochilusSummer visitorCommon11–13 cmRegularly Mar–Oct · 0.84% in Aug
Red-billed ChoughPyrrhocorax pyrrhocoraxSummer visitorCommon39–43 cmRecorded all year · 0.83% in Aug
Eurasian Collared DoveStreptopelia decaoctoResidentCommon30–32 cmRecorded all year · 0.82% in Aug
Great Spotted WoodpeckerDendrocopos majorResidentCommon23–26 cmRecorded all year · 0.79% in Aug
RedshankTringa totanusWinter visitorCommon27–29 cmRecorded all year · 0.78% in Aug
WheatearOenanthe oenantheSummer visitorCommon15–16 cmRegularly Mar–Oct · 0.76% in Aug
KestrelFalco tinnunculusResidentCommon32–39 cmRecorded all year · 0.72% in Aug
Long-tailed TitAegithalos caudatusResidentCommon13–16 cmRecorded all year · 0.72% in Aug
CootFulica atraResidentCommon36–42 cmRecorded all year · 0.71% in Aug
European ShagGulosus aristotelisResidentCommon65–80 cmRecorded all year · 0.69% in Aug
Eurasian NuthatchSitta europaeaResidentCommon12–15 cmRecorded all year · 0.69% in Aug
WhitethroatCurruca communisSummer visitorCommon13–15 cmRegularly Apr–Sep · 0.66% in Aug
Coal TitPeriparus aterResidentCommon10–12 cmRecorded all year · 0.65% in Aug
Sand MartinRiparia ripariaSummer visitorCommon12–14 cmRegularly Mar–Sep · 0.63% in Aug
GoldcrestRegulus regulusResidentCommon9–10 cmRecorded all year · 0.62% in Aug
Ringed PloverCharadrius hiaticulaResidentCommon17–19 cmRecorded all year · 0.62% in Aug
DunlinCalidris alpinaResidentCommon16–22 cmRecorded all year · 0.57% in Aug
Little GrebeTachybaptus ruficollisResidentCommon23–29 cmRecorded all year · 0.57% in Aug
Red KiteMilvus milvusResidentCommon60–66 cmRecorded all year · 0.57% in Aug
WhimbrelNumenius phaeopusSummer visitorCommon40–46 cmRegularly Mar–Nov · 0.57% in Aug
KittiwakeRissa tridactylaSummer visitorCommon37–41 cmRecorded all year · 0.56% in Aug
Rock PipitAnthus petrosusResidentCommon16–18 cmRecorded all year · 0.54% in Aug
Manx ShearwaterPuffinus puffinusSummer visitorCommon30–38 cmRegularly Mar–Nov · 0.54% in Aug
RookCorvus frugilegusResidentCommon45–47 cmRecorded all year · 0.53% in Aug
BlackcapSylvia atricapillaSummer visitorCommon13–15 cmRecorded all year · 0.52% in Aug
SparrowhawkAccipiter nisusResidentCommon28–38 cmRecorded all year · 0.50% in Aug
FulmarFulmarus glacialisResidentCommon45–50 cmRecorded all year · 0.50% in Aug
Sandwich TernThalasseus sandvicensisSummer visitorCommon36–41 cmRegularly Mar–Oct · 0.49% in Aug
Grey WagtailMotacilla cinereaResidentCommon17–20 cmRecorded all year · 0.48% in Aug
Ruddy TurnstoneArenaria interpresWinter visitorCommon21–24 cmRecorded all year · 0.46% in Aug
Northern LapwingVanellus vanellusResidentCommon28–31 cmRecorded all year · 0.46% in Aug
Greylag GooseAnser anserResidentCommon75–90 cmRecorded all year · 0.45% in Aug
Black-tailed GodwitLimosa limosaResidentUncommon40–44 cmRecorded all year · 0.44% in Aug
Great Crested GrebePodiceps cristatusResidentCommon46–51 cmRecorded all year · 0.44% in Aug
GreenfinchChloris chlorisResidentCommon15–16 cmRecorded all year · 0.43% in Aug
Common SandpiperActitis hypoleucosResidentUncommon18–20 cmRecorded all year · 0.42% in Aug
BullfinchPyrrhula pyrrhulaResidentCommon15–17 cmRecorded all year · 0.41% in Aug
