Birds to See in Iowa in July
103 bird species on our list for Iowa are recorded regularly in July
Of these, the most often recorded are American Robin, Red-winged Blackbird, Northern Cardinal, Mourning Dove and Gray Catbird. New this month: Ring-billed Gull, Lesser Yellowlegs, Least Sandpiper and Greater Yellowlegs and 9 more.
On the move in July
GBIF · JulArriving
At their peak
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 103 birds in July
103 birds
American RobinTurdus migratoriusResidentCommon20–28 cmRecorded all year · 4.01% in Jul
Red-winged BlackbirdAgelaius phoeniceusSummer visitorCommon17–23 cmRecorded all year · 3.80% in Jul
Northern CardinalCardinalis cardinalisResidentCommon21–23 cmRecorded all year · 3.27% in Jul
Mourning DoveZenaida macrouraResidentCommon23–34 cmRecorded all year · 3.03% in Jul
Gray CatbirdDumetella carolinensisSummer visitorCommon20–24 cmRegularly Apr–Oct · 2.66% in Jul
House SparrowPasser domesticusResidentCommon14–17 cmRecorded all year · 2.55% in Jul
Common YellowthroatGeothlypis trichasSummer visitorCommon11–13 cmRegularly May–Oct · 2.49% in Jul
Barn SwallowHirundo rusticaSummer visitorCommon17–19 cmRegularly Apr–Oct · 2.18% in Jul
Blue JayCyanocitta cristataResidentCommon25–30 cmRecorded all year · 2.17% in Jul
DickcisselSpiza americanaSummer visitorCommon14–16 cmRegularly May–Aug · 2.09% in Jul
Turkey VultureCathartes auraSummer visitorCommon62–81 cmRegularly Mar–Oct · 1.93% in Jul
Song SparrowMelospiza melodiaResidentCommon12–17 cmRecorded all year · 1.90% in Jul
Downy WoodpeckerDryobates pubescensResidentCommon14–18 cmRecorded all year · 1.86% in Jul
American CrowCorvus brachyrhynchosResidentCommon41–53 cmRecorded all year · 1.69% in Jul
White-breasted NuthatchSitta carolinensisResidentCommon13–14 cmRecorded all year · 1.58% in Jul
Chipping SparrowSpizella passerinaSummer visitorCommon12–15 cmRegularly Apr–Oct · 1.42% in Jul
House FinchHaemorhous mexicanusResidentCommon13–15 cmRecorded all year · 1.39% in Jul
Great Blue HeronArdea herodiasSummer visitorCommon91–137 cmRegularly Feb–Dec · 1.38% in Jul
Red-bellied WoodpeckerMelanerpes carolinusResidentCommon23–26 cmRecorded all year · 1.37% in Jul
Common StarlingSturnus vulgarisResidentCommon21–23 cmRecorded all year · 1.35% in Jul
Red-headed WoodpeckerMelanerpes erythrocephalusResidentCommon19–23 cmRecorded all year · 1.33% in Jul
Common GrackleQuiscalus quisculaSummer visitorCommon28–34 cmRegularly Feb–Dec · 1.32% in Jul
Canada GooseBranta canadensisResidentCommon76–110 cmRecorded all year · 1.22% in Jul
Cedar WaxwingBombycilla cedrorumResidentCommon15–18 cmRecorded all year · 1.04% in Jul
Great Crested FlycatcherMyiarchus crinitusSummer visitorCommon17–22 cmRegularly May–Sep · 0.98% in Jul
Baltimore OrioleIcterus galbulaSummer visitorCommon17–19 cmRegularly May–Sep · 0.98% in Jul
Northern FlickerColaptes auratusResidentCommon28–31 cmRecorded all year · 0.97% in Jul
Ruby-throated HummingbirdArchilochus colubrisSummer visitorCommon7–9 cmRegularly May–Oct · 0.90% in Jul
Rose-breasted GrosbeakPheucticus ludovicianusSummer visitorCommon18–22 cmRegularly Apr–Sep · 0.84% in Jul
MallardAnas platyrhynchosResidentCommon50–65 cmRecorded all year · 0.82% in Jul
Eastern BluebirdSialia sialisResidentCommon16–21 cmRecorded all year · 0.74% in Jul
Wood DuckAix sponsaSummer visitorCommon47–54 cmRegularly Feb–Nov · 0.73% in Jul
