Birds to See in Kentucky in August
102 bird species on our list for Kentucky are recorded regularly in August
Of these, the most often recorded are Northern Cardinal, Mourning Dove, Blue Jay, American Robin and American Crow. New this month: Magnolia Warbler, American Redstart, Chestnut-sided Warbler and American Herring Gull and 18 more.
On the move in August
GBIF · AugArriving
At their peak
Ruby-throated HummingbirdBusiest month of the year · Apr–Oct
Great White EgretBusiest month of the year · Mar–Nov
OspreyBusiest month of the year · Mar–Oct
Least SandpiperBusiest month of the year · Mar–May
Solitary SandpiperBusiest month of the year · Apr–May
Black-crowned Night-heronBusiest month of the year · Mar–Jan
From Kentucky’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 102 birds in August
102 birds
Northern CardinalCardinalis cardinalisResidentCommon21–23 cmRecorded all year · 4.39% in Aug
Mourning DoveZenaida macrouraResidentCommon23–34 cmRecorded all year · 3.88% in Aug
Blue JayCyanocitta cristataResidentCommon25–30 cmRecorded all year · 3.16% in Aug
American RobinTurdus migratoriusResidentCommon20–28 cmRecorded all year · 3.11% in Aug
American CrowCorvus brachyrhynchosResidentCommon41–53 cmRecorded all year · 2.60% in Aug- Ruby-throated HummingbirdArchilochus colubrisSummer visitorCommon7–9 cmRegularly Apr–Oct · 2.56% in Aug
Tufted TitmouseBaeolophus bicolorResidentCommon14–16 cmRecorded all year · 2.33% in Aug
Turkey VultureCathartes auraResidentCommon62–81 cmRecorded all year · 2.31% in Aug
Red-bellied WoodpeckerMelanerpes carolinusResidentCommon23–26 cmRecorded all year · 2.06% in Aug
Downy WoodpeckerDryobates pubescensResidentCommon14–18 cmRecorded all year · 2.04% in Aug
House FinchHaemorhous mexicanusResidentCommon13–15 cmRecorded all year · 2.00% in Aug
Common StarlingSturnus vulgarisResidentCommon21–23 cmRecorded all year · 1.93% in Aug
Barn SwallowHirundo rusticaSummer visitorCommon17–19 cmRegularly Apr–Sep · 1.80% in Aug
Song SparrowMelospiza melodiaResidentCommon12–17 cmRecorded all year · 1.74% in Aug
White-breasted NuthatchSitta carolinensisResidentCommon13–14 cmRecorded all year · 1.66% in Aug
Great Blue HeronArdea herodiasResidentCommon91–137 cmRecorded all year · 1.61% in Aug
Common GrackleQuiscalus quisculaResidentCommon28–34 cmRecorded all year · 1.45% in Aug
Canada GooseBranta canadensisResidentCommon76–110 cmRecorded all year · 1.41% in Aug
Northern MockingbirdMimus polyglottosResidentCommon21–26 cmRecorded all year · 1.39% in Aug
House SparrowPasser domesticusResidentCommon14–17 cmRecorded all year · 1.20% in Aug
Eastern BluebirdSialia sialisResidentCommon16–21 cmRecorded all year · 1.17% in Aug
MallardAnas platyrhynchosResidentCommon50–65 cmRecorded all year · 1.05% in Aug
Chipping SparrowSpizella passerinaSummer visitorCommon12–15 cmRecorded all year · 1.03% in Aug- Great White EgretArdea albaSummer visitorCommon80–104 cmRegularly Mar–Nov · 1.03% in Aug
Red-winged BlackbirdAgelaius phoeniceusResidentCommon17–23 cmRecorded all year · 0.91% in Aug
Purple MartinProgne subisSummer visitorCommon18–20 cmRegularly Mar–Aug · 0.89% in Aug
Red-tailed HawkButeo jamaicensisResidentCommon45–65 cmRecorded all year · 0.80% in Aug
Gray CatbirdDumetella carolinensisSummer visitorCommon20–24 cmRegularly Apr–Oct · 0.78% in Aug
Northern FlickerColaptes auratusResidentCommon28–31 cmRecorded all year · 0.77% in Aug
Pileated WoodpeckerDryocopus pileatusResidentCommon40–49 cmRecorded all year · 0.71% in Aug
