Birds to See in Illinois in August
139 bird species on our list for Illinois are recorded regularly in August
Of these, the most often recorded are Northern Cardinal, Mourning Dove, American Robin, Blue Jay and Barn Swallow. New this month: Swainson's Thrush, Magnolia Warbler, Tennessee Warbler and Northern Shoveler and 27 more.
On the move in August
GBIF · AugArriving
At their peak
Barn SwallowBusiest month of the year · Apr–Sep
Ruby-throated HummingbirdBusiest month of the year · May–Oct
Great White EgretBusiest month of the year · Apr–Nov
Cedar WaxwingBusiest month of the year · All year
Least SandpiperBusiest month of the year · Apr–May
Lesser YellowlegsBusiest month of the year · Apr–May
From Illinois’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 139 birds in August
139 birds
Northern CardinalCardinalis cardinalisResidentCommon21–23 cmRecorded all year · 3.43% in Aug
Mourning DoveZenaida macrouraResidentCommon23–34 cmRecorded all year · 3.36% in Aug
American RobinTurdus migratoriusResidentCommon20–28 cmRecorded all year · 3.12% in Aug
Blue JayCyanocitta cristataResidentCommon25–30 cmRecorded all year · 2.49% in Aug- Barn SwallowHirundo rusticaSummer visitorCommon17–19 cmRegularly Apr–Sep · 2.40% in Aug
House SparrowPasser domesticusResidentCommon14–17 cmRecorded all year · 2.34% in Aug
Downy WoodpeckerDryobates pubescensResidentCommon14–18 cmRecorded all year · 2.11% in Aug
Great Blue HeronArdea herodiasResidentCommon91–137 cmRecorded all year · 2.00% in Aug
MallardAnas platyrhynchosResidentCommon50–65 cmRecorded all year · 1.87% in Aug
Canada GooseBranta canadensisResidentCommon76–110 cmRecorded all year · 1.86% in Aug
Red-winged BlackbirdAgelaius phoeniceusSummer visitorCommon17–23 cmRecorded all year · 1.84% in Aug
Common StarlingSturnus vulgarisResidentCommon21–23 cmRecorded all year · 1.80% in Aug- Ruby-throated HummingbirdArchilochus colubrisSummer visitorCommon7–9 cmRegularly May–Oct · 1.78% in Aug
House FinchHaemorhous mexicanusResidentCommon13–15 cmRecorded all year · 1.73% in Aug
Gray CatbirdDumetella carolinensisSummer visitorCommon20–24 cmRegularly Apr–Oct · 1.70% in Aug
Song SparrowMelospiza melodiaResidentCommon12–17 cmRecorded all year · 1.64% in Aug
White-breasted NuthatchSitta carolinensisResidentCommon13–14 cmRecorded all year · 1.63% in Aug- Great White EgretArdea albaSummer visitorCommon80–104 cmRegularly Apr–Nov · 1.53% in Aug
American CrowCorvus brachyrhynchosResidentCommon41–53 cmRecorded all year · 1.51% in Aug- Cedar WaxwingBombycilla cedrorumSummer visitorCommon15–18 cmRecorded all year · 1.44% in Aug
Red-bellied WoodpeckerMelanerpes carolinusResidentCommon23–26 cmRecorded all year · 1.44% in Aug
Ring-billed GullLarus delawarensisResidentCommon43–54 cmRecorded all year · 1.41% in Aug
Northern FlickerColaptes auratusResidentCommon28–31 cmRecorded all year · 1.40% in Aug
Turkey VultureCathartes auraSummer visitorCommon62–81 cmRecorded all year · 1.09% in Aug
Common GrackleQuiscalus quisculaSummer visitorCommon28–34 cmRecorded all year · 1.04% in Aug
Red-tailed HawkButeo jamaicensisResidentCommon45–65 cmRecorded all year · 1.03% in Aug
Wood DuckAix sponsaSummer visitorCommon47–54 cmRecorded all year · 0.94% in Aug
Baltimore OrioleIcterus galbulaSummer visitorCommon17–19 cmRegularly Apr–Sep · 0.83% in Aug
Common YellowthroatGeothlypis trichasSummer visitorCommon11–13 cmRegularly Apr–Oct · 0.79% in Aug
Rock DoveColumba liviaResidentCommon29–37 cmRecorded all year · 0.74% in Aug
