Birds to See in Massachusetts in August
152 bird species on our list for Massachusetts are recorded regularly in August
Of these, the most often recorded are Blue Jay, Mourning Dove, Gray Catbird, Song Sparrow and Northern Cardinal. New this month: Magnolia Warbler, Sharp-shinned Hawk, Dunlin and Cape May Warbler and 16 more.
On the move in August
GBIF · AugArriving
At their peak
OspreyBusiest month of the year · Mar–Oct
Ruby-throated HummingbirdBusiest month of the year · May–Sep
Great White EgretBusiest month of the year · Mar–Nov
Semipalmated PloverBusiest month of the year · May
Common TernBusiest month of the year · May–Oct
Semipalmated SandpiperBusiest month of the year · May–Oct
From Massachusetts’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 152 birds in August
152 birds
Blue JayCyanocitta cristataResidentCommon25–30 cmRecorded all year · 2.93% in Aug
Mourning DoveZenaida macrouraResidentCommon23–34 cmRecorded all year · 2.91% in Aug
Gray CatbirdDumetella carolinensisSummer visitorCommon20–24 cmRegularly May–Jan · 2.90% in Aug
Song SparrowMelospiza melodiaResidentCommon12–17 cmRecorded all year · 2.47% in Aug
Northern CardinalCardinalis cardinalisResidentCommon21–23 cmRecorded all year · 2.45% in Aug
American RobinTurdus migratoriusResidentCommon20–28 cmRecorded all year · 2.44% in Aug
American Herring GullLarus smithsonianusResidentCommon53–65 cmRecorded all year · 2.07% in Aug
American CrowCorvus brachyrhynchosResidentCommon41–53 cmRecorded all year · 2.05% in Aug
Downy WoodpeckerDryobates pubescensResidentCommon14–18 cmRecorded all year · 1.77% in Aug
Tufted TitmouseBaeolophus bicolorResidentCommon14–17 cmRecorded all year · 1.62% in Aug
Great Blue HeronArdea herodiasResidentCommon91–137 cmRecorded all year · 1.61% in Aug
House SparrowPasser domesticusResidentCommon14–17 cmRecorded all year · 1.61% in Aug
White-breasted NuthatchSitta carolinensisResidentCommon13–14 cmRecorded all year · 1.59% in Aug
Common GrackleQuiscalus quisculaSummer visitorCommon28–34 cmRegularly Feb–Nov · 1.53% in Aug- OspreyPandion haliaetusSummer visitorCommon54–58 cmRegularly Mar–Oct · 1.48% in Aug
Barn SwallowHirundo rusticaSummer visitorCommon17–19 cmRegularly Apr–Sep · 1.46% in Aug- Ruby-throated HummingbirdArchilochus colubrisSummer visitorCommon7–9 cmRegularly May–Sep · 1.44% in Aug
MallardAnas platyrhynchosResidentCommon50–65 cmRecorded all year · 1.42% in Aug
Cedar WaxwingBombycilla cedrorumSummer visitorCommon15–18 cmRecorded all year · 1.31% in Aug
Great Black-backed GullLarus marinusResidentCommon64–79 cmRecorded all year · 1.28% in Aug
House FinchHaemorhous mexicanusResidentCommon13–15 cmRecorded all year · 1.23% in Aug
Common StarlingSturnus vulgarisResidentCommon21–23 cmRecorded all year · 1.18% in Aug
Canada GooseBranta canadensisResidentCommon76–110 cmRecorded all year · 1.15% in Aug- Great White EgretArdea albaSummer visitorCommon80–104 cmRegularly Mar–Nov · 1.15% in Aug
- Semipalmated PloverCharadrius semipalmatusPassage migrantCommon17–19 cmRegularly May–Oct · 1.12% in Aug
