Birds to See in Maryland in August
137 bird species on our list for Maryland are recorded regularly in August
Of these, the most often recorded are Northern Cardinal, Mourning Dove, Blue Jay, American Crow and Gray Catbird. New this month: Magnolia Warbler, Ruddy Duck, Pied-billed Grebe and Cape May Warbler and 20 more.
On the move in August
GBIF · AugArriving
At their peak
Ruby-throated HummingbirdBusiest month of the year · Apr–Oct
OspreyBusiest month of the year · Mar–Oct
Great White EgretBusiest month of the year · Mar–Dec
Forster's TernBusiest month of the year · All year
Least SandpiperBusiest month of the year · Apr–May
Semipalmated SandpiperBusiest month of the year · May–Oct
From Maryland’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 137 birds in August
137 birds
Northern CardinalCardinalis cardinalisResidentCommon21–23 cmRecorded all year · 3.83% in Aug
Mourning DoveZenaida macrouraResidentCommon23–34 cmRecorded all year · 3.37% in Aug
Blue JayCyanocitta cristataResidentCommon25–30 cmRecorded all year · 2.64% in Aug
American CrowCorvus brachyrhynchosResidentCommon41–53 cmRecorded all year · 2.44% in Aug
Gray CatbirdDumetella carolinensisSummer visitorCommon20–24 cmRegularly Apr–Dec · 2.27% in Aug
American RobinTurdus migratoriusResidentCommon20–28 cmRecorded all year · 2.12% in Aug
Tufted TitmouseBaeolophus bicolorResidentCommon14–16 cmRecorded all year · 1.89% in Aug
Downy WoodpeckerDryobates pubescensResidentCommon14–18 cmRecorded all year · 1.86% in Aug
Red-bellied WoodpeckerMelanerpes carolinusResidentCommon23–26 cmRecorded all year · 1.86% in Aug
Turkey VultureCathartes auraResidentCommon62–81 cmRecorded all year · 1.79% in Aug
Great Blue HeronArdea herodiasResidentCommon91–137 cmRecorded all year · 1.76% in Aug- Ruby-throated HummingbirdArchilochus colubrisSummer visitorCommon7–9 cmRegularly Apr–Oct · 1.72% in Aug
Common StarlingSturnus vulgarisResidentCommon21–23 cmRecorded all year · 1.68% in Aug
White-breasted NuthatchSitta carolinensisResidentCommon13–14 cmRecorded all year · 1.68% in Aug- OspreyPandion haliaetusSummer visitorCommon54–58 cmRegularly Mar–Oct · 1.60% in Aug
Eastern BluebirdSialia sialisResidentCommon16–21 cmRecorded all year · 1.57% in Aug
Barn SwallowHirundo rusticaSummer visitorCommon17–19 cmRegularly Apr–Sep · 1.55% in Aug
Northern MockingbirdMimus polyglottosResidentCommon21–26 cmRecorded all year · 1.46% in Aug
House SparrowPasser domesticusResidentCommon14–17 cmRecorded all year · 1.42% in Aug
House FinchHaemorhous mexicanusResidentCommon13–15 cmRecorded all year · 1.42% in Aug
Canada GooseBranta canadensisResidentCommon76–110 cmRecorded all year · 1.34% in Aug
Chipping SparrowSpizella passerinaSummer visitorCommon12–15 cmRecorded all year · 1.17% in Aug
Song SparrowMelospiza melodiaResidentCommon12–17 cmRecorded all year · 1.07% in Aug
MallardAnas platyrhynchosResidentCommon50–65 cmRecorded all year · 1.05% in Aug
Common GrackleQuiscalus quisculaResidentCommon28–34 cmRecorded all year · 1.04% in Aug
Fish CrowCorvus ossifragusResidentCommon36–41 cmRecorded all year · 1.03% in Aug
Red-winged BlackbirdAgelaius phoeniceusResidentCommon17–23 cmRecorded all year · 0.98% in Aug
Northern FlickerColaptes auratusResidentCommon28–31 cmRecorded all year · 0.94% in Aug- Great White EgretArdea albaSummer visitorCommon80–104 cmRegularly Mar–Dec · 0.92% in Aug
