Birds to See in Delaware in August
124 bird species on our list for Delaware are recorded regularly in August
Of these, the most often recorded are Mourning Dove, Osprey, Northern Cardinal, Great Blue Heron and Turkey Vulture. New this month: American Redstart, Northern Shoveler, Magnolia Warbler and Gadwall and 19 more.
On the move in August
GBIF · AugArriving
At their peak
OspreyBusiest month of the year · Mar–Nov
Great White EgretBusiest month of the year · All year
Forster's TernBusiest month of the year · Mar–Jan
Semipalmated PloverBusiest month of the year · May–Nov
Semipalmated SandpiperBusiest month of the year · May–Oct
Ruby-throated HummingbirdBusiest month of the year · Apr–Oct
From Delaware’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 124 birds in August
124 birds
Mourning DoveZenaida macrouraResidentCommon23–34 cmRecorded all year · 2.52% in Aug- OspreyPandion haliaetusSummer visitorCommon54–58 cmRegularly Mar–Nov · 2.20% in Aug
Northern CardinalCardinalis cardinalisResidentCommon21–23 cmRecorded all year · 2.18% in Aug
Great Blue HeronArdea herodiasResidentCommon91–137 cmRecorded all year · 1.94% in Aug
Turkey VultureCathartes auraResidentCommon62–81 cmRecorded all year · 1.78% in Aug
Barn SwallowHirundo rusticaSummer visitorCommon17–19 cmRegularly Apr–Sep · 1.78% in Aug
Gray CatbirdDumetella carolinensisSummer visitorCommon20–24 cmRecorded all year · 1.75% in Aug- Great White EgretArdea albaSummer visitorCommon80–104 cmRecorded all year · 1.73% in Aug
- Forster's TernSterna forsteriSummer visitorCommon33–36 cmRegularly Mar–Jan · 1.59% in Aug
Red-winged BlackbirdAgelaius phoeniceusResidentCommon17–23 cmRecorded all year · 1.53% in Aug
Canada GooseBranta canadensisResidentCommon76–110 cmRecorded all year · 1.53% in Aug
Common StarlingSturnus vulgarisResidentCommon21–23 cmRecorded all year · 1.46% in Aug
American RobinTurdus migratoriusResidentCommon20–28 cmRecorded all year · 1.43% in Aug- Semipalmated PloverCharadrius semipalmatusSummer visitorCommon17–19 cmRegularly May–Nov · 1.37% in Aug
- Semipalmated SandpiperCalidris pusillaSummer visitorCommon15–18 cmRegularly May–Oct · 1.37% in Aug
Blue JayCyanocitta cristataResidentCommon25–30 cmRecorded all year · 1.36% in Aug
Purple MartinProgne subisSummer visitorCommon18–20 cmRegularly Apr–Sep · 1.31% in Aug
Bald EagleHaliaeetus leucocephalusResidentCommon70–102 cmRecorded all year · 1.19% in Aug
Greater YellowlegsTringa melanoleucaResidentCommon29–40 cmRecorded all year · 1.18% in Aug
American Herring GullLarus smithsonianusResidentCommon53–65 cmRecorded all year · 1.13% in Aug- Ruby-throated HummingbirdArchilochus colubrisSummer visitorCommon7–9 cmRegularly Apr–Oct · 1.09% in Aug
Lesser YellowlegsTringa flavipesSummer visitorCommon23–27 cmRecorded all year · 1.07% in Aug
MallardAnas platyrhynchosResidentCommon50–65 cmRecorded all year · 1.07% in Aug
Northern MockingbirdMimus polyglottosResidentCommon21–26 cmRecorded all year · 1.02% in Aug
American CrowCorvus brachyrhynchosResidentCommon41–53 cmRecorded all year · 1.01% in Aug
