Birds to See in Alaska in August
147 bird species on our list for Alaska are recorded regularly in August
Of these, the most often recorded are Common Raven, Bald Eagle, Mallard, Kittiwake and American Robin. New this month: Iceland Gull, Sharp-tailed Sandpiper, Pied Wagtail and Hooded Merganser and 6 more.
On the move in August
GBIF · AugArriving
At their peak
American Herring GullBusiest month of the year · All year
Lincoln's SparrowBusiest month of the year · All year
Bonaparte's GullBusiest month of the year · Apr–Nov
MerlinBusiest month of the year · All year
Sharp-shinned HawkBusiest month of the year · All year
Sooty ShearwaterBusiest month of the year · May–Oct
From Alaska’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 147 birds in August
147 birds
Common RavenCorvus coraxResidentCommon54–67 cmRecorded all year · 3.47% in Aug
Bald EagleHaliaeetus leucocephalusResidentCommon70–102 cmRecorded all year · 3.25% in Aug
MallardAnas platyrhynchosResidentCommon50–65 cmRecorded all year · 1.95% in Aug
KittiwakeRissa tridactylaSummer visitorCommon37–41 cmRegularly Feb–Nov · 1.92% in Aug
American RobinTurdus migratoriusSummer visitorCommon20–28 cmRecorded all year · 1.74% in Aug
Yellow-rumped WarblerSetophaga coronataSummer visitorCommon12–15 cmRegularly Apr–Oct · 1.66% in Aug
Orange-crowned WarblerLeiothlypis celataSummer visitorCommon11–14 cmRegularly Apr–Nov · 1.53% in Aug
American CrowCorvus brachyrhynchosResidentCommon41–53 cmRecorded all year · 1.39% in Aug
White-crowned SparrowZonotrichia leucophrysSummer visitorCommon15–16 cmRecorded all year · 1.31% in Aug
Eurasian TealAnas creccaSummer visitorCommon34–38 cmRecorded all year · 1.26% in Aug- American Herring GullLarus smithsonianusSummer visitorCommon53–65 cmRecorded all year · 1.16% in Aug
Greater YellowlegsTringa melanoleucaSummer visitorCommon29–40 cmRegularly Apr–Oct · 1.16% in Aug
Sandhill CraneAntigone canadensisSummer visitorCommon80–122 cmRegularly Apr–Sep · 1.09% in Aug
Canada GooseBranta canadensisSummer visitorCommon76–110 cmRecorded all year · 1.09% in Aug
Song SparrowMelospiza melodiaResidentCommon12–17 cmRecorded all year · 1.06% in Aug
Common RedpollAcanthis flammeaResidentCommon12–14 cmRecorded all year · 0.98% in Aug- Lincoln's SparrowMelospiza lincolniiSummer visitorCommon13–15 cmRecorded all year · 0.98% in Aug
Ruby-crowned KingletCorthylio calendulaSummer visitorCommon9–11 cmRegularly Mar–Dec · 0.96% in Aug
Northern PintailAnas acutaSummer visitorCommon59–76 cmRecorded all year · 0.93% in Aug
Northern Yellow WarblerSetophaga aestivaSummer visitorCommon12–13 cmRegularly May–Oct · 0.88% in Aug- Bonaparte's GullChroicocephalus philadelphiaSummer visitorCommon28–38 cmRegularly Apr–Nov · 0.84% in Aug
- MerlinFalco columbariusSummer visitorCommon24–33 cmRecorded all year · 0.75% in Aug
Lesser YellowlegsTringa flavipesSummer visitorCommon23–27 cmRegularly Apr–Sep · 0.73% in Aug