Peregrine FalconFalco peregrinusResidentUncommon34–58 cmRecorded all year · 0.41% in Aug
Common SwiftApus apusSummer visitorCommon16–17 cmRegularly Apr–Aug · 0.40% in Aug
Tufted DuckAythya fuligulaResidentCommon40–47 cmRecorded all year · 0.40% in Aug
Common ShelduckTadorna tadornaResidentCommon58–67 cmRecorded all year · 0.39% in Aug
European Green WoodpeckerPicus viridisResidentUncommon30–36 cmRecorded all year · 0.38% in Aug
Eurasian TealAnas creccaWinter visitorCommon34–38 cmRecorded all year · 0.38% in Aug
Eurasian JayGarrulus glandariusResidentCommon32–35 cmRecorded all year · 0.37% in Aug
Sedge WarblerAcrocephalus schoenobaenusSummer visitorCommon12–13 cmRegularly Apr–Sep · 0.35% in Aug
Mediterranean GullIchthyaetus melanocephalusResidentUncommon37–40 cmRecorded all year · 0.34% in Aug
Common KingfisherAlcedo atthisResidentUncommon16–17 cmRecorded all year · 0.33% in Aug
Spotted FlycatcherMuscicapa striataSummer visitorUncommon14–16 cmRegularly May–Oct · 0.32% in Aug
Song ThrushTurdus philomelosResidentCommon20–23 cmRecorded all year · 0.30% in Aug
Common PheasantPhasianus colchicusResidentCommon50–90 cmRecorded all year · 0.29% in Aug
GreenshankTringa nebulariaWinter visitorUncommon30–35 cmRecorded all year · 0.29% in Aug
Reed BuntingEmberiza schoeniclusResidentUncommon14–16 cmRecorded all year · 0.28% in Aug
Eurasian SiskinSpinus spinusResidentCommon11–13 cmRecorded all year · 0.27% in Aug
GadwallMareca streperaResidentUncommon46–56 cmRecorded all year · 0.26% in Aug
TreecreeperCerthia familiarisResidentUncommon12–14 cmRecorded all year · 0.26% in Aug
RazorbillAlca tordaSummer visitorCommon38–43 cmRecorded all year · 0.24% in Aug
Common MerganserMergus merganserWinter visitorCommon58–68 cmRecorded all year · 0.24% in Aug
Eurasian SkylarkAlauda arvensisSummer visitorCommon16–18 cmRecorded all year · 0.22% in Aug
Common ScoterMelanitta nigraWinter visitorUncommon43–54 cmRecorded all year · 0.21% in Aug
Green SandpiperTringa ochropusWinter visitorUncommon21–24 cmRegularly Jul–Apr · 0.21% in Aug
Common SnipeGallinago gallinagoWinter visitorCommon25–27 cmRegularly Jul–Apr · 0.20% in Aug
Common GullLarus canusWinter visitorCommon40–46 cmRecorded all year · 0.20% in Aug
DipperCinclus cinclusResidentUncommon17–20 cmRecorded all year · 0.20% in Aug
Stock DoveColumba oenasResidentUncommon32–34 cmRecorded all year · 0.19% in Aug
Common Reed-warblerAcrocephalus scirpaceusSummer visitorCommon13–14 cmRegularly Apr–Sep · 0.19% in Aug
Common TernSterna hirundoSummer visitorUncommon31–35 cmRegularly Apr–Oct · 0.18% in Aug
Northern ShovelerSpatula clypeataResidentUncommon44–51 cmRecorded all year · 0.17% in Aug
Common RedstartPhoenicurus phoenicurusSummer visitorUncommon13–15 cmRegularly Apr–Sep · 0.16% in Aug
Cetti's WarblerCettia cettiResidentUncommon13–14 cmRecorded all year · 0.16% in Aug
Arctic JaegerStercorarius parasiticusPassage migrantUncommon41–46 cmRegularly Apr–Nov · 0.16% in Aug
Yellow WagtailMotacilla flavaSummer visitorUncommon15–17 cmRegularly Apr–Oct · 0.15% in Aug
Western Marsh-harrierCircus aeruginosusResidentUncommon48–56 cmRecorded all year · 0.15% in Aug
Water RailRallus aquaticusWinter visitorCommon23–28 cmRecorded all year · 0.15% in Aug