Short-billed DowitcherLimnodromus griseusSummer visitorCommon23–32 cmRegularly Apr–Oct · 1.01% in Aug
Downy WoodpeckerDryobates pubescensResidentCommon14–18 cmRecorded all year · 0.95% in Aug
House FinchHaemorhous mexicanusResidentCommon13–15 cmRecorded all year · 0.94% in Aug
Common YellowthroatGeothlypis trichasSummer visitorCommon11–13 cmRegularly Apr–Oct · 0.92% in Aug
Tufted TitmouseBaeolophus bicolorResidentCommon14–16 cmRecorded all year · 0.88% in Aug
House SparrowPasser domesticusResidentCommon14–17 cmRecorded all year · 0.88% in Aug
Red-bellied WoodpeckerMelanerpes carolinusResidentCommon23–26 cmRecorded all year · 0.88% in Aug
Glossy IbisPlegadis falcinellusSummer visitorCommon48–66 cmRegularly Apr–Oct · 0.86% in Aug
Least SandpiperCalidris minutillaSummer visitorCommon13–15 cmRegularly Apr–Nov · 0.85% in Aug
Great Black-backed GullLarus marinusResidentCommon64–79 cmRecorded all year · 0.80% in Aug
Ring-billed GullLarus delawarensisWinter visitorCommon43–54 cmRecorded all year · 0.78% in Aug
American AvocetRecurvirostra americanaResidentCommon43–51 cmRecorded all year · 0.77% in Aug
Song SparrowMelospiza melodiaResidentCommon12–17 cmRecorded all year · 0.75% in Aug
Fish CrowCorvus ossifragusResidentCommon36–41 cmRecorded all year · 0.69% in Aug
Marsh WrenCistothorus palustrisSummer visitorCommon10–14 cmRegularly Apr–Jan · 0.68% in Aug
Chipping SparrowSpizella passerinaSummer visitorCommon12–15 cmRegularly Mar–Jan · 0.62% in Aug
Eastern BluebirdSialia sialisResidentCommon16–21 cmRecorded all year · 0.61% in Aug
Common GrackleQuiscalus quisculaResidentCommon28–34 cmRecorded all year · 0.61% in Aug
Northern FlickerColaptes auratusResidentCommon28–31 cmRecorded all year · 0.60% in Aug
Mute SwanCygnus olorResidentCommon140–160 cmRecorded all year · 0.59% in Aug
Grey PloverPluvialis squatarolaSummer visitorCommon27–30 cmRecorded all year · 0.58% in Aug
Wood DuckAix sponsaSummer visitorCommon47–54 cmRecorded all year · 0.54% in Aug
SanderlingCalidris albaWinter visitorCommon18–20 cmRecorded all year · 0.50% in Aug
Great Crested FlycatcherMyiarchus crinitusSummer visitorCommon17–22 cmRegularly Apr–Sep · 0.47% in Aug
White-breasted NuthatchSitta carolinensisResidentCommon13–14 cmRecorded all year · 0.46% in Aug
Sand MartinRiparia ripariaSummer visitorUncommon12–14 cmRegularly May–Sep · 0.44% in Aug
Ruddy TurnstoneArenaria interpresResidentUncommon21–24 cmRecorded all year · 0.44% in Aug
Pileated WoodpeckerDryocopus pileatusResidentCommon40–49 cmRecorded all year · 0.40% in Aug
American Black DuckAnas rubripesWinter visitorCommon54–59 cmRecorded all year · 0.39% in Aug
Cedar WaxwingBombycilla cedrorumResidentCommon15–18 cmRecorded all year · 0.34% in Aug
Rock DoveColumba liviaResidentCommon29–37 cmRecorded all year · 0.33% in Aug
Red-tailed HawkButeo jamaicensisResidentCommon45–65 cmRecorded all year · 0.33% in Aug
American RedstartSetophaga ruticillaPassage migrantCommon11–14 cmRegularly May–Oct · 0.30% in Aug
Common TernSterna hirundoSummer visitorUncommon31–35 cmRegularly May–Nov · 0.30% in Aug
Western SandpiperCalidris mauriPassage migrantUncommon14–17 cmRegularly Jul–Jan · 0.29% in Aug