Red-headed WoodpeckerMelanerpes erythrocephalusResidentCommon19–23 cmRecorded all year · 0.70% in Aug- Least SandpiperCalidris minutillaPassage migrantCommon13–15 cmRegularly Apr–Oct · 0.66% in Aug
- Lesser YellowlegsTringa flavipesPassage migrantCommon23–27 cmRegularly Apr–Oct · 0.62% in Aug
Purple MartinProgne subisSummer visitorCommon18–20 cmRegularly Apr–Sep · 0.61% in Aug
Chipping SparrowSpizella passerinaSummer visitorCommon12–15 cmRegularly Mar–Nov · 0.60% in Aug
Tufted TitmouseBaeolophus bicolorResidentCommon14–16 cmRecorded all year · 0.59% in Aug
Hairy WoodpeckerLeuconotopicus villosusResidentCommon18–26 cmRecorded all year · 0.58% in Aug
Eastern BluebirdSialia sialisResidentCommon16–21 cmRecorded all year · 0.54% in Aug
Solitary SandpiperTringa solitariaPassage migrantCommon19–23 cmRegularly Apr–Oct · 0.53% in Aug
American Herring GullLarus smithsonianusWinter visitorCommon53–65 cmRecorded all year · 0.47% in Aug
Semipalmated SandpiperCalidris pusillaSummer visitorUncommon15–18 cmRegularly May–Sep · 0.47% in Aug
Pectoral SandpiperCalidris melanotosPassage migrantUncommon19–23 cmRegularly Mar–Oct · 0.46% in Aug
Great Crested FlycatcherMyiarchus crinitusSummer visitorCommon17–22 cmRegularly Apr–Sep · 0.44% in Aug
American RedstartSetophaga ruticillaSummer visitorCommon11–14 cmRegularly May–Oct · 0.40% in Aug
Bald EagleHaliaeetus leucocephalusWinter visitorCommon70–102 cmRecorded all year · 0.38% in Aug
Semipalmated PloverCharadrius semipalmatusSummer visitorUncommon17–19 cmRegularly May–Sep · 0.36% in Aug
OspreyPandion haliaetusSummer visitorUncommon54–58 cmRegularly Mar–Oct · 0.32% in Aug
Sand MartinRiparia ripariaSummer visitorUncommon12–14 cmRegularly Apr–Sep · 0.32% in Aug
Greater YellowlegsTringa melanoleucaPassage migrantUncommon29–40 cmRegularly Mar–Nov · 0.30% in Aug
Black-crowned Night-heronNycticorax nycticoraxSummer visitorUncommon58–65 cmRegularly Mar–Jan · 0.29% in Aug
Tennessee WarblerLeiothlypis peregrinaPassage migrantCommon10–13 cmRegularly Apr–Oct · 0.28% in Aug
Northern Yellow WarblerSetophaga aestivaSummer visitorCommon12–13 cmRegularly Apr–Aug · 0.25% in Aug
Sandhill CraneAntigone canadensisWinter visitorCommon80–122 cmRecorded all year · 0.22% in Aug
DickcisselSpiza americanaSummer visitorCommon14–16 cmRegularly May–Aug · 0.22% in Aug
Pileated WoodpeckerDryocopus pileatusResidentUncommon40–49 cmRecorded all year · 0.21% in Aug
Least FlycatcherEmpidonax minimusPassage migrantCommon12–14 cmRegularly Apr–Sep · 0.19% in Aug
Rose-breasted GrosbeakPheucticus ludovicianusSummer visitorCommon18–22 cmRegularly Apr–Oct · 0.19% in Aug
Magnolia WarblerSetophaga magnoliaPassage migrantCommon11–13 cmRegularly May–Oct · 0.18% in Aug
Stilt SandpiperCalidris himantopusPassage migrantUncommon18–23 cmRegularly Jul–Oct · 0.18% in Aug
Bay-breasted WarblerSetophaga castaneaPassage migrantCommon14–14 cmRegularly May–Oct · 0.17% in Aug
Eurasian Collared DoveStreptopelia decaoctoResidentUncommon30–32 cmRecorded all year · 0.16% in Aug
Cape May WarblerSetophaga tigrinaPassage migrantUncommon12–14 cmRegularly May–Oct · 0.16% in Aug
Chestnut-sided WarblerSetophaga pensylvanicaPassage migrantCommon10–14 cmRegularly May–Oct · 0.15% in Aug
Pied-billed GrebePodilymbus podicepsWinter visitorCommon31–38 cmRecorded all year · 0.15% in Aug
Swainson's ThrushCatharus ustulatusPassage migrantCommon16–20 cmRegularly Apr–Oct · 0.14% in Aug
SanderlingCalidris albaSummer visitorUncommon18–20 cmRegularly May–Oct · 0.14% in Aug