Rock DoveColumba liviaResidentCommon29–37 cmRecorded all year · 0.64% in Aug- OspreyPandion haliaetusSummer visitorCommon54–58 cmRegularly Mar–Oct · 0.59% in Aug
Common YellowthroatGeothlypis trichasSummer visitorCommon11–13 cmRegularly Apr–Oct · 0.58% in Aug
Cedar WaxwingBombycilla cedrorumResidentCommon15–18 cmRecorded all year · 0.53% in Aug
Red-headed WoodpeckerMelanerpes erythrocephalusResidentCommon19–23 cmRecorded all year · 0.53% in Aug
Wood DuckAix sponsaResidentCommon47–54 cmRecorded all year · 0.48% in Aug
Great Crested FlycatcherMyiarchus crinitusSummer visitorCommon17–22 cmRegularly Apr–Sep · 0.44% in Aug- Least SandpiperCalidris minutillaPassage migrantUncommon13–15 cmRegularly Mar–Dec · 0.42% in Aug
Hairy WoodpeckerLeuconotopicus villosusResidentCommon18–26 cmRecorded all year · 0.39% in Aug
Baltimore OrioleIcterus galbulaSummer visitorCommon17–19 cmRegularly Apr–Sep · 0.35% in Aug- Solitary SandpiperTringa solitariaPassage migrantUncommon19–23 cmRegularly Apr–Oct · 0.33% in Aug
Wild TurkeyMeleagris gallopavoResidentUncommon100–125 cmRecorded all year · 0.31% in Aug
Bald EagleHaliaeetus leucocephalusWinter visitorCommon70–102 cmRecorded all year · 0.29% in Aug- Black-crowned Night-heronNycticorax nycticoraxSummer visitorUncommon58–65 cmRegularly Mar–Jan · 0.27% in Aug
Pectoral SandpiperCalidris melanotosPassage migrantUncommon19–23 cmRegularly Mar–Oct · 0.26% in Aug
Lesser YellowlegsTringa flavipesPassage migrantUncommon23–27 cmRegularly Mar–Oct · 0.24% in Aug
Semipalmated SandpiperCalidris pusillaSummer visitorUncommon15–18 cmRegularly May–Sep · 0.24% in Aug
Northern Yellow WarblerSetophaga aestivaSummer visitorCommon12–13 cmRegularly Apr–Sep · 0.17% in Aug
Semipalmated PloverCharadrius semipalmatusSummer visitorUncommon17–19 cmRegularly Apr–Sep · 0.17% in Aug
Eurasian Collared DoveStreptopelia decaoctoResidentUncommon30–32 cmRecorded all year · 0.14% in Aug
DickcisselSpiza americanaSummer visitorUncommon14–16 cmRegularly Apr–Oct · 0.14% in Aug
Barred OwlStrix variaResidentUncommon43–50 cmRecorded all year · 0.13% in Aug
American RedstartSetophaga ruticillaPassage migrantCommon11–14 cmRegularly Apr–Oct · 0.13% in Aug
Broad-winged HawkButeo platypterusSummer visitorUncommon34–44 cmRegularly Apr–Oct · 0.12% in Aug
Sand MartinRiparia ripariaSummer visitorUncommon12–14 cmRegularly Apr–Sep · 0.11% in Aug
Great Horned OwlBubo virginianusResidentUncommon46–63 cmRecorded all year · 0.11% in Aug
Horned LarkEremophila alpestrisWinter visitorUncommon16–20 cmRecorded all year · 0.11% in Aug
Prothonotary WarblerProtonotaria citreaSummer visitorUncommon13–14 cmRegularly Apr–Sep · 0.11% in Aug
Greater YellowlegsTringa melanoleucaPassage migrantUncommon29–40 cmRegularly Mar–Nov · 0.10% in Aug
Eastern Screech-owlMegascops asioResidentUncommon16–25 cmRecorded all year · 0.10% in Aug
Ring-billed GullLarus delawarensisWinter visitorCommon43–54 cmRegularly Jul–Apr · 0.10% in Aug
Scarlet TanagerPiranga olivaceaSummer visitorCommon16–19 cmRegularly Apr–Oct · 0.09% in Aug
Stilt SandpiperCalidris himantopusPassage migrantUncommon18–23 cmRegularly Apr–Oct · 0.08% in Aug
Fish CrowCorvus ossifragusSummer visitorUncommon36–41 cmRecorded all year · 0.08% in Aug
Peregrine FalconFalco peregrinusResidentUncommon34–58 cmRecorded all year · 0.08% in Aug
Magnolia WarblerSetophaga magnoliaPassage migrantCommon11–13 cmRegularly May–Oct · 0.07% in Aug