Hairy WoodpeckerLeuconotopicus villosusResidentCommon18–26 cmRecorded all year · 0.28% in Aug
WilletTringa semipalmataSummer visitorCommon33–41 cmRegularly Apr–Nov · 0.27% in Aug
BobolinkDolichonyx oryzivorusPassage migrantUncommon16–20 cmRegularly May–Oct · 0.25% in Aug
Stilt SandpiperCalidris himantopusPassage migrantUncommon18–23 cmRegularly Apr–Oct · 0.25% in Aug
Long-billed DowitcherLimnodromus scolopaceusPassage migrantUncommon27–30 cmRegularly Jul–Mar · 0.24% in Aug
Northern Yellow WarblerSetophaga aestivaSummer visitorCommon12–13 cmRegularly Apr–Sep · 0.22% in Aug
Peregrine FalconFalco peregrinusWinter visitorUncommon34–58 cmRegularly Jul–May · 0.22% in Aug
Pectoral SandpiperCalidris melanotosPassage migrantUncommon19–23 cmRegularly Mar–Nov · 0.19% in Aug
Wild TurkeyMeleagris gallopavoSummer visitorUncommon100–125 cmRecorded all year · 0.15% in Aug
Eurasian TealAnas creccaWinter visitorCommon34–38 cmRegularly Jul–May · 0.15% in Aug
Baltimore OrioleIcterus galbulaSummer visitorCommon17–19 cmRegularly Apr–Sep · 0.15% in Aug
Solitary SandpiperTringa solitariaPassage migrantUncommon19–23 cmRegularly Apr–Oct · 0.15% in Aug
Sandhill CraneAntigone canadensisResidentUncommon80–122 cmRecorded all year · 0.15% in Aug
Northern ShovelerSpatula clypeataWinter visitorCommon44–51 cmRegularly Aug–Apr · 0.13% in Aug
Black-crowned Night-heronNycticorax nycticoraxResidentUncommon58–65 cmRecorded all year · 0.13% in Aug
Lesser Black-backed GullLarus fuscusWinter visitorUncommon52–64 cmRecorded all year · 0.13% in Aug
White-rumped SandpiperCalidris fuscicollisSummer visitorUncommon15–18 cmRegularly May–Nov · 0.12% in Aug
Chestnut-sided WarblerSetophaga pensylvanicaPassage migrantUncommon10–14 cmRegularly May–Oct · 0.12% in Aug
Piping PloverCharadrius melodusSummer visitorUncommon17–18 cmRegularly Mar–Sep · 0.10% in Aug
Pied-billed GrebePodilymbus podicepsWinter visitorUncommon31–38 cmRecorded all year · 0.10% in Aug
Horned LarkEremophila alpestrisWinter visitorUncommon16–20 cmRecorded all year · 0.09% in Aug
Eastern Screech-owlMegascops asioWinter visitorUncommon16–25 cmRecorded all year · 0.09% in Aug
Black TernChlidonias nigerSummer visitorUncommon22–26 cmRegularly May–Sep · 0.09% in Aug
Scarlet TanagerPiranga olivaceaSummer visitorUncommon16–19 cmRegularly Apr–Oct · 0.09% in Aug
OvenbirdSeiurus aurocapillaSummer visitorCommon12–15 cmRegularly Apr–Sep · 0.08% in Aug
DunlinCalidris alpinaResidentCommon16–22 cmRecorded all year · 0.08% in Aug
Red-headed WoodpeckerMelanerpes erythrocephalusSummer visitorUncommon19–23 cmRecorded all year · 0.08% in Aug
Cattle EgretArdea ibisSummer visitorUncommon46–56 cmRegularly Apr–Dec · 0.07% in Aug
Swamp SparrowMelospiza georgianaWinter visitorCommon12–15 cmRecorded all year · 0.06% in Aug
Virginia RailRallus limicolaResidentUncommon20–27 cmRecorded all year · 0.06% in Aug
Hudsonian GodwitLimosa haemasticaPassage migrantUncommon36–42 cmRegularly Aug–Nov · 0.05% in Aug
Northern WaterthrushParkesia noveboracensisPassage migrantUncommon12–15 cmRegularly Apr–Oct · 0.05% in Aug