Mute SwanCygnus olorWinter visitorUncommon140–160 cmRecorded all year · 0.14% in Aug
Short-billed DowitcherLimnodromus griseusPassage migrantUncommon23–32 cmRegularly May–Sep · 0.13% in Aug
Willow FlycatcherEmpidonax trailliiSummer visitorCommon13–17 cmRegularly May–Aug · 0.13% in Aug
Baird's SandpiperCalidris bairdiiPassage migrantUncommon14–17 cmRegularly Jul–Sep · 0.12% in Aug
Marsh WrenCistothorus palustrisSummer visitorUncommon10–14 cmRegularly Apr–Oct · 0.11% in Aug
Peregrine FalconFalco peregrinusWinter visitorUncommon34–58 cmRecorded all year · 0.09% in Aug
Northern WaterthrushParkesia noveboracensisPassage migrantUncommon12–15 cmRegularly Apr–Oct · 0.09% in Aug
Barred OwlStrix variaResidentUncommon43–50 cmRecorded all year · 0.09% in Aug
Nashville WarblerLeiothlypis ruficapillaPassage migrantCommon11–13 cmRegularly Apr–Oct · 0.09% in Aug
Fish CrowCorvus ossifragusSummer visitorUncommon36–41 cmRegularly Feb–Oct · 0.09% in Aug
Great Horned OwlBubo virginianusWinter visitorUncommon46–63 cmRecorded all year · 0.09% in Aug
Wild TurkeyMeleagris gallopavoResidentUncommon100–125 cmRecorded all year · 0.09% in Aug
Swamp SparrowMelospiza georgianaSummer visitorCommon12–15 cmRecorded all year · 0.09% in Aug
Eurasian Tree SparrowPasser montanusResidentUncommon13–14 cmRecorded all year · 0.08% in Aug
Northern MockingbirdMimus polyglottosResidentUncommon21–26 cmRecorded all year · 0.08% in Aug
Eurasian TealAnas creccaWinter visitorCommon34–38 cmRegularly Aug–Apr · 0.08% in Aug
Piping PloverCharadrius melodusSummer visitorUncommon17–18 cmRegularly Apr–Aug · 0.08% in Aug
Black TernChlidonias nigerSummer visitorUncommon22–26 cmRegularly May–Sep · 0.07% in Aug
BobolinkDolichonyx oryzivorusSummer visitorUncommon16–20 cmRegularly May–Oct · 0.07% in Aug
OvenbirdSeiurus aurocapillaPassage migrantUncommon12–15 cmRegularly Apr–Oct · 0.07% in Aug
Yellow-bellied FlycatcherEmpidonax flaviventrisPassage migrantUncommon13–15 cmRegularly May–Sep · 0.07% in Aug
Wilson's PhalaropePhalaropus tricolorPassage migrantUncommon22–24 cmRegularly Apr–Sep · 0.07% in Aug
Horned LarkEremophila alpestrisWinter visitorUncommon16–20 cmRecorded all year · 0.07% in Aug
American AvocetRecurvirostra americanaPassage migrantUncommon43–51 cmRegularly Apr–Nov · 0.07% in Aug
Black-throated Green WarblerSetophaga virensPassage migrantCommon11–12 cmRegularly Apr–Oct · 0.07% in Aug
Forster's TernSterna forsteriSummer visitorUncommon33–36 cmRegularly Apr–Nov · 0.06% in Aug
Blackpoll WarblerSetophaga striataPassage migrantCommon13–15 cmRegularly May–Oct · 0.06% in Aug
Buff-breasted SandpiperCalidris subruficollisPassage migrantUncommon18–20 cmRegularly Aug–Sep · 0.06% in Aug
Broad-winged HawkButeo platypterusSummer visitorUncommon34–44 cmRegularly Apr–Oct · 0.06% in Aug
Northern ShovelerSpatula clypeataWinter visitorCommon44–51 cmRegularly Aug–May · 0.06% in Aug
Scarlet TanagerPiranga olivaceaSummer visitorUncommon16–19 cmRegularly Apr–Oct · 0.06% in Aug
American Golden-PloverPluvialis dominicaSummer visitorUncommon24–28 cmRegularly Mar–Oct · 0.05% in Aug
Trumpeter SwanCygnus buccinatorWinter visitorUncommon139–157 cmRecorded all year · 0.04% in Aug
Red-necked PhalaropePhalaropus lobatusPassage migrantRare18–19 cmRegularly May–Sep · 0.04% in Aug
Bonaparte's GullChroicocephalus philadelphiaWinter visitorUncommon28–38 cmRegularly Aug–May · 0.04% in Aug
WilletTringa semipalmataSummer visitorRare33–41 cmRegularly Apr–Sep · 0.04% in Aug