Chestnut-sided WarblerSetophaga pensylvanicaPassage migrantCommon10–14 cmRegularly Apr–Oct · 0.07% in Aug
Least FlycatcherEmpidonax minimusPassage migrantUncommon12–14 cmRegularly Apr–Sep · 0.07% in Aug
Willow FlycatcherEmpidonax trailliiSummer visitorUncommon13–17 cmRegularly May–Aug · 0.06% in Aug
American Herring GullLarus smithsonianusWinter visitorUncommon53–65 cmRegularly Aug–Apr · 0.04% in Aug
Mute SwanCygnus olorWinter visitorUncommon140–160 cmRecorded all year · 0.04% in Aug
Baird's SandpiperCalidris bairdiiPassage migrantRare14–17 cmRegularly Aug–Sep · 0.04% in Aug
Forster's TernSterna forsteriWinter visitorUncommon33–36 cmRegularly Aug–May · 0.04% in Aug
Black TernChlidonias nigerPassage migrantRare22–26 cmRegularly May–Sep · 0.04% in Aug
Short-billed DowitcherLimnodromus griseusPassage migrantRare23–32 cmRegularly Apr–Sep · 0.04% in Aug
Black-throated Green WarblerSetophaga virensSummer visitorCommon11–12 cmRegularly Apr–Oct · 0.03% in Aug
BobolinkDolichonyx oryzivorusSummer visitorUncommon16–20 cmRegularly Apr–Oct · 0.03% in Aug
Buff-breasted SandpiperCalidris subruficollisPassage migrantRare18–20 cmRegularly Aug–Sep · 0.03% in Aug
American AvocetRecurvirostra americanaPassage migrantRare43–51 cmRegularly Apr–Oct · 0.03% in Aug
Cattle EgretArdea ibisSummer visitorRare46–56 cmRegularly Mar–Oct · 0.03% in Aug
Muscovy DuckCairina moschataWinter visitorUncommon66–84 cmRecorded all year · 0.02% in Aug
Western SandpiperCalidris mauriPassage migrantRare14–17 cmRegularly Jul–Oct · 0.02% in Aug
OvenbirdSeiurus aurocapillaSummer visitorUncommon12–15 cmRegularly Apr–Oct · 0.02% in Aug
Yellow-bellied FlycatcherEmpidonax flaviventrisPassage migrantUncommon13–15 cmRegularly May–Oct · 0.02% in Aug
American Golden-PloverPluvialis dominicaPassage migrantRare24–28 cmRegularly Mar–Oct · 0.02% in Aug
Wilson's PhalaropePhalaropus tricolorPassage migrantRare22–24 cmRegularly Apr–Sep · 0.01% in Aug
Red-necked PhalaropePhalaropus lobatusPassage migrantRare18–19 cmRegularly May–Aug · 0.01% in Aug
SanderlingCalidris albaPassage migrantUncommon18–20 cmRegularly May–Sep · 0.01% in Aug
Nashville WarblerLeiothlypis ruficapillaPassage migrantUncommon11–13 cmRegularly Apr–Oct · 0.01% in Aug
WilletTringa semipalmataPassage migrantRare33–41 cmRegularly Apr–Aug · 0.01% in Aug
Grey PloverPluvialis squatarolaPassage migrantRare27–30 cmRegularly Apr–Oct · 0.01% in Aug
Northern WaterthrushParkesia noveboracensisPassage migrantUncommon12–15 cmRegularly Apr–Oct · 0.01% in Aug
Ruddy TurnstoneArenaria interpresResidentRare21–24 cmRegularly May–Aug · 0.01% in Aug
Sharp-shinned HawkAccipiter striatusWinter visitorUncommon24–34 cmRegularly Aug–May · 0.01% in Aug
Black-billed CuckooCoccyzus erythropthalmusPassage migrantRare28–32 cmRegularly Apr–Oct · 0.00% in Aug
Mourning WarblerGeothlypis philadelphiaPassage migrantRare10–15 cmRegularly May–Oct · 0.00% in Aug
Lark SparrowChondestes grammacusSummer visitorRare15–17 cmRegularly Apr–Aug · 0.00% in Aug
Virginia RailRallus limicolaResidentRare20–27 cmRegularly Apr–Jan · 0.00% in Aug
Common TernSterna hirundoPassage migrantRare31–35 cmRegularly May–Oct · 0.00% in Aug
Alder FlycatcherEmpidonax alnorumPassage migrantRare13–17 cmRegularly May–Aug · 0.00% in Aug
White-winged DoveZenaida asiaticaSummer visitorRare27–30 cmRegularly Apr–Sep · 0.00% in Aug
Upland SandpiperBartramia longicaudaPassage migrantRare28–32 cmRegularly Apr–Aug · 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