Bald EagleHaliaeetus leucocephalusResidentCommon70–102 cmRecorded all year · 0.88% in Aug
Pileated WoodpeckerDryocopus pileatusResidentCommon40–49 cmRecorded all year · 0.87% in Aug
Great Crested FlycatcherMyiarchus crinitusSummer visitorCommon17–22 cmRegularly Apr–Sep · 0.70% in Aug
Common YellowthroatGeothlypis trichasSummer visitorCommon11–13 cmRegularly Apr–Oct · 0.67% in Aug
Purple MartinProgne subisSummer visitorCommon18–20 cmRegularly Apr–Sep · 0.67% in Aug
Ring-billed GullLarus delawarensisWinter visitorCommon43–54 cmRegularly Jul–May · 0.61% in Aug
Cedar WaxwingBombycilla cedrorumResidentCommon15–18 cmRecorded all year · 0.59% in Aug
Wood DuckAix sponsaSummer visitorCommon47–54 cmRecorded all year · 0.56% in Aug
Rock DoveColumba liviaResidentCommon29–37 cmRecorded all year · 0.49% in Aug- Forster's TernSterna forsteriSummer visitorUncommon33–36 cmRecorded all year · 0.48% in Aug
American Herring GullLarus smithsonianusWinter visitorCommon53–65 cmRecorded all year · 0.48% in Aug
Hairy WoodpeckerLeuconotopicus villosusResidentCommon18–26 cmRecorded all year · 0.48% in Aug- Least SandpiperCalidris minutillaPassage migrantUncommon13–15 cmRegularly Apr–Nov · 0.45% in Aug
American RedstartSetophaga ruticillaSummer visitorCommon11–14 cmRegularly Apr–Oct · 0.41% in Aug
Baltimore OrioleIcterus galbulaSummer visitorCommon17–19 cmRegularly Apr–Sep · 0.37% in Aug
Red-tailed HawkButeo jamaicensisResidentCommon45–65 cmRecorded all year · 0.34% in Aug- Semipalmated SandpiperCalidris pusillaSummer visitorUncommon15–18 cmRegularly May–Oct · 0.34% in Aug
Great Black-backed GullLarus marinusResidentCommon64–79 cmRecorded all year · 0.33% in Aug
Lesser YellowlegsTringa flavipesPassage migrantUncommon23–27 cmRegularly Mar–Nov · 0.33% in Aug
Semipalmated PloverCharadrius semipalmatusSummer visitorUncommon17–19 cmRegularly May–Nov · 0.30% in Aug
Greater YellowlegsTringa melanoleucaWinter visitorUncommon29–40 cmRegularly Jul–May · 0.27% in Aug
Solitary SandpiperTringa solitariaPassage migrantUncommon19–23 cmRegularly Apr–Oct · 0.23% in Aug
Common RavenCorvus coraxResidentUncommon54–67 cmRecorded all year · 0.23% in Aug
Scarlet TanagerPiranga olivaceaSummer visitorCommon16–19 cmRegularly Apr–Oct · 0.21% in Aug
Chestnut-sided WarblerSetophaga pensylvanicaSummer visitorCommon10–14 cmRegularly May–Oct · 0.19% in Aug
Common TernSterna hirundoSummer visitorUncommon31–35 cmRegularly Apr–Oct · 0.18% in Aug
Northern Yellow WarblerSetophaga aestivaSummer visitorCommon12–13 cmRegularly Apr–Sep · 0.18% in Aug
Red-headed WoodpeckerMelanerpes erythrocephalusResidentUncommon19–23 cmRecorded all year · 0.16% in Aug
Barred OwlStrix variaResidentUncommon43–50 cmRecorded all year · 0.15% in Aug
Sand MartinRiparia ripariaSummer visitorUncommon12–14 cmRegularly Apr–Sep · 0.15% in Aug
Pectoral SandpiperCalidris melanotosPassage migrantUncommon19–23 cmRegularly Mar–Nov · 0.14% in Aug
OvenbirdSeiurus aurocapillaSummer visitorCommon12–15 cmRegularly Apr–Oct · 0.13% in Aug
BobolinkDolichonyx oryzivorusSummer visitorUncommon16–20 cmRegularly Apr–Oct · 0.13% in Aug
SanderlingCalidris albaWinter visitorUncommon18–20 cmRecorded all year · 0.12% in Aug
Black-crowned Night-heronNycticorax nycticoraxSummer visitorUncommon58–65 cmRecorded all year · 0.12% in Aug
Magnolia WarblerSetophaga magnoliaPassage migrantCommon11–13 cmRegularly May–Oct · 0.12% in Aug