Northern FlickerColaptes auratusResidentCommon28–31 cmRecorded all year · 1.11% in Aug- Common TernSterna hirundoSummer visitorCommon31–35 cmRegularly May–Oct · 1.08% in Aug
Red-winged BlackbirdAgelaius phoeniceusSummer visitorCommon17–23 cmRecorded all year · 1.05% in Aug- Semipalmated SandpiperCalidris pusillaSummer visitorCommon15–18 cmRegularly May–Oct · 1.01% in Aug
Ring-billed GullLarus delawarensisWinter visitorCommon43–54 cmRecorded all year · 1.00% in Aug
Least SandpiperCalidris minutillaPassage migrantCommon13–15 cmRegularly May–Sep · 0.97% in Aug
Red-bellied WoodpeckerMelanerpes carolinusResidentCommon23–26 cmRecorded all year · 0.93% in Aug
Chipping SparrowSpizella passerinaSummer visitorCommon12–15 cmRegularly Apr–Nov · 0.88% in Aug
Greater YellowlegsTringa melanoleucaSummer visitorCommon29–40 cmRegularly Mar–Dec · 0.85% in Aug
Red-tailed HawkButeo jamaicensisResidentCommon45–65 cmRecorded all year · 0.85% in Aug
Common YellowthroatGeothlypis trichasSummer visitorCommon11–13 cmRegularly May–Oct · 0.83% in Aug
Baltimore OrioleIcterus galbulaSummer visitorCommon17–19 cmRegularly May–Sep · 0.69% in Aug
Northern MockingbirdMimus polyglottosResidentCommon21–26 cmRecorded all year · 0.62% in Aug
Rock DoveColumba liviaResidentCommon29–37 cmRecorded all year · 0.59% in Aug
Hairy WoodpeckerLeuconotopicus villosusResidentCommon18–26 cmRecorded all year · 0.56% in Aug
Grey PloverPluvialis squatarolaSummer visitorCommon27–30 cmRegularly Apr–Dec · 0.55% in Aug
Wood DuckAix sponsaSummer visitorCommon47–54 cmRecorded all year · 0.55% in Aug
Lesser YellowlegsTringa flavipesPassage migrantCommon23–27 cmRegularly Apr–Oct · 0.54% in Aug
SanderlingCalidris albaWinter visitorCommon18–20 cmRegularly Jul–May · 0.52% in Aug
Turkey VultureCathartes auraResidentCommon62–81 cmRecorded all year · 0.51% in Aug
Short-billed DowitcherLimnodromus griseusSummer visitorUncommon23–32 cmRegularly May–Oct · 0.46% in Aug
Great ShearwaterArdenna gravisPassage migrantUncommon43–51 cmRegularly Jul–Nov · 0.45% in Aug
Mute SwanCygnus olorResidentCommon140–160 cmRecorded all year · 0.45% in Aug
Northern Yellow WarblerSetophaga aestivaSummer visitorCommon12–13 cmRegularly Apr–Sep · 0.43% in Aug
Eastern BluebirdSialia sialisResidentCommon16–21 cmRecorded all year · 0.43% in Aug
WilletTringa semipalmataSummer visitorCommon33–41 cmRegularly Apr–Sep · 0.42% in Aug
Ruddy TurnstoneArenaria interpresSummer visitorUncommon21–24 cmRegularly May–Feb · 0.40% in Aug
EiderSomateria mollissimaWinter visitorCommon50–71 cmRecorded all year · 0.37% in Aug
American Black DuckAnas rubripesWinter visitorCommon54–59 cmRecorded all year · 0.35% in Aug
Great Crested FlycatcherMyiarchus crinitusSummer visitorCommon17–22 cmRegularly May–Sep · 0.33% in Aug
Wild TurkeyMeleagris gallopavoResidentCommon100–125 cmRecorded all year · 0.32% in Aug
Piping PloverCharadrius melodusSummer visitorUncommon17–18 cmRegularly Mar–Sep · 0.32% in Aug
