Birds to See in Iowa in August
125 bird species on our list for Iowa are recorded regularly in August
Of these, the most often recorded are Northern Cardinal, Mourning Dove, Blue Jay, American Robin and Gray Catbird. New this month: Nashville Warbler, Tennessee Warbler, Magnolia Warbler and Swainson's Thrush and 20 more.
On the move in August
GBIF · AugArriving
At their peak
Barn SwallowBusiest month of the year · Apr–Oct
Great Blue HeronBusiest month of the year · Feb–Dec
Ruby-throated HummingbirdBusiest month of the year · May–Oct
Great White EgretBusiest month of the year · Apr–Nov
Least SandpiperBusiest month of the year · Apr–May
Pectoral SandpiperBusiest month of the year · Apr–May
From Iowa’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 125 birds in August
125 birds
Northern CardinalCardinalis cardinalisResidentCommon21–23 cmRecorded all year · 3.15% in Aug
Mourning DoveZenaida macrouraResidentCommon23–34 cmRecorded all year · 2.95% in Aug
Blue JayCyanocitta cristataResidentCommon25–30 cmRecorded all year · 2.82% in Aug
American RobinTurdus migratoriusResidentCommon20–28 cmRecorded all year · 2.80% in Aug
Gray CatbirdDumetella carolinensisSummer visitorCommon20–24 cmRegularly Apr–Oct · 2.59% in Aug- Barn SwallowHirundo rusticaSummer visitorCommon17–19 cmRegularly Apr–Oct · 2.38% in Aug
Turkey VultureCathartes auraSummer visitorCommon62–81 cmRegularly Mar–Oct · 2.17% in Aug
Downy WoodpeckerDryobates pubescensResidentCommon14–18 cmRecorded all year · 2.15% in Aug
White-breasted NuthatchSitta carolinensisResidentCommon13–14 cmRecorded all year · 2.10% in Aug
American CrowCorvus brachyrhynchosResidentCommon41–53 cmRecorded all year · 2.09% in Aug
House SparrowPasser domesticusResidentCommon14–17 cmRecorded all year · 2.02% in Aug- Great Blue HeronArdea herodiasSummer visitorCommon91–137 cmRegularly Feb–Dec · 1.94% in Aug
Red-bellied WoodpeckerMelanerpes carolinusResidentCommon23–26 cmRecorded all year · 1.59% in Aug
Red-winged BlackbirdAgelaius phoeniceusSummer visitorCommon17–23 cmRecorded all year · 1.57% in Aug
Red-headed WoodpeckerMelanerpes erythrocephalusResidentCommon19–23 cmRecorded all year · 1.55% in Aug- Ruby-throated HummingbirdArchilochus colubrisSummer visitorCommon7–9 cmRegularly May–Oct · 1.54% in Aug
Song SparrowMelospiza melodiaResidentCommon12–17 cmRecorded all year · 1.48% in Aug
Canada GooseBranta canadensisResidentCommon76–110 cmRecorded all year · 1.39% in Aug
Baltimore OrioleIcterus galbulaSummer visitorCommon17–19 cmRegularly May–Sep · 1.36% in Aug
House FinchHaemorhous mexicanusResidentCommon13–15 cmRecorded all year · 1.30% in Aug
Common StarlingSturnus vulgarisResidentCommon21–23 cmRecorded all year · 1.21% in Aug
Northern FlickerColaptes auratusResidentCommon28–31 cmRecorded all year · 1.11% in Aug
Common YellowthroatGeothlypis trichasSummer visitorCommon11–13 cmRegularly May–Oct · 1.07% in Aug
MallardAnas platyrhynchosResidentCommon50–65 cmRecorded all year · 1.03% in Aug
Cedar WaxwingBombycilla cedrorumResidentCommon15–18 cmRecorded all year · 0.99% in Aug
Wood DuckAix sponsaSummer visitorCommon47–54 cmRegularly Feb–Nov · 0.90% in Aug