American RedstartSetophaga ruticillaSummer visitorCommon11–14 cmRegularly May–Sep · 0.71% in Jul
Red-tailed HawkButeo jamaicensisWinter visitorCommon45–65 cmRecorded all year · 0.66% in Jul
Purple MartinProgne subisSummer visitorCommon18–20 cmRegularly Apr–Sep · 0.59% in Jul
Hairy WoodpeckerLeuconotopicus villosusResidentCommon18–26 cmRecorded all year · 0.55% in Jul
Northern Yellow WarblerSetophaga aestivaSummer visitorCommon12–13 cmRegularly Apr–Sep · 0.52% in Jul
Bald EagleHaliaeetus leucocephalusWinter visitorCommon70–102 cmRecorded all year · 0.50% in Jul
Rock DoveColumba liviaResidentCommon29–37 cmRecorded all year · 0.50% in Jul
Common PheasantPhasianus colchicusResidentCommon50–90 cmRecorded all year · 0.47% in Jul
Ring-billed GullLarus delawarensisWinter visitorCommon43–54 cmRegularly Jul–May · 0.41% in Jul
Tufted TitmouseBaeolophus bicolorResidentCommon14–16 cmRecorded all year · 0.41% in Jul
Eurasian Collared DoveStreptopelia decaoctoResidentUncommon30–32 cmRecorded all year · 0.36% in Jul
Eurasian Tree SparrowPasser montanusResidentCommon13–14 cmRecorded all year · 0.29% in Jul
Willow FlycatcherEmpidonax trailliiSummer visitorUncommon13–17 cmRegularly May–Sep · 0.29% in Jul
Wild TurkeyMeleagris gallopavoResidentCommon100–125 cmRecorded all year · 0.28% in Jul
Least SandpiperCalidris minutillaPassage migrantCommon13–15 cmRegularly Apr–Nov · 0.28% in Jul
Scarlet TanagerPiranga olivaceaSummer visitorUncommon16–19 cmRegularly May–Sep · 0.25% in Jul
Great White EgretArdea albaSummer visitorCommon80–104 cmRegularly Apr–Nov · 0.23% in Jul
Marsh WrenCistothorus palustrisSummer visitorUncommon10–14 cmRegularly Apr–Oct · 0.23% in Jul
Solitary SandpiperTringa solitariaPassage migrantUncommon19–23 cmRegularly Apr–Sep · 0.23% in Jul
Sand MartinRiparia ripariaSummer visitorUncommon12–14 cmRegularly Apr–Sep · 0.22% in Jul
Barred OwlStrix variaResidentUncommon43–50 cmRecorded all year · 0.22% in Jul
Pectoral SandpiperCalidris melanotosPassage migrantCommon19–23 cmRegularly Apr–Nov · 0.20% in Jul
Lesser YellowlegsTringa flavipesPassage migrantCommon23–27 cmRegularly Apr–Oct · 0.19% in Jul
Swamp SparrowMelospiza georgianaSummer visitorCommon12–15 cmRegularly Mar–Jan · 0.18% in Jul
Pileated WoodpeckerDryocopus pileatusResidentUncommon40–49 cmRecorded all year · 0.18% in Jul
Lark SparrowChondestes grammacusSummer visitorUncommon15–17 cmRegularly Apr–Aug · 0.17% in Jul
OspreyPandion haliaetusSummer visitorUncommon54–58 cmRegularly Mar–Nov · 0.17% in Jul
Sandhill CraneAntigone canadensisSummer visitorCommon80–122 cmRegularly Feb–Dec · 0.14% in Jul
BobolinkDolichonyx oryzivorusSummer visitorUncommon16–20 cmRegularly May–Sep · 0.13% in Jul
Pied-billed GrebePodilymbus podicepsSummer visitorCommon31–38 cmRegularly Mar–Dec · 0.13% in Jul
Western MeadowlarkSturnella neglectaResidentUncommon16–26 cmRecorded all year · 0.11% in Jul
Upland SandpiperBartramia longicaudaSummer visitorUncommon28–32 cmRegularly Apr–Sep · 0.10% in Jul
Hooded MerganserLophodytes cucullatusWinter visitorCommon40–49 cmRegularly Oct–Jul · 0.09% in Jul
Horned LarkEremophila alpestrisWinter visitorCommon16–20 cmRegularly Jun–Apr · 0.09% in Jul
Trumpeter SwanCygnus buccinatorWinter visitorCommon139–157 cmRecorded all year · 0.08% in Jul
Semipalmated SandpiperCalidris pusillaSummer visitorUncommon15–18 cmRegularly Apr–Sep · 0.08% in Jul