American RedstartSetophaga ruticillaSummer visitorCommon11–14 cmRegularly May–Oct · 0.29% in Aug
Solitary SandpiperTringa solitariaPassage migrantUncommon19–23 cmRegularly Apr–Oct · 0.29% in Aug
Fish CrowCorvus ossifragusSummer visitorCommon36–41 cmRecorded all year · 0.27% in Aug
Black-crowned Night-heronNycticorax nycticoraxSummer visitorUncommon58–65 cmRegularly Mar–Jan · 0.27% in Aug
Common RavenCorvus coraxResidentCommon54–67 cmRecorded all year · 0.26% in Aug
Roseate TernSterna dougalliiSummer visitorUncommon33–41 cmRegularly May–Sep · 0.24% in Aug
White-rumped SandpiperCalidris fuscicollisSummer visitorUncommon15–18 cmRegularly May–Nov · 0.23% in Aug
Peregrine FalconFalco peregrinusWinter visitorUncommon34–58 cmRecorded all year · 0.23% in Aug
BobolinkDolichonyx oryzivorusSummer visitorUncommon16–20 cmRegularly May–Oct · 0.20% in Aug
WhimbrelNumenius phaeopusPassage migrantUncommon40–46 cmRegularly Jul–Oct · 0.20% in Aug
Common LoonGavia immerWinter visitorCommon66–91 cmRecorded all year · 0.20% in Aug
Swamp SparrowMelospiza georgianaSummer visitorCommon12–15 cmRecorded all year · 0.19% in Aug
Bald EagleHaliaeetus leucocephalusWinter visitorCommon70–102 cmRecorded all year · 0.19% in Aug
Pileated WoodpeckerDryocopus pileatusResidentUncommon40–49 cmRecorded all year · 0.17% in Aug
Rose-breasted GrosbeakPheucticus ludovicianusSummer visitorCommon18–22 cmRegularly Apr–Sep · 0.17% in Aug
Forster's TernSterna forsteriPassage migrantUncommon33–36 cmRegularly Jul–Nov · 0.17% in Aug
Manx ShearwaterPuffinus puffinusSummer visitorUncommon30–38 cmRegularly Apr–Nov · 0.17% in Aug
Sand MartinRiparia ripariaSummer visitorUncommon12–14 cmRegularly Apr–Sep · 0.16% in Aug
Eurasian TealAnas creccaWinter visitorCommon34–38 cmRecorded all year · 0.16% in Aug
Purple MartinProgne subisSummer visitorUncommon18–20 cmRegularly Apr–Aug · 0.15% in Aug
Leach's Storm-petrelHydrobates leucorhousPassage migrantUncommon18–21 cmRegularly Jul–Oct · 0.15% in Aug
Northern GannetMorus bassanusWinter visitorCommon87–100 cmRecorded all year · 0.15% in Aug
Marsh WrenCistothorus palustrisSummer visitorUncommon10–14 cmRecorded all year · 0.14% in Aug
Broad-winged HawkButeo platypterusSummer visitorUncommon34–44 cmRegularly Apr–Oct · 0.13% in Aug
Bonaparte's GullChroicocephalus philadelphiaWinter visitorUncommon28–38 cmRecorded all year · 0.12% in Aug
Sooty ShearwaterArdenna griseaPassage migrantUncommon40–51 cmRegularly Jun–Nov · 0.11% in Aug
OvenbirdSeiurus aurocapillaSummer visitorCommon12–15 cmRegularly May–Sep · 0.11% in Aug
Scarlet TanagerPiranga olivaceaSummer visitorCommon16–19 cmRegularly May–Sep · 0.11% in Aug
VeeryCatharus fuscescensSummer visitorCommon16–19 cmRegularly May–Sep · 0.11% in Aug
Black TernChlidonias nigerPassage migrantUncommon22–26 cmRegularly Jun–Sep · 0.10% in Aug
GadwallMareca streperaResidentUncommon46–56 cmRecorded all year · 0.10% in Aug
Stilt SandpiperCalidris himantopusPassage migrantUncommon18–23 cmRegularly Jul–Oct · 0.09% in Aug