Fox SparrowPasserella iliacaSummer visitorCommon15–19 cmRecorded all year · 0.72% in Aug
Pine SiskinSpinus pinusResidentCommon11–14 cmRecorded all year · 0.70% in Aug
Least SandpiperCalidris minutillaSummer visitorCommon13–15 cmRegularly Apr–Sep · 0.68% in Aug
Pacific WrenTroglodytes pacificusResidentCommon8–12 cmRecorded all year · 0.64% in Aug
Red-necked GrebePodiceps grisegenaResidentCommon40–50 cmRecorded all year · 0.64% in Aug
Common LoonGavia immerResidentCommon66–91 cmRecorded all year · 0.61% in Aug
Red-necked PhalaropePhalaropus lobatusSummer visitorCommon18–19 cmRegularly May–Sep · 0.61% in Aug
Lapland LongspurCalcarius lapponicusSummer visitorCommon15–16 cmRegularly Mar–Oct · 0.61% in Aug
Northern ShovelerSpatula clypeataSummer visitorCommon44–51 cmRegularly Mar–Dec · 0.60% in Aug
Rock DoveColumba liviaResidentCommon29–37 cmRecorded all year · 0.60% in Aug
Swainson's ThrushCatharus ustulatusSummer visitorCommon16–20 cmRegularly May–Sep · 0.56% in Aug
Semipalmated PloverCharadrius semipalmatusSummer visitorCommon17–19 cmRegularly Apr–Sep · 0.55% in Aug
Glaucous GullLarus hyperboreusSummer visitorCommon62–68 cmRecorded all year · 0.54% in Aug
Trumpeter SwanCygnus buccinatorResidentCommon139–157 cmRecorded all year · 0.54% in Aug
Hairy WoodpeckerLeuconotopicus villosusWinter visitorCommon18–26 cmRecorded all year · 0.52% in Aug
Downy WoodpeckerDryobates pubescensWinter visitorCommon14–18 cmRecorded all year · 0.51% in Aug
Varied ThrushIxoreus naeviusResidentCommon20–26 cmRecorded all year · 0.48% in Aug
Hermit ThrushCatharus guttatusSummer visitorCommon14–18 cmRegularly Apr–Oct · 0.47% in Aug
Pacific LoonGavia pacificaResidentCommon58–74 cmRecorded all year · 0.44% in Aug
Western SandpiperCalidris mauriSummer visitorCommon14–17 cmRegularly Apr–Oct · 0.44% in Aug
Arctic TernSterna paradisaeaSummer visitorCommon33–39 cmRegularly Apr–Aug · 0.41% in Aug
Red-throated LoonGavia stellataSummer visitorCommon53–69 cmRecorded all year · 0.40% in Aug
Common MerganserMergus merganserWinter visitorCommon58–68 cmRecorded all year · 0.39% in Aug
Great Blue HeronArdea herodiasWinter visitorCommon91–137 cmRecorded all year · 0.38% in Aug
FulmarFulmarus glacialisSummer visitorCommon45–50 cmRegularly May–Oct · 0.38% in Aug
Pectoral SandpiperCalidris melanotosSummer visitorCommon19–23 cmRegularly May–Oct · 0.38% in Aug- Sharp-shinned HawkAccipiter striatusWinter visitorUncommon24–34 cmRecorded all year · 0.38% in Aug
Northern WaterthrushParkesia noveboracensisSummer visitorCommon12–15 cmRegularly May–Aug · 0.38% in Aug
Greater White-fronted GooseAnser albifronsSummer visitorCommon64–81 cmRegularly Apr–Oct · 0.37% in Aug
Peregrine FalconFalco peregrinusSummer visitorCommon34–58 cmRegularly Apr–Jan · 0.36% in Aug
Surf ScoterMelanitta perspicillataWinter visitorCommon48–60 cmRecorded all year · 0.36% in Aug