Western KingbirdTyrannus verticalisSummer visitorUncommon20–24 cmRegularly May–Aug · 0.07% in Jul
Vesper SparrowPooecetes gramineusSummer visitorUncommon13–17 cmRegularly Mar–Oct · 0.07% in Jul
Franklin's GullLeucophaeus pipixcanSummer visitorCommon32–36 cmRegularly Apr–Nov · 0.07% in Jul
Greater YellowlegsTringa melanoleucaPassage migrantCommon29–40 cmRegularly Mar–Nov · 0.07% in Jul
Black TernChlidonias nigerSummer visitorUncommon22–26 cmRegularly May–Sep · 0.07% in Jul
Prothonotary WarblerProtonotaria citreaSummer visitorUncommon13–14 cmRegularly Apr–Aug · 0.07% in Jul
Great Horned OwlBubo virginianusWinter visitorUncommon46–63 cmRecorded all year · 0.06% in Jul
Forster's TernSterna forsteriSummer visitorUncommon33–36 cmRegularly Apr–Oct · 0.06% in Jul
Short-billed DowitcherLimnodromus griseusPassage migrantUncommon23–32 cmRegularly May–Sep · 0.05% in Jul
Yellow-bellied SapsuckerSphyrapicus variusWinter visitorUncommon19–22 cmRecorded all year · 0.05% in Jul
Semipalmated PloverCharadrius semipalmatusPassage migrantUncommon17–19 cmRegularly Apr–Oct · 0.04% in Jul
OvenbirdSeiurus aurocapillaSummer visitorUncommon12–15 cmRegularly Apr–Sep · 0.04% in Jul
Stilt SandpiperCalidris himantopusPassage migrantUncommon18–23 cmRegularly May–Oct · 0.04% in Jul
Broad-winged HawkButeo platypterusSummer visitorUncommon34–44 cmRegularly Apr–Oct · 0.04% in Jul
American AvocetRecurvirostra americanaSummer visitorUncommon43–51 cmRegularly Apr–Nov · 0.03% in Jul
Peregrine FalconFalco peregrinusResidentUncommon34–58 cmRecorded all year · 0.03% in Jul
Black-billed CuckooCoccyzus erythropthalmusSummer visitorRare28–32 cmRegularly May–Sep · 0.03% in Jul
Grey PartridgePerdix perdixSummer visitorUncommon28–32 cmRegularly Jan–Nov · 0.02% in Jul
Clay-colored SparrowSpizella pallidaSummer visitorUncommon13–15 cmRegularly Apr–Oct · 0.02% in Jul
Northern MockingbirdMimus polyglottosSummer visitorRare21–26 cmRegularly Apr–Feb · 0.02% in Jul
Wilson's PhalaropePhalaropus tricolorPassage migrantUncommon22–24 cmRegularly Apr–Sep · 0.01% in Jul
Eastern Screech-owlMegascops asioWinter visitorUncommon16–25 cmRecorded all year · 0.01% in Jul
Baird's SandpiperCalidris bairdiiPassage migrantUncommon14–17 cmRegularly Mar–Nov · 0.01% in Jul
SanderlingCalidris albaPassage migrantUncommon18–20 cmRegularly Apr–Nov · 0.01% in Jul
Buff-breasted SandpiperCalidris subruficollisPassage migrantUncommon18–20 cmRegularly Jul–Sep · 0.01% in Jul
Virginia RailRallus limicolaSummer visitorRare20–27 cmRegularly Apr–Oct · 0.01% in Jul
WilletTringa semipalmataSummer visitorUncommon33–41 cmRegularly Apr–Aug · 0.01% in Jul
VeeryCatharus fuscescensSummer visitorUncommon16–19 cmRegularly May–Sep · 0.01% in Jul
Black-crowned Night-heronNycticorax nycticoraxSummer visitorRare58–65 cmRegularly Apr–Nov · 0.01% in Jul
American BitternBotaurus lentiginosusSummer visitorRare58–85 cmRegularly Apr–Nov · 0.00% in Jul
Fish CrowCorvus ossifragusSummer visitorRare36–41 cmRegularly Mar–Sep · 0.00% in Jul
Mute SwanCygnus olorWinter visitorUncommon140–160 cmRecorded all year · 0.00% in Jul
Cattle EgretArdea ibisSummer visitorRare46–56 cmRegularly Apr–Oct · 0.00% in Jul
Common TernSterna hirundoSummer visitorRare31–35 cmRegularly May–Oct · 0.00% in Jul
Varied ThrushIxoreus naeviusScarceRare20–26 cmRegularly Apr–Aug · records held back in Jul (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