Lesser Black-backed GullLarus fuscusWinter visitorUncommon52–64 cmRecorded all year · 0.09% in Aug
Red KnotCalidris canutusSummer visitorUncommon23–26 cmRegularly May–Oct · 0.09% in Aug
Pectoral SandpiperCalidris melanotosPassage migrantUncommon19–23 cmRegularly Apr–Nov · 0.09% in Aug
Willow FlycatcherEmpidonax trailliiSummer visitorUncommon13–17 cmRegularly May–Aug · 0.09% in Aug
Red-necked PhalaropePhalaropus lobatusPassage migrantUncommon18–19 cmRegularly May–Sep · 0.09% in Aug
Long-billed DowitcherLimnodromus scolopaceusPassage migrantUncommon27–30 cmRegularly Jul–Nov · 0.08% in Aug
Long-tailed JaegerStercorarius longicaudusPassage migrantUncommon48–58 cmRegularly Aug–Sep · 0.08% in Aug
MerlinFalco columbariusWinter visitorUncommon24–33 cmRegularly Jul–May · 0.08% in Aug
Chestnut-sided WarblerSetophaga pensylvanicaSummer visitorUncommon10–14 cmRegularly May–Sep · 0.07% in Aug
Glossy IbisPlegadis falcinellusSummer visitorUncommon48–66 cmRegularly Apr–Sep · 0.07% in Aug
Northern WaterthrushParkesia noveboracensisSummer visitorUncommon12–15 cmRegularly Apr–Oct · 0.07% in Aug
Barred OwlStrix variaResidentUncommon43–50 cmRecorded all year · 0.07% in Aug
Arctic JaegerStercorarius parasiticusSummer visitorUncommon41–46 cmRegularly May–Nov · 0.07% in Aug
Eastern Screech-owlMegascops asioWinter visitorUncommon16–25 cmRecorded all year · 0.07% in Aug
Hermit ThrushCatharus guttatusResidentUncommon14–18 cmRecorded all year · 0.06% in Aug
Yellow-bellied SapsuckerSphyrapicus variusResidentUncommon19–22 cmRecorded all year · 0.06% in Aug
Virginia RailRallus limicolaResidentUncommon20–27 cmRecorded all year · 0.06% in Aug
American AvocetRecurvirostra americanaPassage migrantUncommon43–51 cmRegularly Aug–Nov · 0.05% in Aug
Black-throated Green WarblerSetophaga virensSummer visitorCommon11–12 cmRegularly Apr–Oct · 0.05% in Aug
Horned LarkEremophila alpestrisWinter visitorUncommon16–20 cmRecorded all year · 0.05% in Aug
Least FlycatcherEmpidonax minimusSummer visitorUncommon12–14 cmRegularly May–Sep · 0.05% in Aug
Great Horned OwlBubo virginianusWinter visitorUncommon46–63 cmRecorded all year · 0.05% in Aug
Red CrossbillLoxia curvirostraWinter visitorUncommon15–17 cmRecorded all year · 0.04% in Aug
Blue-headed VireoVireo solitariusSummer visitorUncommon12–15 cmRegularly Apr–Oct · 0.04% in Aug
Sharp-shinned HawkAccipiter striatusWinter visitorUncommon24–34 cmRegularly Aug–May · 0.03% in Aug
Pied-billed GrebePodilymbus podicepsWinter visitorUncommon31–38 cmRegularly Jun–Apr · 0.03% in Aug
Black-throated Blue WarblerSetophaga caerulescensSummer visitorUncommon11–13 cmRegularly May–Oct · 0.03% in Aug
Baird's SandpiperCalidris bairdiiPassage migrantRare14–17 cmRegularly Aug–Sep · 0.03% in Aug
Western SandpiperCalidris mauriPassage migrantRare14–17 cmRegularly Jul–Oct · 0.03% in Aug
Magnolia WarblerSetophaga magnoliaPassage migrantUncommon11–13 cmRegularly May–Oct · 0.03% in Aug
Cape May WarblerSetophaga tigrinaPassage migrantUncommon12–14 cmRegularly May–Oct · 0.02% in Aug