Magnolia WarblerSetophaga magnoliaPassage migrantCommon11–13 cmRegularly May–Oct · 0.05% in Aug
Marbled GodwitLimosa fedoaPassage migrantUncommon40–50 cmRegularly Aug–Dec · 0.05% in Aug
Great Horned OwlBubo virginianusWinter visitorUncommon46–63 cmRecorded all year · 0.05% in Aug
Bonaparte's GullChroicocephalus philadelphiaWinter visitorCommon28–38 cmRegularly Nov–Aug · 0.05% in Aug
Least FlycatcherEmpidonax minimusPassage migrantUncommon12–14 cmRegularly May–Sep · 0.04% in Aug
VeeryCatharus fuscescensSummer visitorUncommon16–19 cmRegularly May–Sep · 0.04% in Aug
Barred OwlStrix variaResidentUncommon43–50 cmRecorded all year · 0.04% in Aug
GadwallMareca streperaWinter visitorCommon46–56 cmRegularly Aug–Apr · 0.04% in Aug
WhimbrelNumenius phaeopusSummer visitorRare40–46 cmRegularly Apr–Sep · 0.04% in Aug
Sandwich TernThalasseus sandvicensisPassage migrantRare36–41 cmRegularly Jul–Sep · 0.03% in Aug
Gull-billed TernGelochelidon niloticaPassage migrantUncommon33–42 cmRegularly Jun–Aug · 0.03% in Aug
Wilson's PhalaropePhalaropus tricolorSummer visitorUncommon22–24 cmRegularly May–Sep · 0.03% in Aug
Willow FlycatcherEmpidonax trailliiSummer visitorUncommon13–17 cmRegularly May–Aug · 0.03% in Aug
Prothonotary WarblerProtonotaria citreaSummer visitorUncommon13–14 cmRegularly Apr–Aug · 0.03% in Aug
Cape May WarblerSetophaga tigrinaPassage migrantUncommon12–14 cmRegularly May–Oct · 0.02% in Aug
Red KnotCalidris canutusSummer visitorUncommon23–26 cmRegularly May–Sep · 0.02% in Aug
Common RavenCorvus coraxWinter visitorUncommon54–67 cmRegularly Aug–Jun · 0.02% in Aug
Black-throated Green WarblerSetophaga virensPassage migrantUncommon11–12 cmRegularly Apr–Oct · 0.02% in Aug
Tennessee WarblerLeiothlypis peregrinaPassage migrantUncommon10–13 cmRegularly May–Oct · 0.02% in Aug
Buff-breasted SandpiperCalidris subruficollisPassage migrantRare18–20 cmRegularly Aug–Sep · 0.01% in Aug
Upland SandpiperBartramia longicaudaPassage migrantRare28–32 cmRegularly Aug–Sep · 0.01% in Aug
American BitternBotaurus lentiginosusWinter visitorUncommon58–85 cmRegularly Aug–May · 0.01% in Aug
Baird's SandpiperCalidris bairdiiPassage migrantRare14–17 cmRegularly Aug–Sep · 0.01% in Aug
Yellow-bellied FlycatcherEmpidonax flaviventrisPassage migrantRare13–15 cmRegularly Aug–Sep · 0.01% in Aug
American Golden-PloverPluvialis dominicaPassage migrantUncommon24–28 cmRegularly Apr–Nov · 0.01% in Aug
Broad-winged HawkButeo platypterusPassage migrantUncommon34–44 cmRegularly Apr–Oct · 0.01% in Aug
Eurasian WigeonMareca penelopeWinter visitorRare42–51 cmRegularly Nov–Aug · records held back in Aug (protected)
DickcisselSpiza americanaSummer visitorUncommon14–16 cmRegularly May–Oct · 0.01% in Aug
Nashville WarblerLeiothlypis ruficapillaPassage migrantUncommon11–13 cmRegularly Apr–Oct · 0.01% in Aug
Black-billed CuckooCoccyzus erythropthalmusSummer visitorRare28–32 cmRegularly May–Oct · 0.01% in Aug
Mourning WarblerGeothlypis philadelphiaPassage migrantRare10–15 cmRegularly May–Oct · 0.00% in Aug
Arctic JaegerStercorarius parasiticusPassage migrantRare41–46 cmRegularly Apr–Nov · 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