Short-billed DowitcherLimnodromus griseusSummer visitorUncommon23–32 cmRegularly Apr–Sep · 0.11% in Aug
Wild TurkeyMeleagris gallopavoResidentUncommon100–125 cmRecorded all year · 0.11% in Aug
Glossy IbisPlegadis falcinellusSummer visitorUncommon48–66 cmRegularly Apr–Sep · 0.10% in Aug
Cattle EgretArdea ibisSummer visitorUncommon46–56 cmRegularly Apr–Nov · 0.10% in Aug
Eastern Screech-owlMegascops asioResidentUncommon16–25 cmRecorded all year · 0.10% in Aug
American Black DuckAnas rubripesWinter visitorCommon54–59 cmRecorded all year · 0.09% in Aug
Ruddy TurnstoneArenaria interpresResidentUncommon21–24 cmRecorded all year · 0.09% in Aug
Least FlycatcherEmpidonax minimusPassage migrantUncommon12–14 cmRegularly May–Oct · 0.08% in Aug
WilletTringa semipalmataSummer visitorUncommon33–41 cmRegularly Apr–Jan · 0.08% in Aug
Horned LarkEremophila alpestrisResidentUncommon16–20 cmRecorded all year · 0.08% in Aug
Northern WaterthrushParkesia noveboracensisPassage migrantUncommon12–15 cmRegularly Apr–Oct · 0.07% in Aug
Grey PloverPluvialis squatarolaSummer visitorUncommon27–30 cmRecorded all year · 0.06% in Aug
Black-throated Green WarblerSetophaga virensSummer visitorCommon11–12 cmRegularly Apr–Oct · 0.06% in Aug
Common MerganserMergus merganserWinter visitorCommon58–68 cmRegularly Nov–Aug · 0.06% in Aug
Black TernChlidonias nigerPassage migrantUncommon22–26 cmRegularly May–Sep · 0.06% in Aug
Stilt SandpiperCalidris himantopusPassage migrantUncommon18–23 cmRegularly Jul–Oct · 0.06% in Aug
Peregrine FalconFalco peregrinusWinter visitorUncommon34–58 cmRecorded all year · 0.05% in Aug
Great Horned OwlBubo virginianusWinter visitorUncommon46–63 cmRecorded all year · 0.05% in Aug
Prothonotary WarblerProtonotaria citreaSummer visitorUncommon13–14 cmRegularly Apr–Sep · 0.05% in Aug
Western SandpiperCalidris mauriPassage migrantUncommon14–17 cmRegularly Jul–Dec · 0.05% in Aug
VeeryCatharus fuscescensSummer visitorUncommon16–19 cmRegularly Apr–Oct · 0.05% in Aug
Cape May WarblerSetophaga tigrinaPassage migrantUncommon12–14 cmRegularly May–Oct · 0.05% in Aug
Marsh WrenCistothorus palustrisResidentUncommon10–14 cmRecorded all year · 0.05% in Aug
Pied-billed GrebePodilymbus podicepsWinter visitorUncommon31–38 cmRegularly Aug–May · 0.05% in Aug
Broad-winged HawkButeo platypterusSummer visitorUncommon34–44 cmRegularly Apr–Oct · 0.04% in Aug
Lesser Black-backed GullLarus fuscusWinter visitorUncommon52–64 cmRecorded all year · 0.04% in Aug
Eurasian TealAnas creccaWinter visitorUncommon34–38 cmRegularly Aug–Apr · 0.04% in Aug
White-rumped SandpiperCalidris fuscicollisPassage migrantRare15–18 cmRegularly May–Nov · 0.04% in Aug
Great ShearwaterArdenna gravisPassage migrantRare43–51 cmRegularly Jun–Sep · 0.04% in Aug
Black-throated Blue WarblerSetophaga caerulescensSummer visitorUncommon11–13 cmRegularly Apr–Oct · 0.04% in Aug
Northern ShovelerSpatula clypeataWinter visitorUncommon44–51 cmRegularly Aug–Apr · 0.04% in Aug
Sandwich TernThalasseus sandvicensisPassage migrantRare36–41 cmRegularly Jun–Oct · 0.04% in Aug
Red-necked PhalaropePhalaropus lobatusPassage migrantRare18–19 cmRegularly May–Oct · 0.04% in Aug
American AvocetRecurvirostra americanaSummer visitorRare43–51 cmRegularly Feb–Nov · 0.04% in Aug
Ruddy DuckOxyura jamaicensisWinter visitorCommon35–43 cmRegularly Aug–Apr · 0.03% in Aug
Blue-headed VireoVireo solitariusSummer visitorUncommon12–15 cmRegularly Apr–Oct · 0.03% in Aug