Ring-billed GullLarus delawarensisWinter visitorCommon43–54 cmRegularly Jul–May · 0.86% in Aug
Great Crested FlycatcherMyiarchus crinitusSummer visitorCommon17–22 cmRegularly May–Sep · 0.84% in Aug
Chipping SparrowSpizella passerinaSummer visitorCommon12–15 cmRegularly Apr–Oct · 0.81% in Aug
Red-tailed HawkButeo jamaicensisWinter visitorCommon45–65 cmRecorded all year · 0.77% in Aug
Hairy WoodpeckerLeuconotopicus villosusResidentCommon18–26 cmRecorded all year · 0.74% in Aug
Bald EagleHaliaeetus leucocephalusWinter visitorCommon70–102 cmRecorded all year · 0.73% in Aug- Great White EgretArdea albaSummer visitorCommon80–104 cmRegularly Apr–Nov · 0.71% in Aug
Eastern BluebirdSialia sialisResidentCommon16–21 cmRecorded all year · 0.71% in Aug
DickcisselSpiza americanaSummer visitorCommon14–16 cmRegularly May–Aug · 0.69% in Aug
American RedstartSetophaga ruticillaSummer visitorCommon11–14 cmRegularly May–Sep · 0.67% in Aug- Least SandpiperCalidris minutillaPassage migrantCommon13–15 cmRegularly Apr–Nov · 0.60% in Aug
Rose-breasted GrosbeakPheucticus ludovicianusSummer visitorCommon18–22 cmRegularly Apr–Sep · 0.58% in Aug- Pectoral SandpiperCalidris melanotosPassage migrantCommon19–23 cmRegularly Apr–Nov · 0.53% in Aug
Rock DoveColumba liviaResidentCommon29–37 cmRecorded all year · 0.52% in Aug
Lesser YellowlegsTringa flavipesPassage migrantCommon23–27 cmRegularly Apr–Oct · 0.48% in Aug
Purple MartinProgne subisSummer visitorCommon18–20 cmRegularly Apr–Sep · 0.45% in Aug
Solitary SandpiperTringa solitariaPassage migrantUncommon19–23 cmRegularly Apr–Sep · 0.45% in Aug
Common GrackleQuiscalus quisculaSummer visitorCommon28–34 cmRegularly Feb–Dec · 0.44% in Aug
Tufted TitmouseBaeolophus bicolorResidentCommon14–16 cmRecorded all year · 0.42% in Aug
Northern Yellow WarblerSetophaga aestivaSummer visitorCommon12–13 cmRegularly Apr–Sep · 0.39% in Aug
Sand MartinRiparia ripariaSummer visitorUncommon12–14 cmRegularly Apr–Sep · 0.36% in Aug
Semipalmated SandpiperCalidris pusillaSummer visitorUncommon15–18 cmRegularly Apr–Sep · 0.33% in Aug
Wild TurkeyMeleagris gallopavoResidentCommon100–125 cmRecorded all year · 0.31% in Aug
Least FlycatcherEmpidonax minimusPassage migrantCommon12–14 cmRegularly May–Sep · 0.31% in Aug
Eurasian Collared DoveStreptopelia decaoctoResidentUncommon30–32 cmRecorded all year · 0.30% in Aug
Pileated WoodpeckerDryocopus pileatusResidentUncommon40–49 cmRecorded all year · 0.29% in Aug
Common PheasantPhasianus colchicusResidentCommon50–90 cmRecorded all year · 0.28% in Aug
OspreyPandion haliaetusSummer visitorUncommon54–58 cmRegularly Mar–Nov · 0.27% in Aug
Chestnut-sided WarblerSetophaga pensylvanicaPassage migrantCommon10–14 cmRegularly May–Sep · 0.27% in Aug
Barred OwlStrix variaResidentUncommon43–50 cmRecorded all year · 0.25% in Aug
Semipalmated PloverCharadrius semipalmatusPassage migrantUncommon17–19 cmRegularly Apr–Oct · 0.24% in Aug
Eurasian Tree SparrowPasser montanusResidentCommon13–14 cmRecorded all year · 0.24% in Aug
Sandhill CraneAntigone canadensisSummer visitorCommon80–122 cmRegularly Feb–Dec · 0.20% in Aug
Pied-billed GrebePodilymbus podicepsSummer visitorCommon31–38 cmRegularly Mar–Dec · 0.19% in Aug