DunlinCalidris alpinaWinter visitorUncommon16–22 cmRegularly Aug–May · 0.02% in Aug
Marbled GodwitLimosa fedoaPassage migrantRare40–50 cmRegularly Jul–Jan · 0.02% in Aug
Hudsonian GodwitLimosa haemasticaPassage migrantRare36–42 cmRegularly Jul–Nov · 0.02% in Aug
Pomarine JaegerStercorarius pomarinusPassage migrantRare46–51 cmRegularly Jul–Jan · 0.02% in Aug
American BitternBotaurus lentiginosusResidentRare58–85 cmRecorded all year · 0.02% in Aug
Sandhill CraneAntigone canadensisResidentRare80–122 cmRecorded all year · 0.02% in Aug
Grey PhalaropePhalaropus fulicariusPassage migrantRare20–22 cmRegularly Apr–Nov · 0.02% in Aug
Alder FlycatcherEmpidonax alnorumSummer visitorUncommon13–17 cmRegularly May–Aug · 0.01% in Aug
American Golden-PloverPluvialis dominicaPassage migrantUncommon24–28 cmRegularly Aug–Oct · 0.01% in Aug
DickcisselSpiza americanaWinter visitorUncommon14–16 cmRegularly Jun–Feb · 0.01% in Aug
Tennessee WarblerLeiothlypis peregrinaPassage migrantUncommon10–13 cmRegularly May–Nov · 0.01% in Aug
Black-billed CuckooCoccyzus erythropthalmusSummer visitorUncommon28–32 cmRegularly May–Sep · 0.01% in Aug
Buff-breasted SandpiperCalidris subruficollisPassage migrantRare18–20 cmRegularly Aug–Sep · 0.01% in Aug
Northern ShovelerSpatula clypeataWinter visitorUncommon44–51 cmRegularly Aug–May · 0.01% in Aug
Black GuillemotCepphus grylleWinter visitorUncommon30–32 cmRegularly Aug–Mar · 0.01% in Aug
Yellow-bellied FlycatcherEmpidonax flaviventrisPassage migrantRare13–15 cmRegularly May–Sep · 0.01% in Aug
Lark SparrowChondestes grammacusPassage migrantRare15–17 cmRegularly Aug–Dec · 0.01% in Aug
Wilson's PhalaropePhalaropus tricolorSummer visitorRare22–24 cmRegularly May–Sep · 0.01% in Aug
Monk ParakeetMyiopsitta monachusWinter visitorRare29–31 cmRegularly Jul–Apr · 0.01% in Aug
KittiwakeRissa tridactylaWinter visitorUncommon37–41 cmRegularly Jun–Mar · 0.01% in Aug
Mourning WarblerGeothlypis philadelphiaSummer visitorRare10–15 cmRegularly May–Sep · 0.01% in Aug
Prothonotary WarblerProtonotaria citreaPassage migrantRare13–14 cmRegularly Apr–Oct · 0.01% in Aug
Ruffed GrouseBonasa umbellusSummer visitorRare41–50 cmRecorded all year · 0.01% in Aug
Vesper SparrowPooecetes gramineusSummer visitorRare13–17 cmRecorded all year · 0.00% in Aug
Arctic TernSterna paradisaeaSummer visitorRare33–39 cmRegularly May–Aug · 0.00% in Aug
Sabine's GullXema sabiniPassage migrantRare27–33 cmRegularly Jul–Sep · 0.00% in Aug
Muscovy DuckCairina moschataWinter visitorRare66–84 cmRecorded all year · 0.00% in Aug
Upland SandpiperBartramia longicaudaSummer visitorRare28–32 cmRegularly Apr–Sep · 0.00% in Aug
Black-headed GullChroicocephalus ridibundusWinter visitorRare38–44 cmRegularly Jul–Apr · 0.00% in Aug
Helmeted GuineafowlNumida meleagrisResidentRare53–63 cmRegularly Apr–Jan · 0.00% in Aug
Atlantic PuffinFratercula arcticaWinter visitorRare28–34 cmRegularly Aug–May · 0.00% in Aug
BudgerigarMelopsittacus undulatusPassage migrantRare18–20 cmRegularly Jun–Nov · 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