Birds to See in Illinois in July
110 bird species on our list for Illinois are recorded regularly in July
Of these, the most often recorded are American Robin, Northern Cardinal, Red-winged Blackbird, Mourning Dove and House Sparrow. New this month: Least Sandpiper, Lesser Yellowlegs, Solitary Sandpiper and Pectoral Sandpiper and 8 more.
On the move in July
GBIF · JulArriving
At their peak
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 110 birds in July
110 birds
American RobinTurdus migratoriusResidentCommon20–28 cmRecorded all year · 4.23% in Jul
Northern CardinalCardinalis cardinalisResidentCommon21–23 cmRecorded all year · 3.69% in Jul
Red-winged BlackbirdAgelaius phoeniceusSummer visitorCommon17–23 cmRecorded all year · 3.54% in Jul
Mourning DoveZenaida macrouraResidentCommon23–34 cmRecorded all year · 3.19% in Jul
House SparrowPasser domesticusResidentCommon14–17 cmRecorded all year · 2.80% in Jul
Song SparrowMelospiza melodiaResidentCommon12–17 cmRecorded all year · 2.37% in Jul
Barn SwallowHirundo rusticaSummer visitorCommon17–19 cmRegularly Apr–Sep · 2.21% in Jul
Blue JayCyanocitta cristataResidentCommon25–30 cmRecorded all year · 2.19% in Jul
Common YellowthroatGeothlypis trichasSummer visitorCommon11–13 cmRegularly Apr–Oct · 1.93% in Jul
Downy WoodpeckerDryobates pubescensResidentCommon14–18 cmRecorded all year · 1.93% in Jul
Common StarlingSturnus vulgarisResidentCommon21–23 cmRecorded all year · 1.90% in Jul
House FinchHaemorhous mexicanusResidentCommon13–15 cmRecorded all year · 1.83% in Jul
Gray CatbirdDumetella carolinensisSummer visitorCommon20–24 cmRegularly Apr–Oct · 1.77% in Jul
Great Blue HeronArdea herodiasResidentCommon91–137 cmRecorded all year · 1.70% in Jul
Common GrackleQuiscalus quisculaSummer visitorCommon28–34 cmRecorded all year · 1.67% in Jul
MallardAnas platyrhynchosResidentCommon50–65 cmRecorded all year · 1.46% in Jul
Northern FlickerColaptes auratusResidentCommon28–31 cmRecorded all year · 1.43% in Jul
White-breasted NuthatchSitta carolinensisResidentCommon13–14 cmRecorded all year · 1.43% in Jul
Red-bellied WoodpeckerMelanerpes carolinusResidentCommon23–26 cmRecorded all year · 1.40% in Jul
Canada GooseBranta canadensisResidentCommon76–110 cmRecorded all year · 1.39% in Jul
Cedar WaxwingBombycilla cedrorumSummer visitorCommon15–18 cmRecorded all year · 1.34% in Jul
American CrowCorvus brachyrhynchosResidentCommon41–53 cmRecorded all year · 1.34% in Jul
Ruby-throated HummingbirdArchilochus colubrisSummer visitorCommon7–9 cmRegularly May–Oct · 1.10% in Jul
Ring-billed GullLarus delawarensisResidentCommon43–54 cmRecorded all year · 1.09% in Jul
Great White EgretArdea albaSummer visitorCommon80–104 cmRegularly Apr–Nov · 1.06% in Jul
Chipping SparrowSpizella passerinaSummer visitorCommon12–15 cmRegularly Mar–Nov · 1.00% in Jul
Turkey VultureCathartes auraSummer visitorCommon62–81 cmRecorded all year · 0.93% in Jul
Red-tailed HawkButeo jamaicensisResidentCommon45–65 cmRecorded all year · 0.83% in Jul
Purple MartinProgne subisSummer visitorCommon18–20 cmRegularly Apr–Sep · 0.71% in Jul
DickcisselSpiza americanaSummer visitorCommon14–16 cmRegularly May–Aug · 0.70% in Jul
Great Crested FlycatcherMyiarchus crinitusSummer visitorCommon17–22 cmRegularly Apr–Sep · 0.68% in Jul
Wood DuckAix sponsaSummer visitorCommon47–54 cmRecorded all year · 0.67% in Jul
Rock DoveColumba liviaResidentCommon29–37 cmRecorded all year · 0.66% in Jul
Eastern BluebirdSialia sialisResidentCommon16–21 cmRecorded all year · 0.65% in Jul
Baltimore OrioleIcterus galbulaSummer visitorCommon17–19 cmRegularly Apr–Sep · 0.65% in Jul