Tennessee WarblerLeiothlypis peregrinaPassage migrantUncommon10–13 cmRegularly May–Oct · 0.03% in Aug
Trumpeter SwanCygnus buccinatorResidentRare139–157 cmRecorded all year · 0.03% in Aug
Rose-breasted GrosbeakPheucticus ludovicianusSummer visitorUncommon18–22 cmRegularly Apr–Oct · 0.03% in Aug
Virginia RailRallus limicolaResidentUncommon20–27 cmRecorded all year · 0.03% in Aug
Willow FlycatcherEmpidonax trailliiSummer visitorUncommon13–17 cmRegularly May–Aug · 0.02% in Aug
Wilson's PhalaropePhalaropus tricolorSummer visitorRare22–24 cmRegularly May–Oct · 0.02% in Aug
WhimbrelNumenius phaeopusSummer visitorRare40–46 cmRegularly Apr–Oct · 0.02% in Aug
Mute SwanCygnus olorResidentRare140–160 cmRecorded all year · 0.02% in Aug
Upland SandpiperBartramia longicaudaPassage migrantRare28–32 cmRegularly Apr–Sep · 0.02% in Aug
Bonaparte's GullChroicocephalus philadelphiaWinter visitorUncommon28–38 cmRegularly Aug–May · 0.02% in Aug
Black-billed CuckooCoccyzus erythropthalmusSummer visitorRare28–32 cmRegularly Apr–Oct · 0.02% in Aug
MerlinFalco columbariusWinter visitorUncommon24–33 cmRegularly Aug–May · 0.02% in Aug
Marbled GodwitLimosa fedoaPassage migrantRare40–50 cmRegularly Apr–Dec · 0.01% in Aug
Baird's SandpiperCalidris bairdiiPassage migrantRare14–17 cmRegularly Aug–Oct · 0.01% in Aug
Eurasian Collared DoveStreptopelia decaoctoPassage migrantRare30–32 cmRegularly Jun–Sep · 0.01% in Aug
DickcisselSpiza americanaSummer visitorRare14–16 cmRegularly May–Nov · 0.01% in Aug
Buff-breasted SandpiperCalidris subruficollisPassage migrantRare18–20 cmRegularly Aug–Sep · 0.01% in Aug
Nashville WarblerLeiothlypis ruficapillaPassage migrantUncommon11–13 cmRegularly Apr–Nov · 0.01% in Aug
Yellow-bellied FlycatcherEmpidonax flaviventrisPassage migrantRare13–15 cmRegularly Aug–Sep · 0.01% in Aug
Piping PloverCharadrius melodusSummer visitorRare17–18 cmRegularly Mar–Oct · 0.01% in Aug
Long-billed DowitcherLimnodromus scolopaceusWinter visitorRare27–30 cmRegularly Jul–Mar · 0.01% in Aug
Red KnotCalidris canutusSummer visitorRare23–26 cmRegularly May–Nov · 0.01% in Aug
Alder FlycatcherEmpidonax alnorumSummer visitorRare13–17 cmRegularly May–Sep · 0.01% in Aug
Leach's Storm-petrelHydrobates leucorhousPassage migrantRare18–21 cmRegularly Jun–Sep · 0.01% in Aug
American Golden-PloverPluvialis dominicaPassage migrantRare24–28 cmRegularly Aug–Oct · 0.01% in Aug
Mourning WarblerGeothlypis philadelphiaPassage migrantRare10–15 cmRegularly May–Oct · 0.01% in Aug
Sandhill CraneAntigone canadensisWinter visitorRare80–122 cmRecorded all year · 0.01% in Aug
Muscovy DuckCairina moschataWinter visitorRare66–84 cmRecorded all year · 0.01% in Aug
Gull-billed TernGelochelidon niloticaSummer visitorRare33–42 cmRegularly May–Aug · 0.00% in Aug
Lark SparrowChondestes grammacusPassage migrantRare15–17 cmRegularly Aug–Dec · 0.00% in Aug
Long-tailed JaegerStercorarius longicaudusPassage migrantRare48–58 cmRegularly Aug–Sep · 0.00% in Aug
RuffCalidris pugnaxPassage migrantRare20–32 cmRegularly Aug · 0.00% in Aug
ChukarAlectoris chukarResidentRare32–38 cmRegularly Mar–Oct · 0.00% in Aug
Ruffed GrouseBonasa umbellusResidentRare41–50 cmRecorded all year · 0.00% in Aug
Roseate TernSterna dougalliiPassage migrantRare33–41 cmRegularly Jun–Aug · 0.00% in Aug
Swan GooseAnser cygnoidesWinter visitorRare81–94 cmRegularly Jul–May · 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