Alder FlycatcherEmpidonax alnorumPassage migrantCommon13–17 cmRegularly Jun–Aug · 0.33% in Aug
Greater ScaupAythya marilaResidentCommon39–56 cmRecorded all year · 0.33% in Aug
Arctic JaegerStercorarius parasiticusSummer visitorCommon41–46 cmRegularly May–Oct · 0.32% in Aug
Snow BuntingPlectrophenax nivalisResidentCommon15–18 cmRecorded all year · 0.27% in Aug
Red CrossbillLoxia curvirostraWinter visitorCommon15–17 cmRecorded all year · 0.27% in Aug
Pacific Golden-PloverPluvialis fulvaSummer visitorCommon23–26 cmRegularly Apr–Oct · 0.27% in Aug
Barn SwallowHirundo rusticaSummer visitorUncommon17–19 cmRegularly May–Sep · 0.27% in Aug
Short-billed DowitcherLimnodromus griseusSummer visitorUncommon23–32 cmRegularly Apr–Sep · 0.27% in Aug
American Tree SparrowSpizelloides arboreaSummer visitorCommon14–17 cmRecorded all year · 0.25% in Aug- Sooty ShearwaterArdenna griseaSummer visitorUncommon40–51 cmRegularly May–Oct · 0.24% in Aug
Pomarine JaegerStercorarius pomarinusSummer visitorUncommon46–51 cmRegularly May–Oct · 0.24% in Aug
Northern FlickerColaptes auratusResidentCommon28–31 cmRecorded all year · 0.24% in Aug
Long-billed DowitcherLimnodromus scolopaceusSummer visitorCommon27–30 cmRegularly May–Oct · 0.23% in Aug
OspreyPandion haliaetusSummer visitorUncommon54–58 cmRegularly Apr–Oct · 0.23% in Aug
GoldeneyeBucephala clangulaWinter visitorCommon40–51 cmRecorded all year · 0.22% in Aug
GadwallMareca streperaResidentCommon46–56 cmRecorded all year · 0.21% in Aug
Ruddy TurnstoneArenaria interpresSummer visitorUncommon21–24 cmRegularly May–Oct · 0.21% in Aug
Horned GrebePodiceps auritusWinter visitorCommon31–38 cmRecorded all year · 0.20% in Aug
Solitary SandpiperTringa solitariaSummer visitorUncommon19–23 cmRegularly May–Sep · 0.20% in Aug
Red-breasted MerganserMergus serratorResidentCommon52–58 cmRecorded all year · 0.19% in Aug
WhimbrelNumenius phaeopusSummer visitorCommon40–46 cmRegularly Apr–Sep · 0.18% in Aug
Blackpoll WarblerSetophaga striataSummer visitorUncommon13–15 cmRegularly May–Aug · 0.18% in Aug
Gray-cheeked ThrushCatharus minimusSummer visitorCommon16–17 cmRegularly May–Sep · 0.17% in Aug
Long-tailed DuckClangula hyemalisResidentCommon37–60 cmRecorded all year · 0.16% in Aug
Cedar WaxwingBombycilla cedrorumPassage migrantUncommon15–18 cmRegularly Jun–Dec · 0.16% in Aug
Semipalmated SandpiperCalidris pusillaSummer visitorCommon15–18 cmRegularly May–Aug · 0.16% in Aug
WheatearOenanthe oenantheSummer visitorUncommon15–16 cmRegularly May–Sep · 0.16% in Aug
Common StarlingSturnus vulgarisWinter visitorCommon21–23 cmRecorded all year · 0.16% in Aug
Cackling GooseBranta hutchinsiiSummer visitorCommon53–76 cmRegularly Apr–Nov · 0.16% in Aug
EiderSomateria mollissimaSummer visitorCommon50–71 cmRegularly May–Mar · 0.16% in Aug
Tundra SwanCygnus columbianusSummer visitorCommon120–150 cmRegularly Mar–Nov · 0.16% in Aug