Arctic TernSterna paradisaeaSummer visitorUncommon33–39 cmRegularly Apr–Oct · 0.15% in Aug
Great White EgretArdea albaResidentUncommon80–104 cmRecorded all year · 0.14% in Aug
Mistle ThrushTurdus viscivorusResidentCommon26–29 cmRecorded all year · 0.14% in Aug
Atlantic PuffinFratercula arcticaSummer visitorCommon28–34 cmRegularly Mar–Aug · 0.14% in Aug
Red KnotCalidris canutusWinter visitorUncommon23–26 cmRegularly Jul–May · 0.14% in Aug
OspreyPandion haliaetusSummer visitorUncommon54–58 cmRegularly Mar–Sep · 0.13% in Aug
Tree PipitAnthus trivialisSummer visitorUncommon14–16 cmRegularly Apr–Sep · 0.13% in Aug
Tawny OwlStrix alucoResidentUncommon37–43 cmRecorded all year · 0.12% in Aug
European Storm-petrelHydrobates pelagicusSummer visitorUncommon14–18 cmRegularly Apr–Oct · 0.11% in Aug
RuffCalidris pugnaxPassage migrantUncommon20–32 cmRegularly Mar–Jan · 0.11% in Aug
SanderlingCalidris albaResidentUncommon18–20 cmRecorded all year · 0.11% in Aug
WhinchatSaxicola rubetraSummer visitorUncommon12–14 cmRegularly Apr–Oct · 0.09% in Aug
Great SkuaStercorarius skuaPassage migrantUncommon50–58 cmRegularly Aug–Nov · 0.09% in Aug
Eurasian WigeonMareca penelopeWinter visitorCommon42–51 cmRegularly Aug–Apr · 0.08% in Aug
Bar-tailed GodwitLimosa lapponicaResidentUncommon37–41 cmRecorded all year · 0.08% in Aug
Golden PloverPluvialis apricariaWinter visitorUncommon26–29 cmRecorded all year · 0.08% in Aug
Little Ringed PloverThinornis dubiusSummer visitorUncommon14–17 cmRegularly Mar–Sep · 0.08% in Aug
Spotted RedshankTringa erythropusWinter visitorUncommon29–31 cmRegularly Jul–Apr · 0.07% in Aug
European Pied FlycatcherFicedula hypoleucaSummer visitorUncommon12–14 cmRegularly Apr–Sep · 0.06% in Aug
Balearic ShearwaterPuffinus mauretanicusPassage migrantUncommon35–40 cmRegularly Jul–Oct · 0.06% in Aug
Lesser WhitethroatCurruca currucaSummer visitorUncommon11–13 cmRegularly Apr–Oct · 0.06% in Aug
Common RedpollAcanthis flammeaResidentUncommon12–14 cmRecorded all year · 0.05% in Aug
EiderSomateria mollissimaResidentUncommon50–71 cmRecorded all year · 0.05% in Aug
Garden WarblerSylvia borinSummer visitorUncommon14–15 cmRegularly Apr–Sep · 0.05% in Aug
Sooty ShearwaterArdenna griseaPassage migrantRare40–51 cmRegularly Aug–Oct · 0.05% in Aug
Barnacle GooseBranta leucopsisResidentUncommon58–70 cmRecorded all year · 0.04% in Aug
HobbyFalco subbuteoSummer visitorUncommon28–35 cmRegularly Apr–Oct · 0.04% in Aug
Hooded CrowCorvus cornixResidentRare44–51 cmRegularly Nov–Sep · 0.04% in Aug
PochardAythya ferinaWinter visitorUncommon42–49 cmRecorded all year · 0.04% in Aug
Red CrossbillLoxia curvirostraResidentUncommon15–17 cmRecorded all year · 0.04% in Aug
Little StintCalidris minutaPassage migrantUncommon13–15 cmRegularly May–Sep · 0.04% in Aug
Red-breasted MerganserMergus serratorResidentUncommon52–58 cmRecorded all year · 0.04% in Aug
Black GuillemotCepphus grylleResidentUncommon30–32 cmRegularly Nov–Sep · 0.04% in Aug
GarganeySpatula querquedulaPassage migrantRare37–41 cmRegularly Mar–Oct · 0.04% in Aug
Wood SandpiperTringa glareolaPassage migrantRare19–21 cmRegularly Apr–Sep · 0.04% in Aug
Marsh TitPoecile palustrisResidentUncommon12–13 cmRecorded all year · 0.03% in Aug