Tufted TitmouseBaeolophus bicolorResidentCommon14–16 cmRecorded all year · 0.62% in Jul
Red-headed WoodpeckerMelanerpes erythrocephalusResidentCommon19–23 cmRecorded all year · 0.58% in Jul
Northern Yellow WarblerSetophaga aestivaSummer visitorCommon12–13 cmRegularly Apr–Aug · 0.55% in Jul
Hairy WoodpeckerLeuconotopicus villosusResidentCommon18–26 cmRecorded all year · 0.48% in Jul
Least SandpiperCalidris minutillaPassage migrantCommon13–15 cmRegularly Apr–Oct · 0.37% in Jul
Sand MartinRiparia ripariaSummer visitorUncommon12–14 cmRegularly Apr–Sep · 0.36% in Jul
Willow FlycatcherEmpidonax trailliiSummer visitorCommon13–17 cmRegularly May–Aug · 0.35% in Jul
American Herring GullLarus smithsonianusWinter visitorCommon53–65 cmRecorded all year · 0.35% in Jul
Marsh WrenCistothorus palustrisSummer visitorUncommon10–14 cmRegularly Apr–Oct · 0.33% in Jul
Rose-breasted GrosbeakPheucticus ludovicianusSummer visitorCommon18–22 cmRegularly Apr–Oct · 0.32% in Jul
Black-crowned Night-heronNycticorax nycticoraxSummer visitorUncommon58–65 cmRegularly Mar–Jan · 0.29% in Jul
Solitary SandpiperTringa solitariaPassage migrantCommon19–23 cmRegularly Apr–Oct · 0.28% in Jul
Lesser YellowlegsTringa flavipesPassage migrantCommon23–27 cmRegularly Apr–Oct · 0.25% in Jul
Bald EagleHaliaeetus leucocephalusWinter visitorCommon70–102 cmRecorded all year · 0.24% in Jul
OspreyPandion haliaetusSummer visitorUncommon54–58 cmRegularly Mar–Oct · 0.21% in Jul
Swamp SparrowMelospiza georgianaSummer visitorCommon12–15 cmRecorded all year · 0.21% in Jul
Sandhill CraneAntigone canadensisWinter visitorCommon80–122 cmRecorded all year · 0.21% in Jul
Scarlet TanagerPiranga olivaceaSummer visitorUncommon16–19 cmRegularly Apr–Oct · 0.18% in Jul
Eurasian Collared DoveStreptopelia decaoctoResidentUncommon30–32 cmRecorded all year · 0.17% in Jul
Piping PloverCharadrius melodusSummer visitorUncommon17–18 cmRegularly Apr–Aug · 0.16% in Jul
Pectoral SandpiperCalidris melanotosPassage migrantUncommon19–23 cmRegularly Mar–Oct · 0.16% in Jul
Northern MockingbirdMimus polyglottosResidentUncommon21–26 cmRecorded all year · 0.15% in Jul
Pileated WoodpeckerDryocopus pileatusResidentUncommon40–49 cmRecorded all year · 0.14% in Jul
Semipalmated SandpiperCalidris pusillaSummer visitorUncommon15–18 cmRegularly May–Sep · 0.14% in Jul
BobolinkDolichonyx oryzivorusSummer visitorUncommon16–20 cmRegularly May–Oct · 0.11% in Jul
Greater YellowlegsTringa melanoleucaPassage migrantUncommon29–40 cmRegularly Mar–Nov · 0.11% in Jul
Mute SwanCygnus olorWinter visitorUncommon140–160 cmRecorded all year · 0.10% in Jul
Eurasian Tree SparrowPasser montanusResidentUncommon13–14 cmRecorded all year · 0.10% in Jul
Wild TurkeyMeleagris gallopavoResidentUncommon100–125 cmRecorded all year · 0.10% in Jul
American RedstartSetophaga ruticillaSummer visitorCommon11–14 cmRegularly May–Oct · 0.09% in Jul
Pied-billed GrebePodilymbus podicepsWinter visitorCommon31–38 cmRecorded all year · 0.09% in Jul
Fish CrowCorvus ossifragusSummer visitorUncommon36–41 cmRegularly Feb–Oct · 0.09% in Jul
Short-billed DowitcherLimnodromus griseusPassage migrantUncommon23–32 cmRegularly May–Sep · 0.09% in Jul
Prothonotary WarblerProtonotaria citreaSummer visitorUncommon13–14 cmRegularly Apr–Aug · 0.07% in Jul
Horned LarkEremophila alpestrisWinter visitorUncommon16–20 cmRecorded all year · 0.07% in Jul
Barred OwlStrix variaResidentUncommon43–50 cmRecorded all year · 0.07% in Jul
Semipalmated PloverCharadrius semipalmatusSummer visitorUncommon17–19 cmRegularly May–Sep · 0.06% in Jul