Red-tailed HawkButeo jamaicensisSummer visitorUncommon45–65 cmRegularly Mar–Dec · 0.15% in Aug
Grey PhalaropePhalaropus fulicariusSummer visitorCommon20–22 cmRegularly May–Oct · 0.14% in Aug
Golden EagleAquila chrysaetosSummer visitorUncommon66–102 cmRegularly Feb–Nov · 0.14% in Aug
American Three-toed WoodpeckerPicoides dorsalisResidentUncommon21–24 cmRecorded all year · 0.13% in Aug
Sand MartinRiparia ripariaSummer visitorUncommon12–14 cmRegularly May–Aug · 0.12% in Aug
Hudsonian GodwitLimosa haemasticaSummer visitorUncommon36–42 cmRegularly Apr–Aug · 0.12% in Aug
Common YellowthroatGeothlypis trichasSummer visitorUncommon11–13 cmRegularly May–Oct · 0.11% in Aug
Sabine's GullXema sabiniSummer visitorUncommon27–33 cmRegularly May–Oct · 0.11% in Aug
Brent GooseBranta berniclaSummer visitorCommon55–66 cmRegularly Feb–Oct · 0.11% in Aug
Long-tailed JaegerStercorarius longicaudusSummer visitorCommon48–58 cmRegularly May–Aug · 0.11% in Aug
Leach's Storm-petrelHydrobates leucorhousSummer visitorUncommon18–21 cmRegularly May–Oct · 0.11% in Aug
Red-breasted SapsuckerSphyrapicus ruberSummer visitorUncommon19–22 cmRecorded all year · 0.11% in Aug
Bohemian WaxwingBombycilla garrulusWinter visitorCommon19–23 cmRegularly Oct–Aug · 0.10% in Aug
Vega GullLarus vegaeSummer visitorUncommon55–67 cmRegularly May–Nov · 0.10% in Aug
Eurasian Collared DoveStreptopelia decaoctoWinter visitorUncommon30–32 cmRecorded all year · 0.10% in Aug
King EiderSomateria spectabilisSummer visitorCommon46–64 cmRegularly May–Mar · 0.10% in Aug
Grey PloverPluvialis squatarolaSummer visitorUncommon27–30 cmRegularly Apr–Oct · 0.09% in Aug
DunlinCalidris alpinaResidentCommon16–22 cmRecorded all year · 0.09% in Aug
SanderlingCalidris albaWinter visitorUncommon18–20 cmRecorded all year · 0.08% in Aug
Pied WagtailMotacilla albaPassage migrantUncommon17–19 cmRegularly May–Sep · 0.08% in Aug
Sharp-tailed SandpiperCalidris acuminataPassage migrantUncommon17–22 cmRegularly Aug–Nov · 0.08% in Aug
Bar-tailed GodwitLimosa lapponicaSummer visitorUncommon37–41 cmRegularly May–Sep · 0.08% in Aug
American Golden-PloverPluvialis dominicaSummer visitorUncommon24–28 cmRegularly May–Sep · 0.07% in Aug
Wood SandpiperTringa glareolaPassage migrantUncommon19–21 cmRegularly May–Sep · 0.07% in Aug
Baird's SandpiperCalidris bairdiiSummer visitorUncommon14–17 cmRegularly May–Sep · 0.07% in Aug
Great Horned OwlBubo virginianusWinter visitorUncommon46–63 cmRecorded all year · 0.06% in Aug
Stilt SandpiperCalidris himantopusSummer visitorUncommon18–23 cmRegularly May–Sep · 0.05% in Aug
Black-backed WoodpeckerPicoides arcticusWinter visitorUncommon21–24 cmRecorded all year · 0.05% in Aug
Horned LarkEremophila alpestrisSummer visitorUncommon16–20 cmRegularly Mar–Nov · 0.05% in Aug
Rock PtarmiganLagopus mutaSummer visitorUncommon34–36 cmRecorded all year · 0.05% in Aug
Short-eared OwlAsio flammeusResidentUncommon34–43 cmRecorded all year · 0.05% in Aug