Prothonotary WarblerProtonotaria citreaSummer visitorUncommon13–14 cmRegularly Apr–Aug · 0.04% in Aug
VeeryCatharus fuscescensPassage migrantUncommon16–19 cmRegularly Apr–Sep · 0.04% in Aug
Grey PloverPluvialis squatarolaPassage migrantUncommon27–30 cmRegularly May–Nov · 0.04% in Aug
Mourning WarblerGeothlypis philadelphiaPassage migrantUncommon10–15 cmRegularly May–Sep · 0.03% in Aug
Eastern Screech-owlMegascops asioWinter visitorUncommon16–25 cmRecorded all year · 0.03% in Aug
Black-billed CuckooCoccyzus erythropthalmusSummer visitorUncommon28–32 cmRegularly May–Sep · 0.03% in Aug
Philadelphia VireoVireo philadelphicusPassage migrantUncommon11–13 cmRegularly May–Oct · 0.03% in Aug
MerlinFalco columbariusWinter visitorUncommon24–33 cmRegularly Aug–May · 0.03% in Aug
Ruddy TurnstoneArenaria interpresSummer visitorRare21–24 cmRegularly May–Sep · 0.02% in Aug
Northern PintailAnas acutaWinter visitorUncommon59–76 cmRegularly Aug–Apr · 0.02% in Aug
Common PheasantPhasianus colchicusResidentUncommon50–90 cmRecorded all year · 0.02% in Aug
Virginia RailRallus limicolaSummer visitorUncommon20–27 cmRegularly Mar–Nov · 0.02% in Aug
Cattle EgretArdea ibisSummer visitorRare46–56 cmRegularly Apr–Nov · 0.02% in Aug
Long-billed DowitcherLimnodromus scolopaceusPassage migrantRare27–30 cmRegularly Apr–Nov · 0.02% in Aug
Monk ParakeetMyiopsitta monachusResidentRare29–31 cmRecorded all year · 0.02% in Aug
Vesper SparrowPooecetes gramineusSummer visitorUncommon13–17 cmRegularly Mar–Nov · 0.02% in Aug
White-rumped SandpiperCalidris fuscicollisPassage migrantRare15–18 cmRegularly May–Oct · 0.02% in Aug
Marbled GodwitLimosa fedoaPassage migrantRare40–50 cmRegularly Apr–Sep · 0.02% in Aug
Western SandpiperCalidris mauriPassage migrantRare14–17 cmRegularly Apr–Sep · 0.02% in Aug
Black-throated Blue WarblerSetophaga caerulescensPassage migrantUncommon11–13 cmRegularly May–Oct · 0.02% in Aug
Red KnotCalidris canutusPassage migrantRare23–26 cmRegularly Aug–Sep · 0.02% in Aug
Franklin's GullLeucophaeus pipixcanSummer visitorUncommon32–36 cmRegularly May–Nov · 0.02% in Aug
Upland SandpiperBartramia longicaudaSummer visitorRare28–32 cmRegularly Apr–Sep · 0.01% in Aug
European GoldfinchCarduelis carduelisResidentRare12–13 cmRecorded all year · 0.01% in Aug
American BitternBotaurus lentiginosusSummer visitorRare58–85 cmRegularly Apr–Nov · 0.01% in Aug
WhimbrelNumenius phaeopusSummer visitorRare40–46 cmRegularly May–Sep · 0.01% in Aug
Common TernSterna hirundoSummer visitorRare31–35 cmRegularly Apr–Oct · 0.01% in Aug
Lark SparrowChondestes grammacusSummer visitorRare15–17 cmRegularly Apr–Aug · 0.01% in Aug
Hudsonian GodwitLimosa haemasticaPassage migrantRare36–42 cmRegularly Apr–Oct · 0.01% in Aug
Western KingbirdTyrannus verticalisSummer visitorRare20–24 cmRegularly May–Sep · 0.01% in Aug
RuffCalidris pugnaxPassage migrantRare20–32 cmRegularly Apr–Aug · 0.00% in Aug
White-winged DoveZenaida asiaticaResidentRare27–30 cmRegularly Apr–Aug · 0.00% in Aug
Clay-colored SparrowSpizella pallidaSummer visitorUncommon13–15 cmRegularly Apr–Oct · 0.00% in Aug
BudgerigarMelopsittacus undulatusSummer visitorRare18–20 cmRegularly May–Dec · 0.00% in Aug
Western MeadowlarkSturnella neglectaResidentRare16–26 cmRecorded all year · 0.00% in Aug
Greylag GooseAnser anserWinter visitorRare75–90 cmRegularly Jun–Apr · 0.00% in Aug
Muscovy DuckCairina moschataSummer visitorRare66–84 cmRegularly Mar–Jan · 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