Greater YellowlegsTringa melanoleucaPassage migrantCommon29–40 cmRegularly Mar–Nov · 0.19% in Aug
Stilt SandpiperCalidris himantopusPassage migrantUncommon18–23 cmRegularly May–Oct · 0.18% in Aug
Tennessee WarblerLeiothlypis peregrinaPassage migrantCommon10–13 cmRegularly May–Oct · 0.18% in Aug
Franklin's GullLeucophaeus pipixcanSummer visitorCommon32–36 cmRegularly Apr–Nov · 0.17% in Aug
Magnolia WarblerSetophaga magnoliaPassage migrantCommon11–13 cmRegularly May–Oct · 0.16% in Aug
Trumpeter SwanCygnus buccinatorWinter visitorCommon139–157 cmRecorded all year · 0.15% in Aug
Willow FlycatcherEmpidonax trailliiSummer visitorUncommon13–17 cmRegularly May–Sep · 0.15% in Aug
Forster's TernSterna forsteriSummer visitorUncommon33–36 cmRegularly Apr–Oct · 0.15% in Aug
Swamp SparrowMelospiza georgianaSummer visitorCommon12–15 cmRegularly Mar–Jan · 0.12% in Aug
Baird's SandpiperCalidris bairdiiPassage migrantUncommon14–17 cmRegularly Mar–Nov · 0.12% in Aug
Scarlet TanagerPiranga olivaceaSummer visitorUncommon16–19 cmRegularly May–Sep · 0.12% in Aug
Black TernChlidonias nigerSummer visitorUncommon22–26 cmRegularly May–Sep · 0.11% in Aug
Marsh WrenCistothorus palustrisSummer visitorUncommon10–14 cmRegularly Apr–Oct · 0.11% in Aug
Great Horned OwlBubo virginianusWinter visitorUncommon46–63 cmRecorded all year · 0.10% in Aug
Yellow-bellied FlycatcherEmpidonax flaviventrisPassage migrantUncommon13–15 cmRegularly May–Sep · 0.10% in Aug
OvenbirdSeiurus aurocapillaSummer visitorUncommon12–15 cmRegularly Apr–Sep · 0.09% in Aug
BobolinkDolichonyx oryzivorusSummer visitorUncommon16–20 cmRegularly May–Sep · 0.08% in Aug
Nashville WarblerLeiothlypis ruficapillaPassage migrantCommon11–13 cmRegularly May–Oct · 0.08% in Aug
Bay-breasted WarblerSetophaga castaneaPassage migrantUncommon14–14 cmRegularly May–Sep · 0.08% in Aug
Lark SparrowChondestes grammacusSummer visitorUncommon15–17 cmRegularly Apr–Aug · 0.08% in Aug
Horned LarkEremophila alpestrisWinter visitorCommon16–20 cmRegularly Jun–Apr · 0.08% in Aug
Short-billed DowitcherLimnodromus griseusPassage migrantUncommon23–32 cmRegularly May–Sep · 0.07% in Aug
Buff-breasted SandpiperCalidris subruficollisPassage migrantUncommon18–20 cmRegularly Jul–Sep · 0.07% in Aug
Broad-winged HawkButeo platypterusSummer visitorUncommon34–44 cmRegularly Apr–Oct · 0.06% in Aug
Alder FlycatcherEmpidonax alnorumPassage migrantUncommon13–17 cmRegularly May–Aug · 0.06% in Aug
Upland SandpiperBartramia longicaudaSummer visitorUncommon28–32 cmRegularly Apr–Sep · 0.06% in Aug
Red-necked PhalaropePhalaropus lobatusPassage migrantUncommon18–19 cmRegularly May–Sep · 0.06% in Aug
Northern WaterthrushParkesia noveboracensisPassage migrantUncommon12–15 cmRegularly Apr–Sep · 0.06% in Aug
Peregrine FalconFalco peregrinusResidentUncommon34–58 cmRecorded all year · 0.05% in Aug
American AvocetRecurvirostra americanaSummer visitorUncommon43–51 cmRegularly Apr–Nov · 0.05% in Aug
Vesper SparrowPooecetes gramineusSummer visitorUncommon13–17 cmRegularly Mar–Oct · 0.05% in Aug
SanderlingCalidris albaPassage migrantUncommon18–20 cmRegularly Apr–Nov · 0.05% in Aug