Rough-legged HawkButeo lagopusSummer visitorUncommon46–59 cmRegularly Apr–Oct · 0.05% in Aug
BluethroatLuscinia svecicaSummer visitorUncommon13–14 cmRegularly May–Sep · 0.04% in Aug
Iceland GullLarus glaucoidesWinter visitorCommon52–60 cmRegularly Aug–Apr · 0.04% in Aug
Snow GooseAnser caerulescensSummer visitorUncommon69–84 cmRegularly Apr–Nov · 0.04% in Aug
Ring-billed GullLarus delawarensisPassage migrantRare43–54 cmRegularly Apr–Oct · 0.03% in Aug
Red-winged BlackbirdAgelaius phoeniceusResidentUncommon17–23 cmRecorded all year · 0.03% in Aug
Hooded MerganserLophodytes cucullatusWinter visitorUncommon40–49 cmRegularly Aug–May · 0.03% in Aug
Snowy OwlBubo scandiacusSummer visitorUncommon52–71 cmRegularly Mar–Jan · 0.03% in Aug
Say's PhoebeSayornis sayaSummer visitorUncommon17–20 cmRegularly May–Aug · 0.03% in Aug
Red KnotCalidris canutusSummer visitorUncommon23–26 cmRegularly May–Sep · 0.03% in Aug
Upland SandpiperBartramia longicaudaSummer visitorRare28–32 cmRegularly May–Aug · 0.03% in Aug
Ruffed GrouseBonasa umbellusWinter visitorUncommon41–50 cmRegularly Jul–May · 0.02% in Aug
Chipping SparrowSpizella passerinaSummer visitorUncommon12–15 cmRegularly May–Oct · 0.02% in Aug
Wood DuckAix sponsaWinter visitorUncommon47–54 cmRegularly Jul–Apr · 0.02% in Aug
American RedstartSetophaga ruticillaSummer visitorRare11–14 cmRegularly May–Sep · 0.02% in Aug
Arctic LoonGavia arcticaSummer visitorUncommon58–77 cmRegularly May–Dec · 0.02% in Aug
Common PheasantPhasianus colchicusWinter visitorUncommon50–90 cmRecorded all year · 0.02% in Aug
Little StintCalidris minutaPassage migrantRare13–15 cmRegularly Jun–Sep · 0.01% in Aug
Marbled GodwitLimosa fedoaSummer visitorUncommon40–50 cmRegularly Apr–Aug · 0.01% in Aug
Common SnipeGallinago gallinagoSummer visitorUncommon25–27 cmRegularly May–Oct · 0.01% in Aug
Tennessee WarblerLeiothlypis peregrinaPassage migrantRare10–13 cmRegularly Jun–Nov · 0.01% in Aug
Northern Pygmy-owlGlaucidium gnomaWinter visitorUncommon15–17 cmRegularly Aug–Apr · 0.01% in Aug
Manx ShearwaterPuffinus puffinusSummer visitorRare30–38 cmRegularly May–Sep · 0.01% in Aug
Buff-breasted SandpiperCalidris subruficollisPassage migrantRare18–20 cmRegularly May–Aug · 0.00% in Aug
Ringed PloverCharadrius hiaticulaPassage migrantRare17–19 cmRegularly May–Sep · 0.00% in Aug
Barred OwlStrix variaSummer visitorRare43–50 cmRegularly Jan–Nov · 0.00% in Aug
Lesser Black-backed GullLarus fuscusPassage migrantRare52–64 cmRegularly Aug · 0.00% in Aug
Franklin's GullLeucophaeus pipixcanPassage migrantRare32–36 cmRegularly May–Aug · 0.00% in Aug
Ruddy DuckOxyura jamaicensisSummer visitorRare35–43 cmRegularly May–Nov · 0.00% in Aug
ChukarAlectoris chukarResidentRare32–38 cmRegularly Jun–Aug · 0.00% in Aug
Gray CatbirdDumetella carolinensisPassage migrantRare20–24 cmRegularly Jun–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