Vesper SparrowPooecetes gramineusSummer visitorUncommon13–17 cmRegularly Mar–Nov · 0.06% in Jul
Stilt SandpiperCalidris himantopusPassage migrantUncommon18–23 cmRegularly Jul–Oct · 0.06% in Jul
SanderlingCalidris albaSummer visitorUncommon18–20 cmRegularly May–Oct · 0.06% in Jul
Hooded MerganserLophodytes cucullatusWinter visitorCommon40–49 cmRegularly Oct–Jul · 0.06% in Jul
Great Horned OwlBubo virginianusWinter visitorUncommon46–63 cmRecorded all year · 0.06% in Jul
Peregrine FalconFalco peregrinusWinter visitorUncommon34–58 cmRecorded all year · 0.05% in Jul
Common PheasantPhasianus colchicusResidentUncommon50–90 cmRecorded all year · 0.05% in Jul
Virginia RailRallus limicolaSummer visitorUncommon20–27 cmRegularly Mar–Nov · 0.04% in Jul
Trumpeter SwanCygnus buccinatorWinter visitorUncommon139–157 cmRecorded all year · 0.04% in Jul
European GoldfinchCarduelis carduelisResidentRare12–13 cmRecorded all year · 0.03% in Jul
Black TernChlidonias nigerSummer visitorUncommon22–26 cmRegularly May–Sep · 0.03% in Jul
Forster's TernSterna forsteriSummer visitorUncommon33–36 cmRegularly Apr–Nov · 0.03% in Jul
American AvocetRecurvirostra americanaPassage migrantUncommon43–51 cmRegularly Apr–Nov · 0.03% in Jul
Broad-winged HawkButeo platypterusSummer visitorUncommon34–44 cmRegularly Apr–Oct · 0.03% in Jul
Lark SparrowChondestes grammacusSummer visitorRare15–17 cmRegularly Apr–Aug · 0.02% in Jul
Upland SandpiperBartramia longicaudaSummer visitorRare28–32 cmRegularly Apr–Sep · 0.02% in Jul
Black-billed CuckooCoccyzus erythropthalmusSummer visitorUncommon28–32 cmRegularly May–Sep · 0.02% in Jul
WilletTringa semipalmataSummer visitorRare33–41 cmRegularly Apr–Sep · 0.02% in Jul
Eastern Screech-owlMegascops asioWinter visitorUncommon16–25 cmRecorded all year · 0.02% in Jul
Monk ParakeetMyiopsitta monachusResidentRare29–31 cmRecorded all year · 0.02% in Jul
Western KingbirdTyrannus verticalisSummer visitorRare20–24 cmRegularly May–Sep · 0.02% in Jul
Wilson's PhalaropePhalaropus tricolorPassage migrantUncommon22–24 cmRegularly Apr–Sep · 0.02% in Jul
Baird's SandpiperCalidris bairdiiPassage migrantUncommon14–17 cmRegularly Jul–Sep · 0.01% in Jul
Western MeadowlarkSturnella neglectaResidentRare16–26 cmRecorded all year · 0.01% in Jul
Common TernSterna hirundoSummer visitorRare31–35 cmRegularly Apr–Oct · 0.01% in Jul
Cattle EgretArdea ibisSummer visitorRare46–56 cmRegularly Apr–Nov · 0.01% in Jul
American BitternBotaurus lentiginosusSummer visitorRare58–85 cmRegularly Apr–Nov · 0.01% in Jul
Clay-colored SparrowSpizella pallidaSummer visitorUncommon13–15 cmRegularly Apr–Oct · 0.01% in Jul
Painted BuntingPasserina cirisSummer visitorRare12–14 cmRegularly May–Jul · 0.01% in Jul
Franklin's GullLeucophaeus pipixcanSummer visitorUncommon32–36 cmRegularly May–Nov · 0.01% in Jul
Ruddy TurnstoneArenaria interpresSummer visitorRare21–24 cmRegularly May–Sep · 0.01% in Jul
Marbled GodwitLimosa fedoaPassage migrantRare40–50 cmRegularly Apr–Sep · 0.00% in Jul
American Golden-PloverPluvialis dominicaSummer visitorUncommon24–28 cmRegularly Mar–Oct · 0.00% in Jul
WhimbrelNumenius phaeopusSummer visitorRare40–46 cmRegularly May–Sep · 0.00% in Jul
Western SandpiperCalidris mauriPassage migrantRare14–17 cmRegularly Apr–Sep · 0.00% in Jul
BudgerigarMelopsittacus undulatusSummer visitorRare18–20 cmRegularly May–Dec · 0.00% in Jul
Greylag GooseAnser anserWinter visitorRare75–90 cmRegularly Jun–Apr · 0.00% in Jul
Muscovy DuckCairina moschataSummer visitorRare66–84 cmRegularly Mar–Jan · 0.00% in Jul
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