Wilson's PhalaropePhalaropus tricolorPassage migrantUncommon22–24 cmRegularly Apr–Sep · 0.05% in Aug
Common LoonGavia immerPassage migrantCommon66–91 cmRegularly Aug–Apr · 0.04% in Aug
Philadelphia VireoVireo philadelphicusPassage migrantUncommon11–13 cmRegularly May–Sep · 0.04% in Aug
Western MeadowlarkSturnella neglectaResidentUncommon16–26 cmRecorded all year · 0.04% in Aug
Yellow-bellied SapsuckerSphyrapicus variusWinter visitorUncommon19–22 cmRecorded all year · 0.04% in Aug
Mourning WarblerGeothlypis philadelphiaPassage migrantUncommon10–15 cmRegularly May–Sep · 0.04% in Aug
Grey PloverPluvialis squatarolaPassage migrantRare27–30 cmRegularly Apr–Nov · 0.04% in Aug
Black-throated Green WarblerSetophaga virensPassage migrantUncommon11–12 cmRegularly May–Oct · 0.03% in Aug
Swainson's ThrushCatharus ustulatusPassage migrantCommon16–20 cmRegularly May–Sep · 0.03% in Aug
Prothonotary WarblerProtonotaria citreaSummer visitorUncommon13–14 cmRegularly Apr–Aug · 0.03% in Aug
VeeryCatharus fuscescensSummer visitorUncommon16–19 cmRegularly May–Sep · 0.03% in Aug
American Golden-PloverPluvialis dominicaPassage migrantUncommon24–28 cmRegularly Mar–Oct · 0.03% in Aug
Western KingbirdTyrannus verticalisSummer visitorUncommon20–24 cmRegularly May–Aug · 0.03% in Aug
Grey PartridgePerdix perdixSummer visitorUncommon28–32 cmRegularly Jan–Nov · 0.02% in Aug
Black-billed CuckooCoccyzus erythropthalmusSummer visitorRare28–32 cmRegularly May–Sep · 0.02% in Aug
Cape May WarblerSetophaga tigrinaPassage migrantUncommon12–14 cmRegularly May–Oct · 0.02% in Aug
MerlinFalco columbariusWinter visitorUncommon24–33 cmRegularly Aug–Apr · 0.02% in Aug
Eastern Screech-owlMegascops asioWinter visitorUncommon16–25 cmRecorded all year · 0.02% in Aug
White-rumped SandpiperCalidris fuscicollisPassage migrantUncommon15–18 cmRegularly Apr–Aug · 0.01% in Aug
Fish CrowCorvus ossifragusSummer visitorRare36–41 cmRegularly Mar–Sep · 0.01% in Aug
Ruddy TurnstoneArenaria interpresPassage migrantRare21–24 cmRegularly May–Sep · 0.01% in Aug
Virginia RailRallus limicolaSummer visitorRare20–27 cmRegularly Apr–Oct · 0.01% in Aug
WilletTringa semipalmataSummer visitorUncommon33–41 cmRegularly Apr–Aug · 0.01% in Aug
Northern MockingbirdMimus polyglottosSummer visitorRare21–26 cmRegularly Apr–Feb · 0.01% in Aug
Western SandpiperCalidris mauriPassage migrantRare14–17 cmRegularly May–Aug · 0.01% in Aug
Black-crowned Night-heronNycticorax nycticoraxSummer visitorRare58–65 cmRegularly Apr–Nov · 0.01% in Aug
Gray-cheeked ThrushCatharus minimusPassage migrantUncommon16–17 cmRegularly May–Sep · 0.01% in Aug
American BitternBotaurus lentiginosusSummer visitorRare58–85 cmRegularly Apr–Nov · 0.01% in Aug
Marbled GodwitLimosa fedoaPassage migrantRare40–50 cmRegularly Apr–Sep · 0.01% in Aug
Mute SwanCygnus olorWinter visitorUncommon140–160 cmRecorded all year · 0.01% in Aug
Common TernSterna hirundoSummer visitorRare31–35 cmRegularly May–Oct · 0.00% in Aug
Cattle EgretArdea ibisSummer visitorRare46–56 cmRegularly Apr–Oct · 0.00% in Aug
Varied ThrushIxoreus naeviusScarceRare20–26 cmRegularly Apr–Aug · 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