Yellow-legged GullLarus michahellisWinter visitorUncommon52–68 cmRegularly Jun–Mar · 0.03% in Aug
WryneckJynx torquillaPassage migrantUncommon16–18 cmRegularly Aug–Sep · 0.03% in Aug
Curlew SandpiperCalidris ferrugineaPassage migrantUncommon18–23 cmRegularly Aug–Oct · 0.03% in Aug
Mandarin DuckAix galericulataResidentUncommon41–49 cmRecorded all year · 0.03% in Aug
Northern GoshawkAstur gentilisRecords withheldRare46–61 cmRegularly Feb–Aug · records held back in Aug (protected)
Red-legged PartridgeAlectoris rufaSummer visitorUncommon32–34 cmRecorded all year · 0.03% in Aug
Barn OwlTyto albaResidentUncommon33–39 cmRecorded all year · 0.02% in Aug
Black TernChlidonias nigerPassage migrantRare22–26 cmRegularly May–Sep · 0.02% in Aug
Glossy IbisPlegadis falcinellusResidentRare48–66 cmRegularly Jan–Aug · 0.02% in Aug
Grasshopper WarblerLocustella naeviaSummer visitorUncommon12–13 cmRegularly Apr–Sep · 0.02% in Aug
Grey PloverPluvialis squatarolaWinter visitorUncommon27–30 cmRegularly Aug–May · 0.02% in Aug
YellowhammerEmberiza citrinellaResidentUncommon16–17 cmRecorded all year · 0.02% in Aug
Roseate TernSterna dougalliiSummer visitorUncommon33–41 cmRegularly May–Sep · 0.02% in Aug
Little TernSternula albifronsSummer visitorUncommon21–25 cmRegularly May–Sep · 0.02% in Aug
Long-tailed JaegerStercorarius longicaudusPassage migrantRare48–58 cmRegularly Aug–Sep · 0.02% in Aug
Pomarine JaegerStercorarius pomarinusPassage migrantRare46–51 cmRegularly Aug–Nov · 0.02% in Aug
Purple SandpiperCalidris maritimaWinter visitorUncommon20–22 cmRegularly Aug–May · 0.02% in Aug
Short-eared OwlAsio flammeusResidentUncommon34–43 cmRecorded all year · 0.02% in Aug
Eurasian SpoonbillPlatalea leucorodiaResidentUncommon80–90 cmRecorded all year · 0.02% in Aug
Red GrouseLagopus scoticaResidentUncommon37–42 cmRecorded all year · 0.02% in Aug
AvocetRecurvirostra avosettaResidentUncommon42–45 cmRegularly Nov–Sep · 0.02% in Aug
Grey PhalaropePhalaropus fulicariusPassage migrantRare20–22 cmRegularly Aug–Nov · 0.02% in Aug
MerlinFalco columbariusWinter visitorUncommon24–33 cmRegularly Aug–May · 0.02% in Aug
Willow TitPoecile montanusResidentRare11–12 cmRecorded all year · 0.02% in Aug
Great ShearwaterArdenna gravisPassage migrantRare43–51 cmRegularly Aug–Oct · 0.02% in Aug
Little GullHydrocoloeus minutusPassage migrantRare25–30 cmRegularly Aug–Apr · 0.02% in Aug
Cattle EgretArdea ibisWinter visitorRare46–56 cmRegularly Jul–Apr · 0.01% in Aug
Sabine's GullXema sabiniPassage migrantRare27–33 cmRegularly Aug–Oct · 0.01% in Aug
Little OwlAthene noctuaSummer visitorRare21–23 cmRegularly Jan–Oct · 0.01% in Aug
Rose-ringed ParakeetPsittacula krameriResidentRare38–42 cmRegularly Aug–Nov · 0.01% in Aug
Eurasian BitternBotaurus stellarisResidentUncommon69–81 cmRegularly Oct–Aug · 0.01% in Aug
NightjarCaprimulgus europaeusSummer visitorUncommon24–28 cmRegularly May–Aug · 0.01% in Aug
Bearded TitPanurus biarmicusResidentRare13–15 cmRegularly Mar–Nov · 0.01% in Aug
Yellow-browed WarblerPhylloscopus inornatusPassage migrantRare10–11 cmRegularly Feb–Oct · records held back in Aug (protected)
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